McGuyver'd Puffed Wheat Squares

Sometimes recreating the tastes of the "Old Country" is difficult due to the materials just not existing here. Prime examples are Jet-puffed style marshmallows (the marshmallows in Australia don't make Rice Krispie squares at all. Just a marshmallow lump. Blech.), canned pumpkin pie filling and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese. We were fortunate to stumble onto OCanada.com.au and thus have (expensive) access to some of our faves for a treat. The other day we ran into A&W rootbeer at the local IGA and bought every can on the shelf.
We are doubly fortunate to have my parents send me care packages of Tim Hortons coffee (my weakness) CoffeeCrisp and Twizzlers. Rob's mom also sends regular Twizzlers (Rob's weakness)!

Then there is innovation where you are. I love Asian grocery stores. I recently checked out the one on Victoria street- and they had PUFFED WHEAT, labelled as "Korean cookies". So I had to make puffed wheat squares.  The corn syrup was sourced from an Asian/Italian grocery (Right next to an Indian grocery- I adore that mix!) on Shakespeare St. here in Mackay.
 Et Voila! Puffed wheat squares. Om nomnomnom.

Recipe:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup of corn syrup
3 tbsp cocoa powder (more dependent on your taste)
1 tbsp vanilla
mix in the bottom of a large-ish pot. Bring to a good rolling boil.
remove from heat
add 5 ish cups of puffed wheat and toss to coat. Press into an 8"x8" pan (use baking paper to line ahead of time). Let cool. slice and eat! YUM.

Pimp My Ride - Bradshaw Edition

 The last few weeks Barb & I have been modifying Nigel, our 2003 Toyota Echo.  Mechanically it is in fine shape, but the Aussie sun has not been kind to it.  The paint on the roof is peeling quite badly and the damage is extending to the hood and other parts of the car.  Instead of painting we decided to do a vinyl wrap.  Our website has the full story.