Little Drummer Boy

Homemade Potato Chips

This is what happens when your husband watches Food Network!  He saw a show about a place on the East Coast which serves Ribs N' Chips.  Homemade potato chips to be exact.  Since we were going to have hamburgers for dinner making chips seemed like the right thing to do.  It was really quite easy, especially since Rowdy did all the work.

Thinly slice potatoes.

Soak slices in a bowl of ice water to do something to the starch...not sure what.

Some more great photography!  Pat the potatoes dry on a towel.

Heat oil to 350 degrees in the magic pot.  Once oil is hot, drop in a layer of chips and fry until golden.

Drain on a paper towel and try not to eat them all before you cook the hamburgers.

Yummy!

Homemade Potato Chips

• Russet potatoes, with or without peels
• Canola oil
• Salt or seasoning of choice

Thinly slice potatoes with whatever method you have.  I used my Kitchen Aid slicer/grater attachment.  You could also use a food processor or a really sharp knife.  Soak potatoes in a bowl of ice water for at least one hour.  After soaking potatoes, pat dry with a non-fuzzy towel.  Heat oil to 350 degrees.  We have an instant read thermometer that we stuck in to see when oil was hot enough.  Start frying potatoes in small batches until golden brown and drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with salt immediately upon removing from grease.  I liked my a little chewy (but still cooked all the way) and everyone else liked them really crispy.

This post is linked up with Tasty Tuesday.

Pretzel, Kiss, M&M Thingy's

This is a fun treat.  We make them every year.  This is one the kids can pretty much do on their own, that is if you trust them to not eat all the candy!  I am a salty/sweet kind of girl.  These are perfect for the salty/sweet people.

What you need:

• Checkerboard or windowpane pretzels
• M&M's
• Hershey Kisses

Preheat oven to 170 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.  Spread out pretzels.  Carefully supervise as kisses are unwrapped to be sure that you will have some for the actually finished product!  Place one kiss on each pretzel.  Place cookie sheet in oven and watch carefully.  Set timer for 5 minutes.  After the first five minutes gently try to press an M&M into the kiss.  If it seems a little firm still check every 30 seconds to 1 minute with the M&M.  They will go from hard to melty really quick!  When kisses are the right mushiness, remove from the oven and press one M&M into each kiss.  Let cool until chocolate hardens.  If you can't wait, place in fridge until chocolate is hard.  Kisses Hugs make really cute pretzel thingys.  Hugs melt a lot faster than the solid milk chocolate so you will need to check them sooner than 5 minutes. 

This post has been linked up with Works For Me Wednesday.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins

I am attempting to make a comeback.  All comebacks should involve peanut butter.  Everyday should involve peanut butter, even if it is just a spoonful to give you a little boost in the afternoon.  All my chicks love this recipe.

Combine the dry ingredients.

Here is the finished batter...it is a very wet batter.

Be sure that your assistant gives the batter a taste test.

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Muffins

• 1-1/4 cups whole wheat or all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 3/4 cup Demerara or packed brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dash ground cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1/4 heaping cup peanut butter (please do not use reduced fat!)
• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Pour in milk, egg and peanut butter.  Mix well.  The batter will seem kind of runny for a muffin batter, but trust me, they will be muffins in the end.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan 5 minutes before removing.  Makes 12 muffins.

This post was linked up with Tasty Tuesday.

Toffee Squares

Try Cleta Bailey's Toffee Squares and you will not be disappointed. There is no boiling sugar involved, no candy thermometer involed, no burning your skin off while dealing with molten sugar involed, just a simple, yummy with coffee treat!