Crazy Delicious Snack Mix

This is so crazy delicious, I decided to call it exactly that- crazy delicious snack mix.

This is my version of a recipe I found by Christina Tosi of the famed Momofuku Milk Bar.  I've never been there, but it's on  my list of places to go in New York. Also can't wait to buy the book!I found it here and knew immediately that I had to try it. I didn't have all the exact ingredients so I played around and this is what I came up with.

Crazy Delicious Snack Mix (adapted from Christina Tosi's snack mix recipe)

2 cups coarsely broken mini pretzels (I had one cup and they were the flat pretzels)

1/4 cup light brown sugar  
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 cup dry milk powder  ( I used Carnation Malted Milk powder, since that's what I had- adds a great smell and taste!)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 ounces mini chocolate candy bars, such as Reese's, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces( I used local mini chocolate bars similar to Kit Kats etc. Anything you like would be fine) ( Also used less than 12 ozs. but it's your choice)
I also added the following:
1/2 cup or so of pecans
1/2 cup or so of almonds- unsalted 
a batch of air popped popcorn ( the added butter while it's in the oven is plenty)

Preheat the oven to 275°. In a bowl, combine the pretzels, popped popcorn and nuts with the sugars, milk powder and butter. Spread the mixture on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 (I gave it an extra 10 ) minutes, until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool completely. Transfer to a bowl and mix with the candy. 

Irresistible!!!!

The Beginning of a Journey

I'm not one to make resolutions ( I say that , but I do it all the time) because I NEVER can live up to them. This really isn't a resolution, but rather a pledge to myself. Yesterday was the official end of the school year and the beginning of my long-awaited sabbatical. I've either been going to school or teaching for , well, my entire life I guess. This is the first time I've ever taken a sabbatical and in some ways I'm excited but in other ways, scared. Scared of what? Free time and not knowing what to do with it, not taking full advantage of the time, letting the year go by( and I know it goes by before you can say "sabbatical"!) just thinking about what to do and not doing it! 

So , one of the things I am going to make a concerted effort  to accomplish is writing more on this blog. About my baking, just life in general; anything that comes to mind. But at least once a week. For sure, Hopefully.

Here's a list of some of my hopeful missions, accomplishments or whatever you want to call them, throughout the year-

1. eat  healthy and lose some weight- for good, not just temporarily.

2. exercise at least 3 times a week- doesn't matter if  it's the gym, walking, biking, whatever- just move!

3. bake my way through either one of my many cook/bake books or maybe through the notebook of the many hundreds of collected recipes I've accumulated in the past few years.

4. travel as much as my budget allows ( leaving on Wednesday for a dream cruise to Alaska( yeah!!!!) , so at least that's one thing started!) . List of places to visit is another story entirely.

5. spend as much time with my granddaughter as possible( that shouldn't be too hard since I'm very lucky to have them live close by).

6. learn another language

7. take a few baking courses( dream would be to go to France or Italy to do it, but that is only for lottery winners!)

8. work on my technology skills for teaching in the classroom

9. take piano lesson

10. and I'll finish at 10- just enjoy the year and come back to teaching in August of 2013 with a renewed spirit.

This is actually the first time I've written this all down and it seems overwhelming, but in a way, somewhat comforting. I believe that when there is a goal and a will, there is a way. 

SO..... I'd love it if some, even a few,  people would  accompany me on my year-long journey.

In the meantime, my little Ronny's 2nd birthday is today! Yesterday she had the most adorable birthday party in nursery school. I made the cake and some cookies for the kids' goodie bags.