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.

My Workspace

My clean (for the moment) workspace. It's not usually like this- just finished some cookies and thought it might be a good idea absolutely necessary to clean up the space and wash some tools so I could have something to work with for the the next batch!

Mother's Day

I made some cookies for my Mom for Mother's Day. I also took pictures of them and for a much better reason other than posting on my blog. You see, I am making my first attempt at shipping cookies- all the way from Israel to Florida! So, I figured I'd better have some evidence of what they look like so in case they get to my Mom in a million pieces, at least she'll know what they were originally!

Each cookie is bagged separately, wrapped in bubble wrap, cushioned inside a pretty tin can and that is cushioned inside a mailing box. Keep your fingers crossed!

Piping bag holder

After reading this post from the amazing Callye at Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle, I decided to look for other ideas for piping bag holders. After having loads of fun searching in local "dollar" type stores ( they call them dollars stores here, but nothing is REALLY just a dollar!), I found this cutlery drainer- yes some people still wash dishes by hand! 

I like it for a few reasons:

The sections come apart for easy cleaning - that's important for me.

There's room for two or three piping bags in each section, depending on how full your bags are.

I'm sure there are lots of other gadgets out there that can be used for things other than what they were intended for. Just open your mind and let your imagination go wild! It's fun!

It's Nice To Be Recognized

I don't consider myself a writer at all. I started this blog as a way to keep a record of my hobby as a baker and an amateur cookie/cake decorator. Through this blog I have met many talented, kind and wonderful people, who I can only hope to meet in person some day.
The other day I was very surprised to get an email from Teri at The Freshman Cook  telling me she had given me an award- The Versatile Blogger- on her blog.

 How fun is that? Just to know that someone else besides my family and close friends are reading this is really amazing.

The award works like this:

• Thank the person who awarded you by linking back to their post
• Pass the award on to 15 other new or newly discovered blogs
• List 7 interesting things about yourself 

OK- here are 7 things about myself- how interesting they are is another story but  here goes:

1. I was born and brought up in Syracuse , N.Y.

2. I was a theater major in college( thought I was going to be the next Barbra Streisand- uh,right!).

3. I ended up graduating with a degree in Exceptional Education ( suppose that's not too far off!).

4. I have lived in Israel for the past 33 years (how time flies!).

5. I have three gorgeous grown daughters and one beautiful granddaughter who is the light of my life.

6. I am divorced ( after 19 years of marriage) and remarried 10 years ago to a wonderful man.

7. I hate hot, humid weather ( so why does she live in Israel, they ask?!).

I am passing the award on to the following blogs that are more than likely not new- just new to ME!

1.Annie's Eats
2.Dessarts
3.Culinary in the Desert
4. BraveTart
5.The Royal Cook
6. Not So Humble Pie ( this is not new to me , but I love her blog so much, I just had to include it!)
7. The Little Kitchen
8. Bakingdom
9. How Sweet It Is
10.Sweet Tooth Desserts
11. The Partiologist
12. Crazy for Crust
13.My Little Bakery
14.The Kitchen Adventures
15.Baked Perfection


Give them all a visit and hope you visit me again soon!