CHEX MIX!!!

Me:  When I say Christmas, you say Chex Mix--  Christmas!

You:  Chex Mix!

Me:  Christmas!

You:  Chex Mix!

Me:  When I say Cereal, you say Expensive!  Cereal!

You:  Expensive!

Me:  Cereal!

You:  Expensive!

HAHAHAHAHA... See what I did there?  I wasn't a cheerleader for a reason, folks.  Cereal IS expensive but when it comes to Chex Mix, WHO GIVES A RIP. CHEX MIX RULES!!!


Chex Mix at Christmas is a Smith family tradition... almost as big a tradition as eating in general!  Every year since I was a little girl, the Popskies & I would make ginormous troughs of the stuff.  We'd clean out coffee cans, cover them with wrapping paper, fill them up with the the delicious, garlicky crack mix and give them out as gifts.

If honey is the nectar of the gods, then chex mix is the nectar of the dads!  This stuff is POTENT.  If you're into chex mix from a bag at the grocery store, forget it.  Walk away now.  You can't handle the truth, blah, blah, blah.  If you like a little worcestershire sauce with your butter then by all means, keep reading.

This one's for you, Miss Stephanie!  Oh!  And we don't make normal people sizes.  We make this much:

DAD'S CHEX MIX (probably off the back of a cereal box if we're really bein' honest here)

6  cups of cheerios
6  cups of wheat chex
6 cups of rice chex
9 cups of kix
6 cups of pretzels
3 cups of mixed nuts
5 sticks of butter
7 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons of garlic powder.
2 tablespoons of onion powder
2 tablespoons of all season salt

Mix cereal, pretzels & nuts.  Combine other sturf in a sauce pan and use a whisk to mix thoroughly.  Once heated & mixed, pour by the cupful over the cereal and mix throughout.  Bake in oven at 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Lay out on paper towels to cool (about 2 hours).  Can & distribute.  :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

Much love,
Mandi

New Year's Revolutions

"What is a revolution?"

Oh boy, I sense a highschool essay coming on.  HA!  A revolution according to some website I googled is 'a great change in a short amount of time.'  Ummm, helllooooo!!  In just two short weeks, I'm headed for Chicago in the pursuit of love and happiness and adventure and LIFE!! :)

I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone, take some risks and pursue my dreams.  I also plan to challenge myself, as a Johnstown Field Hockey Champion, to be content in the midst of a brutal windchill.  Okay, not so much excited about THAT part but I AM excited to wear cute hats & mittens & scarves.  Yippee!  DORK.

And don't for a second believe that I don't have a multitude of sap just waiting to be written down in the internets of time to describe the sadness I will feel to miss some of the most beautiful, hilarious and special people of my life.  Because that blogs a-comin'... and all I can say is:  Invest in the tissue now.  But as I pack, it's almost imperative that I look to the future with excitement and in anticipation.  It's a great way to push my feelings to the side and really feel them-- you know, when I want to!  Like never!  HA!  Just kidding... I've been saying good byes all month, I've decided I'm savin' it up for one big ol' tear fest, y'all.  And that day's gonna be a BLAST.

It'll be some place ridiculously awkward like in line at the supermarket.  Elijah Wood will be there... and then BAM!  Dry heaving & waterworks.  My shriveling lips saying "I'm s-s-sorry, I'm just ree-e--e-eally tired."  I d-dd-don't know wha-a-aat's gotten into me-e-e."  Because THAT'S never happened before.


But I truly believe with all my heart that Chicago will be a wonderful, exciting adventure for me.  And with that comes, my New Year's Revolutions:

1.  BE THE BEST GIRLFRIEND I CAN BE.
    
       The 'love is patient, love is kind' sort...   "It does not envy, it does not boast.  It's not conceited or rude.  Love is never selfish nor quick to take offense.  There is nothing love cannot face;  there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.  In a word, there are three things that last forever:  faith, hope, and love;  but the greatest of them all is love." 

