NYE Snack: Sriracha Party Mix

I’m not a goal setter but here, in front of you few loyal readers, I hope to post more in 2012. With that said, please make and enjoy one of the favorite things to come out of my kitchen this year.

Wish I could take credit for the recipe because it’s a good one, but I can’t. You can find the details regarding measurements and such over at The Food in My Beard.

What you will need:

• Chex cereal (I used rice… a mix of rice and corn would be or Crispix)
• Wasabi Peas
• pretzels
• Chow Mein Noodles
• Peanuts
• Butter
• Sriracha
• Soy Sauce (I actually used a combination of soy, Worcestershire, and Hendersons Relish)
• Garlic (minced)
• Ginger (minced)

Add dry ingredients to bowl.

Mix wet ingredients in another smaller bowl. Pour wet into dry mixture.

I found it easiest to mix with my hands – just make sure wet mixture isn’t still piping hot.

Spread mixture onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Seek out the pieces that are clumped together – they are the best.

Warning: this is quite spicy… make sure you have a beverage, or two, nearby when eating.

Where is Santa?

Merry Christmas Eve, folks. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then Happy Holidays to you and hopefully you are enjoying time with loved ones.

Currently I’m sitting by the tree, enjoying a glass of wine and watching Home Alone… one of my all time favorite holiday flicks.

In case you were wondering, I have an important update:

Santa’s current location is Tarrafal, Cape Verde. Looks like he’ll be crossing the ocean to our continent pretty soon though.

So, I saw this survey cropping up around the interwebs and thought I’d participate for fun (the wine helps).

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Always wrapped. That’s part of the fun!

Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Definitely white. Though I’ve seen trees tastefully done with colored lights, white it is for me!

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

I’d probably say stuffing or potatoes… though squash is definitely right up there! Oh and Christmas morning we always have some sort of coffee cake – I think I look forward to that more than Christmas dinner itself!

Favorite holiday memory as a child?

Definitely Christmas morning – my brother and I would wake up SUPER early and were allowed to open up our stockings. Then we’d watch a Christmas movie until mom and dad got up to open the rest of the gifts.

Snow? Love it or dread it?

I don’t mind it for Christmas – after that I’m quite all set.

Real tree or fake tree?

Real! My parents have always had real trees. I will say, though, that I don’t even get a tree for my place because I can’t stand the clean up – pine needles, woof.

What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Being with family and friends, of course, and just the “magical-ness” of the day.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?

We have different desserts every year, but I don’t think it’s Christmas without at least one peanut butter ball tasting!

What is your favorite tradition?

Again, Christmas morning. We have coffee, eat coffee cake and open presents in our pajamas. Typically there is a viewing of the Disney Christmas Parade at some point.

What tops your tree?

A star

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Carol of the Bells

What do you leave for Santa?

Nothing, both of the Santa’s in this house are watching their figures

Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

See above.

Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

I did a little bit of both this year.

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy Holiday and New Year!

Current Obsessions, Vol. 1

I haven’t fallen off the face of the Earth, promise. I’ve just had no interest in blogging. Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch… I just haven’t had much to blog about. Having December off has been just what I needed. For the first time in months, I’ve actually allowed myself to watch TV after work and spend hours doing absolutely nothing and NOT feel guilty about it. Okay, well there’s some guilt there when I look at the laundry pile in my bedroom that just never seems to go away but, you get it.

Anyway, because I’m sure you find yourself at my blog because I’m highly fashionable (read: not at all, today I realized shortly before closing time at work that my sweater had been on backwards all day) and have impeccable taste in all of the things, I present to you: my current obsessions.

1. The apartment has no tree or wreath but I do have what I have titled, for the sake of this post, my holiday corner. It’s actually not a corner at all but rather the top of my radiator unit. Classy should have been my middle name.

How embarrassed I should be for showing you the 5 Christmas cards I’ve received this year. But I’m not, because it’s my holiday corner and I don’t care about your hundreds of cards.

2. This candle. It smells amazing. I light it when I get home from work,  or when something doesn’t smell right.

3. These Gorgonzola Biscuits. WOW. Jessica posted these today and I already made them. But not the pinot noir butter, not today anyway, I had TV to watch remember?

They don’t look quite like hers (read: not at all), but were still cheesy deliciousness.

Oozing cheese, is there any other kind worth eating?

4. And speaking of Jessica, I made her Gingersnap Crusted Salmon for dinner last night. SO good. So so SO so so SO good.

5. Burnt Habanero Crema Salsa. I’ve made this twice now. Once with sour cream in place of the crema (couldn’t find it) and once with Greek yogurt. Both times it was fantastic and both times my mouth was on serious fire.

Bring it to a party. Wow your friends. Their mouths will burn but they won’t be able to get enough.

6. My Growler of Blue Hills Brewery: Black Hops. Though the brewery isn’t too far from where I live, I found growlers at my local liquor store. I can’t get enough of this delicious dark beer.

What are your latest obsessions? TELL ME, TELL ME! Food, drinks, music, restaurants?!

Muffins and Muppets

Long time, no post. Good news is, my finals are over and I’m on break from school for the month of December. I thought that a break from classes meant I’d be posting a lot more but I’ve been enjoying relaxing and being obligation free so much I haven’t really gotten around to it.

I did make some delicious Clementine Date Muffins. The recipe is a Pinterest find and I barely made any changes to it so here it is:

Photo Source and Recipe

In other news, Matt and I went to see The Muppets last night. It was such a fun movie. I busted out laughing during the song, “Am I a man? … or a muppet?” I actually have been singing it all day. So ridiculous.

Speaking of movies, I still need to go see Breaking Dawn. Anyone?

Well, hopefully I’ll whip up something in the kitchen blogworthy soon but in the meantime, go see The Muppets and sing the man-muppet song all day the next day to your coworkers.

I’m off to watch more Vampire Diaries on netflix, is anyone else into this show?!