As promised yesterday, I am back today with a delicious recipe and what a recipe it is!! This small batch recipe is crispy, gooey, salty, sweet and incredibly moreish.
I don't know about you, but Rice Krispy Squares have always been incredibly popular in my home. When my children were growing up they were a quick and easy treat for me to make for my family.
My then husband loved them as well and there would be many a night that I would be making up a batch for the family to enjoy. My children always enjoyed a special treat prior to going to bed. We called it a night snack.
Rice Krispy Bars and Mom's Quick Cinnamon Rolls were very popular. I didn't mind making either one because they could both be made very quickly and easily.
Sometimes I would make either Chocolate or Peanut Butter Fudge. And still other times they would simply have toast.
As they got older they would love to help and Always, ALWAYS loved to clean lick the saucepan after we made the rice krispy treats. Good times and simple pleasures!
Full recipes of these goodies are no longer on my menu of things to enjoy, unless I have family over of course, but with Covid you know how much that happens. Zippidy do dah!
Hopefully that will change soon!
I have been in the process of down-sizing a lot of my recipes to suit my smaller sized family. I may even write a small sized family cookbook. We'll see how it goes.
Sweet and salty is a flavor combination many, many people love. There is just something about it that tickles many fancies.
I had found this recipe in a cookbook by Mary Younkin, entitled The Weekday Lunches & Breakfasts Cookbook, but it made a huge 9 by 13 inch pan of squares. Far too many for me to cope with, and I hate waste.
I had actually never made the full batch of these because one, it made so many and B, my husband in the UK couldn't eat anything like this.
I decided this week to small batch it because B, that husband is no longer in my life and two, I like things like this, and why not! Just because you are one or even two people, there is no reason for you not to enjoy some of these simple yet tasty things in life.
In downsizing the recipe I noted a few discrepancies in her original recipe, one being the metric weight of the cereal. She said 568g of the cereal and I can tell you for a fact that a LARGE box of this cereal only weighs 680g.
Its a good thing I always measure and weigh all of my ingredients out in both linear and metric. That's so I can be sure that I am giving you the proper measurements.
I do try to get it right most of the time, but even I am not perfect! And I have to tell you I don't mind people pointing out any discrepancies to me either, or spelling mistakes.
I actually find it quite helpful. Everyone needs more than one set of eyes! Constructive criticism is always welcome!
I have always been a huge fan of the sweet and salty combination. I think most North Americans are. I love to eat milk chocolate with plain salted potato chips.
Peanut butter and Jam are also a real favorite with me. And when you think of it, sweet and sour chicken is also a sweet and salty or savory combination.
I have been craving Chinese food for a few weeks now. I may have to bite the bullet and order myself a Chinese meal from the local Chinese place in town, but back to the squares.
With these you get plenty of crunch and salty from the use of both salted pretzel twists and roasted salted peanuts.
Make sure you use the smaller pretzel twists. The peanuts also add a lovely nutty balance to the mix along with the salty.
The sweet and the gooey come from the use of marshmallows. I use mini white marshmallows, but you could use the equivalent weight in the larger marshmallows, just cut them into quarters first.
White mini marshmallows were something that was very difficult to come by in the UK. You could find plenty of whites and pinks, but it was not very often you could find just whites.
Here in Canada/North America, they come both in whites and in multi-colored. My youngest daughter always loved the squares that I would make at Christmas with butterscotch chips, peanut butter and the colored Marshmallows.
We called them Amanda's Squares because she loved them so much. I wonder does she make them for her two children? I suspect she does.
She's a Nurse Practitioner now, specializing in children's oncology. You have to have a special heart to work in that field.
I could not do it myself because my heart would break every day. I could not be a nurse period. Same reason. I did try candy striping when I was a teenager. It was not for me.
Back in those days if you were a girl you could really only be one of three things if you wanted a career. Teacher, Nurse, Secretary.
Its nice that girls now have so many more options open to them. Me, I never really wanted to be more than a mother and a wife at the end of the day, and I got to do both of those. Call me satisfied.
