Puppy Chow

When I was going to make this one day I couldn't believe we didn't have the recipe on the blog! I know it's all over the internet and now called Chex Muddy Buddies but when I was a teenager it was called puppy chow and it's still as easy to make and delicious as it was waaaaay back then!-Sarah

9 cups Chex cereal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

• In a microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter for 1 min. Stir and microwave 30 more seconds until mixture is smooth and easy to pour. Stir in vanilla. 
• Place Chex in bag or large bowl. Pour mixture over and shake or still until cereal is covered. 
• Add powdered sugar and shake or stir until mixture is covered in powdered sugar. 

Cucumber Avocado Salsa

This is a simple dip to serve with tortilla chips.  My friend Juli shared and served this combination at a shower we had...it was a hit!  This is very basic so add more or less of anything you want.  -Kristin

3 cucumbers, seeded and minced
1 small red onion, diced
1 avocado, diced
cilantro, to taste
salt, to taste
lime juice, to taste

• Dice up the veggies.  Stir in the rest to taste.

Pretzel Dip

My friend Janice made this dip for a youth group dinner and it was a huge hit.  After it was raved about so much I had to get the recipe and try it myself and yes, it is worth raving about!  This dip is unique and has great flavor and the perfect consistency to dip pretzels in.  This dip is great with hard pretzels or soft pretzels. -Kristin

1 cup sour cream

1 cup mayo

1 cup mustard

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup minced dry onion

1 package of dry Ranch dressing

1 T. Horseradish

•  Mix all ingredients and let refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

My daughter Mikayla made these easy pizza puffs.  These are such a yummy snack...very addicting too.  Serve these as a snack, appetizer or along side a meal...very good!  This recipe made 36 mini-muffin cup puffs. -Kristin

1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz. pepperoni, cut into small pieces

Pizza Sauce, optional for dipping

• Preheat oven to 375 and grease the mini muffin tin.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. 
• Whisk in the milk and eggs.
• Stir in the mozzarella cheese and pepperoni; let batter stand for 10 minutes.
• Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups.  Fill them to the top.  Bake until puffed and golden, 20-25 minutes. 
• Serve with pizza sauce if desired.

***You can freeze the baked puffs in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag.  To reheat bake the frozen puffs on a baking sheet in a 350 oven for 8-10 minutes.

Awesome Guacamole

I got this recipe from a blog called Tammy's Recipes.  It is awesome, creamy, deliciousness! -Kristin

2 large ripe avocados

1-2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice

3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

1/4 cup minced red onion

1/2 teaspoon salt

Several shakes of Red Hot or your favorite hot sauce

1/2 cup sour cream

• Place all in a bowl and mash with a potato masher. 
• ENJOY!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

I have tried many pumpkin seed recipes, this one is our favorite. The Worcestershire sauce adds great flavor! -Kristin

3 c. raw pumpkin seeds
2 T. butter
3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. garlic powder
2 t. Worcestershire sauce

• Rinse the raw pumpkin seeds and remove any extra liquid. Lightly dry with dish towel.
• Melt better in sauce pan. Add the remaining ingredients.
• Spread on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake the seeds at 275 for 60 minutes. Stir at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes and again at 50 minutes.
• Let cool and then enjoy.

Now Foods Pumpkin Seed Raw, 1-pounds (Pack of 4)
- Raw Pumpkin Seeds - 2lb.

Frozen Chocolate Bananas

This is another oldie but goody from my mom. She used to make these for a snack and they are just as good as I remembered! Such a great warm weather treat, my kids loved them too.-Sarah

Amounts vary, depending on how many you are making. You can also make the banana pieces as large or small as you like.

bananas, cut in desired size pieces
chocolate chips, melted with a little peanut butter or Crisco
chopped peanuts, optional

• Dip banana pieces in melted chocolate and place on chopped peanuts if using.
• Place on waxed paper and freeze until firm.

Leah's Cheerios Snack Mix

This is my friend Leah's recipe. She brought this our church's poolside fellowship and it was such a hit with kids and adults! -Kristin

1 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. light corn syrup

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. baking soda

8 c. Cheerios

1 c. toasted almonds, whole

1-2 c. dried cranberries

• Preheat oven to 275 and grease a jelly roll pan.
• Combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until it bubbles around the edge, then cook for 2 minutes more.
• Remove from heat and add baking soda.
• Pour sugar mixture over cereal, almonds and cranberries and mix well.
• Bake 20-25 minutes.
• Let stand till cool, then break into pieces.
• Makes 10 cups.

