Bad news folks...the mister has decided to start a new business and this time he will be playing his "Disabled Veteran" card. I can't go into details yet - as it's super top secret and I'm thrilled that the mister is busy as busy can be....but I truly fear that come November 11th the mister will be donning fatigues as he waves a small flag while marching in the Veterans Day Parade...which means, of course, that I will be standing somewhere along the parade route, in the freezing cold rain, waiting for him to walk by so I can beam with pride...a frozen smile on a frozen body can indeed resemble a beam. Not that there is anything wrong with veterans marching in parades - Heaven forbid you should think that! I'm all for parades...I'm all for Veterans...I'm all for Agent Orange, the mister's alias, marching till Kingdom Come...It's just that I know how this is going to go so you'll have to pardon me for not wanting to wave the flags just yet...the mister will get very busy, which will lead to stress and then more stress...money will fly out the door as he builds his conglomerate and the purr of the draining of the bank account will be the sound track of our minds...when the trickle-down-theory is applied, it means stress for me...nails bitten to the nubs...gray hairs being plucked every hour on the hour and no more walking on egg-shells...nope, I'll need a hovercraft to get through my day with any chance of keeping my saintly attitude and my roll-with the-punches disposition...unless I turn to comfort food...I've found that two helpings a day keeps the shrink at bay!
Seriously, everyone likes Rice Krispie treats...and that means you so I KNOW you're going to love this kicked-up version, as my man Emeril might say...BAM! Rich chocolatey bottom, crunchy coconutty middle, creamy strawberry top...WOWSER! You're going to love these and so are the kidlets!
Neapolitan Krispie Bars - Adapted from Annie Rundle, Taste of Home Magazine, August 2009
1 package (10 oz.) large marshmallows, divided
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups Cocoa Krispies cereal
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
4 cups Rice Krispies cereal, divided
3/4 cup shredded coconut, packed
1/2 cup strawberry preserves
5 drops red food coloring
In a large saucepan, combine one third of the marshmallows (about 2 cups) and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat; stir in Cocoa Krispies and chocolate chips. Press into a greased 11x7-inch dish (do not use a 9x13-inch pan or your bars will be too thin!)
In a large saucepan, combine one third of the marshmallows and 1 tablespoon butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of the Rice Krispies and the shredded coconut. Press into dish over chocolate layer. (Using butter on the back of a spatula or on your finger tips makes this go a bit faster and prevents sticking.)
In a large saucepan, combine remaining marshmallows and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in preserves and food coloring. Stir in remaining cereal. Press into the dish on top of the coconut layer. Cool completely before cutting. Cut into bars. Makes 1 dozen. (If you don't want to dirty 3 pans, just wipe out the pan with a paper towel after each use.)
Sometimes I don't want the strawberry layer on top and I'll just make "Black and Whites." Follow the recipe above omitting the strawberry part...but be careful - these can be very addicting!
"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading; or do things worth the writing." ~ Benjamin Franklin
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One year ago today: Pumpkin Scones ala Starbucks
