by popular demand...

sorry no picture of this one yet, i'm making it today, so i'll add it later. i have make this for work a few times & everyone always asks for the recipe. so here it is. it is a little different than normal chex mix. you can add whatever mix-ins you would like. this last time i got coconut covered cashews from costco & did those with white chocolate chips. it was super sweet, but really yummy.

sticky sweet chex mix

2 sticks margarine, not butter!

2 cups brown sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 large box chex cereal, i use corn, rice or a mix of both

mix-ins of your choice...

nuts, candy, dried fruit, chocolate chips, coconut, ect.

in a large pot melt margarine, sugar, corn syrup, vanilla & salt. bring to a full boil. turn off heat & add baking soda. the mixture will begin to foam... a lot! this is good! stir until mixture is really foamy, about a 30-60 seconds.

place cereal & mix-ins in a large bowl & stir to combine. **if you are using chocolate, just mix the cereal & the syrup together & stir until cooled down a bit. don't add until mixture has cooled slightly, or all your chocolate will melt!

pour onto a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper or parchment. let cool. break apart & put into a bowl.

eat yourself sick:)

a little christmas gift just for you:)...

remember this recipe card last year.?. well, i made this little one, this year, for my sister & i thought that i would share it with you guys. she just but some big marshmallows in cello bags & paired it with it. you could also do like a specialty dark chocolate candy bar if you wanted, or straight peppermint candy stirring sticks... the sky's the limit:) hope you like it. remember there are printing directions in the right side bar. merry christmas!

brooke's fresh veggie pizza...

this recipe is from my friend brooke & i took it to recipe club a few years ago, but i thought it would be a great alternative the standard veggie tray this holiday season. this is a completely edible veggie tray with a crust, ranch spread for the sauce & all the fresh veggies of your choice piled high. try it for your next party!

{brooke's veggie pizza}

2 tubes of crescent rolls

3/4 cup mayo

1 package dry ranch dressing seasoning

1-8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1/2-1 cup shredded cheese, i like parmesan

assorted chopped veggies- carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, olives,

tomatoes, onions, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, ect.

flatten crescent rolls out onto a cookie sheet to make the crust. bake according to package directions. remove from oven & let cool. in a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, ranch & mayo until smooth. spread ranch mix on top of cooked & cooled crust. top with chopped veggies & sprinkle with shredded cheese. chill for 1 hour. cut into squares & serve.

sooooo yummyy! can't wait to dig in:)

this is what is in my crock pot right now for recipe club tonight. & let me just say that i love it & think it is so delish! it is also a great option for any christmas-ish dinner you might have. perfect alternative to the holiday ham or turkey. it's so easy my kids could make it:) & really is so tasty! give it a try tonight... okay, it's to late for tonight, but tomorrow for sure!

{cranberry mustard pork tenderloin}

1-16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce

1/3 cup dijon mustard

1/2 cup brown sugar

juice of 1 lemon

1 TBSP salt

2- 1 lbs. pork loin roasts

mix all ingredients except pork roasts together in a medium bowl. place roast into a crock pot, pour cranberry mix over the the roasts. cook on high for 1 hour. turn down to low & cook an addition 4 hours. let cool 10 minutes before cutting.

give the gift that gives year round...

a food magazine subscription is a great gift that is reasonably priced & will keep giving all year! i love Everyday Food. there is also Cooking Light, Bon Appetite, Gourmet & others great food magazines to choose from. it's always great to get new inspirations in the kitchen:)

homemade gifts continued...

i found this great FREE download here on Shabby Princess. it is the perfect gift for any cooking friend or family member in your life. you could print them on card stock blank, or you can type your favorite recipes from our site & print them ready to use:) anyway you choose, you can't go wrong! go download yours now!!!

{pictures by Shabby Princess}

** all downloading & printing instructions are on the the Shabby Princess website.

i just recommend printing them on regular card stock if you are going

to gift them blank.

handmade of the holidays...

i love doing handmade gifts for my neighbors & friends, & so do my kids! this is a great little gift for you to help your kids make for there friends. there are lots of options of "flavors". just split the play dough into smaller sizes & put them in clear containers. stack them & wrap them up in some cello & tie a cookie cutter onto the top & you've got yourself the perfect handmade kid friendly gift!

Here’s the super easy recipe:

2 C Flour

1 C Salt

4 tsp. Cream of Tartar

2 C Water

2 TBSP Vegetable Oil

Food Coloring (the more the better!)

2 TBSP Peppermint extract

Combine all dry ingredients in a large pot. Stir together. Mix all the wet ingredients together & add to the pot. Stir on low heat until mixture starts forming a ball and will pull away from the sides. Let cool. Enjoy.

i also made gingerbread flavor with with pumpkin pie spices (2 TBSP) & brown food coloring. as well as white with erridecent glitter to look like snow. play around with it & try different spices & extracts. i haven't tried it yet, but i want to do a chocolate one with cocoa powder. the kids love them & they feel like they're cooking with me!

**Obviously you could eat this dough and not die, but with that much salt, I can’t imagine it would taste very good:)