Pretzels

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. dry active yeast
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar

• 2 tbsp. butter, melted (or 2 tbsp. vegetable oil)
• 4 cups plus 1 tbsp. flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• Course salt

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, soften yeast in water for 10 minutes. Add salt, sugar and butter. Mix in flour until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 5 minutes and set aside for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. With a knife, cut dough into small pieces. Roll each piece into pencil-thin ropes and shape into pretzels. Cover a cookie sheet with foil and sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour.
3. Place pretzels onto floured cookie sheet. Brush with egg mixture and sprinkle coarse salt on top. Bake for 12 minutes.

Black Forest Torte

Ingredients

·                        1 dark chocolate cake mix (or your own from scratch)

·                        1/4 c. kirsch (cherry brandy)

·                        1 can cherry pie filling

·                        16 oz. heavy whipping cream

·                        1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

·                        Maraschino cherries, drained, optional, for garnish

·                        milk chocolate curls or shavings, for garnish

Instructions

Make one chocolate cake in two round pans.  Remove them from pans and let cool completely.  When they are cool you may sprinkle a little kirsch (cherry brandy) over them.  I omit this and the cake still tastes delicious. 

Chill electric beaters and large mixing bowl; beat cream until it thickens slightly, gradually add confectioners' sugar and beat until thick enough to hold its shape.

There are many ways to assemble the cake be creative.  This is how I do it because the kids love it!  I slice each layer in half horizontally.  So you will now have four layers.  Set the first layer on a cake plate spread the whipping cream on and then spread on some cherry pie filling.  Add the next layer, some whipping cream, cherries, and the next layer, I spread the remaining whipping cream around the entire cake, top with cherries and chocolate shavings.  The fourth layer of cake we crumble up and put around the sides of the cake.  Keep refrigerated.

Chex Mix  

Ingredients

4 ½ cups Rice Chex cereal

½ cup White Vanilla baking chips

¼ cup peanut butter

2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

1/3 cup powdered sugar

¼ cup M&M’s

Sprinkles

Instructions

Place cereal in medium bowl.  In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla chips, peanut butter, and butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth.  Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. 

Place ½ of the cereal mixture in 1-gallon food storage bag.  Add powdered sugar.  Seal bag, shake until well coated.  Spread on waxed paper or foil, cool about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, stir candies and sprinkles into remaining cereal mixture. Spread on waxed paper or foil, cool about 15 minutes.

In serving bowl, mix both cereal mixtures, store in airtight container.

*Remember: You do not need to use peanut butter with this recipe.  You may use a substitute or just the chocolate.  I have also found other recipes that are lemon flavor so you may find a recipe that works for your environment.