White Christmas Mix

This is a MUST-HAVE at our house during the holidays.  And one I often use for gift-giving. 

It's easy enough to change this up to suit any holiday by using the holiday M & M's - pastels for spring, etc.

I have been asked for this recipe more times than I can count!

It isn't sugary sweet...just lightly sweet, and it has cereal and nuts, so it does have some of the 'lighter' options of this season of sweets.

And I love that you can add more cereal and 'extend' the chocolate if you desire.

Sometimes I sprinkle the coated cereal mixture (before it dries) with chopped candy canes, or have drizzled green and/or red candy melts (melted of course) over the top.

WHITE CHRISTMAS MIX

1 lb. white chocolate (or vanilla almond bark)

Melt in double boiler or microwave according to directions

Mix together:

3 cups Rice Chex

3 cups Corn Chex (or combined - 6 cups crispix cereal)

3 cups Cheerios

2 cups mini pretzels

2 cups peanuts

1 lg. bag of M & M's - plain or peanut (optional)

(We love using the holiday mix)

Pour white chocolate over everything and mix well. (I use a curved spatula scraper).  Let stand until dry and place into gift containers or pretty ziploc bags.

{TIP: MAKE ONLY ONE BATCH AT A TIME SO THE CEREAL WON'T GET CRUSHED WHEN MIXING}

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            Mix it up Monday - Christmas in July

 

Candy Cane Snowball Cookies

You'll this simple cookie.

Some call them russian tea cakes, others...mexican wedding cookies...they're all the same delicious little nibbles of YUM!

Do you have some leftover candy canes in the cupboard just waiting to be eaten? 

Well, this is a great way to use them up - and you can spread the cheer by sharing these tasty bites too.

These are a great little cookie.  They were my choice for a recent cookie exchange. Not only were they yummy, but pretty and simple to make also.

You should have all the ingredients on hand and that always makes a recipe an easy option for me.

I was very happy when I found the recipe at Arctic Garden Studio.
(Please pay her a visit...you'll especially want to see the gorgeous photos she has there).


That excited me since my family lived in Anchorage for 8 years while hubby was stationed there in the Air Force. LOOOOOVED it there and have been back a few times to visit. It's a booming growing town.



 And the winters there are not all the horror stories many 'suppose'. There were many times we'd call back to our families in Ohio and Michigan to discover they had more snow than we did. Yes, it gets very cold, but it's a dry cold and oftentimes, after a snowfall, the snow swirls around your feet when you walk in it, because it's so dry.

So making 'snowball' cookies made me feel very happy, especially when the recipe came from someone in Alaska!


I love the idea of sifting the crushed peppermint candy canes and using the 'dust', mixed with powdered sugar, to sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.

Makes them more festive and inviting.

The original recipe doesn't call for them to be rolled in powdered sugar right from the oven, but because they're not a real sugary cookie to begin with, I prefer them that way, but it is an option.



I know this recipe works great for some because it has no eggs.

(this was my display at the cookie exchange)

CANDY CANE SNOWBALL COOKIES

10 candy canes

1 c. butter, room temperature (not melted)

1 c. powdered sugar, divided,  plus 1/2 c. for dusting

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400. Place candy canes in bowl of food processor and pulse to crush to a coarse texture. Place candy cane crumbles in a fine mesh strainer. Gently tap to remove candy cane powder. Reserve both powder and crumbled candy canes.

Cream together butter, 1/2 c. powdered sugar and vanilla. Sift flour, 1 tsp. candy cane powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture 1 cup at a time. Add 1/4 c. candy cane crumbles and mix well.

Roll 1 TB. into a ball and place 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 13 - 14 minutes or just until barely browned. Let set a couple of minutes before rolling warm cookies in remaining 1/2 c. powdered sugar, then set on rack to cool & dry.

(This is a bit messy, but sooo worth it!)

While cookies are baking, make candy cane powdered sugar by adding 1/2 c. powdered sugar to remaining candy cane powder.

While cookies are warm, dust with candy cane powdered sugar.

If you have left over powder, sprinke it on whipped cream or other holiday treats.

 Yield: about 24 cookies

A great little addition to any cookie trays you'll be giving to the neighbors and friends!

Linked to Crazy Sweet Tuesday
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        Mix it up Monday - Christmas in July
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Meal Plan Monday

Ultimate Creamed Corn {Slow Cooker}

This is one honkin' awesome dish!  We enjoyed it for T'giving and I got lots of raves over it. 

My hubby - who loves everything and anything - even said this was his favorite dish of the day.  WOW!

I am an admitted addict to cream cheese and I can't imagine any way at all, that this dish could be improved on.

It was great to put it on a few hours before we ate, and then just stir a few times before enjoying.

It even keeps warm for an hour on low after it's ready to eat...if you have any left over, that is.

I remember the very first time I tried this recipe.  My reaction was...

OH.MY.WORD!!!

It's easy and makes a fine side dish for any meal.

You just can't go wrong using your slow cooker either, especially when you're fixing a big meal. 

Hope you'll give this one a try over the holidays.  You won't be sorry!!!

If you prefer, you can reduce the amount of cream cheese to 8 ozs. It would still be delicious I'm sure.

