Cheesey Ranch Crackers (4-ingredients)

This recipe is similar to my (Garlic) Ranch Pretzels, but uses mini sandwich crackers instead.  

Actually, we couldn't find the sandwich crackers that morning, so we just used the white cheddar Cheez-its cracker...MMMM! 

These were delicious and a fun change from the 'regular' crackers right from the box.  

Our pretty granddaughter, Kaity, made them when she came to visit over the summer, and took most of them home with her.  

A great snack to make ahead...you're ready for drop in company. 

Use as 'croutons' for soups or for some crunch in your salad! Gotta love it!

These would be great to give along with soup to a needy family. 

CHEESEY RANCH CRACKERS 

2 (8.8 ozs each) boxes Ritz Bits cheese cracker sandwiches 

(or White Cheddar Cheez-its Crackers)

1/3 c. butter flavored oil (or vegetable oil)

1 pkt. (1 oz.) Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 250. In small bowl, whisk oil ranch dressing mix and garlic powder. Place crackers in large glass or metal bowl; pour oil mixture over and toss to coat thoroughly. 

Arrange crackers on a large rimmed baking sheet.  Bake 15 - 20 minutes,

stirring once. Cool to room temp; store in ziploc bag up to 10 days. 

You may also enjoy...

Simple Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

"Lightened" Sweet 'n' Salty Cracker Treats

​

Ritz Peppermint Kisses (so simple!)

I'm just wild about the ideas we get at our weekly Weekend Potluck party!

This is one of those quick and easy, make-as-many-or-few-as-you want kind of 'recipes'.  This recipe begins in the microwave for ease. 

Thanks to Quinn at Dad What's 4 Dinner for sharing with us  He takes awesome photos too! How blessed his family is to have him enjoying time in their kitchen.

They sure do eat good over there.  Please be sure to take time to visit Quinn and his awesome compilation of deliciousness being shared there. 

I had just a few candy kisses leftover from another project, so I just made

a plateful to add to plates I'm putting together for the neighbors. 

They're pretty and oh so yummy!  It's hard to guess there's actually

crackers under that chocolate.  

Quinn used white chocolate to dip them in...I think that's prettier, but I already had melted some chocolate, so that's what I went with.

Enjoy! 

RITZ PEPPERMINT KISSES 

2 sleeves Ritz crackers (about 70)

1 med. bag Hershey's (peppermint - white) chocolate kisses, unwrapped

1# pkg. white or chocolate almond bark

4 large candy canes, unwrapped & chopped into small pieces

Place a layer of crackers on a microwave safe plate. (You want them all to be flat). Top each cracker with a kiss.  Microwave for about 1 minute on high, checking every 20 seconds. 

When chocolate begins to melt, remove plate from microwave and top with another cracker. Press down lightly being careful not to crush cracker or to push chocolate outside of the cracker. (Can microwave a few more seconds if you feel the need).  Repeat with remaining crackers. Cool to room temperature. 

Melt almond bark according to package directions.  Using two forks, or tongs, dip cracker sandwiches into melted chocolate, pushing off the fork with the second fork. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint. Allow to cool and set up.

(I place mine in the garage to cool cause it's hard to wait!) 

Makes 35 little 'sandwiches' 

Linked to Full Plate Thursday

​

Ritzy Brussel Sprouts

Oh how we both loved this wonderful side dish from Judy, 

AKA The Southern Lady Cooks! She has awesome, down-home, and Southern (of course!) recipes, so please stop by and pay her a visit.  You'll be so glad you did.  Please tell her I sent you over. (Honestly, I owe her BIG TIME for all the sweet folks she has sent over to me!!=)

This delicious dish would make a great holiday side dish!

I always know when hubby comments about HOW GOOD something is...he REALLY likes it.  He couldn't resist mentioning how much he enjoyed this one. 
*-*

 

I am very fond of side dishes and hope to share more of them as the holidays draw closer.  And I have always loved 'dressing up' any veggie.

I knew I had a bag of brussel sprouts in the freezer, so I just had to try this intriguing recipe. 

I made a few revisions...

Have you seen that Ritz has a 'limited edition' of caramelized onion Ritz???

I scarfed them up as soon as I spied them on the shelf....they are very tasty. 

 I think they added a little more flavor to this combo too.

I also added a TB. of butter to the sprouts before adding the soup and topping. 

I used pine nuts instead of almonds, just because I had them on hand. But use whatever you have on hand. 

Use fresh or frozen brussel sprouts...they just need to be cooked 'el dente' to make this dish.

Enjoy every tasty bite! 

RITZY BRUSSEL SPROUTS 

 

1 (16 ozs) bag frozen (or fresh) brussel sprouts, cooked just until tender

1 Tb. butter, melted, optional 

1 (10-3/4 ozs) can cream of celery soup

1/4 c. (2%) milk  

1 tsp. minced onion

(I used a heaping tsp.)