       I don't want to do anything to disappoint the Sweet Lovin' Man, to discourage him, to make him feel anything less than special.  So with that in mind, I may-- God willing-- even relinquish my rewatching of the Gilmore Girls DVDS for a good/ can't miss football game.  ;) 

2.  BE A GOOD FAMILY MEMBER.

        My family will officially be spread out over the country when I leave.  I want to make an effort to be a part of their lives near or far.  My gosh, I haven't seen The Popskis in over a year nor have even met his new wife!  I'm going to do my best to create a feeling of homestead regardless of a home or scattered family. Home is where the heart is.  Where is yours?  :)

3.  CREATE THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE EVER.

        These are in no particular order, of course. This obviously would be #1.  ;)  You can tell the quality of a baker by their chocolate chip cookie and MINE SUCK.  How is this possible??? Remedy begins NOOOOOOW.

4.  WORK OUT 5-6 TIMES A WEEK FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. 

        I'm so grateful to be dating the SLM because he's such an amazing accountability partner.  He's big into health & fitness and I know in no time, we'll both be in fighting shape and ready to take on the world.  And if not, he'll kick me out. That's good motivation.  Those snow drifts are COLD, people.  ;)

5.  START A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

       I've got big plans to take over the world.  They're secret plans.  Somebunny's going to need her energy- hence all the 'fighting shape' talk!  I'll keep you posted.  :)

6.  BLOG REGULARLY

      Surprise!  More blogs!  Whether or not anyone reads these, I really love blogging.   I think because it gives me a reason to bake.  It's a means to the end of my baking addictions.  :)  With more free time, I will be able to experiment more & fatten up the SLM's secretaries.  But the revolution:  At least one blog a week.

7.  BE A GOOD FRIEND.

      Again, I'm leaving a great group of people who have blessed my life.  I want to be a blessing to theirs!  Take the time to really listen and to keep in touch.  I want to be quick to show love and understanding.  Take the time to get to know my neighbors or the local Fox & Obel lady.  Be a good friend to my fellow neighbor, a good steward of this planet. 

8.  GET A NIXON CAMERA WITH MY MAJOR WINNINGS WON AT MY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

      What!  What!  I want that dang camera & I want it baaaaaaad.  And I want to buy it MYSELF.  This is very exciting. 

9.  TRAVEL

      So many places I'm embarassed to say I haven't been in or out of the country.  Remedying like Jason Mraz, yo.

10.  MEDITATE

      15 minutes a day.  It's soooo good for the soul.  All the worry, anxiety, self-esteem crap that goes through my mind on a daily basis needs to be flushed & mediation is great for that.  It IS that.  :)

11.  COOK MORE, EAT LESS PROCESSED

      More fruits & vegetables, less Lean Cuisines.  I want to think about what goes in my mouth & thank God for it's nutrients.  That sounds crazy, but I really want to be more respectful of food.  "Thank you, God, that these blueberries are an anti-oxidant POWERHOUSE of flavor."  (I like to make God chuckle).  "Blueberries, you are protecting my brain from oxidative stress and helping to sharpen my vision.  You rule!"  You gotta problem with me talking to fruit?

    I'm so use to putting down a pizza like a rockstar, not really focusing on the components or craftsmanship or respecting the time it took to get tomatoes to a plant, etc.  Food is art.  Food is a gift.  Food is fuel.  I think focusing positively on it rather than "it's bad," "I like eating crap" would be a life-changing thing.  Thoughts are habit.  And habits are choice.  I choose to have good habits.  :)

12.  LET MY BAKING WEAKNESSES BECOME MY STRENGTHS.

       I'm gonna get rad awesome at fondant work.  I'd also like to branch out & try more sugar-free and vegan items.  AND *meep*  gluten-free?  Why the helio not?  I'M COMIN' TO GETCHA, I'M COMIN' TO GETCHA-- SPITTEN OUT EGG REPLACEMENTS, HOMIES, I'M WHICH YA!  I can't promise I won't do that again.

13.  GET AN EDIBLE INK PRINTER. 

       So I can put logos on sugar cookies & do amazing wedding cake designs, etc.  Lots of amazing fantastic things to do with an edible ink printer.  I want to eat printer cartridges & take pictures just thinking about it!!!  Maybe I'll do that on my NIXON CAMERA.  Holla!

14.  GET BACK INTO COMEDY.

       Laughter does wonders for the soul.  There's no better feeling in the world than being on stage and feeling the adrenaline of being in a perfect improv scene, hearing the roar of laughter, feeling the comraderie from your teammates.  Having people come up to you saying, "I don't find girls funny.  You're funny."  Okay that last part is just attention-whoring but it's true.  HA!

