‘Tis the way
To call hers exquisite, in question more:
These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows
Being black put us in mind they hide the fair;
He that is strucken blind cannot forget
The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.
~ Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene I
Once upon a time, a PhD Princess was invited to a Ball. A Bohemian Ball, to be exact. A masquerade Bohemian Ball, to be even more exact. (Is it possible to be more exact than exact? Yes? No? Undecided? Exactly.)
The PhD Princess had been asked to attend by a group of friends and not by a handsome prince, but this didn’t negate the nerves she felt at the idea of dressing up and walking into an unfamiliar situation.
So to calm herself down before it became time to attempt the transformation from Home-Toad to Ball-Frog, the PhD Princess decided to do what she did best:
Eat chocolate, and then create something with peanut butter.
And lo! It was good.
Well, the slice was. The Bohemian Ball was a bit of a dud, to be honest. It was less like a Fairytale/Grown-Ups Ball than a Year 10 Formal For Alternative Folks. Which is all well and good if that’s your scene, but it isn’t really mine, and I prefer to have more drink options than one type of never-before-heard-of beer, one type of never-before-heard-of cider, and two types of absinthe cocktails.
Turned out, though, that the friend who’d invited me was enjoying the Ball less than I, and so we ended up leaving early. And hurrah for me! I had a freshly-made-and-set tray of peanut butter slice to come home to.
I may or may not have eaten an entire row and a half of the slice at midnight, standing in front of the heater in my dress and jewellery, left hand still holding my borrowed-chinese-takeaway-container-esque handbag.
And apart from running into the wonderful L.LawyerLady (see photo above) and enjoying a good old-fashioned-shouted-above-the-music-gabfest, this peanut-butter-slice-midnight-snackage was the best part of the night.
No-Bake-Could-Be-Vegan-But-Either-Way-Is-Definitely-Tasty-Peanut Butter Slice
Makes about 24 squares, or less if you cut them larger rectangles. Very very loosely adapted from the Women’s Weekly Biscuits and Slices Mini Cookbook, which used Coco Pops as well as Rice Bubbles and coconut instead of flaxseed. And even more sugar, if you can believe it.
- 160g Rice Bubbles
- 70g flaxmeal (i.e. ground flaxseeds)
- 80g honey or agave/maple syrup, for the vegan version
- 110g Nuttelex (or butter/spread of your choosing)
- 80g peanut butter (crunchy! Because crunchy is the only kind of peanut butter that has a right to exist.)
- 100g caster sugar
- Grease and line a 20cm x 30cm lamington tin, extending the baking paper a few centimetres above the two long sides of the tin to aid in later slice-removal.
- In a large bowl, mix together the Rice Bubbles and flaxmeal.
- In a medium saucepan, heat the honey, Nuttelex, peanut butter, and sugar over medium-low heat until everything has melted together and sugar seems to have dissolved. Turn heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Don’t be tempted to dip your pinkie in for a quick taste at this point. It will burn like the billy-o.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture over the Rice Bubble mixture and stir to combine. Then tip this sticky, yummy, tempting mixture into the lamington tin and pat down evenly.
- Stick in the fridge for a few hours, then cut into squares and eat as a private little congratulations to yourself for having had the courage to do something you were nervous about.
Note: These slices were absolutely awesome frozen, too. If only I hadn’t eaten all my ice cream prior to making these, I could’ve made some divine peanut-butter-ice-cream-sandwiches. Next time…
Question Time: Have you ever been to a masquerade ball? Did you meet a Romeo there?
LOL!! I love the title of the recipe!
Looking lovely at the ball PHD princess!
I have never been to masquerade ball… one day I shall!
x
Teehee! It was the most descriptive title I could think of
And thanks for your lovely compliment, particularly as I feel I look quite stilted!
ooooh yummo indeed!
hehe and I had to giggle at the “the transformation from Home-Toad to Ball-Frog,” comment
I would seriously kill for your hair, all my life I have wanted curls, I also love your handbag. The AWW arent afraid of sugar are they, often I half the amount in their recipes!
*laughs* I’ve had this debate with someone else in my blog comments before! We eventually decided to go with the “grass is always greener” answer, because I spent most of my life wanting straight hair. I’m so envious of anyone who can simply roll out of bed, brush their hair, and be done. If I try that I look like Medusa!
