Puppy Chow

9 cups cereal (Chex or generic version)
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Add cereal to large mixing bowl.

Melt butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips on stove top or in microwave.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour over cereal and mix to coat evenly.

Pour chocolate covered cereal into large zip-topped plastic bag, add powdered sugar and shake well to coat.

Cinnamon Chip Quick Bread

Modified version of our beer bread.  Tastes great toasted or as French toast too!

3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
12 oz cream soda
1/2 bag Hershey cinnamon chips

Mix flour, sugar and chips then slowly add cream soda.  Gently mix, batter will be lumpy.  Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
12 oz. beer

Mix flour and sugar and slowly add beer.  Gently mix, batter will be lumpy.  Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

Easy White Icing

This is a great basic white icing for cake decorating.  It is very sweet so don't forget to add the salt!

4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla (use clear imitation vanilla for bright white frosting)
pinch of salt

Combine ingredients in mixing bowl.  Beat on low to combine then beat on medium speed for a full 5 minutes. 

Options:

If you are simply icing the cake (not putting the icing into pastry bags for decorating) then thin with about 3 T water or corn syrup.

Instead of 1 cup shortening, use 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup butter (salted or unsalted, adjust additional salt to your taste) or use 1 cup butter.  However, if you need bright white, use all shortening.  Also, keep in mind that butter frosting can start to melt if your cake is sitting out in warm temperatures or it can get too soft in the pastry bag from the heat of your hands.

Caramel Chex Mix

2 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Corn Chex
2 cups Wheat Chex
2 cups pretzels
1 cup nuts
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter

Combine Chex, pretzels and nuts in large bowl.  Boil brown sugar and butter for 2 minutes stirring constantly.  Pour over Chex mixture and mix well.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 300 degrees for 15-16 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from oven and stir mix as it cools to prevent from sticking together.

Homemade Kettle Corn

Homemade Kettle Corn

3 bags plain microwave popcorn

2 sticks butter

1 1/3 cup sugar

¼ cup light corn syrup

Pop corn and pour into a large bowl with room to stir around.  It is best to remove all unpopped kernels at this time.

 

Melt butter in saucepan then add sugar and corn syrup.  Bring to a low boil and stir (constantly) for about 5 minutes.

Drizzle butter/sugar mix over popcorn and stir.  Let cool and enjoy!

Shredded Chicken

4 lbs chicken breast
3/4 cup water
3 Tbsp cider vinegar
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp cumin

Place chicken in slow cooker, combine other ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 6 hours.  Drain juices and shred.

Use shredded chicken for BBQ chicken, chicken enchiladas, or any other recipe that calls for shredded chicken.  For BBQ chicken, after shredding put combine chicken and your favorite 28 oz bottle of BBQ sauce and return to crock pot on low for one hour.