Showing posts with label Rice Krispies Treats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rice Krispies Treats. Show all posts

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Tricky: Rice Crispy Treats

Three ingredients, no bake, no gluten, no trouble? These crunchy, perfectly sweetened chunks of nostalgia are my go-to treats for family members avoiding gluten. Topped with a dash of rainbow sprinkles, my grandchildren look at me like the star-worthy chef that I wish I was. . .

Imagine then my disappointment when I found myself up-to-my-elbows in stickiness, as I was throwing together a quick batch last week.

Since I wanted to capture this familiar recipe for this blog, I attacked the recipe on the back of the generic box of cereal with the finesse of a seasoned inspector. The recipe cannot be easier, as listed below, and I've made hundreds of batches over the years. However, I am sharing the things NOT to do when making these All-American favorites.

Here are some useful tips:


  • Never make these treats with children! The butter and melted marshmallows are extremely hot and could burn even adult cooks.
  • Use a stainless steel, not too heavy, pot to melt the butter and assemble ingredients so you can lift the pot to scoop the mixture to the dish you plan to cool it in.
  • Do not use a cup to move the combined ingredients to the cooling dish. See my disastrous attempt in the picture below.
  • Always mix these sticky ingredients with a rubber spatula, not a wooden spoon, and use wax paper or parchment paper to protect your hands when pressing into cooling dish.
  • Do not refrigerate bars when cooling at room temp for 15 minutes before cutting into bars. After they are cut bars can be refrigerated overnight as they have butter in them. 
  • Always cut the bars using a serrated edge knife - a steak knife works perfectly.


Despite these warnings - these treats are loved by everyone!!

Read entire recipe and instructions first.

Rice Crispy Treats (makes 12 large bars)

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter
2 packages of miniature marshmallows (20 ounces total - a staple I purchase at the Dollar Tree store)
1 box 12 ounces of generic or name brand Rice Crispy cereal


Method:

In a large stainless steel pot melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows constantly stir until melted. Remove from heat and add the box of cereal. Quickly transfer the mixture to a 9 X 13 inch pan or serving dish sprayed with no stick cooking spray. Scoop the hot mixture with the spatula and use a piece of wax paper or parchment paper to press the hot mixture into the pan. At this point top with colored sprinkles if you want.

Cool at room temp 15 minutes or longer. Cut into bars as shown in photo.

Enjoy!

Do not scoop with coffee cup! Yep, showing off my Starbucks mug I purchased  in Cannes, France!

Cool in pan at room temp before cutting.

Cut into bars using a serrated knife - DELISH!




Sunday, April 7, 2019

Must Have $1 Kitchen Tool: Thanks to Julia Child

Julia Child gets much credit for bringing cooks into the kitchen in a period of time when frozen convenience cooking was popular in the 1960s. I believe her greatest introduction was the use of handy tools to make cooking less intimidating. She was known to be quite the gadget collector, a habit I, too, have picked up over the years.

During one of her early The French Chef series Julia shows the audience how to use a French pastry scraper OR she suggests picking up a putty scraper at the local hardware store for about $1! She shows the audience the two scrapers, and they are similar. In the 1960s, I am certain few kitchens stocked a traditional French scraper. I received my scraper shown here as a gift 45 years ago, and it has held up. Today, the tool can also be called a bench scraper, bench knife, or dough scraper.

This is such a handy device that can be used for pastry, bread dough, or cutting brownies, Rice Krispies treats, and bar cookies. The best part is you do not have to spend $25 + on this JC recommended tool. You can find an all steel version, which you can run through a dishwasher, for only $1 at the Dollar Tree store! If you are not near this store (a little gem of hidden gourmet finds) you can order a case of 24 on line delivered to your home at the link below. After keeping a couple for yourself, you can make 20+ friends and family members very happy by gifting them this must have tool, along with the Julia Child story. Easter basket stuffer?

While you are shopping at Dollar Tree, not just for their amazing selection of balloons, check out this imported Basil Pesto made in Italy that is delicious on pasta or gnocchi. It is great served on top of breaded chicken cutlets or as a condiment on grilled panini sandwiches. It's only $1.

Another great find is this Himalayan Pink Salt, at 7.5 ounces it is packed in South Africa and can't be beat for $1. Both of these items I have given as unique and useful hostess gifts.

Bottom line, if Julia Child could send cooks to the hardware store for a pastry scraper, let's not be uncomfortable heading to our local dollar store for some great kitchen devices and random, unexpected surprises along the way!

Bon Appétit!

My 45+ year old pastry scraper (bread made this morning - a future blog!)

Great use of tool and note this price available from King Arthur Flour website.

A steel scraper - a STEAL at $1 at Dollar Tree!

Guess what the bunny is gifting?

From Dollar Tree store Basil Pesto & Himalayan Pink Salt each $1.


Shop for scraper on line at Dollar Tree: