Ranch Oyster Crackers

I can't take much credit for this recipe...except for eating it!  My family loves to have salty snacks around the house during the Holidays and the yummy results and recipe are courtesy of Erik.  I hope you enjoy these addictive salty snacks like me!

Ingredients:
1 (1 oz) package dry ranch dressing mix
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
5 cups oyster crackers

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 250
2. In a large bowl, combine the dressing mix, dill weed, vegetable oil, lemon pepper, and garlic powder.  Add oyster crackers, and toss to coat.  Spread evenly on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring gently after 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving.

Fig & goat cheese on a graham cracker

These make a delicious and super easy summer snack.  I spotted these fresh mission figs in the produce section and decided they must come home with me...immediately. 

Ingredients:
Fresh figs
Soft goat cheese - I get mine from the local farmers market - Mini Moos and Kids Too
Graham crackers

Instructions:
Just spread the goat cheese on the graham crackers and cut the figs into quarters and enjoy!

Chex Mix

Homemade chex mix is one of my all time favorite foods!  With all the sweets around at Christmas time, I crave salt!  I associate chex mix with the Holidays, but it can be a great snack year round.  It is just too addictive to have in my house all year - so it is reserved as a December snack.  I made this batch for a party with a gluten sensitive friend, so I omitted the wheat chex and pretzels.  I had a little left over chex mix after the party, so I ate it for breakfast one morning....It is cereal after all.

Source: Adapted from the Original Chex Party Mix Recipe
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Lawry's seasoned salt
3/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 1/2 cups corn chex
2 1/2 cup rice chex
1/2 cup mixed nuts - I usually mix almonds, pecans and cashews

Preheat oven to 250 and place the butter in a deep baking dish in the oven to melt.  Once the butter is melted, add Worcestershire sauce, Lawry's seasoned salt, garlic powder and onion powder.  Stir all ingredients with a spoon then add the chex and mixed nuts and stir to combine all ingredients.  Bake 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.  The cook on paper towels on the counter and once cool store in an air tight container.

Popcorn with Black Truffle Salt

This is some seriously gourmet popcorn!  My cousin mentioned that she loved popcorn with Black Truffle salt so I decided to try it out and I am hooked!  My local spice shop sells the special salt and you can check out their website -click here.  The salt is a bit spendy, but a little big goes a long way!