Koolaid Rice Krispy Treats

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, to say I've been busy lately is an understatement. Jada started kindergarten and I started a part time job in the evenings and my life has been a whirlwind ever since. Well I came across these yummy little treats recently and have made them them in several flavors. The picture above is watermelon cherry flavored.  It's a nice twist on your standard rice krispy treats. They are sweet and tart and full of flavor!

INGREDIENTS

1 Stick of butter

1 Package of mini marshmallows

8 cups of rice krispies

1 package of any flavored koolaid  (you can use 2 packs if you like more flavor)

cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

1) Prepare your baking pan, spray bottom and side with spray.... set aside.

2) In large non stick pot melt butter at med- low heat. Add marshmallows and kool-aid stirring constantly until melted and mixed well, be careful not to scorch. Remove from heat.

3) Pour rice krispies over marshmallow and kool aid mixture. Mix thoroughly...spoon into baking pan and press down with wax paper till firm....let cool then cut into squares and serve.....

Praline Bacon.... yes that is what I said!

I went on a search to find something unusual but yummy to make. The birth place of Praline Bacon is at a place in New Orleans called Elizabeth's. I have tried different recipes trying to find which I think is the best and I came up with this one. It is salty and sweet and oh so good! It is great for Breakfast or for a sweet little snack.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb	good thick cut bacon
4 Tbsp	dark corn syrup
3/4 c	brown sugar
3/4 c	pecans, chopped fine
	**for an even sweeter twist you can dip these in some semi sweet melting choclate!

DIRECTIONS:

1) Place pecans and brown sugar in a food processor and chop till the nuts are chopped fine but not powdered. Set aside.

2) Place the bacon on a foil lined cookie sheet. Cook the bacon in the oven at 425 degrees for 12-15min. Take the bacon out and place on a paper towel to drain.

3) With a pastry brush, brush the dark corn syrup generously on the slices of bacon.

 

4) Pile the pecan brown sugar mix on top of the bacon and press into the corn syrup. 

 

5) Place the bacon back in the oven for an additional 5-10min. If you like a crisper bacon you can cook longer. 

 

6) Remove the bacon from the oven and drain on a paper towel. Enjoy!

Antipasto Squares

Have you noticed a trend? I've been posting super Bowl style food this week. This lovely little dish is the winner of the www.justapinch.com sporty snack showdown. It is quite tasty and easy to make. It is a cross between antipasto and a deep dish pizza. No I didn't enter it in the contest but I sure wish I had.  This was entered by Gail Herbest from Bangor, Maine. Congrats Gail! I hope y'all can enjoy this dish at your next gathering.

INGREDIENTS:

2 can(s)	10 oz size refrigerated cresent rolls
1/4 lb	thinly sliced boiled ham
1/4 lb	thinly sliced provalone cheese
1/4 lb	thinly sliced swiss cheese
1/4 lb	thinly sliced genoa salami (about 12 slices)
1/4 lb	thinly sliced pepperoni ( about 30 slices)
1 jar(s)	12 oz size, roasted red peppers, drained and cut into thin strips
3 md	eggs
3 Tbsp	grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp	ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees and very lightly spray 9x13 baking pan with non stick cooking spray

2)unroll one package of the crescent rolls and cover the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer with ham, provolone,Swiss, salami and pepperoni in the order shown above, distribute drained and sliced roasted red peppers over top. 

 

3)In a small mixing bowl combine eggs, Parmesan and pepper and beat lightly

 

4)Pour 3/4 cup of egg mixture over the top of the peppers distribute evenly.

 

5)Unroll the second package of crescent rolls and place over the top of the red peppers. Brush with the remaining egg mixture 

 

6)Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. remove foil and bake another 10-20 minutes until dough is golden brown and slightly puffy, Remove from oven let sit for about 10 minutes for easier cutting.
serve warm or at room temperature

Cranberry Orange Cheese ball with Carmalized Pecans

A long time ago I ate a cranberry cheese ball that I had made from a mix that I bought. I loved it! Well I have no way of getting that mix anymore, so I came up with my own recipe. It is sweet and tart. This isn't your average cheese ball! You will love to serve this at your next holiday gathering!

