Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats

Wonderfully sweet and gooey rice krispie treats that are bursting with strawberry flavor.

Summer is still going strong and I want to get every last bit of anything strawberry that I can.  Last week I brought an excellent creamy Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream which was bursting with strawberry flavor.  Today we have a wonderful treat for you that quick and easy to make but still brings that fresh strawberry flavor.

STRAWBERRY RICE KRISPIE TREATS

The other day I was in the cereal aisle of the grocery store when I spotted strawberry flavored rice krispies...what???  Yes sirree, they now have strawberry flavored Rice Krispies that are flavored with natural flavors.  How great is that?  So I new I had to make some treat with these and grabbed a box without hesitation.  

These treats are just as easy to make as the originals, but I made them a little extra gooey by mixing in some whole mini marshmallows in with the cereal so when you bite into them you get that little extra something.  I've seen fancy bakery made treats prepared this way and I've been doing this for years.  Along with any other mix in you may add this takes the treats up a notch!

MGG just gobbled them down and I must say that I really, really liked the flavor of these treats.  Needless to say they didn't last very long in our house.  Hmmm, think I'll go make another batch now!

Enjoy!



More Strawberry Dishes
Lighter Strawberry Crisp
Strawberry Cinnamon Smoothie

Quick and Easy Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Vanilla Waffles with Yogurt

Strawberry Sour Cream Muffins

Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats


6 tablespoons butter
6 cups Strawberry Rice Krispies
1 16oz bag mini marshmallows
1 teaspoon almond extract

In a medium pan over medium add butter to melt.  

Place cereal in a large bowl and add 1 1/2 cups of loose marshmallows.  Once the butter is melted, add the rest of the bag of marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add almond extract. Using a rubber spatula, pour the marshmallows into the cereal.  Stir until everything is coated and transfer to an 8x8 pan.  Coat hands with a little water or cooking spray and pat down mixture lightly in the pan. 

Cut into squares and serve.

French Chocolate Bark

Yum

Is everyone ready for Christmas?  

I'm as ready as I'm going to get this year.  Our tree's been up for a week or so, the presents are wrapped, the outside is decorated with lights, and the menu is planned....sort of!

So Monday night I made several batches of goodies for MGG to take to work and share with his staff of about 80 guys.  I usually make "The Fudge" which is the original type that you boil, but this year I made a quicker, faster, take on fudge.  I'll share that with you next.  I also made a chocolate bark.  I LOVE bark.  It's easy to make, you can add all sorts of toppings, and make a different flavor variation every time.  

FRENCH CHOCOLATE BARK

I just happened to be watching the Food Network on Sunday and watched Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) make a French Chocolate Bark.  Her version had a sweet salty thing going on with nuts and dried fruit PLUS it had TWO TYPES OF CHOCOLATE!  I new that was the bark I wanted to make this year.  Boy, the flavors did not disappoint!  What a heavenly combination.  Dried apricots, cranberries, and dried cranberries top a mixture of dark and semi-sweet chocolate.  Deep and rich with sweet, tart, and crunchy bites!  WOW!

So after taking a test taste, or two...I promptly stashed some of the bark for us, and packed the rest for the work crew.  It came out perfect, was really easy to make, and was the hit of the holiday treats.

Enjoy!!

French Chocolate Bark

adapted from Ina Garten's French Chocolate Bark

8 ounces very good semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 ounces very good bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup whole salted, roasted cashews
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried apricots, roughly chopped

Place the semisweet chocolate and the bittersweet chocolate in a glass heatproof bowl over simmering water and stir with a rubber spatula constantly, until melted. Line a sheetpan with parchment paper.

Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly into a 9x10" rectangle. Sprinkle the cashews, apricots, and cranberries over the chocolate. Set for 2 hours or until firm. Break bark into pieces and serve.

Ultimate Chocolate Walnut Fudge

Yum

Let's talk fudge!

There are so many versions out there such as peanut butter, rocky road, chocolate chip mint, and even snickerdoodle, but today I want to talk about a classic.