15.  BE FEARLESS.

      My Aunt Mickey is incredible.  She and her husband work eight months a year saving up money.  The other four months they ski and travel & bungee jump off of Victoria Falls & travel across India by camel & climb Mount McKinley twice because hey, they didn't summit the first time.  LE-WHOO-OOOZE-ERS.  ;)  She's amazing.  And fearless.  She is constantly out of her comfort zone.  I think she just really appreciates being given arms & legs & a body and respects it enough to keep it in shape & USE IT!  She appreciates LIFE.  I am sure there are family members that get disgruntled because she doesn't come home to visit as often as they'd like, but personally?  I'm all, "YOU'RE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, WOMAN!!! LIVE!!!"  Heaven forbid she's not huddled over a cheeseplate like the rest of us at Christmas crackin' open the Bourbon Balls & a bottle of wine? 

When I have kids I hope they live fearlessly.  I hope they are strong leaders & are well educated.  I hope they backpack through rainforests and feed children in Uganda.  That means I better be a damn good example of fearlessness.

I'm excited for these revolutions.  I ask and pray that you will all keep me accountable to them. 

Merry Chrismas & a RAD @$$ NEW YEAR!!!

Love & twinkly lights,
MandiCrocker

Holiday Fair

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to take part in a fundraiser Holiday Fair for a theater group called TheSpyAnts.  They really loved the mini desserts I did for their 50's themed fundraiser earlier in the year so they asked me back, and this time, asked me with the potential to earn some cold hard cash.  They invited vendors to take part in a craft fair-ish event and had them donate 15% of their proceeds to their efforts.  Cool!

And here is my friend Ellen! She has a side business she's just starting called 'Savory Sweet.' I dragged her into it.  :)  She does THE. MOST. AMAZING. rosemary cashews on the planet.  She also does truffles & lot of Vegan & gluen-free catering- blah, blah, blah-- BUT THE ROSEMARY CASHEWS ARE TO DIE FOR!!!!  TO DIE FOR!! 

Okay, let me reiterate.  I am not a 'nut girl.'  Insert joke here.  I am not a 'rosemary girl.'  Suddenly my Aunt Rosemary living in Texas is rather put out.  But I am TOOOOTALLY a rosemary cashew girl.  Who knew!!!???  They are just FANTASTIC.  And you should be jealous you don't have any because I'm jealous that I DID have some & now I don't.  Wah.  :(

And here are her beautiful truffles.  They're Madagascar vanilla infused truffles double dipped in Callebaut dark chocolate.  Delish.

 

When I make cake truffles (CAKE BALLS!!!!), I always think you HAVE to put them in a box.  But look at Ellen's gorgeous presentation?  Boxes are for uncreative incompetent spendthrifts! Just kidding.  I love me some boxes.  But it's much cheaper to package them this way & they still look beautiful.  Smart lady.  Are we learning yet?

 

And here is what yours truly did.  Yours truly, believe it or not, did WAY too much.  (Okay, you believe it.  I do, too!).  I did some Mexican Wedding Cookies in little Christmas boxes.  Did you know Mexican Wedding Cookies are also called Russian Tea Cakes?  I figured why stop there so I've been calling them Ugandan Suprise Nuggets... Certainly has a ring to it!

I baked some huge gooey chocolate cookies, french breakfast puffs, chocolate chips.... blah, blah, blah...

 

I also did a bunch of breads:  Orange Cranberry, Apple Praline, Banana and a Blueberry Coffeecake.  On the bottom of that basket (isn't it perfect for this kinda thing?- thanks Heats for letting me borrow it!) are Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies, Toffee and more Banana Bread.

In those boxes (see?  I'm all about the boxes) I did variety packs of four cupcakes:  pumpkin spice, grasshoppah mint, red velvet, peanut butter cup and strawberry. 

And finally, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and toffee bits.  I also did chocolate peanut butter dipped as well.

 

TOFFEE.  DELISH.

 

 I am LOVIN' my brownies these days... I do fudge brownies which used to rock my world until I came up with a Grasshoppah Mint and Peanut Butter Marshmallow Brownies.  They are ooey, gooey chunky bits of goodness.  I am WILDLY happy with them!!!

