Ranch Snack Mix

I hope you aren't tired of seeing my Christmas gift ideas; I think this is the last one. I finally found my "lost" memory card, which was holding this picture. I wanted to make sure I included it in the Christmas stuff, but it really is an anytime recipe. I love keeping this on hand for snacks.

When I started couponing way back when, I was getting free bags of Chex mix every time I went to the grocery. Surprisingly, it wasn't too much Chex. It worked out really...because...

Someone I worked with happened to be quite fond of Chex and liked to stick their grimy hands in my bag...despite my prodding to dump a portion in a little cup. I prefer people (especially with suspiciously dirty hands) to pour what they want into their hand and not contaminate the rest of the bag. I would be busy working and all of the sudden I would hear my (hidden, I thought) bag crumple. I knew it was time to either pitch it or kindly donate it to them.

I came across this snack mix recipe in a Taste of Home cookbook. Being the bugle fan that I am I decided I needed to make it...like THAT night. Quite a conundrum it was. Turns out Bugles are kind of scarce in the Cincinnati area. What is the deal with the lack of Bugles...why aren't they more popular? They are tastier than all of the other options in the pretzel/chip aisle. I finally found my beloved Bugles at the third grocery store of the night.

This snack mix is pretty awesome and far outweighs Chex mix in my opinion. I don't have to pick out all of the soft pretzels and the little cracker things in Chex anymore. Anyone else not like Chex mix pretzels? It is like they haven't been baked enough and are void of salt...just sayin'!

This makes a large batch, so be ready to hand it out for gifts. I also thought it would be a great thing to have around if you are hosting a Christmas dinner. Everyone likes to have snacks that they can just munch on.

1 package (12 oz.) miniature pretzels
2 packages (6 oz. each) Bugles
1 can salted cashews
1 package (6 oz.) Goldfish crackers
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil

In two large bowls, combine the pretzels, Bugles, cashews and crackers. Sprinkle with dressing mix; toss gently to combine. Drizzle with oil; toss until well coated. Store in airtight containers.

Yield: 6 quarts

Homemade Sugar Scrub

This is my favorite of all of the handmade gift ideas...by far!

I made this back in the summer when my aunt Cherie came to visit. We went to breakfast (Panera of course) and my mom had bought all of the stuff and surprised us with making this sugar scrub! Of course I had to photograph every step...because it was so cool!

I am so glad I did, because this scrub is awesome. I have always been a sugar scrub lover, but this is by far the best I have tried. It is all natural, smells unbelievable, and it exfoliates like magic!

Here is what you need:

2 cups ground almonds
2 cups ground oatmeal
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups almond oil (or olive oil)
2 teaspoon almond extract

First you will want to grind up your almonds in the food processor. Make sure you get them good and ground up! Put them in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Now you want to grind up your oatmeal and add it into your almonds in the bowl.


Now it is time to add the brown sugar! Yummy!

Mix it all up really good. Add in your almond oil. Stir together; it will be a paste like texture. If it is too dry you can add in a little extra oil (I had to).



My mom is getting her scrub on...and she was ohhh-ing and ahhh-ing over how soft her hands felt. Then we all had to jump in and try it!


Here is the finished product! We ended up with 7 jars


Don't you think everyone would LOVE this gift for Christmas!!!

Movie Night Gift Basket

I think the gift basket idea has been around for ages. The idea stays the same, but the products change. I love handmade gift baskets because there are so many directions you can take them.

We all have those families in our lives that are so special to us. They do so much for us throughout the year, and Christmas is a great time to show them how much we love and appreciate them. Maybe it isn't in your budget to buy each individual a gift, but you still want to show them you care.

This is where the family basket comes in. In my opinion families don't spend enough time together...so why not give them something that they have to use together!

I don't think it gets any better than a "Movie Night" gift basket.

Look around at your local Target or Dollar store for a popcorn basket...if you can't find one a regular basket would do. The possibilities are endless. Of course you need to start with a movie. This time of year a Christmas movie is a great option and you can find some for $5! Add in some popcorn and candy...and you are all set!

Now what family wouldn't love to receive this for Christmas?!?

What is your favorite kind of gift basket to make?

Poinsettia Pens and Teachers Bags

My mom made these gift bags for all of her teacher friends (and one for yours truly), and I think they are the cutest things ever! So, I would like to, but I can't take any credit for it...I just photographed it.

These gift bags would not only be great for your children's teachers, but really any lady. I mean, seriously, who doesn't love cute note pads...and who wouldn't want to write in style with this poinsettia pen?

She filled the bottom with assorted candy. Then tucked in the note pad and pen. It was topped off with some shredded paper stuff and a jingle bell for good measure. You know it really doesn't take a lot of money to make something people will love. You just need to package it up cute!!

