Loaded Snack Mix

I loved this not-your-average-chex-mix. I’m a fan of the traditional but this one was such a great combination. There are lots of ways to customize this and the chips are great at the end – or popcorn would be too!

Loaded Snack Mix
Ingredients: (for ~10 servings)

3 cups chex cereal
1 cup white cheddar Cheez It
1 cup Goldfish
1 cup peanuts
1 cup corn nuts
1 cup corn chips
1/2 cup butter
1 packet ranch seasoning (~3 tablespoons powder mix)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
Mix together the cereal, cheez its, goldfish, peanuts and corn nuts – do not add the corn chips yet.

Melt the butter and mix in the ranch powder, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
Mix into the snack mix and stir well to coat.
Spread onto a baking sheet (line with parchment for easy clean up!).

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring regularly.
Add in the chips and stir.
Let cool and enjoy!

This is very addicting and was just the right quantity. Ranch gives this a flavorful punch but not so specifically ranch flavored. We snacked on it at our family party and had some the following days but it wasn’t the hugest amount that we got too tired of it. Swap the crunchy items with any you love (and are OK with having leftover) – lots of mixes have pretzels but my fam seems to pick around those. Any ratios work totaling 8 cups, or double it.

French Onion Burrito

Think of french onion soup but make it hand-held and form it into a burrito! Caramelized onions and melty fontina cheese become a meal with mushrooms, some arugula for freshness, and a grain.

This lunch is brought to you by the color: brown.

French Onion Burrito
Ingredients: (for 2-3 burritos)

1 large white onion
1 cup cooked grain (I used farro but rice/couscous/orzo would be good)
~6 mushrooms
1 cup gruyere or fontina cheese
2 tablespoons fried onions
1 cup arugula (or parsley or thyme)
2 tortillas

Directions:
Caramelize the onions – slice and cook over low heat for ~30 minutes, stirring frequently. This is helpful to do in advance, or freeze leftovers!
Cook the grain – I used farro which cooks for ~30 minutes.
Slice and sautee the mushrooms.

Lay out the tortillas and layer on 1/4 of the cheese, then the grain, then onions, arugula, and crispy onions.

Top with remaining cheese and warm a skillet.
Roll up the burrito by tucking the sides in, then rolling away from you and don’t let go. Carefully griddle the burrito with the seam side down first. Rotate to grill each side.
Enjoy!

I used farro but go for rice/cracked wheat/orzo/couscous/pilaf – whatever you have. No tortillas? No problem! Make this into a bowl!

This non-traditional burrito/hot wrap joins the others I’ve made like:
Cheeseburger burrito
Chicken, Bacon, & Ranch burrito
Thanksgiving Hot Wraps
Chicken & Broccoli Hot Wrap


Honey Cinnamon Chai Latte

Cheers to the new year! This was such a special beverage for an afternoon treat. The sweetness and spices are so good with thick foam.

Honey Cinnamon Chai Latte
Ingredients: (for 2 servings)

1 chai teabag
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon or cinnamon sugar

Directions:
Brew the tea.
While the tea is steeping, add a teaspoon of honey to the milk and froth the milk with a frother, or warm just enough to take the chill off and shake in a jar, or make whipped cream!
Stir some cinnamon or cinnamon sugar into the tea and top with the honey foam.
Enjoy!

December 2023 Recap

December is such a whirlwind. I start the month feeling like there there’s lots of time to eat, drink, decorate, shop, and be festive. It went by so quickly! We saw Santa, went to the movies, T started basketball, C is back to dance, the Nutcracker, birthday parties, both kids had different theme days.

I made some chocolate dipped chips:

Next up came some lasagna bowls:

Then, I did a round up of 5 ingredient dinners.

For January, I’m looking forward to our guy turning 9! The kids will have basketball games and dance classes but we like a little quietness and routine. I switch decor to be snowmen and winter so we don’t go from all to nothing. January as me thinking of another grain bowl or wrap – still sussing out the format and I think there’s a new hot drink coming up too.

The Big Kid:
He’s so into sports stats right now. He loves anything mint flavored so this is a great time of year for him. It was fun to see him shop for his sister – he thought carefully but committed to his decisions and was ready. He’s been working really hard on spelling, despite hating it (I hear ya, kid)!

The Little One:
She had so many ideas for Christmas gifts. Any outfit benefits from a princess dress added on top. She was thrilled to get a pajama day at school. Both kids are still eating halloween candy.

Goals for this year: 
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I bought a book by a first-time author.
More meatless meals: pizza beans!
sandwiches and salads: we had salad bar on night
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: we’re sneaking a dinner out just as the month ends to Abby Park.
redo photos – oops
what I’m reading: I read Holding Pattern which was fine – not a winner. Then I read The Daydreams and loved it for those who who watched 90s/00s shows from Disney or CW etc and can picture it. I read The Perfect Marriage and liked it. Finally, I read Christmas Orphan’s Club which was very cute and festive.

Fast 5-Ingredient Meals

The countdown to Christmas is on and now’s the time for fast dinners that that are crowd pleasers and most importantly, take minimal thought. I assume you have takeout and regular freezer favorites and pasta covered. These may help bridge the gap of some balance but not magic.

1. Grilled cheese & tomato soup
1 can tomato soup + 1 (28 oz) can of kitchen ready tomatoes + 2 tablespoons cream/half & half
sliced bread + cheese
One can of basic tomato soup and one large can of kitchen-ready tomatoes. Blend it if your eaters want it smooth (like mine!) and a drizzle of milk or cream at the end and it will be perfect. Add anything you like to the grilled cheese. Cut into sticks for easy dipping if you’re feeling fancy.

The Three Bite Rule - French Grilled Cheese

2. Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Biscuits/Crescents
Rotisserie chicken + ranch dressing + bacon + tube of biscuits or crescents
serve with salad/veggies with more ranch
Chicken, bacon and ranch can take a bunch of formats – as crescents, they’ll assemble & go into the oven. The last time we had them, I tossed the shredded chicken in ranch and put onto biscuits like a sandwich. The kids were both into it! Or serve as loaded fries. Or make a Greek turnover.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Bacon Ranch Turnovers

3. Pizza Beans
2 cans of white beans + tomato sauce + cheese + any other pizza toppings you like
We have pizza beans regularly – anyone can top as they’d like and it comes together in 10 minutes. These are a good way to use some small amounts of ingredients or sauce from the freezer. Or give a Mexican twist for Taco Beans!

The Three Bite Rule - Pizza Beans

4. Corn Quesadillas in Herb Butter
Tortillas + corn + butter + herbs
These corn and cilantro butter quesadillas are so good and anything added to a quesadilla will turn dinner into a meal. Swap the corn for black beans or butternut squash or mushrooms or chorizo, or any-thing. Serve with black beans or corn (whichever isn’t inside!) and poof! Dinner!

The Three Bite Rule - Corn Quesadilla in Cilantro Butter

5. Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Popcorn chicken + pasta + blue cheese or ranch dressing + hot sauce + greens
I most often have this buffalo chicken pasta as a cold salad but it’s fun hot too! Use crispy chicken or rotisserie chicken. I go with arugula but spinach works too!

The Three Bite Rule - Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Need one extra? Breakfast for dinner is perfect. Pigs in Sleeping bags (maple sausage in crescents) is a hit here and pairs well with some eggs.

Fed is best, regardless of what’s on the menu in a busy season. You’ve got this.