Carrots … these carrots are not vegetables.  Bunny bait … probably not.  Will they put a smile on someone’s face … definitely!

Carrots … 3 ways …

• I’m sure that you have seen candy carrots in disposable pastry bags … here is a non-candy variation.  I used about 1 ounce of Cheetos (1 individual bag) in each pastry bag …

• If you don’t have any pastry bags or want to make small carrots?  How about using sandwich size zip top bags.  Simply cut the bag, fold it to form a cone and tape it as in the photo …

  My carrots have goldfish and basketball crackers … I didn’t know they made such a thing!  (Note to self – read labels in the future)

• My favorite carrots are the ones made with crisp rice cereal (Rice Krispies).  I used my basic recipe for Rice Krispie Treats and added orange food coloring. There are many recipes available … this is the one I use.  You will need … mini marshmallows, crisp rice cereal and butter …

Use a little butter (or oil spray) to grease a jelly roll pan and a firm spatula …

Melt the butter over low heat in a large pan …

Add the marshmallows … stir frequently until melted …

Add food coloring … I used Americolor Orange soft gel paste …

Add a few drops and stir to combine …

Remove the pan from the heat, add the cereal and mix well …

Pour into the greased pan …

I know what you are thinking … it doesn’t look like it will fit … but it will!  Use the greased spatula and your muscles to smash it into that pan …

See, I told you that it would fit …

Let the pan cool about an hour … then cut it up.  I divided it into thirds …

Then thin triangles … I got 24 carrots (too funny!) …

To decorate the carrots … I used melted orange candy melts (chocolate) in a squeeze bottle  and a variety of green candies …

Cut the green candy into desired lengths …

Drizzle orange candy over the top of the carrots … just to give it texture.  If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, use a disposable pastry bag …

Poke a hole in the top of the carrot and add orange candy to hold the green candy tops in place …

These are my favorites …

Tell the kids to eat their carrots or the bunny will get them!!!

Crisp Rice Cereal Treats

• 16 ounce bag of mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup butter (plus 1 tablespoon for greasing pan or oil spray)
• 11 cups crisp rice cereal (about 12 ounce box)

1. Grease a 12″ x 15″ x 1″ pan and set aside.  Also grease a spatula or wax paper to use for pressing finished cereal mixture in pan.
2. Using a large pot (6 quart), melt butter over low heat.
3. Add marshmallows to melted butter.  Stir frequently and continue cooking over low heat until marshmallows are completely melted.  Stir in food coloring if desired.
4. Remove pan from heat, add cereal and stir until completely combined.
5. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press (using prepared spatula) into an even layer.  Let cool (about 1 hour), cut into servings.  About 25 servings – 3″ x 2″.

I look forward to your comments!