gifts from kitchen

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Popcorn Scramble

I don’t even know where to start to tell you about this recipe.  It is one that my friend, Marcy Howard, has made for all of us for many years.  It is also one we teach and share in Apples of Gold.

If you ever make it, it will become one of your favorite recipes, especially in the fall.  You could become know for it, your signature recipe.  It makes a foil turkey roasting pan full so there is lots to share.  We just moved to a new house, new neighborhood  and new friends to meet so I made a batch to share with them..  You know by now I am all about making dishes for your family and having some to share. Spreading  JOY!!!

We love it when our students from Apples of Gold let us know when they make one of the recipes from the classes.  This is one they make over and over.  On lots of occasions it has been made for out-of-town guest to have in their hotel rooms when they come in town for events like weddings.  Marcy makes it for her hairdresser, for the women at the nail salon, her neighbors and recently she went to a family reunion, so of course she made Popcorn Scramble for all of them.  I know you can buy something similar but this recipe is so much better because there aren’t any ingredients in it that  you can’t pronounce –  always a good thing.   There is no  need for additives for preserving it because it is gobbled up so fast.  

As we think about Thanksgiving and all we are thankful for, I hope you will make a batch of Popcorn Scramble and give it to someone who brings Joy to your life or to someone who needs some Joy in their life.  May God Bless you and grant you PEACE, MERCY and JOY this Thanksgiving as you give thanks to Him the giver of all good things.  

Joy Always, Cissy   

  I would love to hear from you about how your family loved this recipe and where you shared it.  Also what are you thankful for this year?  Please leave a comment.  

Ingredients for Popcorn Scramble
Chemical Reaction when adding baking soda and vanilla
Bagged and ready to give to friend

Popcorn Scramble

Buttery, toffee popcorn snack with optional nuts
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Snack
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 bags microwave popcorn – make sure to remove all un-popped kernels Orville Redenbacher Natural Light – Simply Salted 6.2 oz bags
  • 2 cups Cheerios
  • 2 cups Rice Chex
  • 1 cup Pecan pieces, optional
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup – "Karo Syrup"
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Method
 

  1. Combine first four ingredients in a large foil turkey roasting pan; toss gently and set aside.
  2. Melt butter in large saucepan (non-stick if you have one); stir in brown sugar and corn syrup
  3. Bring to a boil over low heat stirring constantly
  4. Once boiling cook without stirring for 5 minutes
  5. Remove from heat
  6. Stir in vanilla and baking soda (A chemical reaction will happen as you are stirring in the vanilla and baking soda).
  7. Pour over popcorn mixture; stir until mostly coated
  8. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour stirring every 15 minutes
  9. Cool and bread apart and store in airtight containers like clear bags

Notes

Measurements for Rice Chex and Cheerios Cereal doesn’t have to be exact. Start with 2 cups each and then add more of each to fill the pan.
Tidbit Tip:  After popcorn has cooled in turkey pan place your arms around the pan and bend turkey pan in all directions to help break up the popcorn scramble for bagging.
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Chocolate Kahlua Mousse

Joy Is A Choice – Choose Joy Today

 

I don’t even know where to start to describe this oh so easy and delicious dessert.  It is one of the favorites of the Apples of Gold team and students.   My husband, Bill, loves, loves this dessert.  The coffee flavor with chocolate and cream who wouldn’t love it?  You can make it days ahead and serve it in beautiful glasses of all shapes and sizes or in simple clear plastic cups. It is also great for making a chocolate trifle, using as a fruit dip or to fill a cake. Your family and guests will think you have worked hard in the kitchen making such a gourmet dessert that is beautiful to serve and enjoy.  It is so creamy and explodes with flavor with each bite.  You can serve it with cookies; like in the photos or you can dress it up with some red, ripe raspberries.  There is  nothing better than chocolate and raspberries right?   The Kahlua is optional so don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand.  No reason to run off  to the store to buy some for such a small amount that the recipe calls for, but if you do you could have Kahlua and coffee.  Yum!!!  Of, course I am going to encourage you to make a double recipe, and it works fine to double it,  to share with friends and family bringing  Joy into their lives. It will be “The Best You Ever Made”.

