Melissa's Chewy Trail Mix Cereal Bars

Ingredients

• 3 ounces unsalted butter or stick margarine
• 1 package marshmallow puffs, cut into quarters
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 2 8-oz. packages trail mix
• 1 small pat butter (to oil hands)
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. Use 1 ounce of butter and lightly grease bottom and sides of 13x9x2-inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, carefully combine trail mix and cereal, breaking up large pieces of mix. Set aside.
3. In a 6-quart pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat.
4. Coat bottom and halfway up sides of pot with melted butter. Do not let the butter burn.
5. Add the marshmallows and slowly stir with wooden spoon or heat-resistant spatula until melted.
6. Leaving heat on low, carefully and quickly add all of the cereal mixture; blend well.
7. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Let cool slightly for 1-2 minutes.
8. Lightly oil palms and fingers with butter and evenly press mixture into pan, being careful not to burn your hands. Let cool completely, about 20-30 minutes.
9. Cut and serve.
10. Optionally, to coat bars in chocolate, place chips in a microwaveable dish and microwave on medium power in 30 second increments, stirring between cycles to prevent scorching.
11. Lay out a sheet of waxed or parchment paper on counter.
12. Dip bottoms of cut bars into melted chocolate; gently run bar against edge of bowl to remove excess chocolate and place dipped-side down onto paper.
13. Let set for 10 minutes then peel off and serve or store in airtight container.