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Momma Told Me: Fans make the franchise.
These days it seems like everyone is a Fanboy or Fangirl. Some people like to get all uptight about who is a fan, and who is just following the fandom because it's the cool thing to do. But, when you get down to Brass tacks so in my generation actually have rights to claim 'authentic' fandom on a franchise that has been around since the 70s. Sure, we have a title that pays homage directly to the Millennium Falcon, or so I like to think, but millennials have no more ownership to the awesome universe that is Star Wars than the generation after us. Truth be told, a true Star Wars fan loves the characters, the lore, the (let's be honest) franchise so much it matters little who liked it first or the longest, but rather that we all love it so very much.
It's no secret I am a fan of Star Wars™- there have been countless references here and on my social forums for as far back as I existed on social media. Yes, since Disney acquired the rights to the characters and upcoming films merchandise has become, well, much more available- but I was there ranting over Jar-Jar in the midnight release line of 2002, just as I was one of millions crashing online ticketing systems when the The Force Awakens tickets went on pre-sale in October. My childhood was full of images of Ewoks and tenacious space princesses- and every year I dress the pets up for Halloween, or even just because as any character I an justify. But why do I really love Star Wars™?
I love it because it is a universal language so wide in reach a single instrumental can solicit cheers without a single image or word. Because in high school I'd argue with otherwise strangers about 'Who shot first,' until it quite literally became a debate in the debate club. Because those who love it feel so passionately about it I consider them a sibling in a strangely wonderful universe of geekdom that is so mainstream, it's hardly even considered nerding out anymore. And while some who have been in love with the franchise as long as me, may feel disgruntled by the appearance of fresh generations of fans, and daringly new characters and content, I embrace the chance to speak my language with a whole new legion of fans.
I couldn't care less whether you just watched the original films this year for the first time, or were lucky enough to be in the theater during those first 1977 showings. Star Wars™ is amazing because of each and every one of it's fans, so hold that R2-D2 thermos or BB-8 plushie high with pride, because you are a part of something amazing. And, in that spirit, I'm going to share with you some of my own fandom celebration as we count down the days to the big theatrical release this week! But first, you'll have to go to Walmart to snag your favorite General Mills cereal in one of several limited edition boxes with exclusive Star Wars™ Droid Viewer prizes! Whether you love to snack on the sweet and crunchy O's of Honey Nut Cheerios®, or enjoy the crisp crunch of Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, you're sure to find something awesome and plenty of Star Wars™ fun. Just check out the Exclusive Droid Viewer I poured out of my Cinnamon Toast Crunch® box!
You're also going to want to grab a few boxes of specially marked Cookie Crisp® cereal from Walmart- there's an exclusive limited edition Droid Viewer inside and it just so happens to be the secret ingredient in my Cookiee Chew-Bar-Ccas recipe! While you'll need an entire box for the special cookie biscuit base, Cookie Crisp is delicious to snack on without milk- so grab an extra box for that midnight screening line too.
Start by pulverizing an entire box of Cookie Crisp® in a blender or food processor. The mixture should be fine, and even, like a delicious cookie powder.
Next take 2 softened bars of salted butter, flour, and some vanilla extract and smash up the mixture until it is mold-able, but not 'wet.' Press the crust like mixture into the bottom of a well greased 9" x 13" pan and bake it in the oven for 30 minutes at 300F. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
While your cookie 'biscuit' layer is cooling melt your caramels over medium-high heat with half and half, stirring constantly as to not burn the mixture. Once the caramel is an even texture and coats the back of a spoon when turned, remove from heat and pour over your 'biscuit' layer.
Sprinkle a generous layer of sweetened coconut flakes over the warm caramel layer and send the pan to the refrigerator for 45 minutes to an hour. Once the caramel has set run a knife horizontally through the layers, then vertically to create 16 even bars. Carefully remove and separate each bar, placing them 2" apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Coat with a thin layer of melted chocolate or chocolate candy coating and return to the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until set.
These Cookiee Chew-Bar-Ccas, as we like to call them, are inspired by two of our favorite candy bars and so addictive, it truly does require use of The Force to refrain from eating half a tray. The buttery, crispy, crunch Cookie Crisp base is the perfect companion to the chewy caramel and melty coconut shell. We cannot get enough, and they are so easy to make, even the youngest of Padawans can help!
Nora, however, was not impressed. She mush prefers the less developed 'cousin' of the Wookiee, the Ewoks, whose primitive ways make them destined for galactic domination- or so she thinks. I can't really give her opinions much weight, after all, she keeps questionable company...
