First let me tell you about My Better Butter. It's a lower fat/calorie nut spread that comes in 3 flavors: nutty chocolate chip, honey nut banana, and maple pumpkin. By looking at the ingredient list she gets the lower calories by adding things like pumpkin or banana puree to the mix. The consistency is a less sticky spread with a softer texture than traditional nut butters. That nutty flavor is still there though and this is a great sub for someone trying to watch their fat and calories. Some more stats: "Better Butter wants you to re-think peanut butter, on average each flavor of Better Butter has: ~ 45% less calories than peanut butter ~ 50% less fat than peanut butter ~ 65% less saturated fat than peanut butter"
I guarantee a muffin recipe is in the future using one of these spreads (and a giveaway when I post about the muffins! So stay tuned!)
For my first recipe I decided to go back to my college years obsession... rice crispy treats. (don't tell anyone but my sophomore year lunch routine included a gigantic rice crispy treat purchased from the Commons on campus every day... yes I was larger in college, 'nough said). Lets just say my more botticelli self could have used this version of treat around for sure.
I subbed in brown crispy rice cereal, and used her better butter to lighten the recipe a bit and add in some whole grains! These were happily devoured at work and everyone loved the slightly softer texture the crisp squares had. (I hate when a rice crispy treat is rock hard don't you?)
Go on and make these!
Nutty chocolate butter crispy treats
adapted from Kellogg's site recipe
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups crispy brown rice cereal
1/2 cup nutty chocolate better butter
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add better butter until totally stirred in, then stir in brown rice cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares.
What foods were staples for you back in the day but no longer are? I was a bad college student, bacon cheese burgers and grilled cheese every day for lunch freshman year... the only veggies consumed where the lettuce and tomato on top... so so very bad.