Snacks!!

Snacks!!!

This weekend Kevin and I are attending a retreat for engaged couples. The confirmation letter mentioned that it would be "fine" to bring snacks - that was all it took for me start cooking away. And actually, there wasn't much "cooking" going on, everything was super easy to throw together! I made "Peppy Chex Party Mix," "Pink Powder Puff Crunch," and chocolate chip cookies. Here are the recipes:

Peppy Chex Party Mix

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
2 to 3 teaspoons red pepper sauce
3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips, or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
Preparation Directions:
1. Heat oven to 250°F.
2. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and pepper sauce. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
3. Bake uncovered 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

We are both fans of original Chex Mix but, this recipe is sooooo much better. I highly recommend it!

Pink Powder Puff Crunch

Ingredients:
9 cups Strawberry Chex® cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
1 box (4-serving size) strawberry-flavored gelatin
Preparation Directions:
1. In large bowl, place cereal. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter uncovered on High 1 minute. Stir; microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.
2. In 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix powdered sugar and gelatin. Add cereal mixture. Seal bag and shake until cereal is well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Since I've never really liked "Puppy Chow" (crazy, I know - I'm don't really like real sweet foods; I attribute it to growing up with a dietitian mother) I didn't really think I would like this recipe BUT, in small amounts, I totally LOVED it! I think the strawberry jello is the secret ingredient!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups
Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

**We would really appreciate if you kept us, and the other engaged couples, in your prayers this weekend! Thanks! :-)**

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip‏

I know I've done A LOT of complaining about my new night schedule but, the really, really nice thing about working three 12 hour shifts is that you have the rest of the week off!!! Yeah, it totally makes working nights worth it! Because I have big plans for my kitchen this week I didn't want to make anything too involved tonight. My solution: chocolate chip cookie dough dip!!! Try saying that 3 times as fast as you can - lol! :)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract1

(8-oz) pkg cream cheese

1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Stir continuously, until the brown sugar dissolves. (You can also do this in the microwave but watch it closely. The butter/sugar mixture will boil over fast. Stir every 30 seconds or so.)

2. Remove from heat, whisk in vanilla extract and set aside to cool.

3. Beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar for 1 minute.

4. Slowly beat in the cooled butter mixture and beat again for another minute.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips.

6. Pour into a serving bowl and refrigerate.

7. Garnish with additional chips, if you choose.

I served this will Nilla Wafers. You could also use graham crackers, chocolate graham sticks or something else sweet!

Simple Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies were super easy to make. Plus, they turned out yummy! The recipe is from allrecipes.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
cinnamon sugar, colored sugar, etc. (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Beat sugar, butter, vanilla, nutmeg, and egg in large bowl until smooth. Gradually stir in flour.

Shape dough by teaspoonfuls into balls. Place dough ball on ungreased baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Press dough gently with bottom of lightly floured, flat-bottomed glass. Cookie should be about 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle lightly with sugar.

Bake 8-10 minutes, or until edges are just golden brown. Cool cookies on baking sheet 1 minute, then remove to wire rack. Cool. Store in airtight container up to one week.