I was going to apologize for not posting much, only to realize that I posted on Tuesday. I think some of you are getting to use to me posting all the time as I had several (nice) emails asking if I was okay because I hadn’t posted or really been on Facebook this week. Truth is I am most definitely in a funk this week. Which is a rarity for me. Normally I do my best to keep a stiff upper lip. The kids in my family never really got to be in a funk growing up, my mother usually would have none of it and would tell us to “pull it together”. Which I am sure once my mother reads this she will call and tell me to pull it together. 🙂
I was just getting over the majority of my awesome own civil war (my white cells thought it would be super cool to eat my red cells) in my body and starting to feel a little more like me, only to get the barrage of bills coming in waves. I’m doing my best to avoid the mail right now. Nothing like going to your mailbox to see that you paid almost $400 a month for them to basically pay for nothing. And what they do pay for is 85% of what they think they should owe that doctor. Let me just say that doctors think really highly of themselves (and the insurance companies think so to as they seem to only want to pay ¼ of what the doctor charges). Now I get that certain equipment cost money to run. My CAT scans and ultrasounds are super costly, but at least that is costly equipment, but just seeing the doctor and exchanging words with him is ridiculous. My recent visit to my allergist shows that.
“Are you still avoiding foods you are allergic to”? –Dr. Allergist
(Thoughts in my head) No, I eat all the foods I am allergic to in hopes that my throat will swell shut, therefore not breathing and lose consciousness. But instead I said “yes, I am avoiding foods I am allergic to”.
“Do you feel that allergy shots are working?” –Dr. Allergist
Me: “yes”
“Have you been using your inhaler when your asthma acts up?” Dr. Allergist….me “yes”
And that ladies and gentleman minus the humiliation of stepping on the scale was my appointment…that apparently was worth $515. Oh and I did breath into a tube a couple of times with the nurse to confirm that I still have asthma.
One thing finally helping me out of my funk is getting to play hockey again. All that time off makes me an even worse player if that is at all possible. 😛 And since I am back at hockey, I am back to bringing treats to hockey, which is really what they missed. Not their captain, but the treats their captain makes. So as Captain, I decided to keep that theme and make some treats using Captain Crunch , the peanut butter variety. These are a take on marshmallow crunch bars that had already been made awhile back. This time subbing the Peanut Butter CC, using white chocolate, and white chocolate peanut butter (yes, I cheated on Jif….but Jif is still the best peanut butter ever). It’s pretty hard to go wrong with brownie, marshmallow, chocolate and Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. These do not disappoint.
Peanut Butter Captain Crunch Marshmallow Brownie Bars
Brownie Layer:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup unsalted butter
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
10.5 ounces mini marshmallows
1 cup White Chocolate Peanut Butter (or plain Peanut Butter)
¾ cup white chocolate, chopped finely
1 TBSP unsalted butter
5 cups Peanut Butter Captain Crunch Cereal
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
For brownie batter:
In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate, butter, and ¾ cup of the semisweet chocolate chips on medium heat. Stir occasionally while melting. Set aside and cool for 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, place the eggs and whisk thoroughly. Add in the sugar and vanilla. Stir the melted ingredients into the egg mixture, mixing well. Stir in the dry sifted ingredients and mix well.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and even with a spatula. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the corner of the pan comes out with moist crumbs.
To finish the bars:
Remove the brownies from the oven, and immediately sprinkle the marshmallows over them. Return the pan to the oven for 3 more minutes.
While the brownies are baking, place the white chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat, add the cereal, and mix well. Allow this to cool for 3 minutes or so.
Spread the mixture evenly over the marshmallow layer. Refrigerate until chilled before cutting. Makes 12 3×3-inch bars.
Adapted from Buttercup Bakes at Home by Jennifer Appel
Rosa says
These look soooooo good! A funky combo.
Cheers,
Rosa
Kristina @ spabettie says
oh good lord YUM. to be cheesy, you had me at peanut butter.
