Still no time for proper baking...

Well, the big weekend is upon us. I have, thus far, completed two performances of the play with one left to go tomorrow afternoon. Soon my life will be my own again! YIPPEE! Not that I haven't enjoyed the experience, mind you. I'm just exhausted from my extra-curricular commitments! And what's worse, we've run out of dessert in the house--quel horreur! With little time to devote to proper baking, I am forced to turn, once again, to a shortcut treat. In fact, this one is almost an embarrassment to discuss. It's from my friend, Anna, over at Cookie Madness, and even she seemed a bit chagrined to share the recipe. It's truly the tackiest thing that you'll ever make (even more than any of those cream of _______ soup casseroles that one might crave on occasion), but if you love the sweet-and-salty thing like I do, this may prove your undoing. Think of it as the poor, trailer trash cousin of the delicious but laborious almond toffee. In fact, let's go ahead and name the confection Trashy Toffee, as that name is a perfect fit for this addictive, junk food-based candy. But--God help me!--it's sooooooo good!

Trashy Toffee
(Source: adapted from www.cookiemadness.net)

2 cups pretzels (I like the thinner, waffle-weave squares)
1 cup Fritos (spring for the real ones!)
8 mini peanut butter cups (again, only Reese's will do)
1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
Optional: 3/4 cup chopped mixed nuts or peanuts for the top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 13x9 inch pan with parchment paper or no-stick (Release) foil. Break up the pretzels and Fritos by hand. Unwrap peanut butter cups and cut each one (at least) in half and toss them in with the pretzels and Fritos.

Place butter in a low or nonstick saucepan and melt over medium heat. When butter is melted, stir in brown sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring once or twice. Pour over Frito mixture and bake for 8 minutes.

Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over hot candy. Return to oven for 1-2 minutes to soften chips. Spread softened chocolate chips over bars. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired. Let cool to room temperature (you might even choose to chill it at this point), then break up into pieces by hand. Store in an airtight container.