Monday, October 10, 2011

Halloween Marshmallow Krispie Treats and a Foodbuzz Award Nomination

Vote for Liv Life - Foodbuzz's Best Family Food Blog

Some twenty years ago I made my first batch of Rice Krispie Treats.  With the ingredients assembled I set to work following what appeared to be a fairly simple recipe only to find myself and the kitchen covered in some sort of sticky marshmallow mess a mere 30 minutes later.  Not only was the marshmallow on my hands, in my hair and on the counter, but the layer in the mixing bowl seemed to have turned into some sort of marshmallow cement leaving me tempted to head to the garage for a chisel.  The treats were OK, but the effort to put them together left me with little desire to try again.

My Little Bakers - Circa 2001
Fast forward about 10 years and my young son was begging for the pre-packaged treats in the bright blue wrappers.  Being a mom who doesn't take kindly to packaged foods I decided it just might be time to try my hand at these krispie treats again.  With my son in tow we again assembled the ingredients.  He measured the puffed rice, even getting most of it into the bowl while I slowly heated the marshmallows over the stove.  This time I actually greased the pan ahead of time and had it ready and waiting.  My son had the spoon in his hand and was ready to stir as soon as I said "Go!" and we poured the melted marshmallow mixture over the krispies.  Both of us stirred madly and then quickly poured the krispies into the prepared pan.  A plastic sandwich bag sprayed lightly with cooking spray kept the stickiness off of our hands and a simple soak in the sink had the mixing bowl clean in no time.  Could they really be that easy?  In a word... yes!

Since then krispie treats have made frequent appearances in our house and are my son's most requested recipe.  He prefers peanut butter versions over regular plain krispies with his all time favorite being our Triple Peanut Butter Layered Treats. 

Funny story... when we posted the Triple PB Treats I was thrilled to have Amanda at Food Porn Daily feature them on her site and proudly told my son of my accomplishment as I drove him home from school.  His comment was, "Featured on Food Porn Daily??  I'm just curious when they will be featured on our kitchen table!"  Ah... the joys of parenting a teen!

With Halloween right around the corner and another request for krispie treats I grabbed a bag of Reese's Pieces on a whim.  Melting peanut butter with the marshmallow mixture, I added the bag of treats to the measured chocolate puffed cereal and quickly mixed like crazy (now my habit) as I combined the "wet" with the "dry".  Producing peanut butttery treats studded with peanut butter candies, we have another winner.

On another note I am extraordinarily humbled to announce that Liv Life has been nominated by the Featured Publishers at Foodbuzz for the Best Family Food Blog Award.  Liv and I stared in amazement as we read the notification and then let out a whoop heard around the town.

Foodbuzz Blog Award Nomimee 2011
Vote for Liv Life here!
Liv and I would be thrilled to have your vote!  If you would like to participate, please follow this Award Link to the Foodbuzz site and take a moment to cast your vote for Liv Life under the Best Family Food Blog section.  And we wouldn't mind if you asked your friends to vote too!  Feel free to shout out on Facebook or Twitter or simply by email.  We have already received so much support that I am simply overwhelmed, and I can't thank you all heartily enough.  The polls close in about a week on October 17th with an announcement coming in early November... we will keep you posted!

In the meantime, enjoy some krispie treats on us.  Halloween is just around the corner and these colorful, Halloween themed krispies have one teenage boy satisfied... at least for the moment.



Halloween Marshmallow Krispie Treats
Recipe Liv Life

6 cups Chocolate Puffed Rice Cereal
1 package Reese's Pieces (10.5 oz)
3 Tbs unsalted butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 bag (10.5-oz) miniature marshmallows

Prepare a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl mix the cereal and peanut butter candies, set aside.   Melt the butter and peanut butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  When mostly melted add the marshmallows.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture, quickly stirring well to evenly coat the cereal.  Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared pan and evenly press into the pan.

Allow to set, cut and serve!
Liv Life Tip:  I've found that spraying my hands with a touch of cooking spray allows me to pat down the treats into the pan without any sticking!  

40 comments:

  1. Of course you've already been voted for over here! I love the story about the original rice krispie treat. you've definitely come far since those days. These look fantastic. I'll have to make them for Dudette's class some day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your Halloween Krispie treats are perfect for Halloween. Like you, I have made countless marshmallow treats over the years, but have adapted my recipe to heat the butter and marshmallows in the microwave. Works out much better for me, especially if you are making them with small children.

