Holiday Caramel Chex Mix

I tried this and loved it!! It is sweet, but super yummy and easy!

I found this in Home Cooking the Costco Way that my sister sent me. She got this cookbook from her Costco, they gave them away for free!!

Holiday Caramel Chex Mix

(General Mills)

• 4 cups popped popcorn
• 2 cups each of Corn Chex and Rice Chex
• 1 cup mixed nuts
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Remove and discard any unpopped kernels from the popped popcorn

In an ungreased roasting pan, mix popcorn, cereal and nuts; set aside

In a saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Pour over the cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up.

In another saucepan, heat baking chips over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Add 3 cups of the cooled cereal mixture to the melted chips; toss gently until evenly coated. Spread on waxed paper or foil. Cool for about 30 minutes, or until set.

In a serving bowl, mix both cereal mixtures and cranberries (I didn't add these the first time around, but did the second. I like them with the mix, my kids are picking around them!). Store in an airtight container. Makes 18 1/2 cup servings!

Pumpkin Pie Bites

I stole this picture from my sister, who has actually tried this recipe. I have been wanting to and was planning on doing it for Christmas, but plans got changed and so I swiped her picture in order to share! Her husband gave these a thumbs up and I just have really like doing things mini these days! Maybe because it feels less guilty when they are little, or the fact you can try a little bit of everything when things come in small sizes! (side note--my little 3 year old nephew helped with the creations on the side!)

The pies on the left are from the pumpkin cutter, the right the circle!

Pumpkin Pie Bites

(found on Bakerella)

• 2 refrigerated ready to roll pie crusts (or brave your own!!)
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter (my sister used a round one, she thought they looke better)

• Optional, 1/2 cup chocolate morsels, vegetable oil and re-sealable plasic bags

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Use cookie cutter to cut 12 pumpkins (or circles) from each pie crust. You will need to roll the dough thinner than it comes out of the box.

Press dough shapes into a 24 mini muffin tray. (Make 12 at a time, alternating cups to make sure pie crusts don't overlap each other.)

Apply egg whites from one egg to the top edges of each pie.

Mix cream cheese, sugar, canned pumpkin, remaining 2 eggs, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice together until thoroughly combined.

Spoon mixture into each pumpkin (or round) shaped pie crust.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Remove pies to cool and repeat with second pie crust. Place the muffin tray in the freezer to cool it quickly for re-use.

Makes 24 pies, keep refrigerated!

To decorate:

Melt chocolate in a heat-proof bowl in the microwave on medium. Heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Add a little vegetable oil to make the chocolate more fluid. Transfer to a re-sealable plastic bag and cut the corner off. Drizzle or draw faces on pies.

(You can view a great step by step on http://www.bakerella.com/)

Chocolate Buttercream

I made these cupcakes for Zach's class at school to celebrate his birthday! This frosting is really good. I halved the recipe for the cupcakes. It makes a lot!!!

Chocolate Buttercream

(from the Magnolia Bakery)

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 tbsp milk
• 9 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled to lukewarm
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler on low heat, about 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and cool 5-15 minutes or until lukewarm.

To make buttercream--In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy.

Add the milk carefully and beat until smooth.

Add the melted chocolate and beat well for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat for 3 minutes.

Gradually add the sugar and beat on LOW speed until creamy and of desired consistency.

Peppermint Sandies

Again, my sister came to my rescue and gave me this recipe too! They are another fun yummy holiday treat! My kids even helped me roll them into balls!

Peppermint Sandies

(I will find out where she found this!)

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup finely crushed peppermint candies
• 1 tbsp water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 6 ounces white baking chocolate
• more crushed peppermint candies for dusting

Preheat oven to 325.

In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar and 1/4 cup crushed candies. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in water, vanilla and peppermint extract until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in remaining flour.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on wire rack.

Meanwhile, for the glaze...In a medium saucepan, bring whipping cream just to simmer. Remove from heat and add white chocolate, let stand 3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let stand for 45-60 minutes or until glaze starts to thicken.

Spoon about 1 tsp of the glaze over each cooled cookie. Sprinkle with additional crushed peppermint candies!

Pecan Tassies

My sister rescued me the other day. We had Todd's work Christmas party at our house and I was trying to find some simple desserts to make. She had just made these and I had all the ingredients and had to give them a try. I have made these before I think, but not for a long time! They are just like mini pecan pies, and super simple because you don't have to stress about making the perfect crust! This recipe says it makes 24, but I only got about 16-20 because I ran out of filling. Next time I may need to put a little less filling or use more crust per mini pie!

Pecan Tassies

(I don't know where she found this!)

• 1/2 cup butter, soft
• 1, 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 325. Make pastry--In a medium bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese until combined. Stir in flour. Press 1 rounded teaspoon of pastry evenly into the bottoms and sides of a mini muffin pan. (Use a really rounded tsp.)

For the filling--In a small bowl combine the egg, brown sugar and butter. Stir in pecans. Spoon about 1 heaping tsp into each pastry cup.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is puffed. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack. Carefully remove from muffin cups, cool completely on wire rack. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar!

Brownie Bites with Chocolate Mousse

This chocolate mousse is the best, let me repeat, the best chocolate ever! It is definitely worth the time and effort, although it is very simple to make! It is definitely dangerous, I can be caught quite frequently after making it getting a spoon and dipping into the bowl!

I found this idea on Real Mom Kitchen. She did these little brownie bites, but put a different filling on top! I will post her recipe here and you can find the chocolate mousse recipe under desserts, posted about February!

They were a fun simple dessert and we put them on a platter and drizzled chocolate syrup over all of them and then even put some crushed candy canes on top! If you are looking for a simple Christmas dessert (or anytime dessert) look no further and try these!

Brownie Bites

• 1 package brownie mix (9 x 13 size) or use your favorite brownie recipe
• 1 (12 oz) package semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup whipping cream

Prepare brownies according to package directions, or make your own recipe.

Put brownie batter into greased mini muffin tins (she recommended using liners. The first time I made these I didn't use liners and they were a pain. The second time I did, but ended up taking the liners off. I also ran out of liners and did some in just greased tins and they came out better the second time letting them cool longer!). Fill tins half way. If you use your cookie scoop they fill up about perfectly.

Cook according to temperature on package or recipe for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

While brownine bites bake, make your chocolate mousse (found in dessert section) or this ganache. Use a double boiler to melt chocolate chips in the cream to make a ganache frosting.

Allow brownies and ganache to cool (or mousse needs to sit in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes).

Frost brownies with ganache when the ganache cools to the consistency of frosting (or dallop on the mousse). For a holiday touch, sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.

You can make about 24-30 or so bites!

Saucy Parmesan Chicken

I found this recipe in the Kraft foods magazine! It is super simple and has good flavor. My kids both really liked the chicken, but I put too much garlic on my pasta! Other than that it was really good! I just tossed my cooked pasta with olive oil, parmesan cheese and some garlic and it turned out light and yummy!

Saucy Parmesan Chicken

from www.kraftfoods.com

• 4 small chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup italian salad dressing
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Place all ingredients in large ziploc bag. Turn bag over several times to make sure the chicken is coated. Refrigerate chicken for 30 minutes (or longer) to marinate. Preheat oven to 425.

Remove chicken from marinade and arrange chicken on foil covered baking sheet. Bake chicken 20 minutes or until cooked through.

Serve with pasta or even mashed potatoes would be yummy!