Rice Krispies Treat Fail

I was really excited to make Rice Krispies Treats for the first time in my life. It's totally the sort of thing that would have been prohibited in my household as a child. Marshmallows, butter and cereal with next-to-no nutritional value? Veto.

So first I had trouble finding the Rice Krispies. Is it because I live in Seattle and we're too hippie to support that sort of thing? I went to so many grocery stores and everyone had some organic variation and finally I gave up and gave in to the organics. I should have know right then and there that I was going to have some trouble.

The plan was - take the marshmallows, 3 tablespoons of butter, melt and add 3 drops of food coloring. Then they would be pink! And perfect for Valentines Day. The recipe was flawless. What I failed to understand was that they have to be MINI marshmallows. HAVE TO BE. And when the large ones started to toast, I opted to add more butter. 3 more tablespoons.

And then...instead of melting into white sugary goodness, I got caramel. Go figure. A whole bunch of caramel.

But I persevered! No I would not fail at this all-American treat! And so I dumped 6 cups of organic rice cereal that is supposed to look like it's Rice Krispies into the caramel and I struggled to get it to mesh.

And still I refused to give up. REFUSED. I opted to using my hands. I greased a pan and smushed the mixture into the pan and did my best to force it together.

I grabbed my super-cute heart-shaped cookie cutter that I bought just for the occasion and I made the mixture mold into a heart.

And...there you have it. Caramel Rice Krispies that are too difficult to gnaw on and a symbol of my failure, now sitting on my counter.