Sweet Cereal Mix - a family favorite

This sweet cereal mix has become one of my family's favorite treats. It is perfect for a tailgate party, movie night  or after school snack.  It is good anytime of the year, but something about making it around Christmas makes it even more irresistible! 

The recipe is super simple!

Ingredients:

2   12 oz boxes of Crispix cereal

1   cup whole almonds

1   cup pecans

1   cup cashews

14 Tablespoons butter or margarine

2   cups brown sugar

1   cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 Tablespoon vanilla

*  I realize the ingredients for this recipe can be quite costly, but it is sooo good it is worth it.  Watch for sales at the grocery.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Mix the first four ingredients together in a large container and set aside.  In a small saucepan heat the next three ingredients.

Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly, 

remove from heat and add vanilla.  Stir.

Pour over cereal mixture and stir until well coated.

 Spread into a large roasting pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake for 1 hour.  Stir every 15 minutes.

Spread on wax paper to cool.

Irresistibly sweet & delicious!

Candle Make Over

I used to make my own candles all the time, but for some reason I got away from it.  I guess I found other, more exciting things to create! Needless to say,  I still have a lot of candle making supplies up on the shelf. So when I found these "damaged" candles at the Pottery Barn Outlet for $1.00 each, I decided I could easily give them a Candle Make Over and use up some of the wax I had.

If you don't have crafters candle wax, you can melt down all the old half used candles you have in the cupboard.

Supplies:

* an old crock pot

* candle wax or several half used candles

* grundge - cinnamon, cloves, various small seeds (poppy seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, etc. anything will work)

* an old pan (I use a disposable pie plate)

* old spoon (optional)

* scent (optional)

To begin, fill your crock pot with wax and or old candles.  Turn the crock pot on high and wait for the wax to melt. If you do choose to melt down old candles, once the wax has melted remove the wicks with tongs or a spoon.  Also add your candle scent at this time if so desired.

While the wax is melting, set up your work area.  I work on the floor in my basement, but you may want to set up a table with newspaper and perhaps a drop cloth on the floor. 

 Also at his time you will want to make your grundge.   I pour cinnamon and a variety of small seeds into a pan and mix it all together.  You will need a lot more cinnamon than seeds.  I don't measure, but just guessing I would say 1/4 cup cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of several different types of seeds.

Once the wax has melted take a small amount of wax and pour it over the grundge mixture.  Remember the wax is hot.  Use a small cup or ladle to get the wax.

Working quickly, mix the wax and grundge together.  If you notice I use my fingers.  Yes, the wax grundge is hot, but I am moving fast and for some reason I can tolerate it.  But, you make want to use an old spoon for this step.  Apply just enough grudge to cover a small area of the candle at a time.  

Once you get some wax on the candle, again moving quickly, firmly pat the grundge tight against the candle until it begins to stick.  Keep applying more grudge until the entire candle surface is covered.  You may need to mix up more grudge before you get the surface of the candle covered and that is ok.

When your candle is completely covered in grudge and you are satisfied with the way it looks, set it aside to harden.  Once the wax has dried you can add burlap or ribbon to the outside.  Of course if you do add embellishments to the outside be careful when burning your candle.  Remove any embellishments before the candle burns down too far.