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Merry Christmas from the kitchen!
Preparing for Christmas is an exciting time for me. I refuse to see it as a stress-filled chore. I shop early, prep early and do everything I possibly can so I can enjoy my family time during the holidays. Since I bake all year long, I’m not big on holiday baking. I’ll have a tin of party mix, puppy chow and some chocolate-coated goodies around but if I make those things too early, the snacker in the house will eat them. Some of my family’s favorites are chocolate-covered potato chips, strawberries and covered Ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle. There aren’t any specific recipes for dipping things in chocolate. Just use your imagination. I will share with you the party mix and puppy chow recipes.
It has been a wonderful year of sharing recipes and stories with you all and it’s been a pleasure getting to know some of you personally. I hope your Christmas and New Year is a fun, relaxing and blessed time.
Eat well my friends.
Party Mix
• 8 cups each of Corn Chex and Rice Chex cereal
• 4 cups pretzels (any shape)
• 4 cups garlic chips (optional)
• 2 cups regular salted peanuts
• 2 sticks butter
• 4 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 4 tsp seasoned salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups Cheez-Its
Preheat oven to 250. Microwave the butter until melted. Stir in the sauce and all the seasonings. Pour all the salty snacks in a large bowl. Pour the liquid all over the snacks and toss till they are all coated. Pour on lined cookie sheets and bake for 45-50 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before storing in a tight container.
Puppy chow
• 9 cups Chex cereal (your choice)
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups 10X sugar
Pour cereal in a large bowl. In a microwave safe bowl, pour the chips, peanut butter, butter and vanilla. Microwave mixture for 20 seconds at a time, stirring each time until everything is melted and smooth. Pour over the cereal and quickly mix it up till all the cereal is coated. Coat with the 10X sugar. If you have a paper grocery bag, this is a great way to mix up the cereal. Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. I often double this recipe.
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Bev Kauffman, of Lewistown, operated a catering business in Juniata County for nearly 20 years. She has authored the cookbook, “Preserving the Past: In the Kitchen with Bev Kauffman” in 2013 and is currently working on a second cookbook.