Random Recipes-Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

I’ve wanted to make this type of cookie for quite some time as I LOVE anything chocolate mint...but I’ve never known which recipe to try.  We made this recipe this afternoon...actually the kids are still working on themJ....and I LOVE them.  I love the taste & I love how easy they are & that the kids can nearly make them themselves!  All I did was melt the chocolate & scrape off the bottoms for them! 

They will definitely become part of our traditional Christmas time cookies.  I know it seems weird to combine crackers & chocolate...which is why I didn’t try these last year!...but they are AMAZING!

“Thin Mint” Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Adapted from http://www.cravingchronicles.com/

1 lb. Milk chocolate “melting chips”

(the recipe I found used dark chocolate, but I prefer milk chocolate)

Note: I didn’t actually meaure my chocolate, I just melted it...added enough peppermint flavor & am going to keep doing crackers till it’s gone.

2 sleeves Ritz crackers

½ tsp. Peppermint extract

Note: You can taste the chocolate & add more peppermint if you like.

IMPORTANT: the extract must be an oil flavor, not a regular peppermint extract

·       *Lay wax paper out on a counter, table or cookie sheet

·       *Melt chocolate at 50% power in the microwave, stirring often

·       *Remove from the microwave when there are still a few lumps & stir to melt the rest

·       *Add peppermint extract & stir well

·       *Dip the crackers, one at a time in the chocolate, coating both sides, using a fork to lift them out

·       *Use another fork to scrape off the excess dripping off the bottom

·       *Set them on wax paper & allow to harden

·       *You can leave the cookies plain or you can put something on top immediately after dipping them (so the chocolate is still soft)...we put a small chunk of candy cane on top of each, but there’s lots you could doJ

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!!

Random Recipes-granola

I’ve got this in the oven right now & thought I may as well type it out for you in between the “stirrings”J.   I’ve been trying to make more things myself...so much cheaper & so much healthier!   Last week I started making my own yogurt...mmmmm & granola.  It’s been devoured so I’m making another batch!  This is a recipe that my mom used to make which I believe comes from the More With Less cookbook.

Chunky Granola

Oven temp: 350

Cooking time: 10-15 min.

Makes 2 ½ qts. (I make 2 batches at a time...one batch is only lasting us about a week.)

6 c. Oatmeal

½ c. Sunflower seed or nuts (We like slivered almonds)

½ c. Coconut

½ c. Wheat germ

½ c. Powdered milk

2/3 c. Honey

2/3 c. Oil

1 tsp. Vanilla

Ø  Put oatmeal in an ungreased 9x13 pan & bake for 10 min.  (I like a slightly larger pan...makes it a lot easier to stir.  If you do 2 batches, unless you have a really big pan you’re better off doing 2 separate pans or it’s just too hard to stir.)

Ø  Stir in the next 4 ingredients

Ø  Add the last 3 ingredients & mix well

Ø  Bake for 10-15 min, stirring every 3-5 min until it’s uniformly golden

Ø  Do not overbake

Ø  Let cool in pan undisturbed, then break into chunks (I’ve never found it makes very good chunks & we prefer it more broken up, so I keep stirring it as it cools & then put it in a container.)

Ø  Option: add raisins, dates or dried fruit

Random Recipes-no bake granola bars

I had been wanting to make my own granola bars for a while so I went looking & combined 2 or 3 recipes to make my own.  The kids love them & it’s a lot cheaper than buying them!  I love how simple these are because you don’t have to bake them. 

        No-Bake Granola Bars
          (Makes 2 – 9x13 pans)

          Ingredients

          5 c. rice krispies

          5 c. oatmeal

          1 ½ c. brown sugar

          1 ½ c. corn syrup

          1 ½ c. peanut butter

          2 tsp. vanilla

          2 c. your choice of add-ins (see optional for ideas)

Optional: Currants, raisins, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, mini chocolate chips, sliced almonds, coconut, pumpkin seeds (I add a maximum of ¼ - ½ c. of any of these…just combine the ones you like.)

          Method

Ä Mix 1^st 2 ingredients in a large bowl

Ä Bring brown sugar & syrup to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly

Ä Remove from heat

Ä Stir in peanut butter & vanilla until well blended

Ä Pour syrup mixture over cereal mixture

Ä Stir until coated

Ä Let stand 10 minutes

Ä Stir in add-ins

Ä Press into pans

Ä Cool in pans on wire racks

NOTE: They freeze great!  Let them cool, cut them & then just transfer them to a freezable container with wax paper between the layers.

Random Recipes-Polynesian Chicken

This is for you Cheri:)...and anyone else who's looking for a new recipe idea!  One of our all time favorites.  Enjoy!

Polynesian Chicken

CHICKEN

¾ cup flour

2 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. Salt

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced

¼ cup butter

SAUCE

¾ cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp. Cornstarch

1 tsp. Ground ginger (I usually do double this at least)

¾ cup pineapple juice (juice from one can)

¼ cup vinegar

2 Tbsp. Soy sauce

1 can (14 oz) pineapple tidbits

1 small green pepper, julienned

CHICKEN

Ø  Combine 1^st 3 ingredients in a bag

Ø  NOTE: I usually double the flour mixture...just makes it a lot easier to get all the chicken coated.

Ø  Add chicken & shake until coated

Ø  Melt butter in pan

Ø  Remove chicken from flour mixture & put in pan

Ø  Cook chicken until cooked through & golden brown

Ø  NOTE: Don’t stir the chicken unless absolutely necessary.  The flour coating will become goopy & come off the chicken.  When I add the chicken to the pan I make sure to spread it out over the entire pan...then leave it there till that side is browned.  At that point you can stir it gently to get the rest of it browned.

SAUCE

Ø  Mix brown sugar & cornstarch in a small pot

Ø  Add the ginger, pineapple juice, vinegar & soy sauce

Ø  Stir well

Ø  Heat until thickened

Put it all togetherJ

Ø  Pour the thickened sauce over the cooked chicken

Ø  Gently stir in pineapple & green pepper

Ø  Allow to simmer until heated through & green pepper is desired firmness (not sure if that’s the right wordJ??)

Ø  Serve over rice (I prefer brown)

New blog ideas

Here are some new blog ideas I have that may or may not (depending on how much I decide I like themJ) pop on here:

Random Recipes...recipe ideas that have already been test drivenJ.  (I have a few friends who do this & I really enjoy getting them so I thought I’d try too.)

Werdal Wanderings...probably a similar format to what I was doing last year.

Family Funnies...pretty self explanatory.

Heidi’s Highlights...random thoughts & facts that stand out in my mind.

Picture of the month...again...I think you can figure it outJ.

Feel free to give me your thoughts...