BUTTERCREAM ICING / FROSTING

This icing is so delicious and makes even a boxed cake taste good. It's better of course with a homemade cake too! No need to spend lots of money on store-made icings that are nasty and full of who knows what. This one's a winner!

BUTTERCREAM ICING

1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
1 package (16 oz. ) powdered sugar
4 to 6 tbs. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In large bowl, with mixer at medium-low speed, beat butter, powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla until smooth and blended. Beat in additional milk as needed for easy spreading consistency. Increase speed to medium-high; beat icing until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Makes about 2 1/3 cups.

If desired, tint with food coloring. Just be careful that if you use liquid food coloring, you will need less milk because that will make your icing soupy if you add too much coloring.

HONEY GLAZE SNACK

This recipe is rather plain in and of itself, but if you mix it up a bit, you've got a snack that's sure to get eaten fast. It's great to bring to a get together or to keep around the house for an afternoon snack. So yummy and so simple!

HONEY GLAZE SNACK

4 cups corn Chex (I like to do a mix of cereals such as Cheerios, Wheat Chex, and Crispix)
1 1/2 cups miniature pretzels (I've used pretzel sticks because it's cheaper)
1 cup pecans (I like to use a mix of dried nuts and dried fruits such as pecans and cranberries)
1/3 cup butter
optional - 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (I never really measure it, but just dump it in until it looks good, so I'm not positive 1/4 tsp. is the right amount.)

Combine cereal, pretzels, and pecans in bowl. Melt butter in pan, stir in honey and cinnamon and blend well. Pour over cereal mixture to coat it and mix well. Spread on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly glazed and lightly browned. Stir halfway through baking. When cool, store in container.

The more you mix up the recipe as far as the add-ins go, the better this tastes! It's kind of like a sweet and salty Chex mix, but way better and very addictive! I like to make a triple batch of this and bring it to church potlucks or when I visit with friends. It's a winner!

SKILLET GRANOLA- A healthy and quick breakfast

This granola is super-easy and quick to make and tastes absolutely delicious. It is a fraction of the cost of even the cheap granolas at the store and tastes better than the fancy stuff and you can put in what you like.

Skillet Granola

2 TBS. oil
4 cups rolled oats
½ cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ cup honey
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup packed brown sugar

Optional:
¼ cup chopped almonds
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup shredded coconut
¼ cup chopped pecans

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Add oats and cook and stir often until starting to brown and crisp, approximately 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together melted butter, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a bowl and add to oats once the 5 minutes is over.

Cook and stir well for another 5 minutes or so until well coated and slightly browned.

Mix in fruit and nuts if desired and stir well for another minute or so.

Pour out onto cookie sheet and spread out to cool.

If desired, you can bake granola on a cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes to toast the nuts and get the granola a little more crispy.

This granola is super-yummy and slightly chewy unless you bake it. It’s great as a snack, served with milk, or on top of yogurt with fresh fruit. I’ve kept mine in a glass container for a week and a half and it was still fresh. Not sure how long it will keep, but it seems to keep a while. You can be very flexible with the fruit and nuts you put in. Put in whatever you like and however much!

I like to make 2 batches, but I don't put it all in one pan, but cook two batches back to back and cook it in a cast-iron skillet. It's super-quick to make.