But straight is soo boring and flat!
Also, were did you get the raw choc you posted about in your old blog, I have searched everywere with no luck and I really want to try it!
The hibiscus rawganic one? I believe I got that at Healthy Life in Woden – and I’ve seen other flavours there lately too
At least you didn’t see the people turning into pumpkins
Yep, I probably would have roasted them in an oven with coriander and cumin if I had
The PB slice sounnds pretty wonderful, but imagine putting some melted chocolate over the top…
I’ve never been to a masquerade ball, but I was a halloween queen when I lived in the US. My favourite was when I went as an anti-fascist pirate in uni
That would’ve been brilliant, I must admit, but I tend not to have chocolate for cooking with in my pantry! And no way will I sacrificing my fancypants chocolate just for a garnish
Okay, this needs an explanation, because I’m so intrigued… what does dressing like an anti-fascist pirate involve?
Well, it was mainly just a pirate costume, but all black & red, and my co-pirate had a plastic sword with ‘anti-fascist sword’ written on it in texter. My fond memories probably have more to do with the fun we had that night, involving too many margaritas and cheap beer, and too many people squeezed into a small house for a party. But regardless, I’m fairly certain my costume was rockin’:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theresainoz/810918148/in/set-72157600821230396/
Oh, you are TOO many kinds of awesome to count right now.
Oooh! Lightbulb moment! You *must* attach this photo to your selection criteria
Aww you look so great! Love the outfit and the mask-and the slice too! I’d be tempted to sneak some into my handbag for the ball
Aw, thanks Lorraine! I must admit I considered doing that, but the handbag was borrowed from a friend so I couldn’t risk getting it sticky
The ball sounds so fun! It’s too bad it wasn’t ask great as you’d hoped =/ I would love to go to a party like that sometime though. I need an occasion to wear the mask I bought in Venice, after all!
OOH, peanut butter rice krispie treats (so to speak)! My mom always used to make hers with PB in place of the butter the box always calls for. RKT’s without PB have always tasted wrong to me. And yours even have flax! Extra yum healthiness points!
Oooh, a real Venice mask? You would’ve beaten everyone at the Ball in the awesomeness stakes! (And definitely me, seeing as mine was a $5 mask bought from Just Clownin’ Around years ago
)
And I know, right? The flax makes these pretty much like broccoli
I’m really excited, though… do you mean, judging by your mum’s experience, that I could get away with replacing *all* the butter here with peanut butter? Because I still have more stupid Rice Bubbles to get rid of, and am now envisioning uber peanut buttery RKT…
Yup, real Venice mask! 70-some friggin’ Euros! But it’s GORRRGEOUS.
I do believe she always did replace all the butter with PB…though in a batch of classic RKTs, there is only 3 Tbsp of butter…which is like 45g, right? I guess the marshmallows do the rest of the binding.
Oh right, marshmallows! I’d forgotten about that part of the original recipe. ‘Course, that would make it definitely-not-vegan, unless we paid big buckaroonies for the vegan kind…
Do you have photos of the mask anywhere? I’d love to see it! (And if it appeared on your blog already, I do apologise… I promise I read them all religiously!
)
Heh, yes, that is true. But hey, a little dead animal bone cartilage never hurt anyone, right?
I do! Hehe, I believe you about reading them all, not to worry. It’s a terrible pic, and doesn’t do it justice, but it’s the 3rd one here: http://almostveganblog.com/2009/11/23/almost-vegan-in-venice-ii/
Amber, you’re lucky I don’t much like marshmallows in the first place, otherwise I’d be cranky at you for turning me even more off them with your description
I absolutely do remember that post! That epic storm, and the hilarity of you having to go back to the pub that you’d ventured out into the storm from in the first place
The mask is divine, love! Definitely better than the ones I saw at this ball
Hannah, at the risk of sounding like your grandmother, you look too skinny! Eat another row and a half!
Okay!
Funnily enough, I couldn’t help thinking the same thing when I saw this photo. Darnit! I think I shall eat another four rows, at least. *hugs*
Awhhh, nothing worse than all that effort put into look stunningly princess-like glam to find the hottest date around is waiting for you at home in the shape of a Peanut Butter Slice…, but it does look good (so do you too, very Princess PhD-ish)
Thanks Anna
And hey, at least peanut butter slice never breaks your heart or leaves the toilet seat up 
Ha, a Year 10 Formal for alternative folk. Not very alternative in fancy dresses and silly masks, hmmmm!
