Whose broad stripes and bright stars

Operation Baking Gals round three started off this month by going back to the basics - Rice Krispies Treats!

I Bet if you ask yourself what the first sweet treat was that you were allowed to whip up as a youngster, you might be right with me in remembering the simplistic perfection of mini-marshmallows, butter and Rice Krispies.  Though these might be the easiest culinary snack you will find on my blog, don't underestimate the smile power of these sugar packed treats...which is just why they made the perfect gift to send off to my soldier of the month, CPT Jackie Buzzard and her team, stationed in Iraq.

When baking for OBG's, my culinary outlook is a little different than my everyday relationship with my oven.  On a regular basis I am usually inventing, experimenting and letting my imagination freely flow into my KitchenAid mixer...but OBG's is no regular cookie exchange my friends. With each and every round our goal is to bring these troops a little closer to home, remind them of our kitchens and all the goodness that they remember coming out of it.  With that said, this month I decided to deliver the most basic (and most loved by all!) nostalgic American goodie with a little United States flare to boot.  Taking the traditional recipe from right off the box, I melted, stirred and stuck my way to the perfect rectangular bar of sweetened cereal goodness. Top that off with a little dunk into melted white chocolate dusted with red and blue sprinkles and we have the perfect build on your favorite Kellog's Rice Krispie Treat.

So from my lunch box to yours, dig in.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of butter

4 cups of mini marshmallows (add 1 cup extra if you want marshmallow chunks in the end)

6 cups Rice Krispies

2 boxes of white dipping chocolate (or one bag of white chips)

Sprinkles of your choice

Recipe

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat

2. Add marshmallows and stir until completetly melted. Remove from heat (for extra whole marshmallow chunks, add the extra cup here)

3. Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir until coated

4. Using a buttered spatula, press mixture into a 13x9 inch pan coated in cooking spray

5. Once cool, cut into rectangles

6. In microwave, melt white chocolate according to package directions

7. Dip ends of Rice Krispie bars into melted chocolate

8. Sprinkle with desired coating and lay to set on foil coated in cooking spray (you might need to put these in the refrigerator to speed up the process)

9. EAT!