Snap and Crackle

Mmmmm, Rice Krispie Treats. Simple...wholesome (there's grain in there)...reminds you of your childhood. My mom used to make them at least once a month it seems.

One of my coworkers got jealous that my cubemate got to request baked goodies twice in one week, so he wanted something for himself. I told him I didn't have time til the end of this week, but that I'd be at the grocery taking a cooking class, so I'd pick up the ingredients for Krispie Treats. He wanted to pay me! I told him my husband wouldn't take that too kindly!

They are so simple and yet so good. As soon as I bit into one last night still barely warm a flood of memories came back to me. My secret was handed down to me from my mom - add peanut butter in the melted marshmallow mix for that extra tasty quotient. At only 2 tablespoons of butter to the whole 9x13 pan, they are even a low-cal treat.

Rice Krispie Treats

2 tablespoons butter
1 10-ounce bag of large marshmallows
6 cups crisped rice cereal
1/4 cup peanut butter - crunchy or smooth

Melt butter in a nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. You want this to be a pretty large pan to hold all that cereal.

Add marshmallows and when almost melted completely, add peanut butter. Stir until combined and marshmallows are completely melted. Reduce heat to very low or take off heat completely (depending on how fast you can add your cereal). Sometimes I am slow to get all that cereal in and combined so I leave it on low heat to keep it soft.

Butter or spray a 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray and gently press the mixture into the pan. Do it pretty fast before it hardens up too much. Using a silicone spatula or a spatula sprayed with cooking spray really keeps it from sticking.

Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!