Holiday (Peppermint) Popcorn Crunch Mix (Easy - Last Minute!)

I am almost giddy over this delicious concoction! 

You might want to call it a "Clean out the Pantry" treat! 

This very simple treat uses microwave popcorn as its base!

As we prepare to head to Florida next week, I had some things on hand I wanted to use up before we go.  I'm thrilled to say I was able to use the last of SEVEN ingredients and gave away bags of this tasty snack at church.

Almond bark..

Microwave Popcorn...

Pretzels..

M & M's...

Ghiradelli Peppermint Chunks in a bag...

leftover crushed candy canes

Sprinkles...

It tastes great!  And is not nearly as sweet as a lot of the other 'goodies' I made last week.  And it's pretty too!!!

I have said for a long time...RECIPES ARE GUIDELINES.  You don't ever have to follow it exactly...sometimes it's fun to do your own thing!

Use up what you have on hand and enjoy this treat that has many options to it!

Peanuts, or any kind of nut, would be a great addition! Maybe even some cereal! 

When I made a second batch, I used part peppermint chunks for the almond bark.

I also used the penguin bags for the Peppermint Version so I could tell the difference. 

(This is what I used...not the 'crunch' mixture...these melt nicely..

and it only gives a light peppermint flavor)

Have fun with this one!  Folks appreciate receiving something homemade from your kitchen..and I am very pleased with the end result of this 'experiment'. 

HOLIDAY (PEPPERMINT) POPCORN CRUNCH MIX 

*2 bags microwave popcorn 

(lite butter is ok)

*3 - 4 c. pretzels 

*12 ozs. white almond bark (or candy melts)

(or use Ghiradelli peppermint baking chunks for part of almond bark) 

*2 hands-full peanut M & M's

*crushed candy canes, optional

*holiday sprinkles, optional 

Cover 2 cookie sheets (with sides) with waxed paper; set aside. 

Pop the popcorn according to package directions; pour into an extra large bowl and be sure to remove any kernels that didn't pop. Mix in the pretzels. 

Melt almond bark in microwave according to directions. Pour over the popcorn mixture, stirring to coat, then add M & M's and continue to mix until everything is coated. Stir in sprinkles or add over top of mixture once you've spread it over the cookie sheet. 

(For the peppermint version, I sprinkled crushed candy canes over the top at the end)

Allow to dry (it doesn't take long!); break apart and place into decorated bags to give as gifts. 

Recipe Inspired by Southern Plate
(Christy shares a great tutorial - check her out!)

You might also enjoy...

Simple Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

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Leader Enterprise - August 2, 2017 - Summertime Fun for Kids

Summer is nearly half over for school kids.  Have you already heard "I'm bored" more times than you care to count? Here's a list of some simple, fun activities to help woo them away from their electronics and enjoy the season. Encourage them to see how many things they can check off this list before school starts. 

-have a picnic

-watch a sunset 

-play tag with friends

-stargaze: see if you can find the Big and Little Dippers 

-run through the sprinklers 

-make popsicles 

-have a lemonade stand

-go for a bike ride

-visit the library

-bake something yummy

-fly a kite

-camp in the back yard 

-play in the rain

-catch fireflies

-do cartwheels

-blow bubbles

-draw a picture 

-bake cookies for a neighbor

-learn to juggle

-make a fruit smoothie

-play a game

-read a book 

-make shadow puppets with your hands

-send a letter in the mail to a friend (bet they'll be surprised!)

-do a random act of kindness

-visit relatives

-offer to help a neighbor with a chore

-call your grandparents to ask how they're doing

-have a water balloon fight

-write a story

-have a family game night

-learn a magic trick 

-write a thank you note to someone in your family 

-play at the park 

-lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds 

Here are some simple ideas for kids to have fun in the kitchen and maybe even help cool them down. 

