When Addiction Hits

I've been told more often than I'd like to admit I have an addictive personality. A year and a half ago I gave up smoking. A year ago I gave up bread and sugar for blinding broccoli cravings. Seven months ago I gave up laziness for a now staggering addiction to working out. In a way, I've given up every bad habit in the book and replaced them with new ones. There is, however, one addiction I don't think I'll ever be able to shake off; peanut butter. I know, as far as addictions go I suppose peanut butter isn't a horrible one to have, but I've got it real bad. I almost can't keep the stuff in the house — but do anyway.  Before I gave up bread it was peanut butter, honey, banana and chips — yes chips — sandwiches every few weeks. Then it was peanut butter slathered on a banana. Now I've taken to cozying up to a jar of peanut butter with just a spoon for company. And I'll eat any peanut butter really, crunchy, natural, low sodium, no sugar added, Jif, Skippy, Peter Pan, no-name organic types, the list never ends. Last week was a particularly terrifying example of my addiction. I realized we had four jars of peanut butter, all with about two spoons of the stuff left. I didn't even remember when I'd accumulated all those jars or how I'd managed to go through almost four entire ones in any length of time, but I didn't care. I took them all out of the pantry and one by one finished them off with a spoon while sitting on my couch in my pyjamas. It wasn't until I tossed the four empty containers in the trash that I realized this was becoming a serious problem. So what did I decide to do? Did I decide to drop the habit right then and there? Yes I did. But only after I bought one last jar of peanut butter to make these; chocolate chip peanut butter blondies. Because really, if I'm going to go out, why not with a bang? 300 g unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 170 g of melted butter, cooled 200 g of packed brown sugar, not raw sugar 85 g granulated sugar 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk 1/2 cup peanut butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips A pinch of sea salt 1. Preheat oven to gas mark 3/325F/160C and grease a 9-inch square pan; set aside. If the pan you're using is glass, line the pan with parchment or foil. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. 3. Using an electric mixer, mix together the melted butter and sugars on medium speed until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, peanut butter and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low, just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. 4. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, take out when slightly underdone like brownies but the edges are brown and crispy and sprinkle with some sea salt for an added salty hit.