Entangled Garden Party: Rice Krispie Birds Nests with Jerri Chisholm

Even though I spend most of my time writing, I absolutely love to entertain. Of course, it’s not always easy to find the time or energy to make elaborate dishes for guests. That’s why this recipe is perfect—it’s quick and easy, plus, it’s picture-perfect for springtime!

Start with a basic batch of Rice Krispie squares. If you need a refresher, melt ¼ cup of butter in a large pot over medium heat, and stir in roughly 6 cups of miniature marshmallows. Once they’ve melted, remove from heat, and stir in about 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal.

Now the fun part!

Stir in lots of sprinkles, and even more marshmallows. Grease some muffin tins and fill them up with your delicious treat. Then, use a buttered spatula to press down the middles, forming individual nests. Finally, place a few Cadbury Mini Eggs (or something similar) into your nests. Pop them out of the muffin tin once they’ve cooled and enjoy. Your guests will love them!

My name is Eve Hamilton and I live in Compound Eleven.

Here, the hierarchy of the floors is everything. And on my floor, we fight—which is better than the bottom floor, where they toil away in misery. Only the top floor has any ease in this harsh world; they rule from their gilded offices.

All because four generations ago, Earth was rendered uninhabitable—the sun too hot, the land too barren. Those who remained were forced underground. While not a perfect life down here, I’ve learned to survive as a fighter.

Except my latest match is different. Instead of someone from the circuit, my opponent is a mysterious boy from the top floor. And the look in his eyes tells me he’s different, maybe even kind…right before he kicks my ass.

He could be my salvation. He could be my undoing. Because I’m no longer content to just survive in Eleven. Today, I’m ready to fight for more than my next meal. I’m fighting for my freedom. And this boy might just give me the edge I’ve been waiting for.

Jerri Chisholm is a YA author, a distance runner, and a chocolate addict. Her childhood was spent largely in solitude with only her imagination and a pet parrot for company. Following that she completed a master’s degree in public policy and then became a lawyer, but ultimately decided to leave the profession to focus exclusively on the more imaginative and avian-friendly pursuit of writing. She lives with her husband and three children, but, alas, no parrot.

You can follow Jerri on Facebook and check out her website for the latest news.