Hot & Spicy Holiday Treats

I managed to get a few Christmas goodies baked yesterday...and this afternoon my little helpers are coming to bake reindeer cookies. We've made them the last few years, so it has become a tradition! We also braved the crowds and hit the stores last night...struck out at Canadian Tire but found Walmart to be ever so accommodating! I think that's it for all those last minute things, and I'm staying home until next year (well, at least until Saturday!)

I thought I'd post a few hot & spicy recipes that might come in handy over the holidays.

It seems there are people out there who have never heard of 'nuts and bolts' (I won't mention names, Vee), so I thought I better enlighten them. Does this little munchie mix go by another name in the United States?

Hot & Spicy Nuts & Bolts

4 cups cheerios
4 cups pretzel stix
4 cups crispex cereal
4 cups popcorn twists
1 cup peanuts

1/2 cup butter
1-2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1½ tsp. garlic salt
1 ½ tsp. dry mustard
1 ½ c tsp. cayenne pepper
Mix together the cereal, popcorn and nuts in a large pan.

Melt butter and add spices; drizzle over cereal mixture and stir well to coat.
Place in large roaster pan. Bake at 200F for 2 hours, stirring every ½ hour.

Store in airtight containers.

Give me a tub of nuts and bolts, and I'll skip right by the sweets. It's a great mix to have on hand over the holidays...I always do a double batch while I'm at it.

And on these cool winter days when you are entertaining guests, here's a great beverage to have simmering in the crock pot...ready to serve. The cranberry juice adds a rosy hue.

Hot Apple Spice

8 cups apple juice (2L)
4 cups cranberry juice (1 L)
1 cup brown sugar
6 cinnamon sticks
12 whole cloves
12 whole allspice
¼ teaspoon ginger

Mix all ingredients in large crock pot and simmer for several hours on high. Maintain at serving temperature on low. (For easy removal of spices, wrap them in cheesecloth.)

So there's a few more ways to stay warm on a cold winter's day. Have a good one!