Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Bites

“Let’s get ready to rumble!” It was the second game of the basketball season for my daughter and her team yesterday. The court is darkened and the disco light is spinning above. The girls are lined up ready to run out to the middle of the court.

The shiny tinsel is what the girls run through one by one as their names are called. I no longer get the butterflies when her name is called. This is her fourth year playing and instead of butterflies, I feel pride when I see her run out when they announce her name. In the first year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was never very athletic or competitive as a child. My daughter must take after my husband. She is a natural.

The last three years, her team has been unbeatable. Each year there are different players. It is a Christian league that is comprised of students from all the different schools in the area. You never know who will be on your team until they send out the team list after the tryouts.

Last week was the first game and they lost. My daughter was not satisfied with the way the team played. I tried to encourage her and explain how it was the first game. How some of these girls had never even played basketball before and this was their first game. I said, “It’s not about winning. It’s about trying your best.” She responded, “Of course it’s about winning mommy. That’s why we are playing.” I let out a big sigh.

Yes, of course it is about the winning. It’s also about the moments of being a fair player and not playing dirty.  When a team member from the opposing team falls, stopping to check if she is ok. Some of the girls have parents that think they are at an NBA game. They get so excited and so angry in the bleachers when their daughters make a mistake. I get so aggravated! It’s elementary school aged girls playing on a Christian league. Calm down people and enjoy the game.

Yesterday’s game ended the way their first game did. Another loss. My daughter was frustrated and a little bitter. She explained her frustration with the other team members not knowing what to do when they got the ball. I explained how each week it will get better.I talked about how the girls will learn about the game and she has to be supportive and teach them what she knows and have them follow her lead.

I explained to my daughter that even though they once again lost, she is a winner. She is a winner because she did her best and that’s enough for me. And then we hugged and talked about baking something to make her feel better.

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Bites are wonderful! They have just the right crispiness on the outside and are a little soft on the inside. The perfect amount of peanut butter with delicious chocolate chips make them hard to eat just one!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mini Bites

2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 1/4 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Grease and flour a mini muffin pan or a 9x9 baking pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the eggs and both sugars until smooth. Add the peanut butter and continue mixing until well combined. Beat in the vanilla and butter and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
Measure the flour, baking powder and salt and sift directly into the batter.
Mix gently until well combined and no trace of the dry ingredients remains. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate chips.
Spread the dough into the mini muffin pan or the  9x9 pan with a spatula. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only crumbs, not batter, on it. Allow to cool for 1 hour before cutting