I know what you mean – I just paid my LAST payment of a $27,000 bill for my appendix exploding last year when I did not have insurance. A bit different, because I gladly paid for them to save my life… that is a horrendous bill if that is all that went on. Boo.
XXO
Lynds says
I will def reach for this recipe the next time I’m in a funk!! Awesome combo!!
Coco says
wow, these look amazing. Sorry about your bodily Civil War.
Jes says
When we had to go without insurance for a couple of years it became apparent what a scam the doctor-insurance company relationship is.
The same doctors that had been taking $20 co-pays and charging the insurance company who knows how much were now $50/visit with minimal fees for blood work & flu shots. Some of my husband’s meds were actually less to purchase without insurance than with.
p.s. Upright MRI without insurance? $350.
Peabody says
@Jess- my one test was $1300 and my IVIG was in the 5 figure range….sigh.
Jes says
p.p.s. Sorry about my rant.
I do hope you feel better… I was one of the people beginning to worry, you’ve been so prolific lately.
Jes says
@Peabody – Those /probably/ wouldn’t be the numbers if you had to pay out of pocket. I was told that normally they would have billed the insurance company about $1200 for the MRI.
I stress the probably part, because I really don’t know. I was lucky to have a bunch of doctors willing to work with uninsured patients.
CW says
Hang in there Peabody. These bars are brilliant!! Peanut Butter CC is my all time favorite cereal.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
You are so not alone in fearing the walk to the mailbox! I am so tired of begging people to pay us money they owe us so I can pay my bills. As for insurance and doctors, I have had my fill too. It is a joke and a cruel one at that. I like how insurance premiums go up every year no matter what. Ugh, hopefully the hockey helped. I could use some kickboxing right about now. I hope you feel better.
Felice says
Sorry about the funk and the crappy doctors bills – $515 for answering a few questions that didn’t answer anything you didn’t already know is just ridiculous. For the amount you pay each month shouldn’t the insurance companies be working like adjusters and paying what the services are actually worth? I mean when you have a motor vehicle accident you get a quote which is usually inflated but then the adjusters go in and make the necessary changes, but what isn’t covered doesn’t get charged to you, you only have a deductible.
I am glad you are back playing hockey again. I am sure that doing this and baking is a great stress reducer. Your bars look amazing and would certainly make an improvement to my game – and I haven’t played hockey in years – and that was field hockey!
JennyBakes says
I have used “Funky Town” as the subject in some of my e-mails this week! I was in a funk all week and ended up with a massive ear infection – I felt like an infant who didn’t know what was wrong, and then wham. I think health is almost always related to funk. I hope things get better next week! When you’re good and ready. No need to snap out of anything.
Zazzy says
Oooo…total justification for buying peanut butter cap’n crunch! And yes, Jif is still the best. Evil, perhaps, but the best.
Krissy says
This is when I’m grateful to be a Canadian living in the UK… free health care rocks.
Very sorry to hear about your illness! But chocolate and peanut butter always help (except if you have a peanut allergy… then probs just stick to chocolate) and it looks like this dessert has plenty of both! 🙂 x
Kita says
I hate when I get in a funk too and try to kick myself out of it as quick as possible but sometimes the world likes to knock us on our asses. I just started paying out of pocket for health insurance after not having it for a few years and am excited to be able to go to a doc if I get sick again, but I do realize that I’ll probably just end up paying a ton of $$ anyway 🙁 Captain crunch always brings out the kid and the fun in ppl. Great recipe to post for being in a funk.
Let me know if there are any shins I can kick for you while your down. 🙂
Mercedes says
You’re torturing me with the peanut butter captain crunch marshmallow brownie bars. Stop it. Stop it some more. Or should I say, “stop it s’more”?
These look fantastic. Downright decadent. Your photography is par excellence, my dear Peabody. Great post, BTW.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
So sorry to hear what you are going through! There are so many problems with our current health system but $500 for a 2-second appointment that could have taken place over the phone is really insane. Those brownie bars look incredible, though!
