hankering for s'more

Last month our closest friends, the hubs, and I went to the Dells for a long weekend. Nothing too fancy -- just a chance to hang out and get away for a minute. We rented a 'villa' (how it differs from a condo, I still don't know) with a fully-equipped kitchen, knowing we'd cook our meals. So upon arrival, we made the standard Super-Walmart run, and picked up the goods...including stuff for s'mores.

Long story short, we thought there was a fire pit at our place and our stove was electric. That's right people. No flames, no s'mores. So at the end of our trip, we had multiple bags of marshmallows. So I took one home. Unbeknownst to me, I already had a gigantic bag of marshmallows in the pantry.

Now picture this. Last week, it's 10:30 at night, the hubs is downstairs playing video games, and I'm in the kitchen standing over the stove toasting some marshmallows. And because I'm lazy clever, I grabbed LU cookies from the pantry, and proceeded to make my s'mores. Opening the graham crackers AND a chocolate bar seemed like too much work at the time. The next night looked more or less the same.

Fast forward to this past week, and my bestie is texting me about how she's making rice krispy treats. And being the preggo that I am, I'm thinking about them nonstop. The hubs and I were having some company too, so perfect opportunity to make some without eating the whole pan myself. So I make them, and they're every bit of delicious that I had wanted. Except, I still had a bag and a half of marshmallows.

Which leads us to yesterday. Upon being reminded that it was National S'mores Day, I needed more s'mores. But alas, we were going to my sister-in-law's and I wanted something more simple. So I made s'mores rice krispy treats. Because rice krispy treats are quick and easy to make, and s'mores are always a good idea.

S'mores Rice Krispy Treats

adapted from ricekrispies.com

Ingredients:

3 tbsp butter

40 regular marshmallows

5 cups rice krispy cereal

4 graham cracker sheets, broken into small pieces

1/3 cup milk chocolate chunks/chips

1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips 

For topping:

1/4 cup milk chocolate chunks

2 tsbp mallow bits* (or mini marshmallows)

Directions:

Measure out cereal into a large bowl. Add graham cracker pieces and chocolate.

(I use the microwave because I think it's faster.) In a separate large bowl, melt the butter in 45 seconds. Add marshmallows and stir to coat with melted butter. Microwave for 45 seconds and stir. Then microwave an additional 45 seconds and stir until butter and marshmallows are combined. 

Add cereal mixture to melted marshmallows and gently stir until all the cereal is evenly coated. Note: chocolate will melt. No worries.

Transfer mixture into greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chunks so they are evenly distributed near the top of the mixture. Use a piece of wax paper to evenly press down mixture in the pan. Finally, sprinkle mallow bits on top and lightly press down so they stick.

*Mallow bits are found near the marshmallows in a parmesan cheese shaker looking container, but with a blue top. They're made by Kraft. They're pretty much like the marshmallows you would get in the prepackaged hot chocolate. 

I put my pan in the fridge for about 10 minutes to help the mixture cool faster. Plus, I didn't want the rest of my chocolate to melt. Then I let it sit on the counter to cool normally. I cut them up and snuck a square checked for quality, thus fulfilling my s'more craving. 

Like I said, I brought them to my sister-in-law's, and happily left the rest there. But now that I've written this post, I'm fully regretting my actions and thinking that I need to make these again. Maybe right now.