FRUIT PUNCH SLUSH 

1 - 20 ozs. bag of frozen mixed fruit (peaches, mango, pineapple, strawberries, or your favorite mix)

2 - 3 cups 100% juice fruit punch 

Place frozen fruit in blender.  Pour 2 c. fruit punch over fruit and begin to blend. Add up to another cup of juice to get the texture you want. Blend until no large pieces remain. Serve and sip!  Yield: about 4 servings 

OCEAN FLOATS 

Fill each glass about 2/3 full of bright blue drink for water in each float. (Blue Hawaiian punch or blue sports drink). Add some lemon-lime soda, but save room for some ice cream. Add 2 scoops vanilla ice cream to each glass and let it begin to melt. Add 2 gummy fish or sharks to float in the top - add a straw and enjoy. 

You could try orange soda instead of root beer for a creamsicle blast!

2-INGREDIENT ROOT BEER FLOAT POPSICLES 

Root Beer

Vanilla ice cream

Popsicle Mold or disposable paper cups

Popsicle sticks (if not included with mold) 

Make sure root beer is cold. You're going to alternate layers of ice cream and root beer in the mold, allowing the foam to die back before pouring more to fill molds to the top. Be careful because it will foam up, so pour slowly. (Be sure to clean up the overflow). Insert sticks and freeze overnight. (If using cups, cover with foil, then poke stick into popsicle to hold them still. Run hot water over mold quickly to release popsicles.  Enjoy! 

I look forward to seeing you at Bean Days.  Please stop by the Leader office for a taste of my beans. 

"I love how summer just wraps its arms around you like a warm blanky.”― Kellie Elmore

Turkey Cookie Treats (Kid-Friendly)

I like to have a simple 'craft' project for my younger grandkids when we get together for T'giving.  This turned out to be a very fun project and easy enough for little hands to help. 

(hover over photo to pin) 

I had the cookies already baked and just set out the frosting and decorations and it went very smoothly. FUN!!

Instead of using frosting for the beak, we just added another candy corn!

Use what you have and it will work! 

And for goodness sake, let's bypass the idea of perfection...little ones enjoy 

doing 'their own thing'...just remember it's more about having

fun and making memories together! 

I do hope you'll try it this year. 

A few of my grandchildren...Chloe, Claira, Caden and Sam!

(And for fun....my daughter Deb =) 

TURKEY COOKIE TREATS 

1 pouch (1 # 1.5 ozs) sugar cookie mix

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 egg

1 (12 ozs) tub whipped chocolate frosting

candy corn

1 tube orange (or yellow) decorating frosting

M & M's mini chocolate candies

1 tube orange (or black) decorating gel 

Preheat oven to 375. In medium bowl, combine cookie mix, butter and egg; stir until dough is smooth. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet by rounded Tablespoonsful 2" apart. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on sheet 1 minute before removing to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. 

Frost and decorate 1 cookie at a time. (Or have your group do 1 at a time together).  Spread chocolate frosting over the cookie, adding candy corn for feathers (before frosting dries). Pipe yellow icing to make a feet and a beak. 

(We used a candy corn instead).  Add M & M's for the eyes; pipe a little black (or orange) gel for the center of each eye.

Take lots of pictures and stand back and admire your new flock! 

• You might also enjoy...

Mini Brownie Treats

Strawberry Yogurt Bites (2 Ingredients!)

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Father's Day Funnies to Tickle your Tummy!

These are from Reader's Digest online...I am a NUT over R.D. funnies...and tell so many all year long, so couldn't resist sharing these giggles and grins with you all. 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL DADS!

Dad holds a special place in our hearts, and on Father's Day, he deserves the best! Pass our funniest fatherhood submissions on to a dad in your life and share the priceless gift of laughter!

The Right Choice

My 16-year-old brother, Ryan, was out late with friends one night. Suddenly he realized it was Father's Day and he had neglected to buy a card for our dad. After much searching, Ryan located an open store, but was disappointed to find only two cards left on a picked-over rack. Selecting one, he brought it home and, somewhat sheepishly, presented it to our father. 

Upon opening it, Dad read this message: "You've been like a father to me." He looked at Ryan, puzzled. 

"Well, Dad," Ryan tried to explain, "it was either that or the card that said, 'Now that I'm a father too!'"

-- Submitted by Anne Carlson



Thanks for the Soda, Pop!