    I already voted for the Liv Life duo:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your nomination!
    Thanks for sharing a fun and tasty Halloween treat that my older children would also love;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great festive dessert, looks delicious!! Congratulations on your nomination!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looks amazing....SO happy for you!
    xoxo from Trinidad

    ReplyDelete
  6. This would be great for the kids treats and Congratulations on your nomination!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on your nomination! That picture of you little bakers is way too cute. Love these bars...they sound so good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is my kind of rice crispy treat!!! Congrats on your nominations. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. ahh memories! They grow up so darn fast :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. These treats look so yummy!! Congrats on your big nomination!

    ReplyDelete
  11. These are my secret guilty pleasure!! I will never grow out of loving the sugary chewy crispy goodness :) Great you're nominated!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Rice Krispie treats look delicious! Congratulations on your nomination and best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Did you say...peanut butter?! I've had the rice krispy treats, I've even had the chocolate ones but not these! I'll have to show the kids this recipe and drop some hints! I hope you get that award or I'll go on strike. I hope you had a good day! X O X O!

    ReplyDelete
  14. These look so delicious! Perfect for kids (or adults!) for the fall. May have to whip some up this weekend for my 10 year old.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ohhh man! These sound so amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  16. You got my vote! I'm months behind in reading posts, but I saw the nominations and cast my votes right away.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, my, WORD, I want to eat these right now!!! :D And hunny bunny... you TOTALLY have my vote! :D

    ReplyDelete
  18. No wonder these sticky treats are so popular. We should make them for my kids, too, for something different this year. LOVE that shot of the children back in 2001. They are just SO cute! And goes without saying my BFF, you already have my vote, Kim. J xo

    ReplyDelete
  19. You do have a way with rice krispy treats-Yum! Brings me back to my childhood..but I still love these treats.
    Congrats on your nomination!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congrats on the nomination! So exited to see who’s taking home the award. I didn’t grow up with rice crisp and looks like I’m missing out!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on the nomination!! Isn't it funny how one bad experience with a recipe as a kid can turn us off forever! Well until our kids ask, because we will always do anything for our kids! Love these with chocolate cereal and reese's!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats on the nomination! I already voted for you yesterday...completely deserved. Your blog is of my absolute favorites!

    These treats looks great...I was always asking my mom to make these for me when I was younger because it was one of the only sweet things I could eat. I was severely allergic to artificial colors and flavors when I was younger (still am, but it takes a MUCH larger dose of it to get to me now) so treats were the best. Thanks for reminding me of how much I love these treats...I think I might go home and make some tonight :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congrats on the well deserved nomination!! You got my vote day one! These crispy treats are spooktacular! Love the story of the first batch...haven't we all been there sometime... I know I have. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congratulation on your nomination and you know you got my vote!
    those treats do bring back memories, I think my girls need to whip up a batch of those treats in class!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kim, your children are adorable and so are these Halloween Marshmallow Krispie Treats! I know for a fact these would be HUGE in my house.

    So proud of you for the Foodbuzz Best Family Food Blog nom! I'm heading there now to cast a vote...best wishes to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congrats on the nomination! It's because you are so talented in coming up with recipes! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, my boys would LOVE these! I need to make this for them very soon.

    Congrats on the nomination! You definitely deserve it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  28. delicious looking treat colourful looks wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  29. First of all - not only are those packaged ones not very good for you but they taste terrible too! I don't know what they put in those things, but ew! These look a million times better. Congrats on your nomination!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congrats on the nomination Kim! You totally deserve all the awards!
    The rice krispie look so spooky and so much fun to make them.
    The photo of your little bakers is just precious!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hooray for your nomination!!!! Fingers crossed for you~

    Oh, how I love RK Treats...both the plain and pb version! I don't think I could pick a favortie, but yours with the Reeses added are right up there :) Had to giggle at your son's comment...my kiddos would be asking the same question.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Halloween goodness! I like those treats. Congrats on the nomination too.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congrats on your nomination! These rice krispie treats look incredible! Rice krispie treats are always a favorite and the addition of peanut butter just puts these over the top! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  34. You've got my vote! I love your blog and it definitely deserves an award! Love the krispie treats!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congratulations, Kim! Great news and a delicious treat-- Best to you!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Congrats!!! And I love how easy and cute these are!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Kim-these look great! Im making these for sure tomorrow. We love peanut butter in our house. Congrats on food buzz nomination. You have a beautiful blog!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make our hearts sing!