NO Bake Treats

Kids want cookies no matter what the temps are. There's nothing like a platter of homemade treats to satisfy a young sweet toot  - although adults feel the same way too Yet it's just too ot to bake . Wat do do? Try no bake treats that are perfect snacks.

One of the easiest is the classic Rice Krispie treats.This is an easy make that requires the traditional rice cereal mixed with marshmallows butter and a drop of vanilla. There are several debates on how to create this easy treat. Some home chefs claim that mini marshmallows make the best base instead of the bigger pillowy kind (probably because they melt better.)  Te second question is whether to use butter or margarine, margarine may melt better but butter gives that rich flavor tat works well with the other ingredients.[Adds ins are a fun too. Mulicolored sprinkles make the treats more festive and are perfect for summer birthdays, Semi sweet chocolate chips take away that intense sweetness as do nuts and pretzel bits. You can also dip the squares in microwaved chocolate too for a fancy after dinner treat. Can you vary the recipe? Yes! Cinnamon lovers can use Cinnamon Toast Squares and any brand of oat hoops like  Cheerios can be used too for a different take on the treat.

Cow patty may be a gross way to describe a cookie but this chocolate delight is bot easy and tasty. This is a stove top recipe in which sugar ,butter milk and cocoa powder are whisked together as they slow boil. Once whisked, oats, peanut butter and vanilla are added in.Lay out parchment paper and then spoon the mix onto the paper.They should be slightly thick and rounded. Set for half an hour before eating.Keep in mind when cooking tat the butter and the sugar can;t be cooked too long to they will burn . Do not use crunchy peanut for this .It';ll screw up the recipe. A vanilla version can be made subbing in vanilla pudding powder for the cocoa.Ice cream cupcakes are another cool treat on a  it day. The base is crumbled Oreos but I think Nabisco's chocolate wafers. Tis is mixed with melted butter to form the base. This mixture is stamped down in cupcake papers put in muffin tins.Tbe second layer is softened ice cream. Add whatever flavor you want, and the top with a tiny spoonful of hot fudge or caramel sauce.  Top with whipped cream and sprinkles when you;re ready to serve.

You can still have tasty  homemade treats without turning on the oven. These are quick stovetop or microwave treats. The result is a cool sweet on a nit day,

The Big January Clean

Now that the holidays are over , it's time to clean out the kitchen. A snowy weekend in  means time to assess what you have, what needs to be thrown out and needs to be repurposed. It's a great way of figuring out what 's good and what's not.

There may be some baking ingredients left over from last month's big bake off. Chocolate chips can still be good and reused in everything from sundaes to rice puddings. Sprinkles can be scattered over ice cream or hot chocolate. Check to see if any leftover nuts are still good to eat. These are the first to go rancid . If that's the case toss. Cake mixes can last up to anywhere from a year to three years while cookie mixes can be used within twelve months. It's also a good time to evaluate all those cans. Canned beans usually can last a long time.If you have a few cans and  tomato sauce then think about making . chili This is a great dish to also get rid of any left over roasts. Tins of tomatoes can be repurposed into making sauces for future pasta dishes.Any extra boxes of pasta can go either Italian or Chinese, depending on the ingredients. you have around. It can also go into a fun spaghetti pie . the fridge needs to cleaned out too. Those cocktail olives from the your Christmas party probably should be tossed by now Check condiments too.Mayo can only last two to three months while ketchup lasts longer at eighteen months.

Luckily stale bread, crackers and snacks can be tossed to the birds and wildlife.in fact you can go to any big parking lot and feed the gulls and land birds as well as hitting your local beaches to feed gulls and other sea birds. Leftover bread can be turned into a tasty bread pudding, perfect for a frosty day.Old fruit and veg can also be thrown out to any raccoons and possums in your neighborhood. The same goes for cereals.  Just remember that cereal can last up to six months.  Another idea is turning them into fun treat bars.It doesn;t have to be just Rice Krispies. Cheerios can also be used. Add some leftover chocolate chips or sprinkles for color and taste.They can also be crushed and used to coat chicken for chicken fingers or fried chicken  Any rice cereal can also surprisingly be  used for coating fish for a perfectly crunchy coating. If you have a lot of oatmeal,yes, it makes for a good  hearty breakfast but it can also be used for cookies as well as for crisps.Use it and any leftover flour from holiday baking to make oatmeal bars. Make it healthy with the addition of honey and wheat germ.

January is the time for cleaning out. Evaluate what you have. . decide if it can be repurposed or thrown out. Cleaning out will make for more room and a tidier kitchen.

Cheerios Our Cereal Through Life

The first time anyone enjoys Cheerios is probably from their high chair tray. Millions of parents for the last seventy years have given their babies this crunchy cereal . It's perfect for them , with the little rings fitting perfectly in miniature palms. As kids grow up, Cheerios becomes the go to breakfast food. As adults it becomes our ideal comfort food - a great breakfast or a great snack.

Cheerios isn't one of the oldest cereals. It actually started right before World War Two in 1940 it does have the distinction of being the first oat based cold cereal. Originally called Cheerioats, General Mills, , its' manufacturer, name was shortened in 1946 to Cheerios,For along time until the 1980's there was only the slightly nutty oat flavor . The 80's and 90's and '00's introduced us to new flavors like Honey Nut and berry flavored. there was a cinnamon flavored Cheerios back in the late 70s; however those didn't last for more than two years. The cereal even celebrated the millennium by adding the number 2 to its' boxes during 1999 -2000. There is even a savory Cheerio mix that has cheese nuts and Melba toast with onion and garlic powder tossed in.

Cheerios make the great breakfast cereal however they still make a wonderful TV snack no matter what your age. There's nothing like eating them straight from the box . After all they are low in calories (only103 a serving). Cheerios are versatile too. You can make treats with them similar to Rice Krispie treats or clusters in which you mix them and nuts in melted chocolate and then drop them on cookies sheets.

Cheerios have always been a big part of any kid;s life. They're the perfect snack, the perfect comfort food and of course the perfect breakfast. Those little circles have made everyone happy over the years - They really do bring fun to life.