Totoro Rice Crispy Treats

I made these treats as part of a larger Japanese character based meal titled "Kyaraben on Steroids" featured in Foodbuzz's 24-24-24 in August 2009. Click here to see the entire meal.

Make Rice Crispy Treats according to the package instructions except stop at the step before you press the marshmallow-rice mixture into the pan. Instead, while the mixture is still hot, using either well oiled or wet hands, pick up glob of rice-marshmallow mix and shape it into a Totoro.

Dip the Totoros into melted chocolate.  Make melted chocolate by heating baking chocolate chips in the microwave for about 1 minute. You may have to stir the mixture and heat for an additional minute. If the mixture is still hard to stir, you can add a little bit of canola oil to soften it up.

Let the Totoros rest while the chocolate hardens (it may not harden all the way if you add too much vegetable oil - so use it sparingly only if you have to!)
To make the eyes, take white chocolate chips and insert them (pointy side first) into the rice crispy. Using a toothpick, take a dab of the melted chocolate and dip on the eyeballs.

Serve!