S'mores meet Krispy Treats

I love to collect old books. One of my favorite authors to collect is Miss Read (aka Dora Jessie Saint). She was a mid-20th century author who wrote about life in a couple fictional villages in a fictional county somewhere in England. Character studies were her specialty, and I love to delve into my collection on a regular basis. You can read more about Miss Read here.

Miss Read's books are also available in paperback, and
are still in print. But I happen to love the illustrator in
the hardcover versions, John S. Goodall.

So why do I bring this up? Because of her book, "Over the Garden Gate." In this book, readers are privy to the gossip - sorry - tales of village life told from one neighbor to another over the garden gate.

Mary Jane mentioned that she found a new recipe on Facebook over the weekend (you can read her post here), and the recipe I'm sharing today also came from Facebook. With all of this recipe sharing, I realized that Facebook is the current version of the old garden gate.

In our grandmother's and great-grandmother's day, a lot of visiting happened over the garden gate. As a young wife, I spent hours visiting with our neighbor over the back fence. Our children would play happily under our watchful eyes while we shared child-rearing ideas and cookie recipes. Fast forward ten years, and I did the same thing in our neighborhood in Goshen, Indiana, except our visiting was over the front porch rails instead of the back fence.

But now we share recipes, advice, and (too often) complaints in our virtual neighborhoods on the internet. Too much change? Or is it just right? I'm not sure I have a handle on that, but I do know I find some great recipe ideas on Facebook!

S'mores meet Krispy Treats

This recipe is so easy, it's scandalous.

Start with your favorite Crisp Rice Cereal Treat recipe. Here's mine:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 13oz. bag mini marshmallows

6 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal

Melt the butter over low heat, then add the marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are mostly melted, then add the peanut butter and stir until the mixture is smooth. Add the crisp rice cereal and mix until well blended.

BUT DON'T START YET!

First you need to prepare the s'mores part of the recipe.

Melt 12 ounces (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Also, have ready about 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs.

Do you have those two items ready? Good. 

Now, make your crisp rice treats and put the mixture in a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

With clean and buttered hands, spread the mixture evenly in your pan. You want to work quickly so the treats don't cool, and this is the fastest way to spread the sticky stuff evenly. Press down firmly!

Spread the melted chocolate chips on top, spreading evenly with the back of a spoon.

Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on the chocolate, then transfer the whole thing to a cutting board and cut it in half. A pizza cutter works great for this step.

If you've worked quickly enough, the crisp rice treat bottom should still be warm and pliable. Butter you hands again and starting from the longer edge, roll each half jelly-roll style. As you're rolling, press the outside layer firmly to seal in all the goodness.

Wrap in wax paper (or use the parchment paper), and refrigerate the rolls for at least an hour, preferably two.

Slice into 3/4" to 1" slices and serve.

And these aren't just for kids! I served these to our Bible Study group and they were a hit.

Meanwhile, we're getting closer to the release of "Naomi's Hope," the last book in the "Journey to Pleasant Prairie" series. My website has all the links so you can pre-order from your favorite on-line retailer (www.JanDrexler.com), or ask for it at your local bookstore!

Here's a bit about the story: 

Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents’ home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she’s not at the top of any man’s list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing thought that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.

When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey’s true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy’s future as well as their own. How can she relinquish him to these unknown relatives? And can God somehow bring wholeness to her heart?

www.JanDrexler.com

Jan Drexler loves her family, her home, cooking and just about anything made by hand. But she loves her Lord most of all.

Stop by Jan's website to learn more about her books: www.JanDrexler.com

Marshmallow Memories

I didn't realize, until I found marshmallows I could eat because they didn't contain corn syrup, how much I had missed those little rounded squares of white gooey, vanilla sweetness. Finding  Dandies Marshmallows changed my life. They have no gelatin like other corn free marshmallows so they melt like the regular marshmallows do. They brown like marshmallows do. They even catch fire like marshmallows do!

Yep, I had to prove Catching Fire wasn't just an idle claim or only a book/movie title.

With my new marshmallows, I can make s'mores again, if I can find wheat free graham crackers or something I like as well. The thing I loved best about Girl Scouts after the camping trips. In fact, I quit Girl Scouts when the troop I was in decided NOT to do as many camping trips. What was the point?

This is my Girl Scout sash. It was pretty cool to be in the Nations Capital region.

The first printed S’mores recipe appeared in 1927 in the Girl Scout handbook called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.  Rumor has it the chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallow “S’mores” name came from campers asking for “some more.”  Sigh, I am still searching for graham cracker substitutes. I know I can use GF cookies but it isn't quite the same. Better refer back to my new traditions post for encouragement.

Crackerless s'more. So sad.

But there was one treat from my childhood I could make! Rice Krispie Treats. Except I can't call them that because the name is trademarked and I use other gluten free cereal as an ingredient. The original recipe was developed by two women, Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day, Kelloggs home economists, in 1939 using Campfire marshmallows to create a fundraiser for another girls' organization, Camp Fire Girls.

The original name was Marshmallow Squares. Soon the bars were more than a fundraiser, they were a wartime morale booster, sent in WWII care packages across the globe due to their stability and cereal ingredients. The gooey treat (I like the word gooey a little too much) have been a childhood treat ever since.  You can find the original recipe here.

For years, I'd watched folks eat marshmallow treats or pops on a stick. The memories of making them with my mom was so strong. But I needed corn free marshmallows. Years passed and then? Tah dah! When I found Dandies, oh, the joy! But I only make a small batch so I don't binge!

I used an 8X8 pan. Oh, that missing corner? Well, I had to make sure they tasted all right!

Recipe (for an 8X8 pan):

Melt three tablespoons butter on low. Note: I used three tablespoons instead of half that because I discovered my marshmallows seemed to melt better with more butter. Start with three tablespoons if you are doubling the recipe and add more as needed.

Add 1/2 bag Dandies marshmallows and stir until melted. Stir constantly so the marshmallow doesn't burn and the butter doesn't brown. 

Add approximately 3 cups rice cereal gradually. It can turn into a ball in no time so work quickly.

Butter an 8X8 pan (9X13 for double) and press cereal mixture into pan using parchment or wax paper, spreading evenly. Let cool if you can wait that long. 

I love them but, boy, are they a lot sweeter than I remember! Small squares are best!

PS. Every Thanksgiving,  we are marshmallow on sweet potatoes/sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows people. Now I can too.

PPS. Don't go to Pinterest. Too many cute marshmallow craft ideas! Treat this recipe like you would the regular recipe. Add holiday sprinkles, ice with chocolate etc.

Are you a marshmallow fan or foe? Do you have a favorite recipe using marshmallows?