Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Rice Krispies Treat Recipe

Have I got a yummy treat for you today.  I saw this little gem and just had to give it a try. Luckily for me my neighbor had just come home with her adorable new born baby and was in need of a tasty supper.  I whipped up a some delicious Chili Lime Enchiladas and a batch of these White Chocolate & Peanut Butter krispies for dessert.  Boy was I glad I tried these because they were amazing.  They came together quickly and easily and I only had to use my microwave to melt the chocolate.  Whip these up right away because you are going to love them.

You will need Mini Marshmallows, Mini Chocolate Chips, White Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, and Rice Krispies.

Slowly melt the chocolate in a microwave safe dish.  I started by lowering the power to 50% and went for 1 minute, stirred, and then nuked in 30 second increments.  Make sure to stir between each nuking. 

Add the Peanut Butter into the melted White Chocolate

and mix it all together well.  At this point you should probably enjoy a little taste..just to make sure it is as good as you imagine it is.

Add the Rice Krispies in with the White Chocolate/PB mixture.  This dish was too small so I actually moved it to a bigger dish when I realized that mixing without spilling was impossible.

Add in the Mini Mallows and the Mini Chocolate Chips and mix together well but gently.

Spray a 9x9 dish with non-stick spray.

Then add the mixture and gently press down.  No need to crush it..just press a bit.

Top with a few extra Mini Chocolate Chips and let it set up for an hour or two.  When the chocolate has hardened cut them up.

Make sure to take some to your neighbor who is in desperate need of a meal. 

Then you can enjoy one for yourself.

Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Rice Krsipies Treat Recipe
Source:  Cookies and Cups

12 oz Bag White Chocolate Chips
1/2 C Creamy Peanut Butter
3 C Rice Krispies Cereal
1 1/2 C Mini Marshmallows
1/4 C Mini Chocolate Chips plus a bit extra for Garnish

Lightly spray a 9x9 dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Using a microwave safe bowl melt the White Chocolate Chips in the microwave.  Set the power to 50% and start by setting the time to 1 minute.  Stir the Chocolate and stick back in continuing to use 50% power in 30 second increments until the Chocolate is fully melted.  Be careful to stir well between each use of the microwave.  You don't want to over melt the Chocolate or it will turn out hard and weird.

Once the Chips are fully melted add in the Peanut Butter and mix together really well.  In a large bowl add the Rice Krispies, Mini Chocolate Chips, and Mini Marshmallows.  If the Chocolate mix is really warm you may want to wait a few before you add in the highly meltables but I just threw them right in.  Mix everything together gently but thoroughly.

Transfer the Krsipies mixture to the dish and press it down gently.  No need to press too hard and crush everything together.  Sprinkle a TBSP or two of the Mini Chocolate Chips on top pressing them down a bit to make them look very pretty.  Allow them to cool for an hour or two. 

Cut into treats and Enjoy.

Pasta with Sweet Potato sauce and Crispy Kale Recipe

I have been trying to incorporate more leafy greens into my diet.  In the past I would only eat spinach and lettuce.  Over the last year I have expanded my greens by adding in Kale and Chard.  For some reason I find greens to be a bit scary.  I always hear about how much people hate greens.  My Mom does not appreciate the leafy greens at all.  I am always looking for fun new recipes that include new greens.  The other day I almost bought some Dandelion Greens but chickened out and got Kale instead.  Maybe I'll try those Dandelion Greens..but in this instance it was a good think that I bought the Kale so I could make this yummy recipe.  I liked that the sauce was made of Sweet Potato and the crispy Kale sounded amazing.  I really liked this dish and my 4 year old gobbled it up.  Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. 

You will need All Purpose Flour, Oil, Kale, Butter, Noodles, Garlic, Onion, Sesame Oil, Sweet Potato, Milk, and Parmesan Cheese.

Warm your pan over medium heat and add the Butter and the Oil.  Also start your pasta water and cook the Noodles when the water is ready.

When the Butter is melted add in the Onion

And the Garlic.  Cook for a few minutes until the onion starts to soften.

Meanwhile prepare the Kale by removing the leaves from the stems and ripping it into bite sized bits.

Pour in the Sesame Oil

And top with Parmesan Cheese and Salt & Pepper.  Toss to coat with your hands.

Lay on a rimmed baking sheet and pop in a 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes.  Stir at least once while cooking.

Add the Flour to the onion mixture

and whisk together well.

Then add in the Milk.

Whisk again.

Time to stir.

Cook and mash your Sweet Potato (I cooked mine in the microwave only takes ten minutes.)

