I’m putting on an orange leotard tomorrow.  An orange leotard. 

I’m also putting on bright blue leggings tomorrow.. and white leg warmers… and sweat bands.  

I’m going to encourage the big, puffy, curly hair that I spend most days trying to tame.  Yes, there will be blue eye shadow.

I’m going to step out in the world tomorrow as an 80’s aerobics instructor.  The only little hitch?  That I actually have to step out of the house in a skin tight orange leotard and skin tight blue leggings.  Oooh lordy.  Whose idea was it to take the Halloween celebration beyond my solo living room dance parties?  Yeeps!  

Ironically, the only thing making me feel better about my very bright and very tight 80’s debut are these S’mores Icebox Candy Bars.  There are fifteen in a batch and I’ve worked through four just writing this post.  Send help.  Orange leotard, people…. send help. 

I love a good, down-and-dirty dessert.  This is that treat.  All the goodness of s’mores, crumbled up then pressed together and refrigerated.  I sliced these little darlings into small bars, wrapped them in wax paper… and now I’m eating them like a mad woman.  No baking.  No fuss and sure to be gone in a flash.

S’mores Icebox Candy Bars

     adapted from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

     makes 15 bars

     Print this Recipe!

3 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

1 14-ounce box graham crackers, lightly crumbled

2 big handfuls of mini marshmallows, plus a handful more for sprinkling on top

Line a 9×13-inch baking sheep with parchment paper, set aside.

In a large bowl, crumble the graham crackers into large chunks.  Add two handfuls of mini marshmallows and set aside. 

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter together butter, cocoa, corn syrup and a pinch of salt.  Stir and heat until smooth.  Once melted, let chocolate mixture cool for 5 minutes.  

Pour chocolate mixture over graham crackers and marshmallows.  Stir so that all of the graham crackers are moistened by the chocolate mixture.  Dump into lined baking pan, and a few more marshmallows on top and press down with the back of a spoon.  Cover the top with another sheet of parchment and press with your fingers.  Let cool on the counter for 30 minutes, then place in the fridge to solidify for a few hours or overnight.  Cut into bars.  Wrap individually and store in the fridge.

Ok everyone… take a deep breath.  It’s time for pie!

This beast of a pie is Peabody’s Grandmother’s Lime Conspiracy Pie with marshmallows.

It is a result of the convergence of several things in my mind and in my pantry.

A friend mentioned a pie topped with tiny colorful marshmallows.  Sounds like a great idea, right?  On the same day, Peabody posted a recipe for the most amazing and bizarre lime jello salad.  The fruity marshmallows were on sale at the grocery and the rest of the ingredients practically jumped out of the pantry.  I put everything on hold.  I just had to make this pie.

And then, this pie took on a life of it’s own.  I felt like Dr Frankenstein, except my pie didn’t learn compassion or love.  Nonetheless it sat there in my fridge with it’s colorful marshmallows and sweet oozing topping, practically begging to be touched up and gawked at.  And what a camera whore… don’t even get me started on that!

It all started innocently enough with graham crackers.  I pressed out a graham cracker crust and threw it in the oven to bake.

Then came the lime jello madness.  This jello salad has cream cheese, pineapple, mandarin orange slices and soda pop.  I was skeptical, but I loved the pale green color in Peabody’s post.  And really, anything with cream cheese is fantastic.

After the jello had set in the pie crust I topped it with left over seven minute frosting and marshmallows.  That’s where the trouble started.  The pie took on a personality.  It was just too pleased with itself.  It was enamored by it’s own preciousness.  And I was too!  After a few hours, I knew that I just had to get the pie out of my house.  It was all I could think about!  It was taking over.  I took the pie, knocked on a neighbors door, and asked them to take it off my hands.  Please.  They said something about the pie being too cute to eat.  I told them that that was exactly what the pie wanted them to think, and that it had to be eaten for its own good.

Long  story short-  the pie was delicious, and didn’t put up too much of a fight.

Try this pie, but be warned, it might try to take over your life.  Eat it before it does.

Print this recipe!

Graham Cracker Crust

1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons melted butter

Mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter until well combined

Press into a 9 inch pie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 7 to 9 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool completely before adding filling.

Lime Jello Conspiracy Salad

1 (6 ounce) package  Lime Jello

1 cup boiling water

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup Sprite

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 (8 ounce)  carton Cool Whip, divided

Boil water and add Jello, stir until dissolved.  In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and the vanilla extract until fluffy. Stir in the Jello and beat until smooth.  Add the pineapple, oranges, soda and pecans.  Mix until incorporated.  Chill the mixture in refrigerator for about 30-40 minutes, so that when you lift it with a spoon it’s clumpy.  Fold in 3/4 of the cool whip.

Pour into cooled pie shell and refrigerate for 3-4 hours until firm.  After the pie has firmed up, top with the remaining cool whip, or whipped cream.  I used some left over Seven Minute Frosting that I had in the fridge.  Anything fluffy white topping will do!  Top with as many marshmallows as you like!

Thanks Peabody!

I have my peeps in a row.  Now what do I do with them?  With over a month until Easter, I have many many days to spend with many many peeps.  Don’t get too attached, things will to happen to these little buddies.  I can’t say it’s all going to be pretty.  Peep soup.  Peep show in the microwave.  Peep cat toys. I’m determined to make something yummy and entertaining with these suckers.   Do you have any suggestions?