Sweet Marie Bars

Today I went to Justin's family picnic in Hamilton. Families are BIG. So big that we walked right past the picnic spot twice because even Justin didn't see anyone he recognized. There were a lot of sister's third cousins and great-great uncles.

Picnics are great, though, and these tasty squares are a crowd favourite and super quick to make. Some recipes call for peanuts, but I prefer a smoother square because that's how my mom always made them. I also just don't much care for nuts in my dessert. This time, I took the best of both worlds and used crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth. A bit crunchy and a bit smooth! Perfect.
 
Sweet Marie Bars

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup golden corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Yield: 16 two-inch squares
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

In a large pot on low heat, melt together the peanut butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in cereal. Fold over several times until evenly mixed. Spread into a greased 8-inch pan and press down evenly with a wet fork (to prevent sticking).

In a small glass or microwaveable bowl, melt chocolate chips for 2-3 minutes, stirring after every 30 second interval so the chocolate doesn't burn. Spread over the bars with an offset spatula. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or until chocolate is firm. If you are in a rush you can pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes. With a hot chef's knife, cut into squares and enjoy!

*For a more calorie-wise version, use 1/3 cup melted chocolate and drizzle chocolate over the squares with a fork or spoon.