Confessions of a Terrible Horrible Rice Krispie Treat Maker

I can make and bake just about anything. Amongst my favorites are ooey gooey cookies, moist cakes, and the ever so challenging pie. However, my nemesis is the marshmellowy, buttery, just perfectly sweetened, any six year old can make it bar the "Rice Krispie Treat."

I am not sure what goes on during the process of me following the recipe for Rice Krispie Treats right off the box. Somewhere after the melting and the mixing I find my treats to be the consistency of...umm...well peanut brittle. Possibly glass which is the best description since if you slam them up against the counter they will shatter into a million pieces.

My first thought is that it's a genetic problem, of course. My mother has the same problem with her Rice Krispie Treats. She always blamed it on the altitude (this is what she always says upon a cooking disaster- but I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one). Beings that I am at sea level that theory is now out the window. Perhaps it is an ingredient blunder. So, I have made certain that all whopping three of them are as fresh as they can be.

Therefore, it shall remain a mystery unless one can oblige me in mastering this tasty little treat.

Chip & Dip Cookies

Yes...this recipe actually calls for potato chips in a cookie. Good grief is that a lethal combination. This recipe is a hybrid of a recipe I found on my favorite baking site and a recipe I found in a Betty Crocker magazine. Together they make the perfect combination!

Chip & Dip Cookies

2 c. peanut butter

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2- 1 c. plain crushed potato chips

Dip

1/2 c. almonds

1 Baker's Dipping Chocolates

Mix: All ingredients but almonds and chocolate

Refrigerate: 30 minutes then roll into balls

Bake: 325 for 18-20 minutes

Dip in chocolate and almonds

Christmas 2007- A Little Holiday Cheer

Thanks Aviva for sharing your photographic talent with us!

Something Healthy...Lettuce Wrap Salad

Contrary to popular belief I do enjoy healthy food every once in a while....especially during meal time. After meal time is when the artery clogging begins. Here is one of my favorite quick meals that is super simple and easy. Anyone who can heat items in a pan and cut up an apple has this recipe in the bag.


Lettuce Wrap Salad

1 rotisserie chicken (pull off meat- so much fun)
2 bags lettuce (1 like romaine/1 like butter or spinach- just to mix it up)
1 apple (diced)
1/2 bottle of Newman's Own Sesame Ginger Dressing (any of the Asian variety will work)
1/4 c. pine nuts

Mix all ingredients (except lettuce) in a pan until warm. Then toss into salad. We like ours with rice on the side- it isn't a meal without STARCH people.

Special K Bars

Along with feeling that everyone should share in my Holiday cheeriness I also feel that this is the time of year that nobody should be counting calories, fat or how many treats they have scarfed down. These bars do include Special K cereal which is supposed to help one lose weight, right? Food is one of the few simple pleasures in life so enjoy! Last time I made these bars my husband hid them on top of the fridge so he could have them all to himself.

Special K Bars
1 c. sugar
1 c. white syrup
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
6 c. Special K cereal
2 c. chocolate chips

Boil sugar and syrup then stir and add remaining ingredients. Place in a 9x13 inch pan.
Top with 2 c. melted chocolate chips (melt chips for 30 seconds then stir). Top off with some sprinkles just because the kids LOVE them!

Life's Too Short Not to Burn a Candle Everyday

So...this is the time of year that I fail miserably at controlling my insatiable appetite for Holiday festiveness. I want to blare my Celine Dion or Kenny G Christmas music throughout my home,
burn my "holiday sparkle" candle that smells exactly like a Douglas Fir, curl my children into their Santa and reindeer decorated footed jammies, and buy the ornament decorated baggies and Kleenex boxes (totally marketed towards suckers like me at the end of the grocery aisle). Not to mention bake, bake, and bake. That is exactly what I intend on doing starting today and I think everyone should join in. After all, that candle that you don't burn just because your waiting for some special occasion is just collecting dust... and shouldn't your house smell that beautiful everyday?