I’ve been never to a masquerade ball, but if I did, I would make sure my mask had horns on it. Cow’s horns. So it would probably be more moosquerade than anything.
*laughs and laughs and laughs* You’re seriously going to try to pull off this week-long cow thing, aren’t you? I’ll absolutely have to send you cookies or chocolate if you manage it.
(And you’re right – I wasn’t very alternative looking, but you should’ve seen some of the outfits… and the burlesque dancers with the nipple tassels.)
What a fun event- I’d love to go to one of those!
It was an interesting concept, at least!
Ball schmall! I would much prefer to sit at home and eat peanut butter slice – hurrah for home baked goodies over dull alcohol
I’m so with you on that
You can totally be more exact than exact. You can be exactamundo.
For example…
“What is the only type of peanut butter than should exist?”
“Crunchy”
“Exactly”
“Nay, exactamundo”
I am SURE that I have been to a masquerade ball before, but I am also sure I didn’t look as good as you all masked up, and I can’t actually remember any of the details. I am reasonably sure this is not due to drinking absinthe cocktails whilst there. It is possibly due to putting myself into a sugar coma afterwards from eating baked treats.
See? Eating baked goods (or non-baked goods) afterwards is the only way to survive/commemorate an evening out. Otherwise it’s just a waste of dressing-up effort
I feel like I should put “exactamundo” somewhere here, but I’m having trouble making a smooth transition.
It is indeed a shame that the night was a fizzer, but the dress and handbag, not to mention the slice, look just gorgeous! Just the thing to wear to a date night at the Opera House! lol
Thanks Jonathon! Though we definitely weren’t anywhere near the Opera House, being in the wrong city and all
Lol….I was attempting to be somewhat precocious, cross-referencing the comments from Lorraine’s blog, at NQN! I could just see you wearing such a dress to such a dinner date!
Wow, that’s an impressive level of cleverness!
I shall certainly keep this dress in mind if I ever get asked on a date to the Opera House… although a part of me thinks such an occasion would justify the purchase of an entirely new outfit 
Oh, I should hope and think so! And shoes, too, of course! If we both lived a little closer to it, I would offer to take you there for lunch one day. I had a great lunch near there a few weeks ago, whilst on a quick visit, at a place called The Blackbird Cafe. LOVE those Sydney views!
Oh, shoes, definitely! Although I already have a new pair of heels that I bought in New York which I haven’t been able to wear yet. *sigh* And thank you for the hypothetical offer – that’s the nicest theoretical invitation I’ve had all week
(‘Course, I now have that “four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie” rhyme in my head.)
And it’s only Monday; you could have many more offers yet! And LOL ~ yes, that song occurred to me also when I made the booking. I think that, in the interests of curiosity, you should post pics of the NYC heels as a matter of utmost priority! Speaking of cuiosity, may one inquire as to the field of your Phd?
That’s a lovely way of looking at it
I shan’t be holding my breath, though… Oooh, I think you could twist my arm into parading the shoes on this blog 
I might even be able to wear them, seeing as my toe bandage has gone down to a mere bandaid!
I’m doing my PhD in Sociology, but am currently torn between four different possible topics that are all radically different. In other words – help!
Oh, I don’t think that it would be hard to imagine your dance card being full! You are pretty, you cook, you quote Shakespeare…..what more could a young man ask for?? Toe bandage? Sounds painful! I hope that you recover soon from whatever it was which ails you. My website shows the main thrust of my consultancy, and you should feel free to ask if I can assist you in any way in making your decision, vis-a-vis your Phd direction. Have a great day!
Well, you got a good story out of it at least … and I’m glad to see an up-to-date pic of L.LawyerLady too!
I am glad I went, after all
And I’ll make sure to say hi to LLL for you when we next meet up, if you’d like!
Haha, always fun to read such things
Pingback: My Favouriterest Top Ten Recipes From 2010 - Wayfaring Chocolate
Pingback: Chocolate Squared: Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Blackout and Cadbury Dairy Milk White Bubbly - Wayfaring Chocolate
Pingback: Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Slice - Wayfaring Chocolate