M&Ms and Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Happy Monday, y'all!  Welcome back to the wonderful middle of winter.  Haley is living it up in sunny south Florida, spending her days by the grill and wearing tank tops.  Meanwhile, Inauguration 2013 fever is at an all-time high up here in DC (are you watching it today?), meaning I can't fight the crowds in Georgetown or muster the energy to bundle up in my down coat for my favorite Baked and Wired rice krispie treats.  Thus, the desire to make my own treats at home was born!
These bars are more than enough to lift you out of those winter doldrums.  No baking required, so the effort is minimal.  You can mix everything in the Dutch oven, meaning less dishes to wash.  And feel free to just use peanut butter with no candy, or add your own favorite: butterscotch chips, chopped up Snickers...the only thing that might not work great is gummy bears.  But, hey, I'm happy to be proven wrong.

M&Ms and Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (very slightly adapted from Kellogg's website)
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
4 c. mini marshmallows
1/2 c. smooth peanut butter
1/2 c. M&Ms (regular, but peanut butter version would be soo good!)
6 c. rice krispie cereal

1. In a Dutch oven, melt butter over low heat.  Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
2. Turn off heat and mix in peanut butter.
3. Add candy and cereal; stir to combine.
4. Press into a greased 9''x13'' pan, stick in fridge to cool, then slice into your desired bar size.  Don't be  stingy here.

Peanut butter cup-chocolate chip-pretzel cookies

We should really call this recipe "The only thing that can pull JP away from Top Gear."  I pinned these cookies a month ago on Pinterest (is there anyone out there who isn't completely sucked into that site?), and finally had some time to bake them yesterday.

HOLY BANANAS.  You have to make these cookies.  Make them for someone you love who loves you back and will appreciate how wonderful they are.  I used mini chocolate peanut butter cups, as I couldn't find peanut butter chips at either of my grocery stores within walking distance; I highly suggest you do the same, even if you can find pb chips!

I also crushed up pretzel sticks with my hands; in hindsight, I would just crush them in a bag with a rolling pin or something so they were a bit smaller.  They didn't stay as crunchy as I would have liked; if you use the same recipe with different results, let me know your secret.
The rest of the cookie is soft and chewy, with the distinctive sweet tastes of both milk and dark chocolates.  Peanut butter adds a nice slightly savory contrast.  Trust me, just whip up a quick batch.

We enjoyed these on the couch on a day filled with rain in DC, along with some puppy cuddling, followed quickly with a nap.  Few things are better than falling sleep on the couch with your family on a belly full of cookies.