 

 I sold a Grasshoppah one to this dude earlier in the day & while I was packing up my car at the end he jumped out of his car, came up to me with a wad of bills & was all, "I need those brownies!!"  Sadly I was out of the mint ones.  "I'll take the peanut butter ones then!"  Out of those, too.  Only got the plain fudge left (poor plain fudge-- my fickle palette has left you lonely).  "Whatever you have, I'll take 'em!"

SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE SELLING CRACK-- I MEAN BROWNIES TO PEOPLE!! 

IT MAKES MY WORLD!!!

 

They really are ooey, gooey deliciousness.  That's why I took 1300 pictures of them.
Hewooo, brownies.  :)  :)  :)

LOTS of fantastic feedback about these babies.  That makes me happier than a clam in pasta.

And then here are some cake truffles (BALLS!!!).  I made some for my friend Dawn as gifts for her employees.  I put them in boxes.  I had about 1, 294, 799 left over so I packaged them together & sold them that way.  People really seem to like 'em!  Did red velvet, grasshoppah mint (I'm a dork-- it's because I WANT you to say it like you're in a ninja movie, don't ask), peanut butter cup and gingerbread.

Overall, the baked haul was a success.  The fair?  Not so much.  Sadly the theater group didn't really advertise the event too much so the vendors kinda stood around all day buying each other's stuff.  In comparison, I do believe Ellen & I were most successful, though!  And that's TOTALLY not in a snooty kind of way-- but more of a 'let's find some light at the end of this pipedream.".  :)

And also, I had some wonderful friends who came out of the woodwork after the event (I had SO MUCH leftover) to buy whatever was leftover for slashed prices.  I SOOO appreciate that.  I baked non-stop for about 2 & 1/2 days straight, got a total of 4 & 3/4 hours of sleep, have 126 new bags under my eyes and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Can you say, "CRAZY????"  I love to bake for people!!!  I can't help it!!!  :)  :)  :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

Peppermint smooches,
Miss MandiCrocker

Blogs To Watch: Family of Food and 3 Peas In Brooklyn! :)

Happy Holidays, everyone!

With the Christmas & Hannukah festivities upon us, it is MY pleasure to 'regift' to you, two food blogs that have been a gift to ME.  :)

First, let me direct you to Family of Food.

Candy has been a dear friend for seven or eight years now.  We met while doing improv at a comedy theater and have been cracking each other up for almost a decade!  She's one of those super cool moms that hasn't stopped living her life after having twin girls.  So many moms lose who they are after having kids but not Candy!  She takes them everywhere and has never slowed down!  It's in a completely unselfish way and I really admire that.  :)  She's just that hip and cool and fearless.  It's such a gift to the girls, too, because they're going to be so cultured, smart and hilarious like their mom!!

Candy's blog "Family of Food" is chock full of L.A. restaurant reviews, recipes and gorgeous pictures (she's also a photographer!) of her creations.  She is riDONKulously stellar at bento boxes.  Just look at these Spongebob creations!!    Seriously incredible!  Did I mention she has twin girls?  I don't have twin girls & I don't have the time to Bento!  Sheesh!

So please check 'er out when you get a chance!  :)

The second blog I'm reviewing very terribly is 3 Peas In Brooklyn.

Robyn (aka: The Great Robini!) was my college roommate sophmore year at Gordon College.  She is ridiculously talented & it's super annoying!   She does it all- she makes her own cards, she scrapbooks, she bakes and cooks and makes her own bread for daily use like she's Laura Ingalls Wilder, makes quilts and all that crap.  And she has these luscious red locks.  Robyn is one of the most creative, open-minded, fascinating, competitive and determined people I know.  She's also a fellow weirdo so we've always had that bond going for us.  She's full of life, makes the most mundane things fun and I'm pretty sure my laugh has some of hers in it even after all these years.  She lives in Brooklyn.  I miss her very much.  :(  We lost touch a bit over the years and through her blog, I'm so glad we've gotten to reconnect & I get to be a part of her life again!  YIPPEE!!  AY!  AY!  AY!

Look at this amazing Brooklyn quilt.  Or this art journal.  Ewwww... the talent is nauseating.  GROSS, SHE'S THE WORST!!! I DON'T LOVE HER ONE BIT, I TELL YOU!!!

So for real... take a look at these powerhouses.  Real moms and real women who are such an inspiration to me.  I hope you'll find that equally as amazing!!  How could you not?  Do you have no soul? ;)

Happy Holidays, everyone!
Mandi  :)