Items for Chocolate Kahlua Mousse
Items for Chocolate Kahlua Mousse
Served in different glasses and for on the go plastic.

Chocolate chips pulverized
Pulverized chips with added Hot Coffee
1/4 of mixture set aside for drizzling
Anna Lee’s

Chocolate Kahlua Mousse

A creamy amazing flavor in every bite mousse. Easy to make and beautiful to serve.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 8
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, I use decaf
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup chocolate chips; semi-sweet
  • 1/2 cup hot coffee; can make with instant or coffee you have made
  • 1/2 tablespoon Kahlua (optional)

Method
 

  1. Whip the heavy whipping cream, instant coffee granules and powdered sugar till set- not stiff
  2. In processor: pulverize the chocolate chips.
  3. Add hot coffee blend and then add Kahlua. Kahlua is optional
  4. Keep 1/4 cup of chocolate separate for garnish.
  5. Pour chocolate into cream and gently fold together.
  6. Spoon into serving dishes; glasses, bowls, cups tart shells etc.
  7. Pour/Drizzle the 1/4 cup of reserved chocolate over the top of the mousse and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Notes

Can be used  as a trifle, for a fruit dip or to fill a cake. 
Will keep 4 to 5 days covered in refrigerator and can be frozen. 
If serving with a cookie straw don’t insert till ready to serve.

 

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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

The Best I Ever Made
The Best I Ever Made

Here I go again with another casserole.  Maybe I should rename my blog site to “Casseroles for you and me”.  I can’t help it.  Having a casserole in the freezer makes me a “happy gal”.  I don’t have to worry “what’s for dinner”.  This is one of my go to casseroles.  It is so easy and kids to adults love it.  I’ll bet you will be like me and want to eat all the topping, right out of the bowl.  Yum!!!   Make one tonight, but you know me, make two or three – one for your family, one for the freezer and one to share.  The picture below shows an afternoon of cooking I did last week.   My nephew and his sweet wife had a new baby boy, Maddox.  So, since what I do is cook, I made casseroles.   Now, when they are tired and no one is bringing dinner, they can pop one in the oven and dinner is ready.   The great thing about making casseroles and delivering them frozen is that you can cook on your time schedule and they can heat and enjoy them on their time schedule.  Easy for all.   Who do you know that you can share the joy of “dinner is ready” with a casserole for their freezer or dinner that night?  Be a Blessing!

Burrito Supreme, Easy Shepperd’s Pie, Poppy Seed Chicken

 

I like using Frozen Chicken Tenderloins
Make sure to remove the tendons from the chicken tenderloins
Cut cooked chicken into cubes with Kitchen Shears.
IMG_1810
Sleeves of crackers in plastic bag.
Use mallet to crush.
Butter, crushed crackers and poppy seeds
Butter, crushed crackers
and poppy seeds ready
to mix together.

Cooked all bubbly and ready to serve and enjoy

Cooked all bubbly and ready
to serve and enjoy.   “The Best I Ever Made”

Poppy Seed Chicken

Delicious chicken casserole with a buttery, cracker topping
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken breasts or 1- 2 lb. bag frozen chicken tenders
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • 1 8 oz sour cream
  • 1 stick Ritz Cracker or Club Crackers, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 stick butter salted

Method
 

  1. Boil chicken. Remove skin, debone, and cut up.
  2. Mix soup, sour cream and chicken.
  3. Pour into casserole dish.
  4. Mix crackers, poppy seeds and melted butter.
  5. Spread over chicken.
  6. Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees till hot and bubbly around 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Notes

I like to make 2 small 8X8 pans sometimes instead of 1 larger casserole. 
To Freeze:  Place in freezer safe container.  Make sure to cool completely before freezing.
To Serve:  Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 degrees till hot and bubbly around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
May be cooked frozen, add extra time. 
Tidbit Tip:  To cool casserole quicker before freezing, place lightly covered casserole in refrigerator or the freezer.  Once cool wrap tightly and freeze.    It freezes  great.   Yum, Yum.  Enjoy