I am a nurturer and always have been. My sister is also. We are very much alike.
Anyways, make these squares. If you are a fan of salty, sweet, crunchy, gooey, then you will love them.
Its really as simple as that. Quick, easy, scrumptious. If you want the full sized measurements to make the full batch. Just ask. I am more than happy to oblige.
Sweet & Salty Krispy Bars
Yield: 9 squares
Prep time: 10 Mininactive time: 2 HourTotal time: 2 H & 10 M
Crunchy, gooey, nutty, sweet, salty. This small batch recipe is a guaranteed winner!
Ingredients
- 3 TBS butter
- 4 cups (200g) mini marshmallows, divided
- 2 3/4 cups (80g) crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup (55g) pretzel twists, broken, plus more to decorate the top (optional)
- 1/2 cup (55g) salted roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Have ready an 8 inch square baking tin that you have buttered and lined with buttered parchment paper. (I butter the pan so that the paper stays in place.)
- Melt the butter in a largish saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 cups (150g) of the marshmallows and stir until they begin to melt. Once the whole mixture is melted and amalgamated remove from the heat.
- Stir in the pretzels, peanuts and cereal, mixing everything together well. Stir in the additional 1 cup of marshmallows.
- Scrape the mixture into the pan immediately and using slightly buttered pans gently press into place. Top with additional pretzel twists if desired.
- Leave to set for a few hours. Cut into squares to serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
Welcome to my humble home. Sorry about the view of my next door neighbors open garage door, but I wanted to get in a view of my whole front. I need to get some kind of welcome sign for it, but haven't seen one yet that suits I suppose.
One thing I fell in love with when I found this place was the way the front storm door looks like an old fashioned screen door, not to mention the Veranda across the front.
The plants in the garden were already here when I moved in. Hosta's and lilies. I am so not a gardener. Because of my osteo I am unable to get down on my hands and knees for gardening.
I am thinking next year I will get my son in law over and have him help me dig everything up, lay down some kind of garden barrier that will prevent things from growing back and then either cover it with stone or wood chips and then just have maybe 3 large planters.
I do like my hanging baskets and of course a hummingbird feeder was a must. I adore hummingbirds. They are such fun to watch. I actually adore bird watching of any kind.
This is the view when you come in the front door. It is not a very big place really, but it suits me to a "T." I don't need big with just me.
There is this open living/dining area, a galley kitchen, a bath/laundry room and two bedrooms, one small and one larger.
When I first moved into the place, I had my bed (which I had purchased in bits over the winter months), a dresser which had been my mum's and a folding metal chair. I managed to get other bits in time, and I was really lucky that I was able to get reduced prices on everything as they were floor models, or ends of line.
My real extravagance was the rug, but I fell in love with it. It was so bright and cheerful and, well . . . me! I am a Leo so I love bright colors. Because everything else is kind of muted, I thought the rug would go well.
At first when it arrived, I thought wow! Even the delivery guy said that is quite a colorful rug, but my eyes adjusted to it and I love it. It says, "This is a Happy space!"
The little rocking chair was another indulgence. My sister had one at her place and I thought how sweet it is. I saw this one and scooped it up. The few homemade dolls that I managed to salvage are sitting in it, and the little wooden stool that is in front of it is one that my middle son Doug made in shop back in high school. I painted it back then and I feel so blessed to still have it.
There are family photos on the corner bookcase and a few books I cherish. My Susan Branch ones, Flower Fairies, etc.
My sister brought me over a box of Knick-knacks that had been gifts which I gave to my mother through the years. She had forgotten she had them and thought I might like to have them. I feel so blessed to have some family treasures now that I can hand down perhaps.
It also feels a bit like mom is with me. Always a good feeling.
The covering on the sofa is a lap quilt I got on Amazon. I also got one for the armchair. Just to protect them. I am planning on having a pet of some sort.