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

14 Ritz crackers (about 2/3 c....or fewer)

1/2 c. shredded co-jack or cheddar cheese

(or your favorite)

3 - 4 Tb. pine nuts or slivered almonds. 

Preheat oven to 400. Place cooked brussel sprouts into 1 qt. baking dish, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Pour melted butter over top. In medium bowl, combine soup, milk, onion, garlic powder and pepper. Pour over brussel sprouts. Sprinkle cheese, ritz crumbs and nuts over top.  Bake uncovered for 30 - 35 minutes. 

Yield: about 5 - 6 servings

 

Linked to Weekend Potluck

GBP Roundup - Farmer's Market Favs

Hot Pineapple Casserole {Side Dish}

Oh how I love sharing dishes that surprise folks!

I've made several zucchini dishes and folks thought they were eating something else.

I LOVE IT!!!

This is actually a side dish, not a dessert, and oh so yummy. Besides a few other simple ingredients, this has cheddar cheese in it!

SURPRISE!!!!!

I had seen a few variations of this dish around the net, but this one was very simple and I was in the mood for it that day, so when I spotted it at Weekend Potluck recently (I am a new co-host there you know!!) I printed it right off and went straight to the kitchen.

I do that from time to time!

Thank you! Thank you! to Ariane's Homemade Cravings for sharing this delicious dish.  Please stop by and check out the great recipes she has at her lovely blog.

I whipped this up in a few minutes and was enjoying it in no time at all.

Very easy to make and delightfully sweet.  I ate almost the whole thing by myself...(over a few days of course!) hubby's not wild about pineapple, but I am, so...

A WOMAN'S GOTTA DO WHAT A WOMAN'S GOTTA DO, RIGHT?

Give it a try - take it to your next potluck and watch for the surprise on folks' faces.

HOT PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE

1 (20 ounce) can of crushed (or chunks if you prefer) pineapple, drained
1/2 cup sugar (I used xylitol)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cups grated cheddar cheese
12 Ritz crackers
(This adds up to 3/4 cup, each cracker is about a tablespoon)
1 stick butter, melted
(I used 6 Tb. Smart Balance butter)

Mix sugar and flour in mixing bowl, add the pineapple and cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly. Pour into greased 2 quart pan. Crush crackers and add melted butter to them. Pour (sprinkle) this mixture over pineapple and cheese mixture.
(Another version added some of the pineapple juice to the cracker mixture - that could be an option, but I didn't do that).

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Broil top if you want it crispier.
 
Yield: 6 servings

Linked to 
   Scrumptious Sunday
     Mop it up Monday
             Melt in Your Mouth Monday
  Freedom Friday
  Weekend Potluck
   Meal Plan Monday

Amazing Ritz Cracker Candies

If you're not going 'full bore' in the kitchen this time of the year, maybe you're getting to do some 'winding down' like I hope to this coming week.

Things have been a-buzzing in my kitchen and I've already given away many plates of goodies, and still have just a few more things left to make.  Gotta
use up those ingredients before the new year flies in and I need to make a commitment to eat healthier.

Until then...trust me, I am REALLY enjoying the goodies this time of year!

I plan to share some pictures from my recent 'memory making' times with family and pictures of some of our creations in an upcoming post.  It's been great fun and worth the effort to make memories together.

I've made a similar recipe to the first one below for many years - so yummy.  We always put peanut butter between two crackers and dip them in chocolate, but don't add the peppermint. Amazing how good something that simple tastes. 


Adding the candy cane sprinkles & extract would give it some holiday pizazz.


Try 'em...you'll like 'em...

Mint Thins

1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted, slightly cooled
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract,optional
1 sleeve RITZ Crackers (36 crackers)
1 candy cane (6 inch), crushed, optional



MIX chocolate and extract.


DIP crackers in chocolate, turning to completely coat each cracker. Carefully scrape off excess chocolate. Place crackers in single layer on waxed paper-covered baking sheets; sprinkle with crushed candy.


REFRIGERATE 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.


These are a few ritz 'sandwiches' we made at our cookie baking/candy making time together last Sat.  Granddaughter Ashtyn got to add the sprinkles...MMM!

 ****************************************

OK - I already had this post typed up and scheduled, and then I read this
lovely post by my blogger friend Libby.  She's a military wife, so I'm pretty
partial to her :-} and I get such a kick out of knowing more about the cooking classes she's sharing with other military gals.  I would have loved that -
all of us being away from our families for the holidays, and having someone sharing her ideas to help us make our own memories in the kitchen.  Awesome!

Anyway - she has the recipe and her picture for the 'ritz cookies' as we've called them, so I want to include this post from "Cooking with Libby"....

Check her out....click on the link below...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies


She's got some great ideas and I do hope you'll give them a try!

Stay tuned for more ideas to make gifts from your kitchen.  Christmas is only 4 days away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!