Fruit Dip

I have been making this since I was a teenager, it's so simple, and so yummy! I love it with bananas, any fruit is good though. We have also used this to make a torte, layered with angle food cake pieces and fruit. -Sarah

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
8 oz. Cool whip

• Make pudding with milk and fold in Cool Whip. Different variations change the flavor slightly, like using french vanilla pudding or Cool Whip.

Kettle Corn

This is another Whirley Pop recipe, I love my Whirley Pop and took a picture of it to show you what it looks like, if you haven't seen one. -Sarah

1/3 cup popping corn
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil

• Place all in Whirley Pop. Cook over medium-high heat, turning handle constantly, until popping stops.
• Quickly pour into bowl and sprinkle with salt if desire.

Soft Multigrain Pretzels

My kids love to make homemade pretzels with me. They love to do different shapes. For this blog post I made them do regular shapes! This is the easiest, yummiest recipe I have tried. They are not fussy at all and always turn out great! -Kristin

1 c. warm water (105-115 F)
1/4 c. sugar
2 1/4 t. yeast (or 1 package active dry yeast)
2 T. olive oil
1 egg
1 1/2 t. salt
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. cornmeal
1/4 c. oat bran

1 egg white
2 T. water
Kosher salt
Poppy Seeds (optional)

• Combine the water and sugar in a large bowl.
• Sprinkle with yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. To yeast mixture, add the oil, egg and salt; set aside.
• In different bowl, combine the flours, cornmeal and oat bran. Gradually work the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until a stiff dough forms. Grease a large bowl and place dough in it. Cover lightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours. Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Shape the dough into a long, log shape and divide it into 16 sections.
• Roll each section into about a 15-20 inch rope.
• Shape into pretzel and place on baking sheet.
• Combine the egg white and water and then brush the tops of the pretzel with it.
• Sprinkle them with Kosher salt and poppy seed if desired.
• Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rest in warm place for about 45 minutes. They do not raise that much.
• Bake at 400 for 13-15 minutes.

Mom's Oven Caramel Corn

This is my Mom's recipe. I loved when she made this stuff and would eat it, while it cooled on the counter. This stuff is awesome and not difficult at all. This is such a yummy treat to bring to any party or give away as a gift. -Kristin

2 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter
1/2 c. light corn syrup
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
5 quarts (20 cups) popped popcorn

• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in saucepan. Heat until boiling and continue cooking for 5 minutes; stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Drizzle caramel over popcorn that has been divided into two large bowls. Mix well.
• Bake caramel corn on 2 large, greased, jelly roll pans at 200 degrees for 1 hour. Stirring half way through.
• Remove from oven, let cool and break into chunks.

Custard Style Yogurt

I found this recipe on the Internet and we changed it a little bit, it's very good, whatever flavor Jell-O you use. Mandarin oranges are one of my favorite fruits to add. -Sarah

1 small pkg. Jell-O, any flavor
1 cup water (or use juice from canned fruit)
1/3 cup sugar
32 oz. plain yogurt
chopped fruit

• Boil water (or juice), add Jell-O and stir until dissolved. Stir in sugar, stirring to dissolve.
• Whisk in yogurt and stir in fruit. Refrigerate until set.

Tracy's Snack Mix

Tracy is my cousin Brent's wife and I love her snack mix! This tastes like a deluxe version of the good old Chex Mix! Perfect for the holidays, which is when I first tried it. -Sarah

1 stick butter
4 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 t. garlic salt
1 1/2 t. Lawry's
3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Cheerios
2 cups broken pretzel sticks
2 cups mixed nuts
1 cup cashews

• Melt butter and mix in seasonings.
• Stir all other ingredients in a large bowl.
• Pour seasoning mixture over and stir well.
• Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring at least twice.

