Ranch Chex Mix

Yee Haw!

I decided to take one of our favorite snacks out to the ranch.

Ranch dressing is fabulous with chicken wings, salads, pizza, really anything, 

why not Chex Mix??

Ranch, garlic salt and dill weed give crispy Chex cereal quite a kick...

You will definitely be saying, 

Give me a home where the Ranch Chex Mix roams!

Ranch Chex Mix

6 cup Rice Chex Cereal
4 Tablespoons butter
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch powdered salad dressing
1 tablespoon Garlic Salt
2 tablespoons Dill Weed

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Place cereal in a large mixing bowl.  Melt butter and pour over cereal, mixing gently to coat.  Sprinkle seasonings over the buttered cereal and mix to combine.  Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake one hour stirring about every 20 minutes.

Snacks and the City- Bold Bites in San Francisco

There is nothing my family loves more than spending the day in San Francisco.

Although we live close, 

it always feels like a getaway and the perfect way to recharge.

We love the breathtaking scenery, vibrant colors, 

classic landmarks and unique neighborhoods.

Everyone has a different favorite spot, so often we zip all over the city.

I have learned from experience that nothing ruins a fun day away like hungry travelers.

Good food feeds good times and that's why I have Foster Farms Bold Bites on hand.

They are a shareable, flavorful, protein packed snack

 that is perfect to grab and go to the Golden Gate!

I don't think it was a coincidence that our first stop and snack are color coordinated!

International Orange is a bold color for a bridge and a bite...

We packed pouches for all of the Painted Ladies,

fittingly vibrant for the historic Victorians...

and some cheerful chicken for the one feeling blue...

Parmesan was perfect for our perch to view the Pyramid ...

We definitely needed extra power to climb up to Coit Tower...

Noble nibbles for our picnic at the Palace...

Not only are Foster Farms Bold Bites perfect for day in the city because they are delicious, quick and convenient, but their chicken grows bountifully and beautifully under the warm California sun.
It is raised responsibly by local farmers. Foster Farms is looking to redefine the snacking standard.  Bold Bites do not include any artificial colors,
flavors, nitrates or nitrites and come in 5 amazing and unique flavors.
They are available in various retailers across the West Coast such as Safeway and Target.

Foster Farms makes it easy to Be Bold Anywhere!

Thank you to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post and elevating snacking in such a delicious and convenient way. 

Dilly Goldfish Crackers

Our favorite new snack is silly and dilly.

My aunt's cracker recipe is a staple around here,

but I wanted to "sea" what would happen if I substituted with goldfish crackers.

The o"fish"ial consensus was YUM!

They are cheesy, ranchy, savory and colorful, 

a burst of flavor with each handful.

They are so easy to make, 

I think it will be fishing season all year long.

I may even start serving them for dinner...

Give them a try, no license required.

Dilly Goldfish

6 cups goldfish crackers
1/2 cup any "light" oil (canola, vegetable, light (in flavor) olive oil
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing
1 Tablespoon garlic slt
1 Tablespoon dill weed

Combine all ingredients and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour, stirring after 30 minutes. 

4th of July Crackers

My Great Aunt Nita's Dilly Crackers are a legend
and a must have for 

the 4th of July!

It's a traditional snack that no one can resist 

and you can not get more all American than a recipe from a special relative in her 90s...

(My Great Aunt Nita with her siblings and parents, 

my grandmother Georgia is on the right of the Uncle Sam Hat)

I've freshened up her original recipe slightly for the summer, by adding fresh dill,

but the rest is right off of her hand written recipe card...

The only thing better than having her crackers for the 4th,

 is having them while lounging in the pool!

Aunt Nita's Dilly Crackers for Summer

2- 9 ounce packages of Oyster Crackers

1 cup vegetable oil

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing

2 tablespoons Dill Weed

2 teaspoons Garlic Salt

fresh chopped dill for topping

Combine all ingredients but the fresh dill in a bowl and spread on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake in 200 degree oven for one  hour, stirring after 30 minutes. Let cool and add fresh dill to taste.