Before I took the old family car to college, my father loaded the trunk with soft-drink bottles filled with oil, coolant and transmission fluid. Sure enough, my car overheated. Scolding myself for not listening to my father's instructions, I looked at the engine and saw how well he knew me. The oil cap was labeled Dr Pepper, the transmission stick, Coke, and the empty coolant container, Diet Pepsi. I finished the trip safely.

-- Submitted by Charlotte G. Alexander



Say What, Dad?

Our Gen-X daughter, Cristie, made my husband a Father's Day card entitled "Things My Dad Would Never Say." Such as:
"Can you turn up that music?"
"Go ahead and take my truck. Here's 50 bucks for gas."
"I LOVE your tattoo. We should both get new ones."
"Here, you take the remote."

-- Submitted by Deanna Schneider


Watch the Wash, Dad...

I decided to make myself useful and do a load of the family laundry. When I took the clothes out of the machine, I discovered -- to my dismay -- that I had also washed the watch my wife had given me while we were dating. "Don't expect me to replace it," she said later with an obvious lack of sympathy. By the time Father's Day rolled around, however, she had relented and gave me a beautiful new watch. Attached was a note with this stipulation: "DRY-CLEAN ONLY!"

-- Submitted by Paul Diblasi



What a Card!

Father's Day was near when I brought my three-year-old son, Tyler, to the card store. Inside, I showed him the cards for dads and told him to pick one.

When I looked back, Tyler was picking up one card after another, opening them up and quickly shoving them back into slots, every which way. "Tyler, what are you doing?" I asked. "Haven't you found a nice card for Daddy yet?"

"No," he replied. "I'm looking for one with money in it."

-- Submitted by Terri Cook

Papa Bear


My husband's cousin married a former Marine who now works for United Parcel Service. They bought their four-year-old son two stuffed bears -- one in a UPS uniform and the other in Marine garb. When the boy seemed confused, his father brought out a picture of himself in full Marine dress. "See, Connor?" he explained, pointing to the photo and then to the bear. "That's Daddy." 

Connor's eyes went from one to the other, and then he asked in a puzzled voice, "You used to be a bear?"

-- Submitted by Robin Yedlock

Pop Vs. Pup

While flying from Denver to Kansas City, Kansas, my mother was sitting across the aisle from a woman and her eight-year-old son. Mom couldn't help laughing as they neared their destination and she heard the mother say to the boy, "Now remember -- run to Dad first, then the dog."

-- Submitted by Karla J. Kasper

Paternal Payback

On the day I received my learner's permit, my father agreed to take me out for a driving lesson. With a big grin, he hopped in behind the driver's seat. "Why aren't you sitting up front on the passenger's side?" I asked.

"Kirsten, I've been waiting for this ever since you were a little girl," Dad replied. "Now it's my turn to sit back here and kick the seat."

-- Submitted by Kirsten Wiley

No. 1 on Our List -- Literally!

My father was completely lost in the kitchen and never ate unless someone prepared a meal for him. When Mother was ill, however, he volunteered to go to the supermarket for her. She sent him off with a carefully numbered list of seven items.

Dad returned shortly, very proud of himself, and proceeded to unpack the grocery bags. He had one bag of sugar, two dozen eggs, three hams, four boxes of detergent, five boxes of crackers, six eggplants, and seven green peppers.

-- Submitted by Joan Flood

Gift Giving Idea - Everyone Needs a little "Dough"

So...everyone DOES need a little 'dough' huh?

For a long time, we've been matching our kids and grandkids birthday number,

giving them that number in dollars. Money is always good, right? =) 

But how fun to dress things up a little when presenting it...

I was tickled to be able to give this special gift to our oldest grandson, Ethan,

who just turned 18 on August 19th...his first day of the school year!

He's a guy of few words, so I felt really good when he said
"That's pretty cool". 

This is a lot more fun than just putting cash or a check, in a card! 

You can use glue dots (I used Plasti-Tac - also called Mounting Putty) 

to hold the bills in place, and then to 'glue' the quarters on top of them. 

I just happened to meet a friend for lunch at Pizza Hut the same day we 

were going to take his gift to him, so I didn't have to make an extra

trip anywhere for a box.  They GAVE me one.  Nice!

