Bento the art of packing meals in a single, compact container that is visually appealing. Now, I am not yet into the compact single container aspect of it as my kids have their standard lunchbox that requires me to individually package things. I just can't convince myself to go out and buy a new container this year. Maybe next year. But the whole visually appealing thing appeals to me. Don't believe me? Check out what I did for Halloween lunches here and here. That being said I just couldn't make plain jane squares!
So I packed up Princess A (she's to big to call baby A now!), printed off coupons for AC Moore, Michael's and Hobby Lobby, grabbed the package hubby wanted me to mail and off we went. I was hunting for some fall shaped cookie cutters in various sizes, a silicone fall muffin pan, and some sort of turkey decorations. I ended up going to AC Moore and Michael's twice. AC Moore had nothing I wanted the first go around. Off to Michaels where I picked up these
Only there was no baking pan. So I decided to look for some of the infamous food writer pens that I hear about on a lot of the bento websites. They had been at Hobby Lobby last time I was there. No such luck! So I ended up walking out of Hobby Lobby with a $2 package of 15 mini christmas cookie cutters. Not relevant to this project but I am sure they will come in handy in the future!
So back to Michael's which fortunately honors competitor coupons so I used my Hobby Lobby coupon to purchase my silicone muffin pan. Which I am also not using today but look for a recipe using it next week!
By now it is about an hour past Princess A's scheduled naptime. She is doing well because I had received a new DVD to review in the mail just as I left the house and she was enjoying one of the rare times I allow her to watch movies in the car. (Look for the review tomorrow) We arrive at Wal-mart where I purchase marshmallows (that was for today's recipe), and milk. Back by the milk I notice the reduced bakery rack and grab a loaf of garlic italian bread to go with dinner tonight. Then I see a display with things for $.25 so I check it out and pick up some halloween colored and fall colored sprinkles as well as some really cute owl and pumpkin cupcake liners. So I grab those and go after my food markers and as I am making my way over to the party supplies area (I really miss craft departments!) I notice that kids clothes were on sale. Of course I had to browse and I ended up buying 2 shirts and a skort for H for Christmas and on the other side of the aisle I saw they had sweatpants out. H is going to be Cupid in the school play and I have to make a costume so I grab a pair of brown sweatpants. No brown sweatshirts though. Finally I make it to the party supply section, purchase my pens and finally head home.
Welcome to a day in my life. Kind of random and lots of side tracks but the job gets done. That brings me to today's recipe.
You will need:
6 cups crisp rice cereal
1 bag large marshmallows or 4 cups mini marshmallows
3 Tbsp butter or stick margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
melting chocolate of your choice
In a large pot melt butter. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted. Add crisp rice. Press into a greased 9X13 pan. Allow to cool. Cut bars. Melt chocolate and dip the bottoms of each bar. Set on wax paper and allow to set up.
I love the acorn and oak leaf. Not to impressed with the maple leaf for this project. To cut I just flipped the pan onto the counter and then used my cutters. For the acorn I dipped the cap in chocolate as well as the bottom. For the oak leaf I used a spoon to drizzle vein lines. Hope you enjoy!
Love,
