Chex Mix

 Growing up we had Chex mix every Christmas at our house.  My mom would make a large batch and would give it to friends and neighbors.  My family loves it as well, and this year I made 3 batches!  You can add any additional items you choose.

Chex Mix

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Corn Chex Cereal
• 3 cups Rice Chex Cereal
• 2 cups Wheat Chex Cereal
• 2 cups Cheez-it Crackers
• 2 cups Mini Pretzels
• 1 cup Cheerios (optional)
• 1-3 cups peanuts, any other mixed nuts
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 T. season salt
• 1 T. garlic powder

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Dump the cereals, crackers, pretzels, cheerios and nuts into a large bowl or roaster. Mix.
3. In a medium bowl, melt the butter and stir in the Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and garlic powder.
4. Drizzle the butter mixture evenly over the cereal mixture, toss 1-2 minutes to make sure everything is evenly coated. Pour into 2 baking pans.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
6. Pour the mixture out onto paper towels or parchment paper to cool.
7. Store in an airtight container or ziploc bag at room temperature.

Piereth Pie

 This was a pie that was a speciality at a downtown restaurant in Minot, ND when I was a child. It was a treat to go there with my aunt!  I probably ate it there once!   But my mom got the recipe and we used to make it at home. I found it recently in an old hand written cookbook I made when I was growing up.

Piereth Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 baked pie crust
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar 
• 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds or chopped walnuts
• vanilla pudding, one box instant or cooked, or vanilla pudding from this blog
• whipped cream, I used 3/4 cup whipping cream, could use cool whip
• grated chocolate or nuts

Directions:

1. Cream together butter and sugar.  Melt and cool the chocolate, then add to the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the nuts.
2. Put in baked pie crust and refrigerate.
3. Add a layer of vanilla pudding over the top of the refrigerated chocolate layer.
4. Then add a layer of whipped cream.  Sprinkle with grated chocolate or nuts.
5. Refrigerate

Granny's German Spaetzle

 This spaetzle is an authentic spaetzle recipe passed down in a German family for generations.  I found this recipe online, it was not from my grandma.  But it is a great spaetzle recipe.

Granny's German Spaetzle

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 T. minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 6 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, parsley, and nutmeg.
2. In a separate bowl, lightly beat eggs.
3. Alternate between stirring in beaten eggs and milk to the flour mixture until you have a smooth batter.  Let the batter rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
4. Meanwhile bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
5. Pour spaetzle dough through a spaetzle maker or colander directly into the boiling water so that small, elongated drops fall in.
6. Boil until spaetzle rises to the top.  Use a slotted spoon to remove spaetzle from water.
7. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Place drained spaetzle directly into butter and fry 2-3 minutes.