The crochet shawl on the back of my armchair was one that I had crocheted for my mother and was a gift to her the Christmas just before her passing. I wanted her to be warm. She was such a tiny woman and really felt the cold.
The large painting over the sofa was a free gift from the people at Photowall. I love it and the colous go so well with the room, as does the size. I love Monet.
My curtains are flat single bed sheets. I only just recently put them up. I hung them on clips. Perhaps not the most elegant thing, but they work and afford me some privacy after dark. The birds I managed to bring over from the UK and they didn't break!
They are created by an Etsy Artist in the UK called Simon Aldersey. He does beautiful work. I had first bought one, a robin for my mom a number of years back. It was so lovely and she loved to look at it. It was buried with her.
I then got a robin for both my sister and myself, and that started me collecting all of his birds. I may not be able to afford stained glass windows (which I love) but I have these lovely little glass birds which not only remind me of England which I love, but also birds which I also love and they glow when it is sunny out. Little rays of joy.
I decided to frame these two cards that I got from friends. I loved the sentiments on them and thought they would be nice framed.They are the first things you see when you come in my front door.
The one on the top says, "home is that precious place where your heart feels safe to live, love, grow and simply be safe." The bottom one says, " the heart finds peace and happiness where God remains a welcome guest."
They just seemed so right for framing, and look very much at home where they are now. Reminders that I am loved and cared for, and of the feeling I want for and in my home.
I never thought I would end my life alone, but it is what it is. Many, many people are in the same shoes.
I need to hide those wires. I was able to get myself a television, and a stand to put it on. The stand was also a floor model and serves a dual purpose in that it is also a Heater.
I will surely get good use from it next Winter. It has flickering flames.
There is not much stored inside at the moment. A few picture albums and some candles.
I was lucky and got the tv for a really good price. Its a Roku. I got it on Amazon and it cost me less than $300, but I see now it has doubled in price, so I got really lucky! The Windows of Heaven and all that! It is a smart tv and so I can watch whatever on it. Netflix, Prime, etc.
This little cabinet was another floor model I found and it sort of serves as a divider between the dining area and the living area.
I needed something to hold my food props, etc. The tray is completely separate and a bonus! I got the glasses at a yard sale and my friend Jacquie gave me the large salad bowl. I bought the other bowl at Winner's Home Plus for real cheap and my friend Noelle gave me the sweet tatted collar which looks nice there.
The two paintings are prints I bought last Winter when I was at my sisters. The top one of the Savior is by Simon Dewy, "Lead Kindly Light", and the bottom one is called "To the Rescue," and depicts the Savior walking across the waves to his disciples in the boat.
If anyone needed rescuing and light in their life it was me, and they perfectly exemplify the spirit I want in my home. I want it to be a place filled with light and joy and love.
The bookcase I built myself. I was pretty proud of doing it as well. I have more things of my mom's on the middle shelf, and some cookbooks on the bottom two. I hope to have my mom's teacups on the top two shelves eventually.
Of course mom is always with me. This portrait of her was done when she was about 19. I love it and it is the perfect spot for it. On either side are prints from an artist called Annie Henrie Nader.
The one on the left is called, Forget Me Not. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." - Joshua 1:5
It depicts a woman kneeling in a field of forget me nots, and held in the comforting embrace of the Savior.
The one on the right is called, "Loves Pure Light." "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." - Luke 2:14
This painting is symbolic of two different scenes. Initially, this represents a tender moment between Mary and her infant son, the Savior of the world. Angels watch over in love and worship, and all are encompassed by heavenly surroundings.
On further consideration, this painting further represents any mothers pure love toward her child, while watched over by angels, both those on earth and those who have passed on before us. It serves as a reminder of peace, harmony, and the continual outpouring of divine love.
One way which I like to show my love for others is in being able to cook for and feeding them. I expect, and hope that I will be able to do that many times over my remaining years of life, bringing both joy to them and to myself.
My father dropped by for lunch yesterday after his haircut and I made him a grilled cheese sandwich. This is the kind of thing which makes me really happy.
