What Your Mom Never Told You About Rice Krispies Treats

When my kids want to learn a few new swear words they ask me to make Rice Krispies treats.  I absolutely hate making them.  I am not really a fan of eating them either but damn if those kids aren't so darn cute.

There is a misconception that these sickly sweet treats are easy because there are only three ingredients (marshmallows, butter and rice krispies) but they fail to tell you how freaking' hard it is to work with them because they are so sticky.  Melted marshmallow people!  Not the most friendly of foods to work with when you have little patience.

Yes, I should have realized this but damn pinterest only shows you the end product when I thought it would be fun to make these last Valentines' Day.


How cute would a rice krispies heart on a stick look!  I ended up cutting them into bars and dipping one half of it in the chocolate.  Why one half?  It was just easier to dry them that way.

Last week, I made rice krispies for a potluck at work because they are a favorite of the person that was being honored in said potluck.  I had to be quick since I had just come from a dentist appointment and still had to go back to work.  I had nothing for this potluck!

I kept remembering that stupid commercial with the mom, reading a book and a stack of awesome treats in front of her.  Could these things really be that hard?  Was a year enough time to put it behind me?  I can make lobster thermidor - from scratch, how can these things be so tough for me?

I made them and it wasn't as bad as it was last February and low and behold they now have gluten free! No, I am not and no this isn't a plug for them however so many people I know are gluten free and there are so many allergies at school these days I feel like this is a big score for the wanna be room mom!

So I thought I would make them for C-man's class.  He is star of the week after all and I could make them into star shapes (because the heart shapes were a win?)!

I had to send the kids out of the room.  As soon as one of the kids put a big toe in the kitchen while I was mixing the damn cereal in the bowl with the gooey marshmallow mess and the rice krispies started spilling out my blood pressure went up and I seethed, through clenched teeth, "leave me be" and "no, you can't help!"

Baby girl is at that stage where she not only has to do everything herself but also has to help with everything in the kitchen.  She left sniffling to be with her dad and C-man just rolled his eyes and laughed.

If I was a better mom I'd let her help but maybe I am being a better mom by not letting her see me lose it over a stupid class treat.

The end product, all 32 of them turned out great and the kids were happy to have a treat at school. This was a pintrest win, finally, but I will not be doing this again or at least not till Valentine's Day.

Do you remember this commercial?

Post by I Need a Playdate.

Room Mom, Election Day, and Pumpkin Pie Chex Mix

Since, Goofy started school, I have been pretty active in his class room. Actually, both the Husband and I have been active in our kid's school life. The Husband volunteers with classroom activities and field trips and I bake and attend class parties.

Goofy's school, last year, had a lot of parent involved activities but now that we are in a new school (because we moved ten houses away from the district's imaginary cut off line) there is not as much planned for his class as there was in the previous school. It could be that he is now in first grade and they don't need as much help as they did as kindergartners, it could be he is in a much smaller class or it could be the demographic for his school is different. I honestly can't tell, yet.

At the previous school, standing in front of the school, waiting for the kids to come out was a mini social hour.  Add a bar or barista and it would have been the perfect mid-day hot spot.  There moms and dads where dressed nicely and chatted freely.  I am not social by nature, but I even greeted strangers other parents with a smile and started up a conversation (okay, maybe I am a little social - or nervous talker, whatever).  I even made some mom friends - who I never see anymore since we switched schools.

The new school, no one really looks you in the eye unless they have to and I would not call it social time.  In fact, there are not many parents who stand in front of the school and wait for the kids to come out but instead go around back and get in the driving lane.  It seems, they drop their kids off this way, too.

Apparently, it may be that way in the participation department of his classroom, too.

I am not entirely sure of this as the Husband has actually been to the classroom a few times this year and I have not.  His schedule rotates so he is off on weekdays where I work a straight 9 to 5 gig.  In other words, I have to schedule days off to volunteer which is why I take all the class parties (there where four last year) and bake when ever needed.

When the sign up sheet went around asking for volunteers for class activities, bake sales and what not, I filled out both sheets that came home - one for me and one for the Husband.  He is signed up for classroom help and field trips.  I am signed up for parties and baking.  Neither of us signed up to be a room parent.

And then, I got the call...

"Would you be room mom?"


"Um... sure?  I guess?"


"Great!  I only got three forms back from your child's class room and - wait, is this Dad your husband?"


"Yes."


"So, we only, really got two sheets back and it would really be great if you could be room mom.... yada yada yada"

Now that I am room mom I feel an obligation to participate in things like - bake sales

My first official PTA Election Day Bake Sale 

 
Since it is a fall election I decided to make Chex® Pumpkin Pie Crunch with melted Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses (mixed with Torani Brown Sugar Cinnamon Flavored Syrup) drizzled on top of the mix as it was cooling.

There are nuts in the recipe and you can add nuts but I left out the nuts. It is a PTA function and all and I would not want anyone to not buy my treat because of nuts.

*giggle* nuts. my treat. *giggle*

I realize that since I made these I should not brag but I have to say - very, very tasty so freakin' good!


If I was really clever, I would have made the Chex® Apple Pie Snack Mix since this is, after all, a bake sale that is taking place on Election Day, in the polling station (aka school gym); at the school.  Then again, I would have no reason to buy, yet another, bag of Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses and add it to my *giggle* treats.

I will admit, when I heard about this bake sale I sort of shrugged and thought, well - nothing.

It is what it is and gave it very little thought other then what to make.  At least until, I was browsing the NaBloPoMo entries and notice one from a blogger/friend I follow - Random Handprints -The Last Time I Voted: 2008.  Besides, the ridiculous cute pictures of @RandomHandprint's daughters, she actually pointed out something that never occurred to me: 

I also wondered to myself if the bake sale was "fair" - wasn't the reminder that the public schools lacked funding and therefore needed to raise money via these bake sales, a subtle nudge in favor of the left?

She and our PTA are geniuses!  Geniuses! And, totally fair!  I am now a bigger fan of the PTA and PTA sponsored baked sales on election days than ever before.

So, on this Election Day, may you go out, vote and buy a treat from our under funded school's PTA because not only are you supporting them, your school and your country, you are helping to boost one mom's standing in the PTA and as room mom!  Oh, and probably helping to buy juice boxes and pay for the field trip that little Johnny so badly wants to go on.

Chex® Pumpkin Pie Crunch 

Ingredients

¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
¼ cup butter
2 tsps. vanilla
2 cups Cinnamon Chex® cereal
2 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
2 cups Honey Nut Chex® cereal
8 oz pecans

Directions

1. Combine brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Microwave butter on High about 30 seconds or until melted then add vanilla.
3. In a large microwavable bowl, mix all cereals and pecans.
4. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly distributed.
5. Add sugar and spice mixture and stir until coated. (I did not use all of it…)
6. Microwave uncovered on High 5 minutes or until mixture begins to brown, stirring every minute.
7. Spread on wax paper or a cookie sheet to cool.