Rusty Tin Roof Munch

I think cooking is an amazing way of connecting with people, especially when you're making an item to share with a group of people. The kitchen has always been a source of life and of comfort, a gathering place in times of sorrow and joy, and my favorite room in the house. It's easy to strike up a difficult conversation here, or to enjoy the lightheartedness of getting dirty together. Cooking just makes people happy. 

Now that being said, the recipes you find here will be of a slightly different appearance than most other places. They are written, word-for-word, so they can be made by one person. But, they all include bolded sections of text so that you can split the work with a buddy. Invite your kids, your husband, and your friends (new and old) to join you, to share the experience, and the food!

Rusty Tin Roof Munch
As Adapted from Chex Tin Roof Crunch
3 c. rice cereal (Chex, Crispix, etc.)
2 c. chocolate cereal (Cocoa Puffs, etc.)
2 c. toasted oats cereal (Cheerios, etc.)
1 c. dry-roasted peanuts
3/4 c. packed light brown sugar
1/3 c. creamy peanut butter
1/4 c. butter (margarine is acceptable, but butter is better!)
3 T. light corn syrup
1 c. chocolate chips (Milk, Semisweet, Dark – whatever suits your fancy!)
 
1.  In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals and peanuts. Layout wax paper over a half sheet pan or cookie sheet.

2. In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup (or other container), microwave brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup and butter uncovered on high about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly. Pour over cereal; stir until evenly coated.

3. Microwave entire mixture uncovered on High for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spread on waxed paper to cool for 2 minutes.

4. Add chocolate chips and allow to cool another 3-5 minutes (this allows the chocolate chips to get a little bit melty, and bind loose pieces together). Place in freezer. When chocolate is firm (3-5 minutes) remove, break up large pieces, and store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Optional Substitution (If' you don't want to take the extra freezer step):
Omit the peanuts and chocolate chips. Stir 2 cups of chocolate covered peanuts where you would add the chocolate chips.

Things to See Around the Interwebs

I don’t do endorsements, I just like what I like. Nothing you will see in posts will gain me any benefit other than the joy of sharing it with you!

Tina Vega, our amazing wedding photographer, is having her blogiversary drawings this week as it has been 5 YEARS! You should enter today for the Mini Pies cookbook, and check back over the course of this week for what you can bet will be great drawings!

The safe-for-work photos from my bachelorette party, as captured by bestie and blogger JJ at Husker Mommy have been posted, and turned out remarkably well.

Always good for a giggle, Big Mama talks about a recent trip to the store for snacks, including “$15” of cheese, kids names (Wolfgang!), and a little bit about the Bachelorette.

If you haven’t seen photos of Copenhagen, open this link right now. Kevin & Amanda are sharing beautiful, colorful, photos from a side trip made into Denmark while traveling in Sweden.

The Beauty Department, including the ever popular Lauren Conrad if you didn’t know, put up a hairdo tutorial that happens to be a laid back everyday version of my wedding hair, that they are calling Hot Crossed Bun. Bonus, it’s easy enough to do on your own!

Beautiful paper creations from Papermatrix are showing up all over blogland, and every time I see them, I can’t help but think about a Christmas tree covered with silver and white woven paper balls…Le Sigh, maybe someday.

I know my afternoon will be spent making these paper cats and watching the Olympics. I’m pretty sure you should visit How About Orange too, and follow the trail to make some kitties.

Something informational for you all, Ladies check out this article from Mookychick about being prepared at a mechanic. Good tips, good ideas, and something you should tuck away for that clunking sound in your engine.

From a ministry perspective, More Than Dodgeball has put together a commentary about summer youth ministry and it’s importance to not just be a break, but not to cling too hard to what you do during the year either.

That’s it from me today, I’m going to go print a few kitties, listen to some Paramore, and I will see you back here tomorrow!

More Fun With Two

Some people say that we change when we get married, other people know that we change every single day. Regardless of either viewpoint, there have been changes in my life! To start, a husband, a new apartment, more time on my hands, and a rekindled desire to return to the blogging world.

Source: Tina Vega Photography

That being said, it's time to do just that. It seems only appropriate that new phases in life should be accompanied by a new blog, which leads me to explaining More Fun With Two.

A few days ago, while enjoying time on our new couch (more on that later), G discovered that Zeke (the dog we are watching for his sister) had a tick on his neck. Then, we discovered two more disgusting critters around his collar. Well, as I am not a fan of any insects myself, we removed the parasites from the poor guy and then I escaped to the shower to wash off the yuck. As we all know, the best ideas and revelations come in the shower.

So, while in the shower I said to myself, "Self, you genuinely enjoyed that gross moment there with the dog and your husband. How can that be possible?" Then I responded to myself, "I suppose it has something to do with the shared part of the experience." Now, for the record, before you all drop me into a looney bin, this was a perfectly normal shower conversation to have with oneself from what I understand.

Thus, More Fun With Two is born. Somewhere in all of this is a beautiful lesson about the necessity of community, the connection created in shared experiences, and the importance of killing ticks, but I will leave it at this for now.  Simply, if an activity must be done as one, then it should always be More Fun With Two.