Brown Butter Date Rice Krispies Treats

& the all the ups and the downs

Hi! Welcome to “good mood food” from Kale Me Maybe’s Carina Wolff. If you’ve made it here and aren’t yet a subscriber, come join! You can expect recipes, musings, and faves in your inbox every Wednesday! Paid subscribers get even more on Fridays — right now I’m doing a 30-minute budget meal series! Learn more about the paid tier of my newsletter here. You can also try a week for free!

CATCH UP!

Hello!! Coming at you a day late again because… newborn and swollen eye. Sleep patterns are ALL over the place right now — we’ve had a few pretty good and a few really bad. All of that is fine, but now I have a big red puffy eye from a chalazion that’s stressing me out and making me want to hide away. Hoping to get an appointment to get that checked out soon, but it’s making me feel weird and ugly lol. I also hate wearing glasses vs contacts — it always makes me feel tired.

In terms of the positive, this week we took Sagan to visit my grandma (his great-grandma), which was sooo special. It was so sweet seeing them together. We also made it over to my aunt and uncle’s house as well as my parents’ house, so I was proud of us for making all the trips!

Everyday I dream up all the things I want to cook, and everyday I fail to make them, with the exception of my morning lattes and a haphazard chia pudding for breakfast. I’ve been craving French toast with pears and grilled cheese — lots of bread I guess — but I’ve also been yearning for vegetables, since much of the prepared food we order or buy isn’t exactly heavy in that department. I’ll get there soon! Yesterday for dinner, I did manage to make some pesto salmon with carrots and potatoes. I used Gotham Greens premade pesto and these carrot rounds from Whole Foods, and it made the prep a little easier.

I started to make a new list of meals that feel fully attainable — things like sheet pan gnocchi or one pot chicken and rice. I’ve essentially been tapping into my own 30-minute series! Baby steps ;)

THINGS I’M LOVING!

I know we are all loving Gap right now, myself included, but don’t sleep on Gap Factory! I discover a lot of great 100% cotton finds on there, like this striped tee that is only $10! I got a large so it would be a little looser, as it is more of a fitted tee. I like the navy color (the stripes remind me of something you’d find on Reformation), but I was eying the green stripe also!

I’ve been making an iced pumpkin spiced latte with a vanilla cream top for the past few mornings, and it’s the best!! Here’s what I do: I add ice, 2-3 tbsp of pumpkin puree, 1 tsp maple syrup, and 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice to a glass. I then pour one espresso shot directly over it (or two, if you want more caffeine). Then I mix everything together and then add some oat milk, and mix again. In a small, separate glass, I add 2-3 tbsp heavy cream with 1 tsp Trader Joe’s vanilla bourbon paste, and then I use a handheld whisk to thicken the cream. Pour that over the espresso mixture, and you’ve got the best PSL!!

The postpartum period is truly wild — trying to take care of yourself while taking care of a new human is a whole new ballgame. Getting support is so important, and I’m really excited to connect with other moms with The Postpartum Self-Care Club — a collaboration between Peanut, a community for moms, and Nutrafol, the #1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand. They’re going to be offering expert insights, relatable stories from fellow moms, and weekly themed content, including hair health, nutrition, and intimacy. I will also be trying out Nutrafol’s Postpartum hair growth supplement to support my body during hormonal changes! #NutrafolPartner

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RECIPE!

My sweet tooth has been raging recently, and each time I sat down to edit this video that I filmed back in July, my mouth would water for these Rice Krispies. This is embarrassing to admit, but I had never made a Rice Krispies treat until this summer, and once I made them, I was shocked at how easy they were. I guess that’s why they’re the kind of treats you make when you’re a kid! I wanted to make this version a little more adult, so I added some brown butter, dates, and flaky salt for a little sophisticated flare.

I love the way the dates add a chewy texture, and of course, the nutty, caramelized flavor of the brown butter can’t be beat.

I didn’t actually use Rice Krispies brand cereal here —although you absolutely can — but you can use any puffed rice cereal (I used these sprouted brown rice crisps).

Brown Butter Date Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter

• 15 oz mini marshmallows, divided (1 1/2 bags)

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal or sprouted brown rice crisp cereal

• 7 medjool dates, chopped

• Flaky salt

1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large pot, add your butter on medium heat. Cook the butter until it’s a toasty brown, stirring frequently. The butter will begin to foam and sizzle, and it should take about 5-8 minutes for the milk solids at the bottom of your pan to turn brown.

3. Immediately turn the heat to low, and add 1 bag (10 oz) of marshmallows and cinnamon. Mix together until marshmallows have melted completely with the butter.

4. Turn off the heat, and then mix in the rice cereal, dates, and remaining 5 oz of marshmallows. Mix together until evenly combined, and then immediately add to your prepared pan. Use a spatula to lightly press down on the mixture into the pan, and then sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt. You can also use a layer of parchment paper to press down the top to smooth completely (but don’t pack it down too hard — you don’t want the treats to be too dense).

5. Remove the parchment paper from the top, and then let cool completely before cutting into squares.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

Last week’s 30-minute budget meal recipe was a One-Pot Miso Lemon Pasta & Beans! After I finished typing up this newsletter, I bought the ingredients to make it again. It’s so good and easy!

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