brown butter peanut butter crispy treats + a bake sale for Noah

I consider myself to be a pretty healthy person: That is to say, I don’t have a chronic illness, I haven’t been seriously sick (as in, best buds with my bed for a few days) in a long time and I haven’t been hospitalized since I was a youth getting my tonsils taken out. I count my blessings for this every day — especially because I’m a total wimp when I have even the slightest cold.

My mom, on the other hand? She’s had all three things happen to her in the last month.

You see, my sweet mama, she has had a rough go of it on the medical side of things for the last decade or so. She’s had countless diagnoses of strange diseases, all manner of tests, several surgeries and yada yada yada — I could go on and on. It can take a serious toll on a family, emotionally and otherwise.

But my mom, she’s a fighter. I mean in some ways, yes, she’s exhausted — she’s pretty darn sick and tired of seeing the walls of a hospital — but she still has so much heart and fight in her. I’m constantly amazed by her dedication to being well again, to not give up, to keep going. I think a lot of it has to do with her stubborn personality (don’t even deny it, Mom) but I also think part of it comes from all the encouragement, love and support she receives from family and friends. And I think being so blessed to not have to struggle to pay medical expenses helps, too.

So when I read on my friend Steph’s blog about a little boy named Noah whose family discovered that his diagnosis of severe autism will unexpectedly cost them more than $1,000 immediately, and up to $30,000 a year for therapy, I knew this family needed two things: Financial support, and extreme love and encouragement from as many people as possible. You can read their full story here.

Dear Steph was kind enough to take on the task of hosting an online bake sale for Noah and his family to get them the funds they need to help pay the exorbitant medical bills they will incur for Noah’s autism treatment, and she invited food bloggers to participate by donated baked goods to the cause. So here I am, bearing these brown butter peanut butter crispy treats in hopes that, even in some small way, they can bring to Noah and his family the support they need.

So, friends, if you feel so inclined, head over to Steph’s Bite by Bite today (Wednesday) and bid on these bars, or any other baked good you fancy. You get a tasty treat, and Noah’s family gets stronger in their heart and fight for their little boy, to not give up, to keep going. Everybody wins.

Brown Butter Peanut Butter Crispy Treats

• Author: Adapted from Joy the Baker Cookbook
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Yield: 9 bars 1x

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Ingredients

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 (10.5 oz) bag mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal

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Instructions

1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter, stirring constantly, until just browned. Stir in mini marshmallows, peanut butter and salt until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat.
2. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, stir in crispy rice cereal until well coated. Transfer mixture to a greased 8-by-8-inch square pan; using spatula or lightly greased fingers, press down firmly and evenly into bottom and sides of pan.
3. Let mixture set for at least 30 minutes before cutting into 9 square bars. Bars will stay fresh, individually wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature for up to 4 days.

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