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  • Recipe: Caramel Party Mix (Gluten Free Snack)

    In a conversation recently I realized that we have several acquaintances that have various food allergies.  A couple years ago my friend Ashley made this recipe for a Christmas gift and it was delicious.  With the Holidays and parties quickly approaching this is a great recipe for those who have a Gluten Free diet.  It has only 5 ingredients and easy to make.

    Caramel Party Mix

    • 2 sticks of Butter
    • 2 cups of Brown Sugar
    • 1/2 cup of Kairo Syrup
    • 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda
    • 1 box of Corn (or Rice) Chex Cereal (you can use the off brands too)

    Put the whole box of cereal in a microwavable bowl.  Bring the butter, brown sugar, and kairo syrup to a boil.  Boil for one minute.  Make sure to stir constantly when boiling so it doesn’t burn.  After boiling for 1 minute add the baking soda.  Pour the mixture over the box of Corn (or Rice) cereal.  Microwave everything 1 1/2 minutes, take it out, stir, and microwave again.  Do this step 3 times.  It will evenly distribute the mixture and coat the cereal.  Lay the mix out on wax paper or the counter and let set.

    Optional: You can add pretzels, pecans, almonds, cranberries or whatever you want to the mix. (If you want it to remain gluten free do not add pretzel as pictured above, however, you can add nuts if they do not have any nut allergies)

    My husband loves this plain without any extras in it.  When we have it at a party it goes quickly.  If you are looking to for another delicious Party Mix recipe to give away as a gift or share at a party check out Ashley’s Recipe for Puppy Chow!  It is another one our family favorites!

  • Recipe: Homemade Naan Bread

    We brought dinner to a couple church events this week and decided to do an Indian theme.  We had Biryani, Rice, and Naan but couldn’t find Samosa’s since our favorite Indian store had closed two weeks ago (owners retired).

    Here is a great homemade Naan recipe my cousin shared with me.  We love eating it  with Indian food or plain.

    • 1 – .25 oz package active dry yeast
    • 1 cup warm water
    • 1/4 cup white sugar
    • 3 tablespoons milk
    • 1 egg, beaten
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 4 1/2 cups bread flour (you can use either white or whole wheat)
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (optional)
    • 1/4 cup melted butter
    1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand about 10 minutes.
    2. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough.
    3. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
    4. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth, then set aside. (Let dough rise for 1 hour, it should double in volume).
    5. Punch down dough and knead in garlic (if you chose to use it).
    6. Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball.  Roll into ball shapes and place on a tray then cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).
    7. While dough is rising the 2nd time, preheat grill to high heat.  (you can use a griddle if you prefer too).
    8. Roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle and lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes (or until puffy and lightly browned).
    9. Brush uncooked side with butter and flip over. Brush cooked side with butter and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes.
    10. Remove from grill and continue the process until all the naan has been prepared.

    Serve the Naan with an Indian dish or really any other meal.   A light bread with great flavor.  It is similar to a pita for those who have not tried Naan.  Enjoy!

  • Recipe: Super Easy Halloween Punch

    Great punch to add to your Halloween festivities and super easy to make.  It takes about 5 minutes to put everything together.

    • 1 – 14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • 1 – 46 oz can chilled Pineapple Juice
    • 1 – 2 liter chilled bottle of Orange Soda
    • 1 – container (any size) of Orange Sherbet

    Stir Sweetened Condensed Milk and Pineapple Juice in the punch *bowl.  Slowly pour in the chilled Orange Soda.  Top with balls of Orange Sherbet.  You can serve over ice and refrigerate any leftovers.  Makes about 4 quarts.

    *You can use a plastic pumpkin like the one the kids take trick or treating (pictured above) to put the punch in to add an extra touch.  Make sure it is one without a hole in the bottom!  Happy Halloween!

  • Easy Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

    Jake made some amazing roasted pumpkin seeds during our evening carving the pumpkins.  Here is a super easy and great recipe for roasting pumpkins seeds:

    • 2 c pumpkin seeds
    • 2 T butter
    • Sprinkle Seasoned Salt (or substitute a 1/2 package ranch package mix)

    Rinse the pumpkin seeds.  Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown).  Sprinkle the Seasoned Salt or Ranch Mix on the  seeds.  Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy.  Stirring every 10 minutes.

    We made half with the sprinkled seasoned salt and half with the ranch package mix this year.  Delicious snacks for the whole family!

  • Family Recipe: Zucchini Bread

    Zucchini BreadI received this Zucchini Bread recipe from my Aunt Mary Ann.  We love having fresh garden veggies throughout the summer months.  Once fall hits we start looking for ways to continue cooking with those delicious vegetables that we are storing in our freezer.  It is a perfect fall recipe that has been a family favorite for many years.  Your kitchen will smell amazing and it is a joy to share the bread with friends and neighbors.

    Zucchini Bread

    3 Eggs

    1 cup Oil

    2 cups Sugar

    Beat together.  Then add:

    1 teaspoon Vanilla

    2 cups grated Zucchini (if using frozen zucchini drain the excess liquid)

    In separate bowl Mix together:

    3 cups Flour

    1/2 teaspoon baking powder

    1 teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    Add flour mixture to the liquid mixture. Optional: blend in 1 cup chopped nuts.  Pour into a greased bundt cake pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from oven, cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

    The Zucchini Bread recipe brings back the flavors and smells of a fresh garden.  Great bread to bring to a fall gathering.

  • Family Recipe: Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch

    Fruit Punch

    As the Holidays approach you may be on the look out for a great new punch recipe to brighten the celebration.  Everyone loves Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch!  It is quick, easy, and the base is made in advance.  The punch is slushy and has a fun fruity flavor.  If you are looking for a great punch for a birthday party, family gathering, holiday, shower, wedding or just for fun try this one.  You can make it in any flavor or color you want to match the occasion.  We have had raspberry, orange, cherry, strawberry, grape, lime and many more flavors variations of this recipe over the years.

    Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch

    1 – 6 oz package of Strawberry Gelatin (or Flavor of your Choice)

    3/4 cup of Sugar

    2 cups Boiling Water

    1 – 46 ounce can of Pineapple Juice

    6 cups Cold Water

    2 liters Ginger Ale (chilled)

    Optional: Add Whole Cherries, Sliced Pineapples, or Complimentary Fruit on top for extra flair.

    Directions: In a 4 quart (or larger) freezer container (we save our 1 gallon ice cream containers to use), dissolve gelatin and sugar in the boiling water.  Stir in pineapple juice and cold water.  Cover and freeze completely.  Remove from freezer at least 2 hours before serving.  Place in punch bowl.  Stir in the Ginger Ale just before serving. Makes 5 1/2 Quarts of Punch.

    You can use any flavor or color of gelatin with this recipe.  Pick what goes best for your special occasion and enjoy.  Grandma’s Fruit Punch has been a hit at many of our family celebrations.