5 Amazing Ways to use Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with 

Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning 

but look out, there's a new spice in town!

Their 21 Seasoning Salute is just as flavorful, versatile and addictive.
It's a mixture of twenty-one spices and seasonings including
oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic, lemon, mustard, cayenne pepper
and I haven't found much that is doesn't taste great on...

1. DIP

It makes an amazing dip.

I use one cup of sour cream or plain yogurt 

and stir in 2 Tablespoons of the seasoning and chill in the refrigerator.

Then take a dip...

SO good with veggies and  plain or salt & vinegar potato chips...

2. Salad Dressing

It is the perfect way to wake up your vinaigrette...

In a jar add, 4 Tablespoons olive oil, 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar, 

1 Tablespoon 21 Salute and shake until combined.

Your lettuce will never be the same...

3. Pizza Topper

Make every pizza a party....

a few dashes definitely gives your pizza pizzaz...

4. Crispy Garbanzo Beans

No offense but, garbanzo beans aren't all that exciting by themselves...

But toss with olive oil and 21 Seasoning Salute, 

bake at 450 degrees for 30-40 minutes on parchment lined baking sheet...

and you've got a bowlful of...

a crispy, crunchy snack you can't stop eating.

5. Shake it on a Sandwich

A sandwich is a sandwich, 

but a spiralized seasoned veggie sandwich is incredible!

'Tis the season... shake it up!!

Off to College Crackers - 3 totally addictive snacks

My daughter's friend had one last request of me

before she heads off to Wisconsin for college...

a batch of Aunt Nita's Dilly Crackers.

I couldn't stop there, I added 2 more variations to really "crack 'er up".

They all have the same premise, 

oyster crackers that are coated and seasoned, then slowly baked to perfection.

Aunt Nita's Dilly Crackers are a classic, with ranch dressing, garlic salt and dill weed...

Everything Bagel Crackers combines poppy and sesame seeds, 

onion, garlic and salt all into a crisp totally addictive snack...

and all the flavors of Onion Soup in one crunchy bite, 

it is a taste sensation like no other!

Are you ready to get crack-in?

Everything Bagel Crackers

2-9  ounce packages oyster crackers

l cup vegetable oil

3 Tablespoons Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning

Pour oil and seasoning over crackers and coat well.  

Put into medium roaster pan and bake at 200 degrees for l hour.  (stir after  1/2 hr.)

Remove from oven and cool on paper towels.  

Store in an air tight container until ready to serve.

Onion Soup Crackers

2-9  ounce packages oyster crackers

l cup vegetable oil

1 packet of Lipton's Onion Soup Mix (dry)

Pour oil and soup mix over crackers and coat well.  

Put into medium roaster pan and bake at 200 degrees for l hour.  (stir after  1/2 hr.)

Remove from oven and cool on paper towels.  

Store in an air tight container until ready to serve.

You'll go Nuts for these Christmas Crackers

It's not Christmas until my great aunt Nita,

 sends us a batch of her infamous "Dilly Crackers".

 Totally delicious, totally addictive.

This year I whipped up a few batches to give out as gifts and enlisted a crew of 

NUTS to watch over the CRACKERS...

One bite of these savory delights

and I have a feeling the soldiers will be abandoning cracking nuts!

Find out more on my amazing Aunt Nita here

Aunt Nita's Dilly Crackers

2-12  ounce packages oyster crackers

l-1/4 cups vegetable oil

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (original)

2-1/2 teaspoons dill weed

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Mix oil, ranch dressing (dry) dill weed and garlic salt

 Pour over crackers and coat well.  

Put into medium roaster pan and bake at 200 degrees for l hour.  (stir after  1/2 hr.)

Remove from oven and put on paper towels.  

Cool and store.