rice crispy treats

I can never get the spelling quite right... In any case, this is another part in the bridal shower series. I made the easier dessert ever--rice crispy treats! They're so, so simple, but so satisfying. I used Smitten Kitchen's salted brown butter crispy treats, and oh my goodness, did the salt and browned butter make all the difference.

The most basic rice crispy treats only use rice crispy cereal (I used Trader Joe's new rice cereal!), marshmallows, and butter. Some people even omit the butter, but I wouldn't--especially when you brown it, it gives the treats a wonderful nutty flavor. Even the proportions are up to the cook: if you like yours more gooey, then more marshmallows, more crunchy, then more cereal, more taste, then more butter.

Yes. This is DEFINITELY my kind of "baking."

Lastly, the touch of salt that Deb adds in her recipe really heightens the flavor of the treat. However, if you aren't a fan of sweet savory combinations, omitting the salt is fine.

Pictures of the treats and the whole table spread! Courtesy of N, Connie and Tammy:

ice cream break...

I couldn't resist inserting this post in the midst of the bridal shower posts, because seriously, who can resist ice cream? For Friday night fellowship activity night, we all trekked over to Fenton's for some good, old-fashioned ice cream.

Now, I do think that Fenton's ice cream isn't the best out there (too much sugar, and sometimes overkill on flavors), but their portions are HUGE (as are their prices, sadly). You go more for the experience, I think; it's loud, crowded, but still retains the charm of an old-fashioned ice cream soda shop.

We shared the Black and Tan. It's toasted almond ice cream with vanilla ice cream, fudge, caramel, whipped cream, and a cherry on top!

Tim had the challenge, where they give you a massive amount of ice cream with all the fixin's on top for you to finish in 15 minutes. Tim did it in 7.

See how happy we are? (No we didn't eat this between the two of us...there were four of us sharing!)

Fenton's Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611-4749

Pictures courtesy of Tammy.