Sticky Chex

¾ c margarine
1 c sugar
1 c light corn syrup

Cook over medium heat. Boil 2 minutes and pour over:

1 12 oz. box Corn Chex
1 12 oz. box Golden Grahams
coconut –optional, add as much as desired
sliced almonds –optional, add as much as desired
-I like to add M&M’s - just wait until it cools a bit before adding.

Cafe Rio Style Pulled Pork

6 lbs of pork (I cook it for 10 hours on low in the crock-pot with 1 can of Dr Pepper or Coke, 1/2 cup of water and some salt and pepper the day before I need it. Then I put it in the fridge.)

Next Day:
Turn crock-pot back on low, shred meat then drain off extra juices. Let the meat just sit while...

In a saucepan, mix:

12 oz of taco sauce (Not salsa)
24 oz Mexi Coke (Coke in a bottle -on the Hispanic aisle) or just 2 sodas 
1 cup Brown Sugar
3/4 cup White Sugar
4 cloves of garlic, mashed or minced
1 tsp of dry mustard
7oz can of chipotles in adobo sauce (If you want to make it hot you can use the chilies.
but they may add a surprising amount of heat.)

Bring to a simmer and then pour over meat and let it go until you're ready.It can't get "too done". I usually let it go for at least two hours. It's even better the next day and the next. It makes A LOT.


Serve with:
Large Fresh Flour Tortilla (I get mine at Costco)
Cheese, Rice and Black or Pinto Beans, Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Guacamole, Tortilla Strips, and Creamy Tamatillo Salad Dressing.

Creamy Tamatillo Salad Dressing (Cafe Rio Style)

1 package of dry Ranch Dressing (I use Uncle Dan's Creamy)
4 large tomatillos
1 T fresh lime-juice
1 diced jalapeno pepper or more- NO seeds or membrane
1 cup sour cream (lite)
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup salsa verde- any brand- not hot
cilantro (I use very little)

Add tomatillos, lime-juice, chopped jalapeno to the food processor and pulse until ingredients are finely pureed. Blend dressing in a blender. Chill dressing for 1-2 hours or overnight.


Juleen S.

Homemade Bubbles

part dish soap
8 parts water
1/4 part or less light corn syrup or glycerin

Homemade Snow Cone Syrup

1 packet Kool-Aid
2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Mix all together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat. Cool. Used a kitchen funnel to put the syrup after cooling into an empty water bottle.

Homemade Puffy Paint

1 Tablespoon self rising flour
1 Tablespoon salt
4 teaspoons water
food coloring
Q tips (or brushes)
small containers

In a small container mix the flour, salt and water together until smooth. Do this same process in as many containers as you want colors. Add a few drops of food coloring to each and stir.

You can use Q tips to paint with or brush. Make sure you don't paint it on so thick it soaks through the paper but definitely thick enough to puff up.

When you are done painting, lay it flat in the microwave and cook for 10 seconds. Pull it out and watch the expression on your kid's faces! It's puffy!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

* 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
* 1/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Granulated sugar


Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 3 dozen cookies. I have to double my batch.