Polka Dot Crispie Treats

Have you ever had a day when you really didn't feel like cooking at all, or even doing much of anything??? It doesn't happen to me very often, but yesterday was one of those days.  I was having a horrible no good rotten day.  Nothing that I could put my finger on . . . I just felt a bit blah.  Not sick . . . just a bit tired, run down . . .  and frustrated by nothing in particular . . . yet frustrated with everything, at the same time.  Grumpy.  Out of sorts.

For lunch I rifled through the fridge and put together a pizza.  There was a few bits of cheese that needed using up, some leftover cooked sausages that needed to be used, and some spring onions and black olives left from the other day when I made some Mexican dip.  They all ended up on top of the pizza . . .



and it was good . . . but it didn't chase the blues away.  I still felt out of sorts.  Then I remembered those lovely herbal teas I was sent the other day.  They looked and smelled delicious . . .  so why not.  A hot drink is often a nice pick me up.





And so I brewed a cup or two . . . and served it in my Katie Alice teacup.  And it was good.



Admittedly the crispie treats didn't hurt either.  I made them yesterday morning, and they went down a real treat with my afternoon refreshment break.  At my diabetic cooking class I have learned that it is okay to have a sugary treat once in a while, just so long as you don't go overboard.  In otherwords, a small bite.  And that's it for the day.



I still didn't feel much like cooking . . . but I did feel a bit more cheerful and not as grumpy as I had.  The question remains . . . was it the tea, or the sugar . . . or the chocolate . . . or that pretty tea cup.

Maybe it was all of them . . .

 

*Crispie Polka Dot Treats*
Makes 12 bars
Printable Recipe

A real favourite with the kiddos, big and small, young and old!

60g unsalted butter (1/4 cup)
284g white mini marshmallows (10 ounces)
60g peanut butter (1/2 cup)
110g crisp rice cereal (5 cups)
1 (147g) bag of colored candy coated chocolate buttons (M&M's,  Smarties, etc.)

 

Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.  Set aside.

Heat the butter in a large nonstick saucepan over low heat until melted.  Add the peanut butter, stirring to melt.  Add the marshmallows and continue to cook, stirring, until smooth..  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rice cereal to combine.  Then stir in the chocolate candies.  Press the mixture into the prepared pan, pressing it in evenly.  Cool completely until set before cutting into 3 inch square bars.

Note:  It is often easier to place the marshmallows, butter and peanut butter into a large microwaveable bowl and heat the mixture in the microwave on high, removing it and stirring it every minute or so, until the mixture is smooth and completely amalgamated.