9/30/2009

Franken-Snacks

Happy Anniversary to Gourmet Dad and me!
Our anniversary officially kicks off my favorite time of year...
Halloween time to Christmas!
We have all kinds of frightfully fun recipes as well as amazing giveaways! Let's get the party started!!!
Need a frightfully yummy Halloween snack? Here's a perfect mix to whip up for your next gathering or school party.
You can change up the "Mix-in" ingredients to suit your family's taste (or whatever you need to clean out the pantry!:)), the Chex Frankensteins are what makes this treat truly "Spook-tacular".
Franken-Snacks
Ingredients:
8 c. Corn Chex Cereal
1 package Lemon-Lime drink mix (unsweetened, we used Kool-Aid)
1 c. Granulated Sugar
1/2 c. Light corn syrup
1/3 c. Butter or Margarine
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 oz. vanilla candy coating (we used Candi-Quick, available in the baking aisle)
1 oz. chocolate candy coating (we used Candi-Quick, available in the baking aisle)
1/4 c. Cheerios
Toothpick
Wax Paper
Non-Stick cooking spray

Mix-ins (you can change them as desired):

3 C. Kix Cereal
2 C. Trix Cereal
3 C. mini-pretzels
1 bag Goldfish Crackers
1 C. M & M's Candies

Directions:
Heat oven to 225 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat the sugar, syrup and margarine in a medium saucepan over medium heat until boiling, stirring occasionally. Boil for 3 minutes (do not stir).
Remove from heat and stir in soda and Koolaid. (Does this look like a spooky brew in a cauldron or what??!)
Pour over 6 cups Chex Cereal and stir gently. Spread onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 225 F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and while still warm, set 20-30 pieces on another greased cookie sheet to use as your "Frankensteins". Cool completely, stirring occasionally if desired.
To assemble "Frankensteins", melt chocolate candy coating in a small microwave-safe bowl for 45 seconds. Stir well. Dip one end of a Chex square into the chocolate. This is your "hair". Set on wax paper to dry. Using a toothpick, dip end into chocolate and draw two eyes and a mouth on your creature. Repeat with all 20-30 squares. When set (about 5 minutes), melt vanilla candy coating as above. Dip two Cheerios in coating and attach to sides of Frankenstein (these are his "bolts"). Let dry completely.
Mix remaining Chex and other Mix-ins in a large bowl. Top with your "Frankensteins" and serve it up to the waiting Goblins and Ghouls!
You can also spoon into small bags and tie with ribbon for a fun school snack or party favor. Happy Haunting!

Holiday Playlist

My grandmother hasn't been doing well...to cheer her up, I rounded up a few of my musical friends and made an album of Holiday songs fo...