Sunday, January 26, 2014

My RICE KRISPIE TREATS are Better than Yours - 52 Church Potluck Desserts


It must be the simplest of all desserts.  After all about every 8 year old Girl Scout has learned to make these.  But there really are a few ways to jazz up the old classic to make a better treat...

First, and MOST IMPORTANT, this is not a dish for the stale bag of marshmallows in the back of your pantry.  Buy the freshest (softest) bag of mini marshmallows you can find.  It really does make a HUGE difference.  Have you ever had that jaw breaking rock hard treat?  Dollars to donuts that the marshmallows were stale to start with.

Second, Extra Butter... Really.  Only a single extra TBS of Butter will make a big difference in soft treats.

Third, a little hint of flavoring.  Wilton (the cake people) makes a line of candy flavoring that works wonders.  Just a few drops will add a little hint of Cherry Flavoring.  You can find the candy flavoring at any specialty cake store, or the big Hobby stores (Michaels or Hobby Lobby come to mind).

And finally... A little PANACHE!   If you want colored treats, add the food coloring to the marshmallow goo fresh from the microwave.  The krispies will color as they mix.  Use a cookie Cutter in place of just cutting squares and bars.  A little contrasting or complimenting frosting (go ahead, buy a can) goes a long way to brighten the plate and once you have a little frosting, some sugar sprinkles will add that one extra "Over the Top" touch.

Add it all together and really... Mine are better!


OK... Here's what I did...


Better
RICE KRISPIE TREATS


Ingredients
  • 1 Stick (1/2 Cup) Butter
  • 1 Big Bag (16 OZ) Generic BUT FRESH Miniature Marshmallows
  • 10 Drops (Less if you want pink) Red Food Coloring
  • 5 Drops Wilton Brand Cherry Candy Flavoring (Optional, try Peppermint)
  • 9 Cups Generic Krispie Rice Cereal
  • Optional, Canned Whipped Buttercream Frosting
  • Optional, Colored Sugar Sprinkles
Cooking Directions
  1. In a LARGE Microwave safe bowl, add marshmallows and butter, zap for 30 seconds, stir to mix, repeat until marshmallows are just melted... Do NOT over heat. I zapped three times, 1 minute 30 seconds total.
  2. Stir to mix and combine, while stirring, add food coloring 2-3 drops at a time to get desired color. Add about 5 drops of cherry candy flavoring (Wilton brand sells at most hobby stores in the candy section, Hobby Lobby or Michaels among others).
  3. Add the Krispie Rice Cereal to the red marshmallow goo and mix. Fold until the krispies have also become colored.
  4. Spread in an even layer about 1 inch thick in a waxed paper lined jelly roll. Allow to cool for a couple of hours until the treats are no longer tacky to the touch.
  5. Cut out with Cookie Cutters if you like. Garnish with icing and colored sugar sprinkles if you like. Store in plastic ware or sealed with cling wrap until ready to serve.
  6. Serve room temperature and ENJOY!

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This recipe has been added to my growing list of "52 Church PotLuck Dishes"!

A list of something NEW worthy of being shown off at a neighborhood BYODish (Bring Your Own Dish) Party, a Family special occasion dinner, Any Big Holiday Gathering or of course that glorious day when you bring a dish to share with your Church family...

Ages ago, literally almost a half century ago I was listening to our pastor talking about a PotLuck Dinner. It happened to be scheduled around a church work day when we were expected to weed, polish and do general cleaning and maintenance around the church (you know, back in the day when there were no no-wax floors and church pews smelled of Old English furniture polish). I am of course paraphrasing, but as I recall the pastor said,

"A potluck, like a church requires work. At a potluck everyone is expected to contribute.. At a church no one should come empty handed and no one should leave unfed".
I will confess that in my youth I brought more store bought plastic spoons and forks than I ever brought covered dishes and crock pots of fresh made love and caring delights. But now that I have become a hobbyist cook, I occasionally am reminded of those days and people from my youth. I reminded and I do wish that I could drop a dish of some new creation on those old tables at my fondly remembered Liberty Baptist Church.  Tables covered with newspapers and loaded with God's bounty prepared with love and caring... Enjoy

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I am Also pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Grilling Time Secret Extras" or "52 Ways to Cook BBQ and Grilling Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons.  Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!

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I am also pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Ways to Cook COOKIE, BARS and TRUFFLES"!!!

Old school like classic criss cross peanut butter to new takes on interesting recipes like a beautiful Red Velvet with the cream cheese mixed inside the cookie, accented with white chocolate chips!  Even a Pineapple Cream Cheese EASY Bar with only 5 ingredients! 
Stop on by, there's always a new cookie in the cookie jar!

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This simple recipe has also been added to my growing list of "52 Simple but Next Level Dishes"!

Kind of an odd title for these posts. But the longer sentence is... Simple recipes that are easy and inexpensive that will take your cooking to the next level... Things like easy pickled items (I always have a jar of Pickled Red Onions for sandwiches in my fridge). Or how about the easiest bread to make in the world... Beer Bread that is tasty on it's own but also makes a wonderful open face pizza style sandwich... With easy to make Tomato Sauce. Or how about Roasting Garlic for a spread on toast points for a unique appetizer. Infusing Oil with Herbs or spices or spicy peppers. Or how about making your own BBQ sauce. Nothing sets you apart as a grill master like setting out a jar of your own specialty BBQ Sauce.

You get the idea. These recipes are very simple, take very little time but will set you apart as a better cook...

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And BTW, if you are not yet part of a group board, drop me an email at Contact@eRecipeCards.com and request to be added to my group board... FAVORITE FOOD BLOGGERS! (be sure to include your pinterest ID when you write)  Once you are added, any pins you add will be seen by 10s of THOUSANDS of followers of the board (and growing daily).

Rules, only 2... 
  1. In order to join you need to start following the group board as well as at least one of my boards.
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