Ultimate Chocolate Walnut Fudge is a classic marshmallow fudge with chocolaty, nutty goodness!  This is the original Kraft Fantasy Fudge that your grandmothers and their grandmother's before used to make.  My mom made it every Christmas and I make it as well!

This technique combines the sugar, butter, and milk and boils it to a candy state.  This part is key to the success of making this fudge set up correctly.  (don't skip this!)  Other more modern versions of fudge making include using a sweetened condensed milk and they doesn't call for boiling the mixture.  These are good and all but I really want that "old fashioned" true version of fudge.  I brings back good memories, and food is about memories right?

This fudge isn't done lickety split, but is well worth the wait.  Once you've boiled the mixture, added in the chocolate and nuts you need to pour it out and let it set.  Please try to control your temptation to stick your finger in it and lick off a big chunk.  The fudge needs a good while to set up perfectly.

Once it's done, HEAVEN!  You guys have to make this version of the Ultimate Chocolate Walnut Fudge now.  Pick up the ingredients soon, and I promise you that you'll want to make this time and time again.  Perfect for giving as a gift, or not....!  This makes a lot so there's enough for friends and family.

Enjoy!






Ultimate Chocolate Walnut Fudge

source:   Kraft's Fantasy Fudge

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 small can (5 oz.) evaporated milk (about 2/3 cup) (Do not use sweetened condensed milk.)
3 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
1 jar (7 oz.) JET-PUFFED Marshmallow Creme 

1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla

Line a 9x11" pan with foil or parchment paper, with ends  extending over the sides. 

Bring sugar, butter and evaporated milk to full rolling boil in 3-qt. saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook 4 min. or until candy thermometer reaches 234°F, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Add chocolate and marshmallow creme; stir until melted. Add nuts and vanilla; mix well.

Pour into prepared pan; spread to cover bottom of pan. Cool completely. Use extended paper/handles to lift fudge from pan before cutting into squares.

3 Last Minute Halloween Treats

Yum

I have to tell you that my co-workers really get in to Halloween.  The other day I walked in and there were hanging bats, twinkling skulls light, cobwebs, and even a rat or two lurking around the aisles.

I love Halloween myself, especially the costumes and the make-up.  I was once a "cat" character from the play Cats.  I love doing the make-up on that one.  I also remember one year as a unicorn.  So many good times celebrating Halloween.  These days it has a totally different memory associated as it's also my and MGG's dating anniversary.  So our celebrations have taken a little different turn than the usual boo-fest!

This year my co-workers decided to have a potluck, with all Halloween treats.  Sugar heaven for sure!  So I went on to Pinterest and chose 3 treats that I could make quickly, but would be totally cute and wow my co-workers.

Treat #1:   Sweet and Salty Halloween Crackers
Found on Pinterest here.  This is an easy treat to make using store bought (bright) orange peanut butter crackers, black candy melts, and Halloween sprinkles.  Just melt the candy in a bowl according to the package directions.  Dip one corner in the candy mixture and place it on a sheet pan lined with wax paper.  Add sprinkles and allow to dry.  Simple!

Treat #2:  Frankenstein Monster Cookies
Found on Pinterest here.  This is a totally sweet treat.  Buy some chocolate wafer cookies, neon green candy melts, chocolate sprinkles, and candy eyes.  These are really fun and easy to prepare.  Just dip the wafers in the melted green candy and place on a sheet pan lined with wax paper.  Then sprinkle chocolate sprinkles on the top 1/4 to make the hair.  Add 1 or 2 eyes, then add another chocolate sprinkle for the mouth.  Allow to dry and then you have a cute treat to share!

Treat #3:  Savory Spiders
Found on Pinterest here.  I really like this one, and think it was the easiest to make.  Buy Ritz crackers, peanut butter, pretzel sticks, and candy eyes.  To make just take one Ritz cracker and add some peanut butter to the inside.  Break three pretzel sticks in half and add them horizontally to each side so they are sticking out like legs.  Add more peanut butter to the inside of another cracker and place on top of the one with the pretzels.  Push together so they adhere well.  With another dab of peanut butter add two candy eyes on the top cracker.  Repeat, repeat, repeat!


These will all be a big hit at the party.  They are almost too cute to eat!
Happy Halloween!