Jalapeno Cream Cheese-&-Crackers

This is another AWESOME appetizer.... and just in time for Super Bowl parties! 
Don't be deceived by the jalapeno, this appetizer is hardly spicy at all. You can control the heat by using mild jalapeno jelly. Plus, jelly has enough sugar in it that it mellows out the spiciness, and the cream cheese definitely calms down any spiciness as well. The first time I had this was at my Aunt's house like 15 years ago! She served this appetizer before dinner and I think I ate most of it! I LOVED it. As a little girl, I didn't like jalapenos or spicy foods at all (what kid does?), but this is an unusually tantalizing combination of flavors that you must try- even if you don't like spicy flavors. 


Now, there are not a lot of companies that make jalapeno jelly- so my only option is this one company that makes a mild jalapeno jelly in bright green, and a hot jalapeno jelly in bright red. I would prefer to serve the red color since it is more appetizing looking, but since appetizers are to serve a wide variety of people I usually opt for the mild version. Unfortunately, that leaves me with this alien-like bright green one. I'm going to have to start making my own homemade jalapeno jelly because this neon green isn't the most appetizing looking color to serve on a platter. Regardless if it makes people look twice, they will love it! I've had lots of 'spicy-food-haters' who are shocked at how much they love this simple snack and they end up being the ones who eat the most of it. 


It's simple; you can just pick up the 3 ingredients at the store on your way to an event and assemble it in 2 seconds when you get there. This is a great secret to keep in your back pocket for when you find yourself short on time!


This appetizer has all the makings of a beautifully addictive treat: the crackers make it crunchy and salty, the cheese makes it creamy and smooth, the jelly makes it sweet and spicy. This one's got it all :)


Shopping List:

• 1 box Wheat Thins (reduced fat works fine also)
• 1 (8 oz) box of Cream Cheese (light versions work well too)
• 1 jar of Jalapeno Jelly (your choice of mild or hot)

Simply pour the jelly over the top of the cream cheese and serve with the crackers on the side. Don't forget a little cheese spreader knife as well :)

Chocolate Caramel Turtles

These are such a HANDY DANDY little 'recipe' to know. It's not quite a real recipe, because you don't need any measurements to follow, and it doesn't even really require any cooking!


Typically, candy turtles have pecans, but you can use whatever you want- or whatever you have on hand: cashews, peanuts, peanut m&m's, etc.  My favorites are cashews and pecans, but I like to use the peanut m&m's because the pop of color is so fun. Also, m&m's allow you to use whichever colors you want for the occassion: colors of the holiday, school colors, team colors, etc.


These are the perfect treat for gifting, for a party finger-food, for a potluck dessert, or just for the non-baker :) They're quick, easy, decadent, and you can't mess them up!

Shopping List:

• Mini Pretzels
• Rolo candies
• Your choice of Peanut m&m's, Cashews, Pecans, or whatever else you like

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or use a microwave safe plate, if not using an oven).

On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, lay out as many mini pretzels as you wish. Top them each with a Rolo candy.

Place in 350 degree preheated oven for 3 1/2 minutes, or until soft and shiny but NOT melted.

(or microwave until softening and shiny but NOT melted)

Press the nut topping of choice into the soft oozey Rolo :)

Let cool completely. 5 minutes in the refrigerator works well.

I this picture, I used Christmas colored m&m's because I made this batch for Christmas. But you can change the colors to coordinate for any occassion. 

Nana's Peanut-Butterscotch Clusters

This is another one of Nana's recipes. She made them EVERY Christmas. I bet she made 10 batches at a time- there always seemed to be peanut butter clusters to go around for everyone at her Christmas party every year. Everybody loves these- they are a little sweet from the butterscotch, a little savory from the peanut butter and a whole 'lotta crunchy from the corn flakes and peanuts :)

These are also great because they freeze very well. You can make them ahead of time and store them in ziplock bags in the freezer so that you have more time for last minute preparations as your event gets closer. Nana always made these little guys ahead of time- she was such an organized hostess.

They couldn't be easier: 4 ingredients, 4 steps, and no oven required:

Recipe (makes about 21 cookie clusters):

• 2 packages Butterscotch Chips
• 1 cup Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy; either is fine, but I would suggest crunchy especially if you are not going to add the optional peanuts)
• 5 cups or so of Corn Flakes Cereal (4 cups or so, if you are going to add the optional peanuts)
• *OPTIONAL: 1 cup Peanuts (Nana ALWAYS added peanuts)

Before you start anything else, prepare 2 baking sheets by covering with wax paper, and make room for them in your fridge (or at least room to refrigerate one at a time). The stacking cookie cooling racks maximize space in the fridge and allow you to chill 2 racks (or even more) at a time without having to clear out a ton of shelves :)

1. In a medium-large microwave safe bowl, dump 2 bags Butterscotch Chips, and 1 cup crunchy Peanut Butter. Microwave about 45 seconds- then stir, another 45 seconds- stir again, another 30 seconds if needed, until well melted together: 
2. Dump in 5 cups Corn Flakes and 1 cup peanuts, if using. Gently fold/stir together until all is well coated and combined. (gently as to not break down the corn flakes too much).
3. Using a spoon, or your two hands :) make little mounds of these on the cookie sheets. 
4. Refrigerate about 10 minutes.

(My refrigerator is going to thank me when I put this 4 tiered tower of Peanut-Butterscotch Clusters into its tummy!)

*Don't forget, THESE FREEZE WELL, so they are good ones to make ahead for parties and holidays before you get too busy with last minute prep and shopping :)

Muddy Buddies!!!

I get so excited about Muddy Buddies because it means it's Christmas time!!! The first time I had these little treats was when my mom was teaching jr. high. I was in third grade at the time, and my mom came home from her classroom with tons of fun teacher gifts from her 7th grade students before Christmas break.... one of them was a big mason jar full of these muddy buddies! They were gone almost as soon as we cracked the jar open! My brother and sister and I all begged my mom to get the recipe from her student when she got back to school after break. 
13 years later, I still make these every Christmas and give them as gifts :) Sometimes I fill mason jars and tie them with a big Christmas ribbon, but this year I found some super cute ziplock bags that look like stockings! Whichever way you choose to wrap them up, make sure that it is sealed in an airtight package so that they keep their crunchy deliciousness.


These are easy, delicious, and addictive (beware!)


Recipe:

• 1 cup choc chips
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 9 cups Chex cereal
• 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar

Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a large microwave safe bowl:

Once well melted, gently fold in the chex cereal until completely coated: 

Toss the coated chex with powdered sugar in a large (2 gallon) ziplock back and shake well. 

**Helpful hint #1: fold down the top of the baggie (as seen in picture) when filling it so that the ziplock remains clean. Otherwise, chocolate and sugar cover the ziplock and it is difficult to seal closed. 

**Helpful hint #2: put 1/2 the powdered sugar in the bag, then the chex, then the other half of powdered sugar and shake well until all the little chex get a white winter coat.

Spread 'snowy' muddy buddies out onto wax paper:

Mmmmmmm... these sweet, salty, crunchy goodies are SO addictive:

 Store or package in airtight baggies/jars/containers. 

Look at these perfect little stocking ziplock baggies for gifting Christmas goodies!

Baked-goodie boxes full of assorted homemade cookies, and stockings full of muddy buddies: