Sweet and Salty Party Mix

3 cups each Corn Chex, Rice Chex and Wheat Chex,
3 cups miniature pretzels
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 c. butter cubed
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 c. corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Place cereal, pretzels, cranberries and almonds in a greased 6 quart slow cooker; toss to combine. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Drizzle over cereal mixture and toss to coat.
Cook, covered, on low 1 hour, stirring halfway. Spread onto waxed paper; cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
or
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and toss to mix. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Drizzle over cereal mixture and toss to coat. Spread onto a cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 20 min., stirring halfway. Spread onto waxed paper to cool. When I doubled the recipe, I made extra saucepan mixture (2 1/2 x) to have enough to coat the dry ingredients.

makes 16 servings (3/4 c. each)

Granola mix

10 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 lb shredded coconut
2 cups raw sunflower seeds
1 cup sesame seeds
3 cups chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts or combination
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
1 1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
3 t. vanilla
Raisins or other dried fruits, if desired

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine oats,wheat germ, coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and nuts. Blend well. In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, water, oil, honey, molasses, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Heat until sugar is dissolved, but do not boil. Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well coated. Spread into 5 9x13 baking pans or cookie sheets with sides. Bake 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Bake 15 minutes longer for crunchier texture. Cool. Add raisins or other dried fruit if desired. Put in an airtight container. Store in a cool dry place. Makes about 20 cups.

Healthy Microwave Popcorn

1 brown paper lunch bag
2 TB popcorn kernels

Put the kernels in the brown lunch bag & fold the top over a couple of times. Put it in the microwave until the popping slows, about 2-3 minutes depending on your microwave.

Season to your taste. We like to spray it with olive oil (with the Misto) and sprinkle salt on it. Delicious (and healthy) snack!

Edible Playdough

1 box white cake mix
1 stick soft but not melted margarine
+ - 3 tablespoons water

Mix cake mix and margarine in large bowl. When it is well mixed add 1 teaspoon of water at a time and mix until the desired consistency. Store in a plastic zip seal bag (if there's any left!)

Granola

Mix together:
15 c. old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 lb shredded coconut
3 c. sunflower seeds (raw)
4 1/2 c. chopped nuts (combination of walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts and/or mixed nuts)

In a saucepan, combine:
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 c. water
1 1/2 c. oil
3/4 c. honey
3/4 c. molasses
2 tsp. salt
1 T. cinnamon
1 T. vanilla

Heat until sugar and honey are dissolved but don't boil, stirring occasionally. Pour over oat mixture and mix well to coat granola. Spread on cookie sheets (5) approximately 3/4 to 1 inch thick, and bake at 325 degrees for 17-20 minutes, or longer if you want it to be crunchier, stirring once. After the granola cools, add raisins or dried fruit if desired.

I usually half this recipe and it makes just under 2 cookie sheets. Mom submitted a different granola recipe... but this is also hers and the one I use. :)

Pumpkin Bread

Mix:
5 cups flour
4 cups sugar
1 tea salt
1 tea cinnamon
1 tea ground cloves
4 tea baking soda

Add:
1 large (30 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chopped nuts
2 cups chocolate chips (optional... unless you are a true Cardon)

Mix Thoroughly.
Fill bread tins 3/4 full.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hr 25 minutes
Makes 3 large loaves

This recipe halves really well (just buy a 15 oz can of pumpkin). The small loaves I made pictured above took about 45 min to 1 hr to bake and is half of this recipe.

Wonderful Stuff

Mix together:
9 c. Golden Grahams
8 c. Corn Chex
2 c. Coconut
1 c. Slivered Almonds

Boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly:
1 c. Sugar
1 c. Lt. Karo Syrup
3/4 c. Butter

Pour over mix and turn to coat. Toss occasionally to break up clumps. Do not cover until cool & dry. Don't serve immediately, wait until dry and crunchy.

Submitted by: Anna

Beef Jerky

Mix together:
1 tea. Seasoned salt
1 TB. liquid smoke
1/3 tea. Garlic powder
1/3 tea. Pepper
1 tea. Accent
½ c. Worcestershire sauce
¼ c. soy sauce.

Marinate meat over night turning a few times. Spread meat slices on broiler rack in oven set on lowest heat with door slightly open or use food dryer. Dry 4-8 hrs. turning meat as it dries.

Submitted by: Anna

Corn Dogs

Batter:
¾ c. white flour
1 ½ c. corn flour
1 TB.& ¼ t. sugar
½ tea salt
1 slightly beaten egg
1 c. milk
2 TB. salad oil

Beat together just until the dry ingredients are well moistened. Coat hot dogs on a stick with batter and fry in deep fat 350 degrees until golden. Drain on paper towels and eat. Dip in mustard and ketchup if desired.

Submitted by: Anna

Popcorn Balls

1 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar
½ c. corn syrup
1 tea. Salt
1 tea. Vanilla
1/3 c. water

Bring to a boil. Boil to soft ball stage, stirring constantly. Add 1 tea. Soda. Pour over popcorn and stir. Form into balls.

Submitted by: Anna

Super Smackers (Large Chocolate Kisses)

20 miniature marshmallows
3 TB. butter
½ c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 c. rice crispy cereal

Combine marshmallows, butter and chocolate chips in a pan and heat until melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add cereal. Stir until well coated. Prepare 2 -12” x 12” squares of waxed paper. Pour half of mixture onto each square. Lightly butter hands and shape mixture into a large candy-cone shape, rounded at the base and pointed at the top. Let the smackers dry until no longer sticky, about 20-30 min. Wrap each smacker in foil, twisting at the top to resemble candy kisses. Tie with curling ribbon.

Makes 2 super smackers

Submitted by: Anna

Nutty Haystacks

½ c. white sugar
½ c. light corn syrup
½ peanut butter
2 c. Chinese noodles
½ c. salted peanuts

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a sauce. Heat until comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Stir until melted. Add noodles and peanuts. Stir until well coated. Drop by spoons onto waxed paper. Let cool.

Submitted by: Anna

Mini-Pizza

4 English muffins, halved
8 oz. Grated cheese Mozzarella or Longhorn
1 can (10 ½ oz.) Pizza or spaghetti sauce
Meat toppings: pepperoni, sausage (cooked) or ham lunch meat
Other toppings as desired: green peppers, sliced olives, etc.

Toast muffin halves. Add sauce, meat, toppings and cheese. Microwave on high for 1 –1 ½ min. or until cheese is bubbly. Serve.

Submitted by: Anna

Creamy Taco Dip

2 pkgs (8oz. Each) Cream Cheese
1 Cup (8 oz.) Sour Cream
1 jar (8 oz.) taco sauce or salsa
2 tea. Ground cumin
1 can (15 oz.) refried beans
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, diced
¼ c. chopped ripe olives
¼ c. canned chopped green chilies
1 cup shredded lettuce
Tortilla Chips

In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese & sour cream until smooth. Stir in taco sauce and cumin; set aside. Spread the refried beans over the bottom of a serving platter or 13 in x 9 inx2 in dish. Spread cream cheese mixture over the beans, leaving about 1 inch uncovered around the edges. Top with layers of lettuce, cheese, tomato, olives, and chilies. Serve with tortilla chips. Yield 16-20 servings

Submitted by: Maria

Cheese Ball

1 ½ lbs. Longhorn/Cheddar cheese
8 oz. Cream cheese
2 cloves garlic or 1 tea. Garlic pwd.
2 TB. Minced onion
1 tea. Worcestershire sauce

Grate cheese and cloves. Add cream cheese and mix well. Roll in nuts.

Submitted by: Anna