Just look at that would you....can you say....
CAAAAA-REEEEAAAM-M-M-M-M-Y!

ULTIMATE CREAMED CORN

2 (16 ozs) bags frozen whole kernel corn

12 ozs. cream cheese, cut into cubes

(I always use 1/3 reduced fat cream cheese)

3/4 c. milk

1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted

(I used 6 Tb.)

2 tsp. sugar

(I used xylitol)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Spray bottom and sides of 3 - 4 qt. slow cooker with cooking spray.  Spread corn over bottom. Top with cream cheese cubes.  In small bowl, stir together remaining ingredients; pour over corn and cream cheese.  Cover; cook on high for 2 - 3 hours. Stir well before serving.  (I can't resist - I HAVE to stir it after about 1-1/2 hours!) Corn will hold on low heat up to 1 hour; stir occasionally.

(Hint: place cream cheese cubes in the middle of the corn so that it doesn't burn on the sides while cooking).

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Gooseberry Patch Roundup

Ingredient Spotlight: Corn

Keep Calm & Cook On: Crockpot Recipes

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Whatcha Crockin' Wednesday

Meal Plan Monday

Hot Cinnamon Milk Mix & Gift Giving Ideas and Tags

If you're looking for something quick to give as a gift this Christmas season, read on....

I LOOOOVE giving homemade mixes for Christmas.  I love receiving gifts that express that the giver put some thought and time into personalizing them.

And lest we forget...IT'S FRUGAL!!

It seems we are already eating soooo much from Thanksgiving through the New Year, so I really like giving something the recipient can enjoy in their own timing.

I was tickled to come across this mix via a blog hop...I found it at Craftaholics Anonymous.  You really should go to her site and check out the adorable cloth bow she made to tie around the jars of this fabulous mix too.

It is amazing and intriguing to me to think of how this mix sorta tastes like eggnog...minus the egg. It doesn't even have any rum extract or nutmeg in it??  HHMMMMM....

I was thrilled to be able to make this mix sugar free.  I will be giving it to the older folks in our Sunday School class at church.  (My hubs is the teacher).

I have enjoyed this many evenings, as it has NO caffeine, and I think the warm milk even helps me sleep sounder. 

I went to my Word program and typed up some labels to 'dress up' the gift a little more....

(Since printing this label, I've decided I like this better with only 1/4 c. mix)

I love love love this site - Organized Christmas. There are soo many options for great gift-giving ideas and recipes too. 

I've made up about 20 simple Snowman Soup packets. 

Below is a printable bag topper with a cute little poem about being good this year. There is a choice of 3 different graphics.

You'll be very pleased if you take time to look at the Printable Gifts & Crafts you'll find at this site.  They have things like You've been Elfed, Christmas Blessing Mix, and Snowman and Reindeer Poop gag gifts...and much more!

OH - did I forget to mention??......IT'S ALL FREE!!!! (Another mix I'm gift-giving is Pumpkin Spice Mochaccino...De-LISH!
click here for that recipe)

Give the cinnamon milk a try...only 4 ingredients and you are ready to enjoy.

HOT CINNAMON MILK MIX

2 c. powdered milk

1 c. powdered french vanilla creamer

(I found sugar free)

1 c. sugar (Use Splenda or xylitol)

1/2 TB. ground cinnamon

In large bowl, combine all ingredients; fill 1 qt. jar or 2 pint jars if desired. 
(I like to run everything through the blender so it dissolves easier) 

Tie with a bow and give as a hostess, or any time, gift.  

(Be sure to keep some for yourself!!! 

To enjoy the mix, warm 1/2 c. water with 1/2 c. milk.

Place 1/4 c. mix in a mug, add the liquid and stir well.

(May dissolve mix in all water, but the milk adds creaminess that is wonderful)

ENJOY!!!!!!

Linked to

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Recipe of the Week: Drinks
Homemade Holiday

M & M Oatmeal Cookie Bars

THIS IS SOOO TRUE! 

I am most definitely a cookie Monster!  Grab 'n' Go yummies - no spoon or fork necessary...right up my alley!

This is another easy and quick recipe for some great bar cookies. 

I found the recipe at Mommy's Kitchen. Tina made them for Valentine's Day and used the holiday colored M & M's...you can also substitute Reese's peanut butter pieces instead if you'd like.

Enjoyable ANY way you try it!  

{Be sure to check out Tina's recipe and hints.}

I've made these for a bake sale - the colorful candies always create a strong 'Buy Me!' visual appeal.

They'd be great for the holidays, using those famous red and green candies.

These can't be all bad for you - they have oatmeal in them!

M & M OATMEAL BARS

1/2 c. rolled oats

1 c. brown sugar, packed

(light or dark)

2 c. Bisquick Baking Mix

(any biscuit baking mix is fine)

1 egg

1 stick margarine, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. M & M candies

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8" X 8" sq. pan. In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, except candies.  Mix until well blended.  Stir in candies, reserving a few to put on top.  Pat into prepared pan.  Press a few M & M's on top and bake about 20 minutes.  Allow to cool and cut into bars.

Yepper....Quick & easy....MY kind of cookie!

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