frannie's faves

As soon as I showed any interest in helping out in the kitchen, I spent a few days leading up to each Christmas celebration helping my grandma make batch after batch of candy.

It wasn't serious, candy-thermometer-required candy, but stuff like chocolate-covered peanut butter Ritz sandwich crackers and chocolate-covered pretzels. Another treat we always made went unnamed (I heard my brother say that he just knew it as "that white chocolate peanut butter stuff") but was (and, as I was pleased to discover, continues to be!) amazingly delicious, and those candies are what I remember as being a favorite for both me and my grandma. They consist of melted vanilla or white chocolate bark combined with peanut butter and then mixed with marshmallows, peanuts (optional, if I had my druthers!), and crispy rice cereal. Unbelievably easy and crazy tasty.

I made some to give to my grandma (and others) for Christmas this year--we haven't had a chance to be in the kitchen together for way too long and I thought she'd enjoy remembering those times (and snacking on the cookies).

Happy New Year, everyone!

That White Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuff
(printable recipe)
Ingredients:

• 2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 cup salted peanuts pieces, optional
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 pound white chocolate or vanilla bark

Directions:
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
Mix cereal, marshmallows, and nuts in a large bowl; set aside.
Melt white chocolate and peanut butter together in a double boiler or (carefully) in the microwave.
Once melted and combined, pour the mixture over the cereal and marshmallows and stir until completely coated.
Drop onto the lined pans using a spoon.
Place in refrigerator until chocolate is set, about 1-2 hours.