Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year from Chaosville to you! We are having black-eyed-peas for good luck and we hope you are too. If you don't have a good recipe for them, try this one on for size, it's a winner!!

Maple-Pecan Snack Mix

I was looking for a replacement for the Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix I usually make for Christmas gifts to include in my in-laws gift basket. My father-in-law is allergic to cinnamon and nutmeg and basically anything you would put in a pumpkin pie. Although I could have simply warned him not to eat it, I just thought that wasn't right and I should find something he would like and swap it out. I looked through my cookbooks and found this recipe in my Taste of Home 2011 Annual Recipes book in the section titled "Quick Fixes". I made a few substitutions but the end result was very tasty!
The Ingredients

5 cups Honey Nut Chex
1 cup granola (without raisins)
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (I used some glazed pecans I had leftover from another recipe)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup syrup
1 package (3 1/2 oz) dried blueberries (I left these out)
3/4 cup semisweet morsels (I used some Special Dark Pieces I had laying around)

In a large microwavable bowl, combine cereal, granola and pecans. *I left the pecans out of mine because they were already glazed. I didn't want them to get too sweet.

In a small microwavable bowl, combine syrup, brown sugar and butter. Microwave 2 minutes, stirring once.

Pour over cereal mixture and turn to coat. Microwave mix for 4 minutes, stirring after each minute.

Spread out onto waxed paper to cool. *I added my pecans now.

When cool, add the berries (if using) and the chocolate. Break into chunks and enjoy!

Mashed Potato Casserole

A couple years ago at Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law made this for our potato dish. I loved it so much I asked her for the recipe and she told me it was a Betty Crocker dish called "Crunchy Onion Potato Bake". We just call it Mashed Potato Casserole.

The Ingredients

2 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup butter
1 box Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes (I use the Creamy Butter flavor)
1 can corn
1 cup shredded cheese
1 can (2.8 oz) fried onions (I could only find a large can at the store)

In a large saucepan, bring milk, water and butter to a boil.

Add both puches of potatoes and stir until moistened. Let stand one minute, then stir smooth with a fork. Add the (drained) can of corn.

Spoon half the mixture into a well greased 9 x 13 dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese and half the onions.

Repeat layers and place into a preheated 350 degree oven.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and onions are golden. I didn't get a picture until *someone* had taken a few servings out!

We had this with our steaks for Christmas dinner last night. Very yummy and oh so good leftover too :)

Dried Beef Gravy

For Christmas this year, my parents got me the 5 quart covered saute pan that matches my Paula Deen cookware set. I am so excited! I have been wanting this forever!! Anyhow, I thought a perfect thing to cook in it for the first time would be something that starts out "Take a whole stick of butter..."
The Ingredients

2 small jars dried beef
8 Tbsp (1 stick) of butter
8 Tbsp flour
4 cups milk

Take a whole stick of butter and melt it over medium heat in a saucepan or large skillet.

When butter has melted, begin adding the flour, whisking to prevent lumps. I use a seasoned flour. If you were using regular flour you would want to also add some Worchestershire sauce and some pepper.

When all the four has been added, allow the roux to cook for a minute or two. Then begin adding milk gradually, whisking it in. The mixture will thicken quickly and if you don't add the liquid in, you will have a lumpy mess.

Once the milk has all been added, cook over medium heat and allow to thicken to gravy consistency. Chop up the beef.

Add the beef once the gravy is as thick as you like it.

When I was a kid, my mom served this on bread with fries. Once I married and made it for my hubby, I happened upon the addition of biscuits in place of bread. It has become our standard form of eating it ever since.

Christmas Gift Trays 2010

This year's Christmas trays have a couple new items in them. I have made posts for each thing and I will link them out for you. I call them trays, but none of them actually are on a tray. Originally they were though and the name has stuck. In any case, this year they had a mix of the following items (unless I knew someone in the family did not like a certain thing or if I wasn't sure they liked it).
Cranberry Orange Mini-Loaf
Dipped Pretzel Chips and Candy Canes
Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
Mocha Cappuccino Mix
Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Here's a picture of my parents' bag-o-goodies. You can see the little ornament I put on some of them. I wrote the names and the year on the front, and our names on the back. I wanted to do this for everyone but it got a little too expensive for the Holiday coffers!

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

I found this recipe in a local grocery store's weekly flyer. With so many sweet puppies on our holiday list, I thought it would be a fun and easy way to make something just for them. I was right!
The Ingredients

1 cup flour (recipe called for whole wheat but I used all-purpose)
1 cup oats
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp molasses

In a large bowl, mix together flour oats and baking powder.

In a medium bowl, mix the peanut butter, milk and molasses.

Combine two mixtures.

Roll out dough on a floured surface and cut a bone shape out of the dough.

Place "cookie" on baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until browned.

My boys were a lot happier than they look, I promise. Something about the camera makes them look like they are being beaten, but they seemed to like the treats very much!

Cranberry Orange Mini-Loaves

For the past few years I have included these in our Christmas gift trays. It's so easy and very tasty. The little loaves are just right to serve along with breakfast one morning too! Prepackaged muffin mix makes this one a no-brainer. The recipe is on the package (the muffins are good too).
The Ingredients

2 packages Martha White Cranberry Orange muffin mix
2/3 cup milk
1 cup sour cream

Mix together ingredients until moistened.

Pour into prepared loaf pans; either one standard pan or three minis.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 55 minutes for big loaf or 30-40 minutes for minis. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean, they are ready!