Dipped Treats

This year I am trying to make easy treats for our Christmas trays. With increasingly short time on my hands I decided to redo one of the hits from last year, chocolate dipped pretzels. I changed it up a little but I am pretty happy with the results.
The Ingredients

1 box of Ritz Munchables Pretzel Thins--Buttery flavor
1 box miniature candy canes
1 (12 oz) bag vanilla candy discs
1 (12 oz) bag chocolate candy discs
1 (12 oz) bag dark chocolate candy discs

Melt the discs (however you like) according to package instructions. When it's melted, grab a pretzel thin.

Dip it into the chocolate/vanilla to coat on both sides.

Place onto wax paper to set.

Repeat for candy canes.

Keep going with the other types of discs until you are done.

I am bagging up a few of each type with a little tag and including them in the trays we are giving for gifts to some of our family and friends. I hope they like them as much as we do.

Peppermint Bath Salts

I hesitate to put this here on the food blog because it isn't food...I guess if I call my blog a recipe blog it fits because there is a recipe. In any case, I came across this recipe in a weekly ad flyer for a local supermarket. It sounded easy and I thought it would fit nicely for a few people on my Christmas gift list.
The Ingredients

2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp mint extract
3 drops food coloring
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
1 Tbsp salt

In a large bowl, combine lemon juice, extract and food coloring.

In another bowl combine cornstarch, salt and baking soda.

Mix contents of both bowls until well blended.

Pour mixture into ice cube trays and let harden overnight.

To use, place one cube in warm bath water and relax your worries away!!

**UPDATE**
These did not quite set up for me overnight. They were mostly set but had a layer of liquidy stuff on top. I poured off the liquid and set the tray in a sunny window for a few hours. Then they were solid enough to pop out of the tray for the most part. The ones that crumbled or broke I put into a container to keep for myself. I figure I can put an old tablespoon measure in there and just dole out a scoop or two when I want to soak. In h9indsight, this would be a good way to give this out as well. Just let it dry out in the mixing bowl and put a scoop or tow into a pretty little jar of some sort. Lesson learned for next time!

Mocha Cappuccino Mix

I was so supremely happy to run across this recipe on StrawberryCake's blog! It is just the thing I was looking for to add to our treat trays this Christmas and I think it would be a nice gift for the boys' teachers too!
The Ingredients

1 cup Coffeemate powder
1 cup Nesquick powder
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until well blended. That's it!!

Add 3 Tbsp mix to 8 oz hot water. Stir Enjoy!

I put about 1 1/2 cups of the mix into a ziploc baggie and I made a tag that says what it is and how to mix yourself a cup. I was able to make 1 1/2 recipes with the jar of instant coffee I had purchased which yielded 5 packages of mix. I still have Coffeemate and Nesquick left so I am running back to the store for more coffee. This is so quick and easy, how can you not?
***UPDATE***
Fast forward to the present (middle of stinkinhot summer 2011) day and I was really jonesing for a caffeine fix. I had nothing! Well, I had my Keurig but I didn't want hot coffee. I dug this out of the cupboard and fixed it with cold milk over ice. DEELISH! So good that I just rounded up ingredients to make a fresh batch :)

Menu 12/10 - 12/16--2010

Well, another week is crossed off the calendar and we are creeping ever closer to Christmas!! I have been so busy lately and it won't really end anytime soon. This is the new normal in Chaosville I reckon. Here is the week's menu:
Friday--We ordered the new Cheesy Bites pizza from Pizza Hut. In a word: disappointing
Saturday--Clones and I ate corn dogs (I know, I know!)
Sunday--Hoping to redeem myself with Raley Goulash
Monday--Chicken Strips and pasta salad
Tuesday--Tilapia and noodles
Wednesday--Chicken Enchiladas
Thursday--Hoppin John

Salisbury Steak

When I was a kid, we used to eat TV dinners on TV trays in our living room every once in a while. My brother and I loved those nights! I believe Mike was probably in college before he stopped saying that TV dinners were his favorite meal. While he preferred the fried chicken version, I was always a sucker for the Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes. I have never tried to make it myself, but I came across this recipe in my new Taste of Home Almost Homemade cookbook and it looked easy enough. I had to try it out!
The Ingredients:

**I made a double recipe. All ingredients listed are for a single recipe version.
1/2 cup milk
14 saltines, crushed
2 Tbsp dried minced onion
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 pound lean ground beef
1 jar beef gravy
2 Tbsp ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp pepper

In a large bowl, combine milk, saltines, onion and parsley.

Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Use the mixers God gave you!!

Shape into patties and place in a baking dish coated with cooking spray. A single recipe will yield 4 patties. My double recipe yielded 8.

In another bowl (or rinse out the first one and use it again like I did), mix the gravy, ketchup, Worcestershire and pepper.

Pour over patties.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until done through.

Pattie ate this up! The boys and I liked it too. I have to admit, I wasn't too excited about the canned gravy. This isn't something I'll make a lot but it's a nice switch from meatloaf and it was pretty tasty.

Menu 12/3 - 12/9--2010

Friday--Zuppa Toscana with bread. It was so yummy!
Saturday--We scrounged
Sunday--Salisbury Steak (new recipe, if it's good I'll post it) and mashed potatoes
Monday--Chicken Ranch Tacos
Tuesday--Raley Goulash
Wednesday--Oven Fried Chicken Strips and pasta salad
Thursday--Venison Roast with potatoes, onion and carrots

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup (copycat)

I had such great success with finding a good copycat for the Chicken & Gnocchi soup that I always order, I figured I would try to find one for the Zuppa Toscana that Jayme and Raley love so much. I didn't have to look far! I found a great one on Two Peas & Their Pod.  I made it last night with just a couple changes to their recipe. It was a big hit with Jayme and Raley and I loved it (not so much the sausage but the flavor was amazing). Clay wasn't a big fan, but I did not expect him to be. Pattie liked the broth portion of the soup too.
The Ingredients:

1 pound Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes **
1 large white onion, diced
4 slices bacon, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cup heavy cream
3 large Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 cups Kale, washed and roughly chopped (I used spinach instead)
**I left this out because the sausage is almost too spicy for me. I'm a wimp!!

In a medium skillet, saute the Italian sausage with red pepper flakes (if using). Drain excess fat and set aside.

In a large soup pot, saute the bacon. When the bacon is half-way cooked, add the onions and garlic. Saute until onions are tender.

Add the chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil.

Add the potatoes and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.

Whenever I make a potato soup, I like to mash up some of the potatoes when they are done cooking. It makes it a little thicker, which I prefer.

Add in the heavy cream and the sausage. Heat through.

Stir in the chopped kale/spinach.

Serve hot with some crusty bread. Buon appetito!