Scotcharoos

We are exhausted! Tim and I had our first weekend off together in 3 weeks and we spent it walking, getting sunburned, doing yard work, cleaning the garage, etc. Yes, it’s officially summer. I think we skipped spring. And I am pooped already.

Oh and I also took  a few minutes to bake on Saturday and it was a disaster. I attempted to make a 3 layer brownie bar but it was not terribly edible or attractive. Bummer. I have to rethink that one and try again.

So today I am going to share with you these scotcharoos that I made a few weeks ago at Tim’s request.I debated even sharing these with you. For 2 reasons; they are a common recipe that you can find ALL OVER the internet and, they are not my favorite. I am not a butterscotch girl so the butterscotch chips kind of ruin them for me. They sort of taste a bit like they came from this candy place in Northern Michigan that we used to stop at when I was a kid. They flavor everything there (even the chocolate) with maple. Not a fan. Butterscotch and maple are not on my favorites list.

However, I know a lot of people like the scotcharoo and they are very easy to make. There is a bakery close to us that makes them and sells them at a couple of places around town. Tim always covets them when we see them. They are cut into huge squares and sell for $3 or $4 a piece. I was unwilling to pay that when I knew I could make a whole pan for not much more. Tim thought it was a good idea if I tried it. For the sake of science. . you know, just to see if I could. For the challenge of it. Not because he wanted a whole pan for himself. Just for my own knowledge as a baker. 😉

The great thing about these is that they are no bake and almost as easy as making crispy rice treats. Oh yeah, I also added a cup of mini marshmallows right at the end. It just changes them up a little from the norm. The marshmallows don’t melt all the way so you end up with little pockets of it as you eat them. That’s a plus for me.

Round two of yard-ish work is next weekend. It is planting season so Dad & I will be putting in our garden next weekend. We plant a large garden at a community garden plot nearby. My garden here at home is already planted but it is much smaller. Mostly herbs, radishes, lettuce and a single tomato plant. At our community garden plot we branch out and do lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, chard, fennel, peppers, eggplant, and this year we are going to try our hand at watermelons, turnips, tomatillo & pak choi. I should have fresh lettuce and radishes very soon. Maybe I will make you a salad for a change. In the meantime, have some more sugar!

Scotcharoos

1 cup light corn syrup (I used Karo)

1 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter

6 cups crisp rice cereal

1 cup mini marshmallows

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a sauce pan combine corn syrup & sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar melts. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until melted & combined. Add cereal and mini marshmallows. Mix together and press into a greased 9×13 pan.

In a microwave safe bowl combine the butterscotch chips and the chocolate chips and microwave a few seconds at a time until they are melted together. Spread the chocolate mixture over the cereal mixture. Allow everything to cool and set for a few hours. Cut into bars and serve.