Ingredients:

1 c dried cranberries, chopped 1/4 c frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp 1/4 c confectioners' sugar CARAMALIZED PECANS 3/4 c pecans, coarsely  chopped 1 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp sugar

Directions:

1)Chop cranberries in a food processor or blender. 2)Add the cream cheese, OJ and sugar. Blend in the processor till all is creamed together. 3)Place onto a sheet of wax paper and shape in a ball the best you can. Let it sit overnight to stiffen up a bit. You can shape it better the next day when it is a little harder. 4)Directions for candied pecans: Melt butter in a pan on med heat add the pecans and sugar and mix well stirring frequently. About 3-5 minutes. Do not let the pecans burn! 5)Lay out a sheet of wax paper and place pecans on the sheet spreading them out. Let them cool. 6)When you are ready to eat the cheese ball take it out of the fridge and shape better. Grab a handful of pecans and place them all over the cheese call till covered. Place cheese ball on a plate and serve!

Candy Christmas Wreaths

I know that this is the 3rd sweet recipe in a row that I have posted but I couldn't help myself but post this one today. My kids and I made a batch and had a lot of fun. Besides it's Christmas time we are supposed to gorge ourselves with sweets right? I am the youngest of 5 kids. So growing up this is what we would give our teachers at Christmas time. This is an inexpensive yummy treat and present. My kids love to make their own and eat them. I could not find the cinnamon red hots this year so I substituted them with red m&ms.

Indgredients:

1	10.5 oz bag of mini marshmallows
1 c	butter (2 sticks)
2 tsp	vanilla extract
7 c	corn flakes
4 tsp	green food coloring ( or till you get the shade you want)
	small red cinnamon candies or red m&ms

Directions:
1)In a large pot melt the butter, then add the marshmallows, melt those.

2)Stir the butter and marshmallows together. Add the vanilla and food coloring till you get the shade of green you want.

3)Pour in the cornflakes and mix well till it is covered pretty good.

4)Grease your hands with butter. drop onto waxed paper and shape. If the kids are working with you make sure you let it cool just a little bit before they work with it. Just don't wait too long or it will harden. This batch makes two 9 in wreaths or several small ones.

Jadas sweet wreath! You can tell she really likes the berries!

Lovin' his wreath

Delish!

Peppermint Marshmallow Popcorn

Doesn't this stuff look GOOOOOOD?!? I tasted this oooeey goooey goodness for the first time courtesy of my best friend Brooke. I told her that I HAD to have the recipe. This stuff is seriously addicting! It's like Christmas in your mouth! It makes a big batch! Anytime I have family in town I make it so I don't eat the whole batch myself. It is the perfect Christmas treat! You can eat it all year long substitute the candy cane for  heath bits, Recesses pieces, m&m's etc.. Watch out now! I bet you can't eat just one bite!

Ingredients: 

1/2 c	butter
1/2 c	margarine
1/2 c	corn syrup, light
1 tsp	vanilla
1	16 oz bag of mini marshmallows ( if you can't find a 16 oz bag just use 1 1/2 bags of the 10.5 oz)
2	gallons of air popped popcorn (or 3 bags of microwave popcorn,use very light butter)
30	miniature candy canes, crushed
1 1/3 c	sugar

	Directions:
	melt butter and margarine in a pot. add the sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. Boil for 5 minutes of med heat. layer the pop corn, candy canes and marshmallows in a large bowl or pot. Pour the sauce over and mix well with a large spoon. It can bet hard to stir this sticky goodness but it is worth it! You can add more popcorn till it is the consistency you want. When you are done mixing pour it onto wax paper and spread it out to cool. You can store it in gallon zip lock bags.

Chocolate popcorn!

NO, your eyes are not deceiving you this popcorn is green! We  love this popcorn. You can do it in any color you want. My Kids like the green that way it is "monster" popcorn. My kids love it so much I have to cut them off and eat the rest myself. LOL! I hope yall enjoy this easy tasty treat!

3 Popped bags of microwave popcorn (I like butter flavor)
1 1b of melting chocolate
food coloring ( any color)
salt to taste

Pop the 3 bags of popcorn
Next melt the chocolate in  the microwave, melting in 45 sec intervals mixing between melting
After chocolate is done melting you can add any color of food coloring you like. Or you can just leave it white.
Place half the popcorn in a very large bowl.
Dump half of the chocolate into the popcorn bowl and mix well.
Dump the remaining popcorn on top and pour the rest of the chocolate over the popcorn.
While mixing the popcorn sprinkle salt on, so you get that sweet and salty flavor.
Mix until popcorn is covered with chocolate.
let the popcorn set before serving.
* do not put the popcorn in the fridge, it will stick to the side of the bowl.