Cinnamon Crunch Popcorn

Oh man, this stuff is awesome! A fews years ago Kristin got a Whirley Pop popcorn maker and I was so impressed I needed to have one! My sister was kind enough to get me one for my Birthday and I LOVE it! Everyone should have one...well, everyone that loves popcorn! And we LOVE popcorn. -Sarah

2 t. cinnamon
1 T. sugar
1/4 t. salt

1/3 cup popping corn
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar

• In a small bowl combine cinnamon, salt and 1 t. of sugar. Mix well and have ready by the popper.
• In Whirley Pop place oil, popping corn and 1/4 cup sugar. Over medium-high heat start turning the handle on popper. Popping should start about 2-3 minutes after heat has been turned on. Keep cooking and turning handle till popping almost stops.
• Remove from heat and quickly sprinkle spice mixture over popped corn, turning handle to coat popped corn.

Caramel Corn Snack Mix

This recipe is from my friend Becky, it's really tasty! -Sarah

8 cups popcorn
4 cups Chex
2 cups mini pretzel twists
1 cup pecan halves

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. baking soda

• Heat oven to 3oo degrees. In a 9x13 pan combine popcorn, cereal, pretzels and nuts.
• In a saucepan combine brown sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until it comes to a full boil. Reduce heat to med.-low, cook *without stirring* for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly stir vanilla and baking soda. Pour over popcorn mixture and stir well.
• Bake 15 minutes, stir. Bake another 15 minutes, stir.
• Spread out on counter to cool. Break apart.

Honey Crystal Almonds

These are so yummy, I made these for Christmas presents one year. If you can get a great deal on almonds (try Sam's Club) these are so worth the money! Whenever I've made these I've made many batches at a time. -Sarah

2 cups whole almonds
1/4 cup honey
2 T. butter
1 cup sugar

• Spread almonds in a jelly roll pan and place in a cold oven. Turn oven to 350 degrees and roast almonds 12-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Bake until almonds are roasted (taste them to be sure).
• Over medium heat, in a medium saucepan. Heat butter and honey to boiling. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 2 minutes. Add almonds to honey mixture.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer almonds to a greased cookie sheet and cool slightly.
• Toss almonds with sugar. (the original recipe called for the almonds to be tossed in Raw Sugar, I've never used it but I think it would be pretty)

Microwave Caramel Corn

This is a recipe from my Mother-in-law, Gail. She has been making this since her kids were little. It's the best recipe for caramel corn that I've ever had! I love that it's all done in the microwave and that you don't have to stand by the oven for hours! I've given this recipe to many friends and everyone thinks it's the best! -Sarah (I still remember the first time Kristin had this at my house, probably 12 years ago...she couldn't stay out of it!)

16 cups of popped popcorn, place in a brown paper grocery bag

In a microwaveable bowl that's a pretty good size (mixture will expand as it's microwaved) place the syrup ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 stick butter
1/2 t. salt

Microwave syrup for 2 minutes and stir mixture
Microwave syrup for 3 more minutes and stir again then add:
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. baking soda
Stir this well and it should foam all up from the baking soda, then pour syrup over the popcorn in the bag. Roll the top of the bag down to close and shake it well.
Microwave bag for 1 minute and shake well
Microwave bag for 2 minutes and shake well
Microwave bag for 30 seconds and shake well
Microwave bag 1 last time for 30 seconds and shake well
Pour caramel corn out onto the counter and let it cool. It is ready to eat!

Sweet Crisp Mix

This is a recipe from my aunt. She made it years ago at a 4th of July party. I had to get her recipe, it rocks! It is great to bring to parties. -Kristin

6 c. Crispex cereal
10 oz. can mixed nuts
10 oz. pretzel sticks
3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar

• Combine cereal, nuts and pretzel in large bowl; set aside.
• In a saucepan , melt butter and then stir in brown sugar. Stir till well mixed.
• Pour over cereal and stir.
• Place mix 1/3 at a time on greased jelly roll pan and bake 325 for 8 minutes, then stir and bake additional 6 minutes.
• This recipe makes about 14 c. of mix.

Chex Vanilla Chunks

We love this stuff. It is so hard to stay out of! It is great to bring to a holiday party, then your not stuck with it all to yourself! -Kristin

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 - 1c. M&M's
3 c. corn Chex
3 c. rice Chex
3 c. wheat Chex
2 c. salted dry roasted peanuts
2 c. small pretzel twists
2 c. miniature marshmallows
1 (20oz.) package vanilla flavored candy coating (we think Ambrosia brand is the best)

• Combine all but the candy coating in a large bowl.
• In microwave, heat candy quick high 1 minute, stir, microwave about 30 seconds more until it is smooth.
• Gently and quickly mix till evenly coated. Spread on wax paper until cooled.