18 Sep 2015

Fall Sweet and Spicy Party Mix

by | posted in: food, The Charming South Kitchen | 0

Fall Sweet and Spicy Party Mix

Fall is the perfect time to have snacks.

I mean, there you are, sitting cozily by a roaring fire (or a gas one, or just some pretty candles in your fire place), and you need something to munch on.

Or, you have a bunch of friends over in your backyard for a fire and smores – but you need something to munch on while the smores get perfectly roasted with the charred edges of sticky ooey gooey marshmallow.

Or you have some sports fans over to watch the game and there is an empty coffee table just needing a big bowl of healthy snacks to get every body through the game (or at least until halftime.

Snacks do not have to be bad for you.  I think we often feel that snacks have to be unhealthy to be fun or to taste good – but that is so not the case.  Nuts is on a mission to share recipes that are healthy, fun, and delicious, and will be good for tailgating, watching the games, or just to snack on at night while watching your favorite movie.  And you can get your pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin and do a lot of work, or you can get them delivered to your door.

One of the things my mister always does for me, including this batch, is make the popcorn.  We got some spices for a wedding gift, and have been making a special spicy blend of popcorn a few times a month since we got married almost four years ago.  We took this special Campbell tradition and made it a little sweet too.

Print
Fall Sweet and Spicy Party Mix
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack Mix
Cuisine: Snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 7 cups
 
Sweet and Spicy and packed with everything you love about Fall.
Ingredients
  • For the popcorn
  • 5 cups of popped popcorn
  • ½ tsp Penzeys Jerk Seasoning (I've learned that all jerk seasoning is not created equal)
  • fresh cracked pepper and popcorn salt to taste
  • For the candied pumpkin seeds:
  • ¾ cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 T vodka
  • ¾ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ ground cloves
  • ¼ nutmeg
  • ⅓ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp cardamom
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • pinch of cayenne
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup craisins
Instructions
  1. Season the popcorn and let it get cool, but not stale.
  2. For the pumpkin seeds: put everything in a saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is dissolved and the sugar starts to caramelize and the pumpkin seeds pop.
  3. Dump out on to parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
  4. Spread out.
  5. Let cool.
  6. Break into pieces
  7. Combine popcorn, pumpkin seeds, white chocolate, and craisins all together.
  8. Enjoy.
 

15 Dec 2014

Hosting Your Neighbors for Christmas (Giveaway)

by | posted in: Books, Kids r Readers 2 | 0

God Bless Our Christmas

Happy holidays everyone. I was reminded very much of this today when I went to my annual physical and had a Jewish female doctor.  I didn’t say Merry Christmas, but I did talk about how the Scriptures help me when I’m fearful.

Anyway…

We live in a suberb of Atlanta, in a culdesac of townhomes.  And I approached my neighbor (long time seminary friend) about hosting a holiday party for the ladies and children in our neigbhorhood.  My pastor had challenged us to share Jesus 5 times this holiday season (felt like Doc Reid was going to have us fill out evangelism reports like I was in Intro Evangelism).  And then I got this book from Tommy Nelson Mommies – and thought that it would be a perfect reason to have everyone over.  So, I dished out the invitations and my friend passed them out this weekend.  Be praying, because Saturday morning hopefully we will have non-believers in our home.

Here is what we are doing – and maybe some ideas will give you a creative spark to reach out to your neighbors in the next few weeks.

1.  I am hopefully going to have the opportunity to read God Bless Our Christmas.  This is a new book by Tommy Nelson (a book publisher for children) written by Hannah Hall.  It is a non-threatening, winter-fun-loving book that is illustrated for children and would be a lovely book to have all the kids gather around.  While, I didn’t think it hit on the Gospel hard enough, barely mentioning Jesus – I thought it perfect for our gathering.  Where we want to be inviting to our neighbors, winsome, and have a conversation starter that we can take (winter, snow, gifts, Christmas, trees) to then talk about the Gospel.  I’m so thankful to have conversation starters when sharing the Gospel.  I find it intimidating to walk up to someone and say “Hey, you know Jesus?”

2.  One of the precious and yummy things that book highlights is sprinkles.  Cookies and sprinkles.  So, we are going to have goodies at our holiday party and we are including a cookie decorating station for the kiddos.  This holiday season is already crowded and packed with friends and functions, so I want to keep it easy.  My friend and I are splitting the tasks.  And usually I would use this recipe and roll out the dough and make the buttercream – but I’m buying sugar cookies, and tub frosting – and having sprinkles and icing!  Fun for all the kids – and adults too.

3.  Another activity for the children is Christmas tree decorating.  We put our Christmas tree in our dining room this year.  So much happens around our table so I thought it perfect to include the tree.  So, I’m going to have construction paper, stickers, markers, glitter – you name it – for them to decorate Christmas trees.  Hopefully with the children busy with activities, my friend and I can get to know the moms and have opportunity to talk with them about Jesus.

4.  Presents.  Christmas is about presents – in some sense.  God gave us a present.  We give each other gifts.  And during the Black Friday madness, Lifeway Christian Stores was selling the Jesus Storybook Bible for 5$.  We bought several and will have bows on them.  Be praying that we will get to give all 4 of them away this weekend.

I’m thankful that my friend is doing it with me.  It is scary to share the Gospel.  Shouldn’t be – but it often is.

How are you planning on engaging your neighbors or lost friends this holiday season?  Comment on the blog here or any of the social media sites of mine – and I will draw a winner on Friday (19th) night and you can have your own copy of God Bless Our Christmas!  I love getting children to read and this is one your kids will love for every holiday to come!

Disclaimer: I am a Tommy Nelson Mommy.  That means I get to review, blog, and giveaway new books for kids!  Its exciting – but all opinions are my own!  Thanks Tommy Nelson!