Pretzels

what you need:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 1\2 cups warm water
1\4 cup brown sugar
4 1\2 cups flour
baking soda
kosher salt

what you do:

Combine yeast, warm water and sugar together. Let it stand for about 5 minutes.

Add flour to your liquid mixture.

Beat with a dough hook or knead on a floured surface for about 7 minutes.

Let stand for 10 minutes.

Fill a saucepan with 3\4 full with water. For every cup of water, add 2 teaspoons baking soda to the pan. Bring to a boil.

Divide dough into 12 pieces and roll each piece into a rope and fold into a pretzel. Drop each pretzel in the boiling water for about 10 seconds.

Remove and place pretzels on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown at 450

Sweet Sliced Snacks

Okay, I really have no idea what these "are called" so I made up the name and think I did a pretty good job. Dr. Seuss has nothin' on me!

This is the cheapest, easiest, most cost efficient snack ever. Not to mention healthy. Well, healthier.

ingredients
apples (sliced horizontally)
peanut butter
chocolate chips

instructions
Really? I mean come on.... :)

Friday at Cindy's

I was super excited about this challenge but have slacked a little bit on getting my postings up. Better late than never!

Last Friday's dinner was nachos. This is a favorite, fast meal in our house. While the picture does not make them out to be appetizing, they were delicious!

We spread tortilla chips on a baking sheet and then top with grated colby jack cheese, and then drop a mixture of refried beans and salsa on top. If we have diced green chilies we also add. After placing them in the oven for about eight minutes, we put on more salsa and sour cream. I am sure everyone has their own way of making nachos, but for us. this is the only way to go

Sweet Chex Mix

Sweet Chex Mix

1 c. Karo Syrup
1c. Sugar
3/4 c. butter (not margarine)
A pinch of baking soda
18 c. of mixed Golden Grahams and Rice Chex*

Preheat oven to 250.

Bring first three ingredients to a boil on the stove top, then add the baking soda.
Stir over the cereal mix to coat evenly.
Spread over a large cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and spread on a sheet of wax paper to cool, breaking up the pieces.

*You can use any combo of the two cereals to equal 18 cups, or you can change it up a bit, using some of your favorite cereal or nuts.

Pampered Chef Hot Pizza Dip (FAVE!!)

No picture, sorry. But this dip is TO DIE FOR!! It is so flippin' good I could eat the entire thing by myself. No joke. Great to serve at parties and get-togethers.

Ingredients
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup (3 oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese
1 can/jar (8 oz.) pizza sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Serve on toasted Baguette bread (or Bread sticks, Canape bread slices, Tostitos chips)

Directions
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-In a bowl combine cream cheese and Italian seasoning; mix well.
-Spread in bottom of pie plate or a similar shallow dish- Combine cheeses and sprinkle half of cheese mixture over cream cheese.
-Spread pizza sauce over cheese.
-Top with remaining cheese (green onions, olives, peppers optional)
-Bake 15-18 min. or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbling around edges.Hints- The dip can be heated up in the microwave as well. Just microwave on High 2 min. Turn. Microwave on High 2-3 min. more or until mixture is bubbly around edges.

strawberry banana smoothie.

ingredients:
1 frozen banana, cut into 4-5 pieces
5 strawberries, fresh or frozen
5 ice cubes
1/4 cup yogurt {i use lemon flavored}
1 tablespoon sugar

directions:
put all ingredients in a blender. blend until smooth. enjoy!

serves 1.

Simple Yogurt Parfait

I want to share my all time favorite treat! It is so simple and doesn't actually require any cooking, but with the weather warming up, I thought it would be nice to share! I enjoy this for breakfast, as part of my lunch, and it is also really good as a healthy night time snack.

1 6 oz. Yoplait Light Vanilla yogurt
1\2 C. chopped strawberries

Mix and enjoy!

I have tried other brands of vanilla yogurt, but have found Yoplait's to be the best tasting and most creamy.

I have also used peaches, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in place of strawberries and it is equally delicious.

Frozen, pre-packaged fruit is also good. I prefer fresh fruit whenever possible.

Enjoy!

toasted pumpkin seeds

This is one of my favorite Fall recipes. I know Halloween is over and the pumpkins have been carved, but maybe you want to empty one of your Thanksgiving pumpkins to make this yummy snack!

3 Cups pumpkin seeds, rinsed {basically just remove all of the goopy pumpkin guts}
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Combine melted butter, worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper in a medium bowl. Add pumpkin seeds and stir until they are coated with the sauce. Pour onto baking sheet & spread them out evenly. Bake 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. Seeds will be browned & crisp {and delicious!} when done.

Pretzel Hugs

Here is a quick and easy snack for after school or to share with your neighbors. I had my niece and Tyler help make them and they loved it. Especially sneaking M&M's every few minutes. We used Halloween colored M&M's but any color is fun.

Pretzel Hugs

1 bag pretzels Regular or Waffle style
1 pkg. M&Ms
1 pkg. Hershey "Hugs"

Place pretzels on baking stone or sheet. Place a Hug on each pretzel and bake at 200 degrees for about 8 minutes (just watch for the Hugs to melt). Remove from oven and promptly place a couple of M&Ms on each pretzel, pressing into the melted chocolate. Allow to cool before serving. At room temperature, this takes SEVERAL hours. I would recommend making these the day before you plan on eating/delivering. Or you can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process.

Hope you and your kids enjoy!