Nostalgia

I'll begin this post with a little rewind. As a fifth grader in my school district, I had the privelage of participating in the Outdoor Education Program, a staple amongst the local elementary schools that taught kids about nature and let them burn off some of that pent up energy. My brother and sister had both participated in this program before me, and they both had memorable (and predominantly positive) experiences. I was looking forward to a week of sleeping in a cabin, hiking the trails, horse-back riding and (the oh so taboo) squaredancing with boys. I had heard a lot about the amazing activities at Camp, but, after experiencing them myself, they exceeded expectations. I came back from the week blissfully exhausted with a mind full of memorable moments. I owe a lot of my positive memories to my kind-hearted and spunky counselors, who joked with us, guided us, and even braided our hair for the dance. I promised myself that when I was old enough, I would be a counselor too.

Years past, and I found myself as a junior in high school, finally elligible to be a counselor. Unfortunately, concerts, sports and AP tests prevented me from participating in the program. As a senior, the same problems resurfaced and I, once again, missed my opportunity. I was bummed that many of my friends got to talk about how rewarding it was to be a counselor and how funny/sweet/crazy their campers were. They had the experience of a lifetime reliving their childhoods surrounded by nothing but nature.

Fast forward a year. I was sitting in my introductory Sociology class when a presenter in a straw hat came in and started handing out papers. The papers pertained to a Penn State program called Outdoor School where fifth graders come for a week to learn about interrelationships and the importance of nature. The man was asking us to consider being a counselor for the fifth graders, and of course, I was interested. That evening, I sent in my application and patiently waited for a response.

When I learned that I had gotten a position, I was very excited. We only had a few training sessions to meet the other counselors, but, even with the brief interactions, I knew I would be spending a week with a great group of fellow counselors. When the week came, my outdoor education, once again, exceeded expectations. The campers reminded me of what it felt like to be young and enamored with the world around me. Their innocence and excitement inspired a renewed sense of exploration in me. I spent the week enjoying nature and teaching and guiding children. The hours sped by as they were filled with songs, campfires, skits and great food. On the last evening (which, coincidentally, also had a dance), we were given homemade rice krispie treats. They were a sweet dessert to end a sweet week.

Being as nostalgic as I am, I decided to remake those rice krispies to remind me of the week and the kids (and maybe even bring back some of that youthful excitement). I found a recipe for toasted coconut rice krispies (hey, why not be a little decadent?) on Craving Chronicles and decided to try it.

Toasted Coconut Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients

Cooking spray for greasing the pan
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (I used benecol)
10oz (1 bag) of regular-sized marshmallows, original or toasted coconut flavor (or both)
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1 teaspoon coconut extract
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal (I substituted Puffed Rice Cereal as a lower calorie option)
1 cup toasted shredded coconut*
3 ounces (about 1/2 cup) bittersweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions

* To toast coconut, spread shredded coconut in an even layer on a cookie sheet and bake at 300F, stirring every few minutes, for 10-15 minutes or until coconut is golden brown. Don’t walk away from the oven! The coconut will brown very quickly, so keep an eye on it. Set aside to cool.
(I didn't have sweetened coconut so I mixed unsweetened coconut with a little brown sugar for toasting)
Line a 9×13 inch pan or baking dish with foil, leaving a few inches of overhang on each side. Grease the foil very well with cooking spray.
In a large saucepan or pot, melt butter. Add marshmallows and heat over medium-low heat, stirring until melted. Stir in shredded coconut and coconut extract. Remove from heat. Add Rice Krispies and stir until thoroughly coated.
Spread Rice Krispie mixture into prepared pan. With the back of a buttered spatula or using a sheet of waxed paper, press mixture firmly into an even layer. Sprinkle with toasted coconut and press lightly to adhere to the top of the treats.
In a small, heatproof and microwave safe bowl, heat the chocolate in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir, and return to microwave, heating in 15 second intervals and stirring well between each heating, until chocolate is melted. Drizzle melted chocolate over the treats in the pan.
Cool at room temperature until chocolate hardens. Once cool, lift treats out by the edges of the foil. Cut into squares and enjoy feeling like a kid again.

The Krispies also exceeded expectations. The chocolate and coconut flavors added a perfect zing to the typical treat, but the puffed rice took out a little of the unnecessary sweetness. I did feel like a kid again peeling the gooey, sugary treats apart.