Neopolitan Rice Crispy Bars

Neopolitan  Crispy Rice Bars

I saw these Rice Krispie Treats on line and thought they would be fun to make for my grandsons.  My grandson, Aiden, came for an overnight to our house.  I wanted to make these bars with him, but the time flew by and we didn't get a chance to "cook" together.  However, he did take his first fishing trip with Grandpa Doug.  That was a very special time.
I made the treats after he went home, and will take him and his little brother, Camden, some of these delicious bars.

I read several recipes on line, and decided to make up my own version, using parts of various recipes.

I used Cocoa Rice Krispies for the chocolate layer instead of Nutella or another chocolate.  

The vanilla layer was a traditional rice crispy bar.  

And the strawberry flavor was achieved by adding a sugar free box of strawberry gelatin.

My recipe came from the traditional version of rice cripsy treats that is found on the back of marshmallows or rice cereal.

This is the basic recipe.
Crisp Rice Squares:

• 3 Tbsp. margarine
• 1 (10 oz.) bag of regular marshmallows
• 6 cups crisp rice cereal

Melt butter and marshmallows for 1 minute in the microwave and stir until completely melted.

Remove from heat.  Add cereal and stir to coat well.  Press mixture into greased pan. 

The strawberry variation comes by adding a sugar free envelop of strawberry gelatin to melted marshmallow mixture.  The chocolate layer is made with Cocoa Rice Krispies.

Mix up each layer separately and press the chocolate layer into the pan, then the regular plain layer, then the strawberry.

Assemble the ingredients.

Melt the margarine and marshmallows in the microwave for 1 minute.

Spray the pan with cooking spray to keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking.

Stir the marshmallow mixture until the margarine is incorporated

and the mixture is smooth.

For the first layer, use Cocoa Krispies, so the mixture is chocolate.

Stir until the cereal is coated with the marshmallows.

Spread in the bottom of the pan.

Then, make the second layer of plain crispy treats.

It is the same procedure.

Melt the margarine and marshmallows for 1 minute in the microwave and stir.

Add the 6 cups of crispy rice cereal and stir until the cereal is coated.

Pour it onto the first chocolate layer.

Spread it evenly to the edges of the pan.

Make the third strawberry layer.

Microwave the marshmallows and margarine for 1 minute.

Add an envelope of sugar free strawberry gelatin.

Stir until all the ingredients are incorporated.

Add the crispy rice cereal.

Stir until evenly coated.

Pour the third strawberry layer over the plain layer.

Press it evenly to the sides of the pan.
When cool, cut into squares.

 Enjoy!

 Make Neopolitan Bars!

Neapolitan Ice Cream

Neapolitan ice cream is made up of blocks of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream side by side in the same container (typically with no packaging in between). Some brands intermix the flavors more, though the separate flavors are still clearly visible.

Neapolitan ice cream was named in the late 19th century as a reflection of its presumed origins in the cuisine of the Italian city of Naples, and the many Neapolitan immigrants who brought their expertise in frozen desserts with them to the United States. Spumoni was introduced to the United States in the 1870s as Neapolitan-style ice cream. Early recipes used a variety of flavors; however, the number of three molded together was a common denominator, to resemble the Italian flag.  More than likely, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry became the standard for the reason that they were the most popular flavors in the United States at the time of introduction.

"Cosmopolitan slice. A slice of ice-cream cake made with mousse mixture and ordinary ice cream, presented in a small pleated paper case. Neapolitan ice cream consists of three layers, each of a different color and flavor (chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla), molded into a block and cut into slices. Neapolitan ice-cream makers were famous in Paris at the beginning of the 19th century, especially Tortoni, creator of numerous ice-cream cakes."

"Eighteenth century... confectioners' shops [were] very often run by Italians. Consequently ice creams were often called "Italian ice creams" or "Neapolitan ice creams" throughout the nineteenth century, and the purveying of such confections became associated with Italian immigrants."

"Neapolitan ice cream, different flavored layers frozen together....[was] being first being talked about in the 1870s."

A cultural reference from The New York Times in 1887:"...in a dress of pink and white stripes, strongly resembling Neapolitan ice cream."

(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neapolitan_ice_cream)

Wrap individually for party treats.

Pictures of Grandpa & Aiden's Fishing Trip

Ada Hayden Park
My first fishing trip.

Patiently waiting.

It's feeding time.

I can't believe I'm holding these worms!

Lessons on fishing.

Beautiful sunset.

Here's how you bait a hook.

I got three bites tonight, and almost landed my first fish.

A beautiful evening and memories with Grandpa.