Mmmm Popsicles!
Yes, popsicles in the winter! Molly was sick yesterday with a sore throat , and was begging for popsicles. I really didn't want to run out to the store, so I dug out my popsicle molds and whipped up a batch of cherry popsicles. they are sooo good. Here's the recipe:
Popsicles
One small box of Jello (any flavor you like)
One packet of unsweetened kool-Aid drink mix (any flavor, just so it goes with the jello)
One cup sugar
2 cups of boiling water
2 cups cold water
Combine the jello, kool aid and sugar. Pour in the boiling water and stir till dissolved. Pour in the cold water, mix and pour into Popsicle molds, or if you don't have them, paper or plastic cups or even ice cube trays. For the cups or trays, set in the freezer for a hour or so, till they are partially set and stick in a Popsicle stick. Continue freezing. You can freeze these till they are hard, or till they are just slushy, like an Italian ice.
This recipe makes a lot of Popsicles.
Caramel Corn
Here is my favorite recipe for caramel corn. This has served me faithfully on many movie nights, karate instructor gifts and potluck contributions. If you are a Fishers popcorn fan, there will be no going back! Not only is this tastier, but it costs almost nothing to make, as opposed to the small fortune they charge for it on the boardwalk. Enjoy!
1 cup butter 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup corn syrup 5 quarts popped popcorn ( I pop mine in a hot air
1 tsp salt popper)
directions:
Preheat oven to 250 F
Place popcorn in super sized bowl
In med saucepan over med heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla.
Pour over popcorn in bowl and stir to coat.
Place in 2 large baking dishes ( i like to line mine with parchment paper so the mess is minimized at cleanup time), and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minute during the baking time.
Remove from oven and let cool before you break into pieces.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
These bars are really yummy. The recipe is from the FamilyFun Cookbook.
3/4 Cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 Cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
2 Cups granola (sometimes I make my own, I'll post that recipe later, otherwise buy prepared granola)
1 Cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 Cup raisins or other dried fruit
1/2 Cup sunflower seeds
1/2 Cup chopped nuts (I usually omit this)
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 Cups crispy rice cereal
Preheat oven to 325. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the peanut butter and honey together. Let cool. In a large bowl, mix the granola, oatmeal, raisins, sunflower seeds and nuts. Stir in the peanut butter and honey mixture to coat. Slowly mix in the eggs. Gently stir in the rice cereal. Press the mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until lightly browned on the edges. Cool and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator.
Sometimes I omit the sunflower seeds, and add in one cup of chocolate chips.
Pineapple Cake
Homey but delicious, here's my favorite recipe for an old fashioned Pineapple Cake. everyone who has tried it seems to love it. It's definitely a family favorite. I like to use fresh pineapple when I can. Try it, you won't regret it! Oh it's a Betty Crocker recipe from the red book.
1/4 cup butter 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
9 slices pineapple
9 maraschino cherries without stems, if desired
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
.Heat oven to 350°F. In large skillet, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over melted butter. Arrange pineapple slices over brown sugar. Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice.
2.In medium bowl, beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.
3.Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately place heatproof serving plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake a few minutes so brown sugar mixture can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Serve warm. Store cake loosely
