MONSTER MUNCH

3 cups puffed rice cereal
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup raisins
1 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 lb marshmallows
1/2 cup peanut butter

In a large bowl, combine cereal, apricots, raisins and peanuts.

In a microwave safe 13x9-inch dish, melt butter and marshmallows on high for 2 minutes.

Stir; add peanut butter cook on high 2 minutes longer. Stir until well blended.

Add cereal mixture to dish and toss until well coated.

When cool enough to handle, work quickly with oiled hands, forming into balls, using about 1/2 cup mixture, per ball. If mixture begins to harden, cook on high for 30 seconds, or until softened.

VARIATIONS:
If desired , mixture may be spread in unbuttered 13x9-inch dish and cooled and cut into bars. Or, the mixture may be pressed into oiled cookie cutters, and cooled there so the shapes could be pumpkins, witches, etc. Decorate with gel icing as desired.

Makes 1 dozen balls or 2 dozen bars
Source: Ursula T.