This and that: Marshmallow

Showing posts with label Marshmallow. Show all posts

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Craisin White Chocolate Marshmallow Oatmeal Cookies ~ #fillthecookiejar

I have joined another new facebook group called Fill the Cookie Jar. This group was started by a good friend, Cynthia from Feeding Big. Each month we are given a theme and we will have to fill the cookie jar with the cookies we have made. This month's theme is Kids Favorite/Back to School. The post will be published on the first of the month. You do not have to participate every month, which is a nice feature of this group. If you are interested in joining click on the link: Fill the Cookie Jar, fill out the form and start baking cookies.. Who doesn't like to bake and eat cookies.

Fill The Cookie Jar

One of my favorite cookies growing up and is still today is Oatmeal Raisin cookies. I could eat the whole cookie jar. Last week at work they had Oatmeal Craisin cookies with marshmallows. I decided that this was going to be my cookie for this month. I decided to add some white chocolate, because who doesn't like chocolate in their cookies. I did some reading about adding marshmallows to your cookies. One person said to not add them to the dough mixture and just to push them into the center part of the cookies. I tried that and it got tedious, so I dumped the rest of the marshmallows into the cookie dough and mixed them up. I tried not to have any marshmallows on the bottom so that they wouldn't stick. They did work out but the marshmallows melted too much for my liking so next time I will put them in after they have baked about half the time and see what happens. I will update when I do this.

Craisin White Chocolate Marshmallow Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups oatmeal

2 cups flour (I used 3/4 cup whole wheat and 1 1/4 cup white flour)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1 cup craisin

1/2 cup white chocolate (I used Ghirardelli white chocolate and broke it into pieces)

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows ( I cut my marshmallows in half)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In mixing bowl add butter and sugars. Mix until smooth.

Add eggs and beat until thoroughly mixed.

Mix in vanilla.

In separate bowl mix oatmeal, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice. Slowly add this mixture to butter/sugar mixture and continue to beat until well mixed.

With mixing spoon mix in craisins and white chocolate.

Either add marshmallows at this stage or wait until the cookies are on cookie sheet.

Using cookie scoop drop cookies onto cookie sheet.

If you haven't added the marshmallows, add a couple of them now.. pressing into cookie dough

Bake for 10-12 minutes in 350 degree oven. Let sit on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

Links: Tasty Thursdays , CakeFriday Coffee Klatch

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

June's #SurpriseRecipeSwap- Chocolate Apricot Pistachio Krispie Granola Bars

Once again it is that time again.. Time to reveal who's blog we had and the recipe that we decided to make. This swap was started by Jutta from Hungry Little Girl and if you would like information about this swap, click on the button at the bottom of the post. I have had lots of fun, going through blogs and finding recipes that I would love to make... The only hard part is narrowing your choice down to one recipe.

This month I was given Christie from A Kitchen Hoor. Her blog was new to me so was excited to go through it and check out many great recipes. She has many great and delicious recipes and I had a very hard time picking only one.. but I did and I have a list of many others that I will be trying sometime in the near future.

The recipe that I picked was her Fancy Pistachio Apricot Rice Krispie Treat. I was intrigued as I read the recipe and never would have thought of the fact that with rice krispie treats you have one bag of marshmallows and 6 cups of dried ingredients (the rice krispies)... DUH! of course that is what it is and you could easily change the dried ingredients. I also love that they had oatmeal in them and that the oatmeal was toasted. As I was thinking about these I thought why not toast the sesame seeds too. So that is what I did. I place both together in a pan and baked them in a 400 degree oven until they were a light brown. I checked them every few minutes and turned them so they wouldn't burn, they took about 12 -15 minutes for me to toast.

I also had an "A Ha Moment" and thought I would add some Chia Seeds to mine , as I thought they would make them just a little bit healthier I made two batches of these wonderful bars, the first I added 2 tbsp of chia seeds and the second I forgot.. I also wanted to add some chocolate. I had bought some Dove Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Rounds that I had bought at a chocolate party and again, the first batch I forgot to put them in and the second batch I had remembered.

