Salted Caramel Nutella Rice Crispy Treats

Salt, caramel, nutella, rice crispies, and treats are all great things. Why not combine them?? ;)

Salted Caramel Nutella Rice Crispy Treats
makes at least 16 servings (it's rich)
Adapted from Mini Baker

6 tbs butter + 2 tb for buttering pan
1 bag of marshmallows (around 10.5 oz)
3 cups rice crispy cereal
at least 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt

1 cup Nutella
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 tb butter or shortening (I like trans-fat-free natural shortening)

Pre-made caramel sauce or try this one (it's in the middle of the page)

1. Butter a 9 x 13 pan with the 2 tbs (or however much you want to use)
2. Melt remaining 6 tb in a large pot over medium-low heat
3. Stir in marshmallows until they are melted.
4. Add cereal and sea salt and gently mix well
5. Quickly pour into the pan.  Let cool completely.
6. When cereal mix has cooled, melt Nutella, chocolate, and shortening in microwave, using 20 second intervals and stirring until smooth.  Spread over cereal evenly.
7. Make/heat caramel sauce and drizzle it on top.
8. Let it solidify for a an hour or so in the fridge, or serve it messily :P

Easy Glazed Chicken

I've never been to the Cracker Barrel, but apparently this a clone of their chicken. It's stupidly easy and very flavorful.

Easy Sweet and Savory Chicken
serves about 3
Adapted from Southern Plate

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or an equivalent amount of tenderloins)
1 cup zesty Italian dressing
3 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons lime juice

1. Mix dressing, honey, lime juice.  Pour into a large plastic bag.
2. Remove fat pieces from chicken and cut lengthwise into a couple strips (optional) Place into the bag with the marinade
3. Refrigerate for 1-8 hours
4. Dump into a pan on medium heat.  Cook for about 30-40 minutes, flipping the chicken every 10 minutes, until the liquid evaporates.  Rub the chicken around in the caramelized marinade and serve.

Spiced Pecans

We got this recipe from one of my mom's co-workers. They're way too addictive and really easy to make.

Spiced Pecans
makes about 2 cups

1/3 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1 large egg white
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 cups pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
2. Mix dry ingredients (that are not pecans) Wisk in egg white and oil. Gently stir in pecans
3. Spread nuts in a single layer on a greased or parchment paper'd cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring twice.
4. Let cool and use a spatula to remove the nuts from the pan, if needed.

Peanut Butter Cookies

My biggest complaint about peanut butter cookies is that they are greasy and heavy, and that is usually enough to keep me away from them. However, I randomly discovered this recipe on a healthy-ish recipe site, and they are chewy and peanut butter-y without being oily. Maybe it's because I un-healthified them a bit, but these are my favorite peanut butter cookies

Healthier and Yummier Peanut Butter Cookies
makes about 2 dozen
adapted from Eat Better America

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 tbs. honey
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix sugars, butter, and peanut butter until well-mixed. Add egg and honey until well-mixed. Add remaining ingredients until a consistent dough forms.
2. Shape in to 1 inch balls and space them out on an ungreased cookie sheet (or parchment paper works too). Use a fork to flatten them with the characteristic criss-cross pattern
3. Bake 8-9 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cool on the pan for a few minutes.

Gooey S'mores Cookies

These are my absolute favorite cookie. "Cookie" was my first word, so that is saying something ;) They're gooey but also chewy with the perfect amount of crispness.

Gooey S'mores Cookiesmakes around 3 dozen
I have no idea where I got this recipe, but it was someone's blog a few years ago. Anyone know which one?
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (buy crumbs or use a food processor, though hand-crushing can work in a pinch)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
2 Hershey bars, chopped

1. Combine the butter and sugars until fluffy and well-mixed
2. Add egg and vanilla until combined. Add flour, graham cracker crumbs, salt and baking soda. Mix well. Add chocolate chips.
3. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least an hour (ideally for about 24 hours for some reason)
4. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
5. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, place dough by the rounded tablespoon. Bake for 8 minutes
6. Remove from oven and place bits of Hershey bars and marshmallows on top to your liking. Bake for another 2 minutes, and cool for at least 15 minutes