{Homemade is Better} - Crispix/Chex Mix

Last weekend, I hosted my annual Cookie Exchange/Ornament Making Party.  It is so fun getting together with friends, catching up with them, and sharing yummy cookies.  Every year, I make one of my favorite snacks for us to enjoy while we catch up - Crispix/Chex Mix.  Everyone loves it and to me it really isn't the holidays until I whip up a batch of this.

Here's how I made it:

{Missing from the class photo - Worcestershire sauce}

6 cups Crispix cereal

3 cups Wheat Chex cereal

1 cup mixed nuts

1 cup Goldfish pretzels

1 cup pita chips

6 tablespoons margarine

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and pita chips in large microwavable bowl.  Set aside.  In small bowl, microwave butter until melted.  Stir in seasonings.  Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

Microwave uncovered on High 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes.  Spread on paper towels to cool.

I like to store mine in a pretty Christmas tin.

Oh, and about that cookie exchange - I made these super great white chocolate peppermint M&M cookies from Annie's Eats.

If I were you, I'd immediately run out to Target and get the white chocolate peppermint M&M's {available only at Target} and make a batch of these cookies.

I'm sharing this at these parties.

{Homemade is Better} - Dried Apples and Apple Chips

Apple Fest continues!  And why shouldn't it.  Apples and fall go together like peanut butter and jelly {or something like that}.

Growing up, my mom had a dehydrator and she made all kinds of great things but I think our family favorite was probably the dried apples {but the fruit leather was right behind it}.  I wish I had a dehydrator but turns out you don't really need one in order to make yummy dried apples and apple chips.  All you need is apples and an oven.  How easy and healthy is that?

Peel, or don't peel - I did both - your apples.  Slice them to your desired thickness.  I used a mandoline.  For apple chips I made 1/8" slices and the dried apples 3/16" slices.  Put the apples on a cooling rack set on a cookie sheet and place in 250 degree (F) oven and forget about them.  Okay, so don't really forget about them.  I didn't pay close attention to the time but it was between 1-2 hours.  It really depends on your oven, the thickness of the slices, and what you want - is it crispy chips or chewy apple slices.  It's really up to you.  And when they are done you have some healthy snacks.

{Why is homemade better?}  Compare to the ingredients in Target brand Dried Apples

 

Seneca Original Crispy Apple Chips

Of course, you can jazz up your apple slices as well.  Which is what I did thanks to some ideas I found on the internet.

1. Cinnamon Apple Chips
2. Strawberry Apple Chips
3. Caramel Apple Chips
4. Maple Walnut Apple Chips

These dried apples and apple chips would not have been possible without the inspiration from these great recipes:

Oven Dried Cinnamon Apples from Lauren's Latest

Oven-Dried Apple Chips {Two Ways!} from Our Best Bites

How to Make Your Own Apple Chips from Henry Happened

Maple Walnut Apple Chips from Kitchen Simplicity

Cinnamon Apple Chips from Baked By Rachel

Caramelized Apple Chips from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

Be sure to check them all out!

I am sharing at these parties.

{Homemade is Better} - Crockpot Applesauce

Last Saturday was the first day of fall.  To celebrate the occassion I made applesauce.  In the crockpot.  It was so easy that I'm still wondering why I've never done it before.  I am no stranger to homemade applesauce, however.  My mom has always made applesauce and it is one of my all-time favorites.  So, inspired by the change in seasons and this recipe from Skinnytaste, I made this very simple and delicious applesauce.

I peeled, cored, and sliced ten apples {I used Honeycrisp along with a couple of mystery apples from my refrigerator}.  I put the apples in the crockpot with a couple of squirts of lemon juice and two cinnamon sticks.  I set the crock pot on low and let it do it's thing for about six hours.  {The aroma is heavenly.}

Then I gave it a stir and removed the cinnamon sticks.  Since it was a little chunkier than I like, I used my stick blender to make it nice and smooth.

I divided the applesauce into several small containers and put them in the freezer, except for one which I enjoyed with my dinner.  The applesauce was so yummy and so easy to make.  I plan to make another batch soon with some other apple varieties.

{Why is homemade better?} Compare to the ingredients in Mott's Applesauce:

I am sharing this easy recipe here.