Costco Spicy Mixed Nuts

 From Costco Connection September 2022 (Recipe courtesy of Randy Altig)

Spicy Mixed Nuts

3 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp dried rosemary

1/2 Tbsp dried tarragon

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 1/2 tsp salt, plus more for sprinkling

3 ups Kirkland Unsalted Mixed Nuts

Prehear oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Melt butter and brown sugar in a 2 cup heatproof glass measuring cup in the microwave and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the rosemary, tarragon. cayenne pepper and salt.

Put the nuts in a large bowl and gently pour in the melted butter mixture as you toss the nuts, making sure to coat all the nuts. Spread out the nuts on the lined cookie sheet and bake until the become glazed, about 20 minutes, stirring oce during the cooking process. Remove from oven and sprinkle with extra salt. 

Makes 3 cups.

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

From Our Best Bites

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Makes a deliciously huge batch -- perfect to give around the holidays!

Ingredients

1. 16 C popped popcorn* (fresh, or about 2 bags microwave popcorn)
2. 1 lb almond bark
3. 1 6 ounce box candy canes, crushed (about 1 generous cups, Bob's brand are best!)
4. 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil or 2 teaspoons peppermint extract**
5. 3/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Place popcorn in a very large mixing bowl.
2. Melt almond bark according to package instructions. When completely melted, add extract or peppermint oil. If using extract, it's normal for the almond bark to seize (get lumpy) which is okay, just stir very quickly, the more you wait the more it will seize.
3. Pour melted almond bark mixture over popcorn and pour crushed candy canes on top. Stir to evenly coat. Pour popcorn out onto waxed paper, parchment, or foil and spread out.
4. Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. Let mixture dry completely until chocolate and almond bark are hardened. You may place in the fridge to speed process along.
5. When chocolate is hardened, use your hands to break up popcorn into chunks. Toss in a bowl, a jar, a cute package, or in your mouth!

Notes

1. If you're using microwave popcorn, try to find an unbuttered or "natural" kind because this looks much prettier if the popcorn isn't bright yellow! Lightly salted is fine, I actually like a little salt in there, but avoid heavy buttered.
2. Also, if you can find flavored oils, like you would use for candy making, use them as they will best combine with the almond bark. If using extract, it's not unusual for it to cause the almond bark to seize, but just stir quickly and pour immediately on popcorn. Once distributed it will be just fine.

By Our Best Bites

Woodruff Caramel Corn

WARNING! This caramel corn is seriously addictive!  Let the Eater, Beware!

My Dad, Ferrin Brinkerhoff, grew up in a small town in Arizona, named Woodruff. This is a recipe from Dad's childhood. It is an excellent recipe for caramel corn!

Woodruff Caramel Corn

2 cups brown sugar
2 cubes of butter
1/2 cup karo syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup peanuts

1 cup of unpopped popcorn (Pop the popcorn in your desired way.)

Bring the brown sugar, butter and karo syrup to a boil in a large saucpan. Boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add baking soda and vanilla. Pour over popped corn. Stir well. Add peanuts, if desired. (It's great either way. I PROMISE!) Pour onto baking sheets (I use 2 jelly roll pans.) and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. (This makes it crisp.)

It's delicious with peanuts, too!

Recipe shared by Robin.

Don't you love the Six Sisters Stuff?  I think that we need to try these!

Mini Pizza Bagels

Serves: 4-6

These mini pizza bagels make a great snack or main dish. Your kids will have a great time putting their favorite toppings on each of them!

Ingredients

·    8 mini bagels, halved

·    ½ cup pizza sauce

·    ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

·    Pizza toppings (mini pepperonis, pineapple tidbits, ham pieces, olives, onions, green pepper slices, etc.)

Instructions

1.    Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2.    Arrange your bagels on a cookie sheet, with the cut side up. Top with a spoonful of pizza sauce, a sprinkle of cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings.

3.    Bake for 4-6 minutes, until cheese is melted and bagels are slightly browned.

Homemade Pita Chips

This is a recipe that Carolyn served us when we were visiting their family once upon a time. We loved these pita chips so much that we asked for the recipe. They are better than any pita chips that we have had from the grocery store. We bought many different bags and boxes of pita chips and had a taste test. This recipe was the FAVORITE!

Pita Chips 

4 whole pita breads- whte, wheat or onion flavored
olive oil
sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside. Using a pizza cutter, cut the pita bread into 8 triangles. Pull the pita triangles apart to make thinner pita chips. They are nice an crisp and not too thick. Place the pita chips onto the baking sheets and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat well. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the chips are lightly browned and crisp. Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container.

I like to cook them in the convection oven for 12 minutes.

Recipe shared by Robin.

Hummus

This is a recipe that Jay was given at work. He loved it so much that he actually asked for the recipe.

1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained but reserve some of the liquid
1-2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1/4 t. cayenne pepper (add more, if you want it spicier)
juice of 1 lemon
sea salt and pepper
olive oil- 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Blend the garbanzo beans, garlic, cayenne, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil. Add more olive oil or reserved bean liquid until desired consistency.

**Add 1-2 T. Tahini for creamier texture.

Recipe shared by Robin.