Jealous of my cool pen? Want to make some???

What you need:
Pens
Floral Tape
Hot Glue Gun

1. You are going to want to cut your flower so that it just has a little bit of a stem left on it (1 inch or so).

2. Hot glue it to the side of the pen and let it dry.

3. Take your floral tape and start wrapping it from the top of the pen. Go all of the way down the white part and go all of the way back up the pen.

There you go...you will soon be writing with the cutest pen ever!

Hot Chocolate Mix

I love this homemade hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

Thinking about writing this made me crazily want some. So, I made some to drink so I can get my fix. Unfortunately there are no marshmallows today. Samson, my cute but crazy lab, ate them all.

It all started a long time ago when I was out of his cookies and I made the mistake of giving him a marshmallow...

It was like dog crack...and here I thought that's what milk bones were. Just one bite of that fluffy deliciousness was all it took to get him addicted. If I hold a milk bone in one hand and a marshmallow in the other...he goes for the marshmallow ten times out of ten.

A while back I got about four bags of marshmallows for free after coupons. I put them with the stockpiled stuff in the basement (about 4 shelves up). A few days later we noticed Samson going down to the basement ALL.THE.TIME (which he never does).

I didn't think much of it until I went down to do some laundry a few days later. I walked over and low and behold a bag of marshmallows had made its way down from the fourth shelf...all the way to the floor!

The bag was opened very carefully. There were marshmallows missing. The bag was a sticky mess. AND...I had one happy dog on an extreme sugar high!

Funny, once I cleaned up his mess and made sure he couldn't get into the other bags he had no interest in going to the basement. The little stinker...I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to get your fix.

I digress.

This hot chocolate mix is wonderful, frugal, and it makes an awesome gift! It makes a big batch which is perfect for gift giving!

Ingredients:
10 cups dry milk powder
4 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
1 3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cup powdered non dairy creamer

1.In a large mixing bowl, combine milk powder, confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, and creamer. Stir till thoroughly combined. Store cocoa mixture in an airtight container. Makes about 15 cups mix, or enough for about 45 servings.

2.For 1 serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mixture in a coffee cup or mug, and add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir to dissolve. Top with dollop of whipped cream or a few marshmallows, if desired.

Estimated cost: $8.00-$9.00 (not bad for 45 servings)

Cookie Recipe Book

I love to bake Christmas cookies. I have a ton of my own recipes. So many that I can't make each type every year...we have to pick and choose our favorites! Many are family recipes, some are from friends, and some are from cookbooks...but I feel one can ever have enough Christmas cookie recipes!

This little recipe book would be a great gift accompanied with a tray of freshly baked cookies! It would be great for a family member, teacher, neighbor...really everyone loves cookie recipes!

I have one of these for all of my cake/icing recipes...and it is so great to have them all together. (Except for the time I misplaced the cookbook for six months, and I was forced to remember the recipes because the orders kept coming.)


To make this adorable mini recipe book you will need to buy a little plastic photo album. I bought mine at Wal-Mart for $1. Now, you could make this as fancy or as simple as you would like. I chose to just pull out some scrapbook paper and stickers that I already had on hand. I was kind of in a urry, but it still turned out cute.

First you want to decorate your cover. I cut my paper to fit in the pocket and took the ugly blue cover out. Once you have that done you will want to start filling it up with the good stuff...the recipes!

I bought some Christmas recipe cards and hand wrote my recipes out. I was only making one, so this was the easiest way for me to do it. I like that it is personal, but if you are going to make ten you will probably want to print the recipe out. You could even get all fancy pants on me and decorate each recipe page?!?!

Fill it up with your favorite recipes...it is a gift from your kitchen to theirs. If you need a little inspiration you can check out my favorite Christmas cookies recipes. A gift from the heart like this always means a lot to people...and it is all for a few dollars!

You could also go a different route than cookies. Here are a few ideas that I have...

Freezer Meal with a recipe book of your favorite freezer recipes

Soup in a jar mix with a recipe book of your favorite soup recipes

Your favorite dessert with a recipe book of your favorite dessert recipes

A Handmade Christmas

It is going to be "A Handmade Christmas" here at The Cutting Back Kitchen all next week!

Last year for Christmas I did The 12Days of Christmas "Cookie Style". As November approached I had a hard time deciding on what to do this year. Then it hit me...handmade gifts...some edible and some crafty. Who doesn't love a gift made with love?

I know that everyone is looking for ways to cut back on the budget without cutting back on the style of their gift giving! I have a unique gift idea for every day of the week! I hope that you will stop by each day and maybe you will get an idea for your gift giving this year!

(I will be in Arizona for the week, but I will be checking up on things periodically!)