Holiday Snacks

In my family we would all gather at my grandparents' house for the holidays. We would spend our time playing games, playing in the snow, and of course eating and snacking. Food is a really large part of the holidays and it brings people together. These recipes are pretty simple and very tasty, plus they make great gifts!


Chex Mix
1/2c butter
1 1/4t season salt
4 1/4t Worcestershire sauce
2c Corn Chex
2c Rice Chex
2C Bran Chex
2c Wheat Chex
1c salted mixed nuts or pretzel sticks

1. Preheat oven to 250F
2. Heat the butter in a large, shallow roasting pan in the oven until it's melted.
3. Stir in season salt and Worcestershire sauce.
4. Add cereal and nuts/pretzels and mix well, until everything is coated.
5. Place in oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
6. Place on absorbent paper to cool.


Muddy Buddies
9c Chex cereal (any flavor - rice, wheat, corn are the best)
1c chocolate chips
1/2c peanut butter
1/4c butter
1/4t vanilla
1 1/2c powdered sugar

1. Place cereal in a large bowl.
2. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour mix over the cereal.
3. Place in a large plastic bag filled with powdered sugar and shake well.
4. Spread mixture evenly over wax paper to allow it to cool.


No Bake Cookies
2c sugar
3Tbs. baking cocoa
1/2c butter
1/2c milk
3c quick cooking oats
1t vanilla

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in a large pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil for 1 minute.
2. Remove from heat and quickly add oats and vanilla, mixing thoroughly.
3. Quickly spoon mixture onto clean counter or wax paper into cookie-sized mounds and allow to cool.


JELL-O Popcorn Balls
1c light corn syrup
1c sugar
1 small package of any flavor JELL-O
6 quarts fresh, warm popcorn (unbuttered/unsalted)

1. Boil syrup, sugar, JELL-O in a saucepan.
2. Poor over popcorn.
3. Stir and form ball shapes (or press into any shape pan that's been lightly greased)

Tip: Dip hands in cold water to avoid being burned when handling.


Aunt Doris' Two-Tone Fudge
3c sugar, divided
3/4c margarine, divided
2/3c evaporated milk, divided
6oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
7oz marshmallow cream, divided
1t vanilla, divided
1/2c peanut butter

1. Combine half the sugar, half the margarine, and half the milk in a heavy 1 1/2 quart saucepan.
2. Stirring constantly, cook on medium heat until it reaches a rolling boil.
3. Keep stirring constantly for 4 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and quickly stir in the chocolate, half the marshmallow cream, and half the vanilla. Beat until blended. Pour mixture into a flat pan (cookie sheet or casserole dish) and cool.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 with a clean pan.
6. Remove from heat and quickly stir in the peanut butter, half the marshmallow cream, and half the vanilla. Beat until blended. Pour mixture over the chocolate mixture that has been allowed to set and cool.


Chocolate Covered Anything
Package chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white)
Pretzels, mixed nuts, raisins, dried fruit, etc.

1. Set up a double boiler with water in the bottom and chocolate in the top. If you don't have a double boiler, put water in a pot and take a glass or metal bowl and place it inside/on top of the pan of water. Here are some good instructions on a makeshift double boiler.
2. Slowly stir the chocolate until it has melted.
3. Dip whatever you'd like into the chocolate and set it aside on waxed paper to cool and set.