Rice Krispie Squares

*  500 g large white marshmallows cut into quarters (4)
*  1/2 cup shortening or unsalted butter
*  6 cups cereal
*  Wax paper

Variations / things to add (at least 1 cup) to the cereal mix could include:

Raisins
Trail mix
Nuts, preferably small (like sunflower seeds) or sliced (likealmonds) 
Chocolate chips
Long grain coconut
Toasted Oats (Take 2 cups Quaker Oats and 1/4 cup unsalted butter and heat in oven or in a skillet, mixing until brown and toasted
Dried Fruit:  Strawberries, Apples, Apricots - Suggest chopping very finely
Fruit loops
Mini M+Ms

Choose 2 large cookie sheets or serving plates.  Cover trays with wax paper.  Cut 2 additional pieces of wax paper for use later.

In your largest bowl place the butter or shortening and heat for 1 minute on high.  Add marshmallows, mix to coat with oil.
Heat in microwave for another 90 seconds and mix well.  The mixture will have expanded, when you stir it you get a white, soupy foam. 

Quickly add the cereal and mix VIGOROUSLY (You only have about a minute before it starts to harden a bit...).
Empty mixture onto wax paper and use another sheet of wax paper to press flat.

Wait until cool, remove wax paper, cut into squares or bars and serve.


A few things to keep in mind when preparing this recipe:

*  Everything happens very fast.  You want to have the marshmallows and shortening in one bowl and the dry ingredients pre-mixed in another bowl with 2 platters set up with wax paper.  Once the hot marshmallow paste comes out of the microwave you have to be ready to quickly mix the ingredients together and form your patty.  The marshmallow does not stay soft forever and you don't want to be fumbling around.  

*  Don't use colored marshmallows.  They contain coloring and don't dissolve well.  Standard "campfire style" marshmallows are ideal, one large bag is enough for 2 "loads" of cookies.  Don't use pre-made marshmallow syrup, it's pretty disgusting.

*  Easy Now...  When finishing the cookies don't press the wax paper down TOO hard when forming the patty.  The bars tend to get too chewy and tough if you press down too hard, trying to "compress" as much food into each bar as possible.  It's nicer to see the rice krispies themselves, and the bar is not as chewy and tough the next day.  

*  Kids don't like cinnamon so if you intending to adding apples and Oats, skip the cinnamon.

*  Snacks for tomorrow  This recipe is efficient since it leaves you with 2 packages of covered desserts.  It's now easy to put in the refrigerator and serve the next day.  If you are serving it from the fridge try and let it thaw a bit before serving. 






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                         This recipie was found at Uncle Bucks Recipie HomePage
                               http://www.askauntsue.com/r/Default.htm            


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