I never thought I would see my father again. Being able to see and spend time with him, to cook for him is the silver lining on all that has happened. I am blessed.
This is where the magic happens. My little Galley kitchen. It is not a large space and there is no window, but it is large enough for me. I bought the rolling Island on the end, again as a floor model, to hold my baking supplies/tools.
Much of what happens in this kitchen is due to the generosity of others. I will forever be grateful for the many gifts of love that were shared and given to me. For the dishes, glassware, kitchen tools, etc. It was very overwhelming and I felt so very blessed by everyone's many kindnesses.
I pinched myself every day, thinking I was dreaming. I wasn't sure I deserved any of it, but I was so very grateful for all of it. You all know who you were. You were angels on earth and I bless and thank you for your many kindnesses.
This is my stove. It was provided with the apartment/house. This along with a refrigerator and a dishwasher.
I bought the toaster oven and the microwave. I thought I would use the toaster oven much more than the stove, but so far I haven't done much but cremate things in the toaster oven, haha.
I am trying to get used to it and in time I hope to master it. I refuse to let it beat me! If you have any tips on toaster oven cookery, I would be most grateful!
This is the view on the other side. In the UK, I bemoaned the fact I had no counter space. Here I have plenty of it and I am so grateful for it!
I hope that I never clutter it up with stuff that I can't or don't use often enough to justify having them.
That is one good thing about the extreme manner in which I downsized in November of last year. Starting off with nothing again, means you can invite into your home only what you need, love and can use. It is a much happier and less stress filled way to live!!
This is my bath/laundry area. Not much to say about this area. I did have to buy myself a washer and a drier. I got a good deal on the pair of them, thank goodness. There is plenty of storage in here for my necessities such as towels, etc. and of course toiletries and cleaning supplies.
There is a large jet tub (which I will probably never use) and a nice walk in shower. It is perfect for me and for my needs. I am borrowing the ironing board and steam iron from my father with the promise that I will iron his shirts when he needs them doing.
They are both Endy and so comfortable. It was easy to put the frame together, my BIL did it in about 10 minutes. Buying the frame was more practical than bringing my mom's old bed over and it also meant that my sister didn't have to buy a bed for her spare room.
She gave me one of mom's night tables and a lamp to use and I have mom's highboy dresser.
There is another longer lower dresser with a mirror, but I probably won't be bringing it over. I have no real way of getting it here and to be honest I don't really need it.
My sister will probably use it more than I ever would. I don't have a lot of clothes and stuff, just what I could bring over in my suitcase and it all fits in this one dresser. I have never been a slave to fashion!
There is a walk in closet at the far end of the room with some built in shelves, quite roomy.
There is also one smaller bedroom, but I didn't bother to take a photograph of that because there really isn't anything in it. My printer on a tv tray, my sewing machine. My light box for photography and some boxes with my art supplies in them from the UK.
Eventually I hope to be able to afford to get a sofa bed or trundle bed in there so that my kids/grandkids will have a place to sleep if they come over, but to be honest, even a couple blow up mattresses and sleeping bags would work just as well, for the amount they would be used.
I also have a garage to park my car in which is nice and roomy.
And that's it in a nutshell! My Home Sweet Home! My little kingdom. I hope you've enjoyed the tour! Thanks so much for visiting! Do come again. Next time I promise to feed you!
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
I am sure many of you have heard of Tuna Melt sandwiches. They are a real favorite here. I have several recipes for them on the blog.
There is the Classic Tuna Melt, which is a really good sandwich and my absolute favorite. Then there is the Parmesan Pesto Tuna Melt, also very good.
Then there is the Tuna Melt Casserole. All the flavours of a traditional tuna melt, except in a casserole dish. Delicious! With broccoli, a tasty cheese sauce, pasta and melting cheese on top.
I have even made a Tuna Melt Tart. Equally as delicious. I just love Tuna Melts.
