I LOVE Chex Mix

For some reason I only like to eat it in the fall/winter though. So last night I made my first batch. I usually go with the quick and easy microwave version so I can get to the eating part faster, but for some reason I decided to cook it low and slow in the oven. I also used the Chex Mix seasonings packet for the first time and let me tell you, its FABULOUS! All you have to do is melt the butter, then open up this little packet of seasonings, mix in your favorite ingredients and voila, you have Chex Mix. It takes all the measuring a teaspoon of this and a tablespoon of that out of the equation, so easy!!! I would highly suggest to all you fellow Chex Mix lovers out there to go out and buy a few of these mixes to have on hand so you can mix up a batch anytime. Here is what I usually use in my Chex Mix

4 Cups Rice Chex
4 Cups Corn Chex
1 Cup Cheerios (they soak up the flavor, yum)
1 Cup Goldfish
1 Cup cashews (or mixed nuts, whichever I have)

That is my favorite mixture of ingredients for Chex Mix, but as long as you have the same amount of ingredients you can mix it up however you want!

Nacho Bar

So this isn't exactly a recipe, just an idea for an easy dinner. We got back from vacation on Saturday and didn't have many groceries in the house, especially veggies, so I ransacked the kitchen and pantry to see what we could have for dinner on Tuesday night. I found hamburger meat, chicken, Velveeta cheese, rotel, and chips. I had some great nachos a few weeks ago as an appetizer and have been craving some since then, so I figured it was the perfect time to recreate them. You can use any and all toppings that you want, here is what we had:

Ground beef cooked with taco seasoning
Shredded chicken, seasoned with fajita seasoning
Queso
Refried beans
Sour Cream
Salsa
Guacamole
Chopped onions
Diced tomatoes
Sliced jalapenos
Tortilla chips

These toppings were GREAT, and everyone got to pick what they wanted on their own plate of nachos, so everyone liked it. So easy to make, and an easy pleaser. For your next family dinner you should give it a try!

Dessert...Yummm

My favorite dessert is creme brulee. I am leaving for Disney World in the morning and will eat my weight in creme brulee if I can, I'll definitely have it at every place possible. I made my first attempt at this dessert tonight and it came out so so. I think I'll do a few things different next time. But here's the recipe:

2 Cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 Cup brown sugar, give or take

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Whisk the cream, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl until nice and creamy (this is where I made the mistake, I didn't whisk it long enough, next time I'll use the KitchenAid). Evenly distribute the creme mixture into ramekins, or into a small casserole dish. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill halfway up the ramekins with hot water. Place the pan with the ramekins in the oven for 45 minutes. Check them every 10 minutes after the initial 45 to see if they are done. You will know they're done when you stick a knife into one and it comes out clean. Set them on the counter and let them cool for 15 minutes. Cover and place them in the fridge overnight.

Spread a thin layer of brown sugar on top of each ramekin. Either use a torch to harden the sugar or place them under the broiler until the sugar hardens.

Yummm...

Since I'll be gone all next week hanging out with Mickey Mouse, I won't be able to update. I'll try and take some pictures of the fabulous food I get to try at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.

My Favorite Salads

Thursday night was my night for dinner again and I decided to try out BBQ pulled pork. I always get that at any BBQ restaurant I go to so I figured I'd give it a try...it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, so maybe I'll try it again and then I can share the recipe. Along with the pulled pork I made oven fried potatoes and Chinese coleslaw. I absolutely LOVE Chinese coleslaw and if you haven't ever tried it, you should. I don't like the regular kind (mayonnaise makes me gag) but this one is vinegar based and fantastic. Here are the ingredients you'll need:

Salad:
5 Cups pre-shredded coleslaw mix
4 green onions, chopped
1 (3oz) pkg. Ramen noodles
1/2 Cup slivered almonds
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Dressing:
1 Cup oil
1 tsp Lawrys
1/3 Cup rice vinegar
1 tsp pepper
1/2 Cup sugar

Mix dressing , store in refrigerator. Toast almonds and sesame seeds in a small amount of butter until lightly toasted, let cool. Mix sesame seeds, almonds, cabbage and green onions, add dressing then add crushed ramen noodles just before serving.

Another of my favorite salads uses basically the same ingredients, just substitute green leaf lettuce for the coleslaw mix. Also you will need 1 pkg. of sliced almonds and 1/3 Cup of sesame seeds for the large green salad. Toss all those together and serve with the same dressing as the Chinese coleslaw.

And my last salad recipe for this post is a Spinach salad. Here's what you need:

Salad:
6 Cups baby spinach
3/4 Cup sliced strawberries or granny smith apples
1/3 Cup blue cheese
1/2 Cup pecans (broken and sauteed in small skillet with 2 Tbsp. sugar and sprinkle with 1 tsp chili powder

Dressing:
1/2 Cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/3 Cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp onion flakes
3/4 Cup vegetable oil

Put all dressing ingredients in blender and mix well. Mix salad ingredients and toss with dressing.

These are my 3 favorite salads and I highly recommend them all! I could probably eat the whole entire bowl of each of them.