Add the mashed Sweet Potato to the Onion/milk mixture and stir to combine.

Add in some Parmesan Cheese and season with Salt & Pepper to taste.

This is good stuff!  That Sesame Oil..Yum!

Drain the pasta.

Top with the sauce

and some of the crazy good crispy Kale.  Enjoy!

Pasta with Sweet Potato sauce and Crispy Kale Recipe
Source:  How Sweet it is

1 Large Sweet Potato, cooked and mashed
1 TBSP Oil
2 TBSP Butter
1/2 Onion, diced
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 TBSP Flour
1 1/2 C Milk
1/2 C grated Parmesan Cheese + 2 TBSP
1/2 Lb Pasta
1 head Kale, leaves removed from stem and in bite sized pieces
1 TBSP Toasted Sesame Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

Prepare the Pasta and Sweet Potato as desired.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a Large bowl combine the Kale, Sesame Oil, 2 TBSP Parmesan Cheese, about 1/4 tsp of each Salt and Pepper.  Toss together very well by hand.  Place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 15-18 minutes, making sure to stir at least once during the cooking.  Set aside when done.

Meanwhile prepare the Pasta and Sweet Potato.  I cooked my Sweet Potato in the microwave.

Warm a skillet over medium heat.  When the skillet is warm add the Butter and Oil.  Once the Butter is melted add in the Onion and Garlic.  Stir around and cook about 5 minutes till the onion is softened.  Add in the Flour and whisk together well.   Let it cook for a few minutes and once it is golden brown add in the Milk and the Sweet Potato.  Whisk together well.  Let the mixture come to a simmer and let it cook for a few minutes to thicken.  If it thickens too much add more milk and mix together well.  Add in the rest of the Parmesan Cheese, lower the heat to low, and stir to combine.  Taste and add Salt & Pepper as desired.

Top the Noodles with the Sweet Potato sauce and the Crispy Kale.  Enjoy!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe

I love Pineapple Upside Down cake.  When I was a kid my Mom would make it in a dutch oven when we would go camping.  I am pretty sure that there is nothing as delicious as a dutch oven dessert when you are camping.  I imagine the fact that we were always running around, playing, being wild, and getting hungry all day didn't hurt either.

The other day I had a serious hankering for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  It was pretty crazy.  I just had to make one and eat some.  It was so delicious and reminded me of the good old camping days.  You can't beat the flavor that the brown sugar and butter get when mixed with the pineapple and cherries.  Oh yum!  If you haven't tried this type of cake you must make one..and quickly too.

You will need Oil, Yellow Cake Mix, Eggs, Maraschino Cherries, Pineapple Rings, Butter, and Brown Sugar.

Distribute the Butter along the bottom of a cake pan. 

Top the Butter with Brown Sugar.  Place it in the oven as it is warming up to 350 degrees.

Prepare the cake mix according to package instructions.

It's an extra bonus if your adorable 4 year old helps you with the mixing.

Check on the Butter and Brown sugar mixture, it's done when everything is melted together and bubbly and amazing looking.  This step only takes a couple of minutes so keep an eye on it.

Top the bubbly mixture with Pineapple Rings and put a Maraschino Cherry in the middle of each ring.

This looks divine already.

Top the Pineapple rings with the mixed cake batter and bake at 350 degrees for 42-48 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan shortly after it comes out of the oven.  Let the cake sit for a few minutes, but no more than 5 or it will become tricky to remove the cake from the pan.

Dump the pan upside down and enjoy a delicious slice.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe

1 Box Yellow cake mix (plus the ingredients needed according to package instructions)
1 Can Pineapple Rings
12 Maraschino Cherries
1/4 C Butter
1 C Brown Sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Cut the Butter into small chunks and evenly distribute them along the bottom of the cake pan.  Top the Butter with the Brown Sugar and stick in the oven while it pre-heats.  Check it in a couple of minutes, you want everything melted and bubbly.  Watch carefully though, you don't want it to burn.  Remove once melted and bubbly.  Then, arrange the Pineapple rings along the bottom of the pan and place a Maraschino Cherry in the middle of each ring. 

Meanwhile prepare the cake mix according to package instructions.  Pour the batter over the Pineapple/butter/brown sugar mixture and place in the oven and bake 42-48 min but check around 30 min with a toothpick to make sure it isn't cooking too quickly.  Remove when a toothpick comes out clean.

Run a butter knife along the edges of the pan to help loosen the cake.  You want to let the cake set a minute but no longer than five minutes.  Grab a cookie sheet or serving platter and place on top of the cake pan.  Flip it over and everything should come out quick and easy.

Enjoy!