The first batch I used outdated marshmallows that I had lying around... not a good idea as they really didn't want to melt properly. I also stick my mallows and butter in a bowl and melt them in the microwave for a couple of minutes. They poofed up like they were going to mix well but not so great... therefore that is why one batch is round instead of bars.

Chocolate Apricot Pistachio Krispie Granola Bars

adapted from Fancy Pistachio Apricot Rice Krispie Treats

1 cup dried apricots cut in small pieces

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (toasted)

1 cup pistachio cut in small pieces

2 cups old fashion rolled oats (toasted)

1.5 cups rice krispies

1/2 cup chocolate chopped (optional)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp chia seed (optional)

16 ounces marshmallows

3 tbsp butter

Toast sunflower seeds and rolled oats in oven at 400 degrees. Turn every few minutes so they won't burn. It took about 12 - 15 minutes for mine to be a nice brown colour.

As these are roasting, cut up apricots, shell and break pistachio in small pieces (I used my mallet to do this), chop up the chocolate. In large mixing bowl add all ingredients except marshmallows and butter.

In a second large bowl add marshmallows and butter. Place in microwave and melt on high for approx 2 minutes ~ check at 30 seconds or 1 minute intervals. You can also melt this over the stove. Mix. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Place in a greased 9 X 13 pan spread evenly with back of a spoon or your hand that is slightly wet. It is easier to spread the mixture if your hand or spoon is slightly wet.

* my first batch didn't mix well as my marshmallows were old, so I rolled them into balls. You could do this even if they mix well.

Second batch with chocolate

First batch that I rolled into balls

This recipe was awesome. They are a combination of a rice krispie treat and a granola bar. I love all the flavours that and I like a chewy granola bar so this is right up my alley. I was hoping that they would have small bits of chocolate in them but all the chocolate melted.. but still tasted wonderfully. I plan on making these again for my husband and I am sure he will like them. What's not to like ~ they have everything apricots, pistachios, granola, spices.... chocolate! and dark chocolate so that it is healthy for you.

Thank you Christie for a wonderful recipe.

Make sure you head over to A Kitchen Hoor and check out all the wonderful recipes she has.

If you would like more information about this Recipe Swap or would like to join, click on the button below

To check out all the recipes in the Surprise Recipe Swap head over here.

LINKS: The Weekend Re-Treat, Tasty Tuesdays, Random Recipe Roundup

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Butterscotch Confetti Squares

Last week as I was going through all the wonderful recipes that were linked up on our Linky Party, I came to a blast in my past recipe. I had forgotten about this one and haven't made it for years. It was one of my favorite squares.... something that I would make when I felt down and needed a pick me up. Something to remind me of home and I am not even sure why as I don't remember them ever being made at home but they were always at any gatherings... showers, parties and just get-togethers.

I haven't made these for years, probably because my husband has a peanut allergy, but I decided to make them now.... I would hide them and he will never know that they are around. :) They will just be for me.... all mine. And as long as you don't break the secret, I will have them all to myself.

I also took out my good peanut butter for them. The jar that I hide in the pantry cupboard, the one that only I know where it is. My Canadian Kraft peanut butter, yes they are going to be good.

This recipe was found All is amazing, but as all the recipes I have shared... this one I do differently and here is how I make them. I apologize my pictures didn't turn out very good. So I made these again today so that I could maybe get some better pictures....

Butterscotch Confetti Squares
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 bag butterscotch chips
3/4 bag of marshmallows (10 ounce bag)- either white or coloured
3/4 cup sweetened coconut (optional)
1/4 cup diced peanuts (optional)
1/4 cup toffee bits (optional)

In a large bowl melt butter, peanut butter and butterscotch chips in the microwave. I do 30 seconds to 1 minute interval and stir in between... If all the chips don't all melt, that's ok, I like the little bits of butterscotch in my squares
Add miniature marshmallows, coconut, peanuts and toffee bits if you want. The marshmallows may melt slightly. Once it is all mixed, spread in greased 8 X 8 pan and place in fridge until firm. Cut in squares and enjoy... And try not to eat the whole pan.