I printed the sign and tacked it to the inside top of the box...added some 'confetti' on top of the bills and a bow...then put a stretchy ribbon around the outside of the box. 

When Kym, E's mom, read the note, she said 

"I do think HE COULD live on pizza alone"....*-* 

He got home from football practice while we were there and really

did eat some cold pizza then.  

I was mad at myself because I didn't get a fresh picture of him to add here! =(

He's a senior in high school and is 6' 5" and over 300#.  But truly he's such a gentle spirited guy...and is much loved. A big teddy bear! 

It's so great to be able to do a little something special when gift giving cash. 

I saw this idea some time ago at Making Memories with Your Kids who has

many simple gift giving ideas....go check them out!

Here's another fun idea I've done from the same site...

"Birthday Dough" - Easy Gift-Giving Craft

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TRASH: A Fun Kid's Game for all Ages

       
ATTENTION GRANDPARENTS!! 

When my sweet friends from  4 Little Fergusons paid us a visit in May, so mama Tonya could share her awesome knowledge and info about DoTerra essential oils, the kids and I had plenty of time to play games during the day.

They taught me this one and it has set everything in motion as we have taught others, who have taught others, as well.

This is a very simple game - perfect for grandparents to play with your grandkids.  If they can count to 10, they can learn to play this game.

And sometimes, just my hubby and I will play it - it's fun and easy. Quick too. 

Tonya gave me permission to copy her post and share it with my readers...
Spread the word - this is something you all want to learn to play!

It will probably take you longer to read this post than it will to play a round of  Trash...just sayin'....(when you get towards the bottom of the post, you'll see a photo of how the game is played..then everything will come together in your mind and you'll know how to play) 

Have a great time!!  You can thank me later.  *-* 

From 4 Little Fergusons website: 

HOW TO PLAY TRASH:

2 players use 1 deck of playing cards

3 players or more use 2 decks of playing cards

Leave all cards in deck:
A-10 are in players   Kings and Jokers are Wild Cards

1) Dealing:

 Shuffle, then deal each player 10 cards face down, no looking!

Like this:

The remaining deck is placed in the middle.

  The point of the game is to line up your cards from Ace through 10 before you opponents do.

2) Playing:

  The first player draws a card from the center deck.  If it’s an Ace through a 10, place that card in its correct location.  For all remaining turns, each player chooses from the deck or the discard pile.

Example: In this photo, I drew a 2, so I am flipping up the card in the 2 position…..

Whatever card you flip, may also be played!  I just flipped a 3 that I can use as well in the 3 position… 

Wild Cards, King & Joker, may be played anywhere in your hand at any time.

  You keep flipping cards like this until you get a number you cannot use, then discard and your turn is over.

Example: Under the 3 position was an 8 I didn’t need because it was already filled with a flipped 8, so I discarded it and my turn was over. 

  Avery could choose to grab the 8 from the discard pile, OR draw a fresh card from the stack.

  If you draw a card that can replace one of your Wild Cards, do so and use the Wild Card again in another spot!

Example:  Here I drew a 5 from the draw pile  It can replace my Wild Card King, and he will go down on 8’s position.  Because of this, I will have finished this round successfully.

3) Winning A Round:

When a player has assembled all cards Ace through 10 in front of him, he wins that Round.

Remember, you can win with Wild Cards in place too! Like this:

Remember, Wilds are Joker and King!

After the Round winner flips his last card, each player has ONE last chance to draw a card and use it.  They may also flip over all remaining cards, per the chance that they actually can use those cards and finish their Ace-10, Wild cards and all.
{Sometimes it really does happen!}

4)  Round 2 & Winning the Whole Game: 

The deck is reshuffled and dealt again, only now, ALL of the previous round winners who completed Ace through 10, only get NINE cards.  They will spend the next round assembling Ace through Nine. 

  If you didn’t win the round, you once again have to try to do Ace through 10 until you complete it.

  This continues Ace-8, Ace-7, Ace-6 on and on, until one player gets down to one card in front of him and draws an Ace. That player wins the entire game!

Have fun, it’s such a great game to play with your kids! And such a nice change from Candyland or Shoots & Ladders….

Just sayin!  :)

~T