Graham Cracker Sandwiches

This is quick and easy snack idea and a great way to use up some leftover frosting.

*Graham Crackers *Leftover Frosting 1. Break crackers in half. 2. Spread one half with frosting. Top with other half of cracker.

No-Bake Cookies

Ingredients:
*2 cups sugar
*1/4 cup cocoa powder
*1/2 cup milk
*1/4 cup butter or margarine
*1 tsp. vanilla
*pinch of salt
*1/2 cup peanut butter
*3 cups oats

Directions:
1.  Combine all ingredients except peanut butter and oats in sauce pan.

2.  Bring to boil for 1 minutes.  Remove from heat.

3.  Stir in peanut butter until smooth.

4.  Stir in oats.

5.  Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper or press into greased 9x13-inch pan and cut into bars or squares when cool.

Scotch-A-Roos

Ingredients:
*1 cup corn syrup
*1 cup sugar
*1 cup peanut butter
*6 cups crisp rice cereal
*1 cup milk chocolate chips
*1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions:
1.  In sauce pan, over medium heat, combine corn syrup and sugar.

2.  Bring to boil and remove from heat.

3.  Stir in peanut butter until smooth.

4.  Put cereal in large bowl and add mixture.  Mix well.

5.  Press into greased 9x13-inch pan.

6.  Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in microwave.  (Heat 30 seconds then stir.  Repeat until smooth.)

7.  Spread on top of cereal mixture. 

8.  Allow to cool before cutting into bars or squares.

Recipe Source:  LaNae McKenna, Bartlett Family Cookbook

Granola

I love granola. I like it simple, though. I don't care for the exotic ingredients that are often found in granola and I've always wanted to be able to make my own. I have tried several different recipes and was always disappointed. Finally, I found one that was close to what I was looking for, so I tweaked it and now it's perfect...for me.

Ingredients:
*4 cups oats (I usually use rolled, but regular works too.)
*1/2 cup almonds, sliced or chopped
*1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
*1/2 cup brown sugar
*1/2 tsp. salt
*1/2 tsp cinnamon
*1/3 cup honey
*2 Tbsp. oil
*2 Tbsp. applesauce (I use unsweetened.)
*1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
1.  In a sauce pan, combine all ingredients except oats, almonds and cranberries.

2.  Heat and stir until smooth. No need to boil.

3.  In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and cranberries.

4.  Pour liquid mixture over oat mixture. Mix well.

5.  Spread and press into greased 9x13-inch pan.

6.  Bake at 257-degrees for 30-35 minutes for soft and chewy granola, 40 minutes for crunchier granola, but don't let it burn!

-Let cool then break apart.

Note: You can cut the granola into bars** when it comes of the oven. Allow bars to cool completely before removing from pan.

**My experience with bars is that they are a bit crumbly, you may want to add more applesauce to help with this. But crumbly or not, they are yummy!!

Recipe Source:  Concocted from various recipes and experimentation.

Jodie's Carmel Popcorn

* 1 1/4 cups popcorn kernels

*1 cup butter (I use margarine)

*1/2 cup corn syrup
*2 cups brown sugar
*1 tsp. salt

Pop popcorn, put in really BIG bowl. Set aside. Combine other ingredients in sauce pan. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently. Boil for 5 minutes. (DO NOT stir while boiling.)

Add:
*1 tsp vanilla
*1/2 tsp. baking soda

Stir carmel mixture and pour over popcorn. Stir gently until well coated. Transfer to 2 large cookie sheets or large roasting pan. Bake one hour at 275 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes. Dump onto waxed paper and let cool.

From the Critics

Brittany: 10 - "Its super-duper yummy."

Brooklyn: 10 - No comment

Damon: 10 - "I like it really, really, so, so much!"