I usually have leftover chicken in the house that needs using up. I eat a lot of chicken. Its probably my protein of choice.
I am always looking for tasty ways to use it up. Today I decided to create a Chicken Melt sandwich recipe. A sort of a riff on the classic tuna melt, but open faced, and with some different flavors in the mix.
I decided to go with some Tex Mex flavors and make it a tiny bit spicy. I love interesting sandwiches, don't you? Boring is highly over-rated!
And this delicious open faced chicken melt sandwich is anything but boring!
I shredded some cooked chicken, leaving it rather chunky. I have a confession. I am not overly fond of shredded meat. Its a consistency thing.
Yes, I am not a lover of pulled pork, or pulled anything else. I just don't like stringy meat. Call me crazy.
So some of it is shredded, but I left a lot of it chunky as well. I mixed that with some mayonnaise for creaminess, and some sparky spice.
Taco seasoning. (You should how much heat you want to add.) Lime juice. Salt, pepper. And Tabasco sauce.
You can use the red tabasco if you want, but I really love the green tabasco sauce. I splash it on all sorts.
Eggs, in soup, on sandwiches, etc. And it goes fabulously with the other flavors in this sandwich, I have to say. I just love the stuff.
I also added some grated Jack cheese. Spicy Jack. With Tex Mex flavors. Just enough to bind the chicken together with everything else.
I also added chopped spring onion, or scallions as they are also called. These add a bit of color, some sharpness and some crunch.
This all gets mixed together and then piled onto slices of rustic bread. I used a sour dough boule I had bought at the shops.
You want a sturdy bread. Something which is going to stand up to that filling. No wimpy bread allowed!
Just pile the chicken filling onto the bread, spreading it out a bit. Then sprinkle on some more cheese. I like to be a bit generous with the cheese.
But that's me. Your sandwich (s) is/are ready now to pop under the grill. It doesn't take very long to warm them up and melt the cheese. Not long at all. Your chicken should already have been warmed anyways.
I usually pop it into a bowl and warm it in the microwave while I grate the cheese and chop the onions. Easy peasy.
Once they are heated through the the cheese on top has melted, and the edges of the bread are turning golden brown, you sandwich is ready.
Just pop them onto a plate and sprinkle some more chopped spring onions over the top. I like to serve some salad leaves on the side. For health reasons. (ROFL)
If you want to you can splash a bit more hot sauce on top. Yum!!
These are delicious knife and fork sandwiches. The quantities I have given are for two sandwiches, but you can easily double it to serve more.
Or half it yet again to serve only one, which is what I did.
This made a delicious light lunch. Perfect for one or two. Nothing else needed, although if you wanted to serve them with a light soup, that would generally go down well also.
Something light though. Like a tomato soup or some such. You won't really want anything hearty.
And there you have it. The Southwest Chicken Melt Sandwich. For two. Deliciously simple and incredibly filling.
Southwest Chicken Melt Sandwich
Yield: 2
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 10 Min
Tangy spicy chicken salad on a slice of sour dough, topped with cheese and grilled. This makes a delicious lunch with some salad on the side!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (135g) cooked and shredded chicken, gently warmed
- 2 tsp taco seasoning
- 1 TBS fresh lime juice
- 1/2 tsp tabasco sauce (red or green, you decide)
- 1/8 cup (30g) mayonnaise
- 3 ounces (85g) Jack cheese, shredded and divided
- 3 spring onions, washed and thinly sliced, divided
- fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 thick slices of a sour dough boule
Instructions
- Place your oven rack about six inches away from the broiler and preheat the broiler.
- Combine the chicken, mayonnaise, taco seasoning, lime juice, hot sauce and half of the cheese and spring onions in a bowl.
- Place the slices of bread onto a baking tray. Divide the chicken mixture between each slice, covering them completely. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over top.
- Pop the baking tray under the broiler and cook the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the edges of the bread are turning golden brown. Watch carefully so that they don't burn.
- Serve topped with the remaining spring onions and some salad on the side if desired. Delicious!
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