Kelly-Jane says
Hope you are feeling better now.
I would like one of those right now, they look gorgeous!
Joanne says
Nothing like some good old autoimmune disease and insurance issues to put you into a funk. :/ I had two pelvic stress fractures last year from running and my SCHOOL insurance refused to pay for any of my MRIs or orthopedist bills. Even though they were in network. Thank god I was still covered under my parents’ insurance but it was still not fun getting 10,000 dollar insurance bills. I would love to have you as a captain. Both for you AND for your baked goods. Mostly for you though.
Deso says
You had me at peanut butter…
Melissa says
Peabody, how do you think these would be with Reese’s Puffs cereal subbed in? that sounds wonderfully yummy to me : )
Peabody says
@Melissa- that would work as well, about the same size.
Jackie says
Those brownies look delicious!!! I am sorry to hear about your medical bills. It makes me thankful for our somewhat screwed up universal healthcare system here in B.C. I was just complaining about my premiums going up to $63.50/month….I’ll stop now….
SondraKay says
Oh Peabody, I share the mailbox dread. Stay well! We are in the middle of medical bills to the tune of 4 big numbers, so I eat a lot of chocolate and then call the hospital, doctor, other doctor, etc. and whine and plead and usually can get some money knocked off. Maybe you could bake your way to less bills?
I come to your blog to see pretty pictures and read excellent recipes and it never fails to cheer me up! Thank you!
annie says
Reading about your medical bills is giving me palpitations. I’m so grateful to be living in Canada, with our medicare system, imperfect as it is. I couldn’t watch Michael Moore’s documentary…it was too depressing, and I can believe people can lose their homes after having to pay hefty hospital bills. I can commiserate with you, as I have problems with my platelets due to kidney problems, all thanks to my battle with autoimmune disease.
On the other hand, chocolate and peanut butter will uplift anyone’s spirits. Great recipe, Peabody. Keep well.
Adam says
Sorry to hear about your problems, it’s good to see you keeping a sense of humour about it though. Nuts to laughter, sarcasm is the best medicine :), well that and peanut butter, so it seems you’ve got your bases covered :).
The other benefit to being Canadian (other than the health care) is the Kraft peanut butter, which is by far the best in my opinion (from regular to 100% natural).
Em says
Yay to white chocolate peanut butter (I eat about a jar a week. plain. what of it?)
Boo to medical bills. I hope things get better soon.
Elizabeth says
Hope you feel better friend! and damn those brownies are beefed up!
Melissa says
I feel your pain. I just went through some health issues and we lost our insurance in the middle of it. Doctor wanted at least $80 just for me to come and tell her I feel better–forget that!
These bars look insane, I can’t wait to try them!
Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says
Oh, my gosh, I hear ya on the doctor’s bills. I’m still paying for when I had my son seven months ago!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) says
Sorry about the troubles! These look totally awesome, can’t wait to try them. Bookmarked and stumbled!
Mrs. L says
Yay, Peabody on ice!
Amy says
Oh. My. Word.
I love mixed textures and this just looked awesome and gooey on the bottom, and sweet and crispy on top. I can dig it!
Gina says
I just finished making these today and OHMYGOD you are a mad scientist/genius in the kitchen!!! Even the brownie alone would have been awesome, they are so moist and yummy!! I love love love this recipe, thank you!!!
Jenn Erickson/Rook No. 17 says
Ali over at Jam Hands featured us both in her “Ten Tasty Food Blogs You Should Be Reading”, so here I am reading and enjoying! This recipe is brilliant! So many classic and nostalgic flavors rolled in to one! Definitely a must try for my family, and one that I have to share with my FB fans.
I’m totally with you on the frustration about health insurance, btw. You pay a small fortune every month, and yet the doctor bills are still huge! And as a fellow asthmatic, I can double-commiserate.
Jenn/Rook No. 17