Meanwhile, in my fridge something awesome was about to awaken- the limited edition Star Wars™ Go-Gurt® with Glow-In-The-Dark Light Saber packaging and Blippar app interactivity. Not only do these delicious limited edition flavors have packaging tubes that resemble light sabers and glow-in-the-dark, but I can scan the characters on the front of each tube to bring exclusive content and 3-D models to life! Within seconds I was looking at a 3-D model of the First Order Star Destroyer I could actually transpose over live images and take photos with! This is just one of over a dozen pieces of exclusive Star Wars™ The Force Awakens pieces of content you can unlock with the Blippar app and Star Wars™ Go-Gurt®!
I was so inspired by the fun light saber packaging I decided to whip up some sabers of my own! With some leftover plastic test tubes, from Halloween, food color, washi tape, and powdered milk, I set out to make fun light saber favors perfect for a Star Wars™ themed breakfast. This project really could not be any simpler, and it has impressive impact with fans of any age- after all, who doesn't love playing with a light saber? Even better, the colored powdered milk harnesses the power of the force to turn any breakfast cereal morning into a special event!
While this project is fairly simple and affordable, you will likely run into a snag of you attempt to color 'powdered' anything without some advance tips. First, save time and buy affordable powdered food color, which is high in concentrate and very effective in small pinches. Or, you may color with traditional food color drops- but you will need to be a lot more patient- rubbing the color into the mixture until it clumps and turns into powder once more- Liquid food color will yield a colored result, but it will require significantly more color, and cause your powdered milk to be more clumpy in appearance- this may also diminish the shelf life.
Once you've settled on your method of coloring, combine your powdered milk in a plastic zipper bag and blend until fully colored- for our Light Sabers we went with red, green, and blue. Once colored we portioned the powdered milk into the plastic tubes, taped the ends with black electrical tape and silver washi tape and 'Voila!' Cereal Milk Light Sabers, just pour into your bowl and add water! It's not only a fun way to take your cereal on the go ANYWHERE, but also a fun way to play with the exclusive Star Wars™ limited edition General Mills cereals from Walmart.
No matter what side you are on, you simply must get your hands on these limited edition General Mills Star Wars™ cereals, because they won't be around for long- and cereal makes an awesome Blu-Ray viewing party snack. I know I'll be enjoying a bowl every night this week for dessert in preparation of the theatrical release!
Whether you're young, old, green, or a clone- all you need be is a fan to be among my circle of Star Wars™ friends. It really doesn't matter who your favorite character is, or even your favorite film (though there really is no correct answer other than 'Empire Strikes Back,') as long as you share a love for the series that makes your heart pound when you hear that infamous theme. So, go ahead, leave your comments and thoughts- tell me your first Star Wars™ memory, your favorite scene, the quotes you'll never forget and let's all indulge in a little fandom- because that's what Star Wars™ is all about. Check out the #AwakenYourTastebuds social hub for more awesome recipes, and even party ideas, you're sure to love!
What Daughter Says: The only thing better than celebrating my favorite franchise is enjoying it with family and friends.
Cookiee Chew-Bar-Cca Bars
**Click here for printable coconut caramel cookie candy bar recipe.
Ingredients:
1 (11.25oz) Box of Cookie Crisp Cereal
2 Sticks Salted Butter, Softened, Not Melted
2 TSP Vanilla Extract
1/4 C Flour
2 C Caramel Candies (I use caramel bits)
3 TBS Half and Half
1 C Shredded, Sweetened, Coconut Flakes
16 Melting Chocolate (+ 2 TBS Coconut Oil for Thinning, if desired)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300F
1. In a blender or food processor pulverize Cookie Crisp cereal until fine and even in texture. Pour into a large mixing bowl and combine with vanilla extract and softened butter. Mixture should be mold-able, but not wet or sticky.
2. Press 'biscuit' mixture into the bottom of a greased 9" x 13" baking dish. Bake at 300F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool entirely.
3. While biscuit cools melt caramels and Half and Half in a medium saucepan over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until even and smooth.
4. Pour melted caramel mixture over cooled biscuit layer. Sprinkle evenly with shredded coconut. Place in refrigerator for 45 minutes to an hour, or until caramel has set. Remove from refrigerator and cut down the middle horizontally, then vertically to create 16 even sized bars. Carefully remove from the pan and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
5. Prepare melting chocolate as instructed, adding coconut oil to thin as needed- your chocolate layer should reveal the uneven texture of the coconut layer beneath but not be so thin as to appear opaque or see-through. Pour the melted chocolate over the bars, using an over-sized spoon. Allow chocolate to run down sides and 'seal' the bar with a shell. Chill for 2 hours before serving.
Prep Time: 20 MINS
Cook Time: 50 MINS
Serves: 12 Bars
