Sorry that swimming post was depressing. Let’s try something a little more cheerful.

As you may recall, I recently made PB&J bars for a Navy football tailgate (or tailgater, as they call it). The midshipmen thoroughly enjoyed them, and apparently asked if I was making them for the next home game. Unfortunately, I learned this news at approximately 9:30 the night before the game — and I had a (disastrous) hair appointment scheduled in the morning. So I wasn’t going to start a big baking project, but I did want to make SOMETHING.

Luckily, I had butter, marshmallows and a box of fortified colored sugar cereal.

Now you see that the title of this post is sarcastic. And that Toby and I missed out on a great Halloween costume idea last year.

These are a rainbow-flavored (don’t pretend “red” and “blue” aren’t flavors) twist on the Rice Krispies treat. I distinctly remember my mother made these for a swim team party when I was about 9 and I thought they were the most amazing thing ever. This is particularly odd because I basically refused to eat cereal of any kind until college. But the point is: these are yummy. And they have 25 percent of your recommended daily allowance of riboflavin.

They are also super fast and easy to make. My only issue was that I realized I don’t really have a huge bowl that is suitable for microwaving. This mixing bowl worked OK, but it got pretty hot. I guess I should have used a saucepan. Oops.

As an added bonus, they are sturdy enough to pack in a Ziploc and carry in a large purse to a football game. And they’re pretty, in a Saturday morning cartoon kind of way. Yabba dabba do!

Fruity pebble treats
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter (plus more for buttering pan)
1 bag marshmallows
1 box Fruity Pebbles cereal

Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with tin foil and butter.

Place 1/4 stick butter in a large microwave-safe bowl (or saucepan) and melt. Add marshmallows and stir. If using microwave, melt the marshmallows for about a minute, stir and continue until completely melted. If using a saucepan, continue stirring as you melt the marshmallows over low heat.

Remove melted marshmallow-butter mixture from heat and stir in cereal. Pour into buttered, foil-lined dish and press down evenly (use your buttered hands or the back of a buttered spoon/spatula). Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.