Christmas Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate
December 24, 2012
We are continuing our Christmas recipe series today with some family time favorites.
Today’s recipes include Traditional Oatmeal Cookies, Crockpot Candy and Rice Krispie Treats — perfect recipes for the family to make together. And what would Christmas be without Hot Chocolate? Our quick and easy recipe can easily be increased to make enough for everyone, plus it’s easy to include some extra cocoa powder for a deeper, darker treat.
To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Crock Pot Candy
submitted by Brooke Mixon
- 16 oz Salted Peanuts
- 16 oz UnSalted Peanuts
- 4 oz German Chocolate Bark
- 1 pkg Almond Chocolate Bark
- 1 pkg Butterscotch Morsels
Put all ingredients into crock pot. Cook on low for 2 hours. Do not stir or open lid. After 2 hours, turn off crock pot, stir candy and drop in clusters onto wax paper. Let cool and enjoy. This recipe will make 70-90 pieces of candy, depending on the size.
Traditional Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3 cups of Quaker Oats (Quick)
- 1 cup raisins (optional)
Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Slowly stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on sheet, remove to wire rack.
Rice Krispie Treats
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture. Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper. Cut into squares when the mixture cools. Makes 24 squares.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.
Hot Chocolate
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. water
- 1 c. milk
- a bit of vanilla, if desired
Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.
Photos: Century’s Old Fashioned Christmas Light Display
December 23, 2012
Thousands of cars pass the Century Roadside park each evening, very few stopping to enjoy the old-fashioned Christmas lights.
The lights, which became Century’s after the City of Pensacola upgraded some number of years ago, include a large North Pole house, “The Jolly Trolley”, and Santa with his sleigh and reindeer.
Today, we take you inside the park at North Century Boulevard (Hwy 29) and Hecker Road for an up close and personal look at the lights.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: No. 1 North Pole Place, part of the Town of Century’s Christmas lights display. Pictured inset: A clown fires and “animated” cannon. Pictured below: The Jolly Trolley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
How Much Do Those Christmas Lights Cost On Your Power Bill?
December 23, 2012
Have you ever wondered just how much it costs to light up your house and tree for the holidays? Probably less than you think, according to Gulf Power. The utility says it costs about $1.40 to run a string of 200 miniature holiday lights for about five hours a day for 30 days.
To save money, the company recommends the purchase of LED Christmas lights — the cost to power 200 LED bulbs five hours a day is only about 19 cents for a month. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, each LED bulb uses only about one-tenth of the energy used by traditional mini-lights. And, LED lights last a long time and don’t produce heat, which helps eliminate fire hazards.
Last Minute Christmas Gift Bargains: Try An Area Thrift Store
December 23, 2012
If you are looking for bargains on your last minute Christmas shopping, one of the thrift stores operated by an area non-profit might just have what you need. From the We Care Economy Shops in Atmore and Flomaton, to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Century, to the Molino Thrift Store, the deals await Christmas shoppers looking to save.
We Care Economy Shops, Atmore and Flomaton
The We Care Economy Shops in Flomaton and Atmore offer a wide variety of merchandise, from clothing for the entire family to housewares and furniture in their thrift shop.
The store also sells a variety of toys, furniture seasonal items and clothing. All of the items are inspected before being sold, and some items are new.
Proceeds from the store fund the We Care Program, a prison ministry program founded in 1970. The We Care Program spreads their message in prisons, including Holman and Fountain in Atmore and the Century Correctional Institute.
The We Care Economy Shop in Flomaton is located on Highway 31 about a half mile from Highway 113 in a former hardware store building. The We Care Economy Shop in Atmore is located downtown at the intersection of Highway 31 and Main Street.
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Century
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store also offers a variety of merchandise at bargain prices.
The store offers a vast array of items including glassware, toasters, lamps, couches, desks and office equipment, books, movies, shoes and the complete range of clothing in their new location on North Century Boulevard next to the Dollar General.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization with a mission to help the poor and homeless. Their thrift stores are a way of raising money to accomplish that mission.
Molino Thrift Store
The Molino Thrift Store offers a full selection of merchandise at discount prices.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is a little different that many other thrift stores. Not only are the prices lower than some thrift stores, the business has a mission of reaching out to those in need and returning their profits directly to the community.
According to Manager Jason Lee, a Baptist pastor, the store returns 10 percent to churches in the community.
The Molino Outreach Ministry Thrift Store is located on Highway 29 at Molino Road, in the former Grocery Advantage building.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Christmas Recipes: Apples, Sweet Potatoes And A Quick Breakfast Brunch
December 23, 2012
Today’s Christmas recipes feature an Apple Caramel Pudding and a Sweet Tater Cheesecake. We also have a Farmer’s Omelet Casserole that’s easy to cook and would provide a hearty Christmas morning breakfast or brunch for everyone.
To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.
Farmer’s Omelet Casserole
by Terri Brown
- 3 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
- 1 cup chopped green pepper, divided
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 18 large eggs, beaten
- 2 1/3 cups chopped cooked ham
- 1 1/4 cups chopped tomato, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (coarse grind is best)
- 1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Cook potato, 3/4 cup green pepper and onion in oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring constantly, 8 min. or until tender. Cool potatoes if preparing the night before. Combine potato mixture, eggs, ham, 1 cup tomato, salt and black pepper in a large bowl; stir well. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered at 325 for 40 minutes or until golden. Top with remaining 1/4 cup green pepper and 1/4 cup tomato. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake 5 more minutes until cheese melts.
Apple Caramel Pudding
by Janet Smith
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
Combine first five ingredients; then add apples and milk. Blend thoroughly and pour into 8″ square pan.
Combine:
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup boiling water
Mix sugar, boiling water and butter and pour over the batter already in pan. Bake
at 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. Seeve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Very simple but rich dessert. Serves 4 to 6
Sweet Tater Cheesecake
- 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 cup whipping cream (cool whip will work if no cream handy)
- 1 1/2 cups sweet potatoes, mashed (NOT CANNED)
Graham Cracker-Pecan Crust
- 2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 425°.
Crust:
Combine crust ingredients thoroughly; press into a 10-inch springform pan.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth; beat in flour, cinnamon, and ginger. Beat cream and well-mashed sweet potatoes in on medium speed of a hand held mixer just until well-combined. Pour the batter into the prepared crust. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes; lower heat to 275° and bake 1 hour longer. Turn heat off and leave in the oven to cool for several hours, or cool on a wire rack. Serve with sweetened whipped cream or caramel sauce.
Spirit Of Giving: Tate, McArthur Students Help Ronald McDonald House
December 22, 2012
The kindergarten classes at MrArthur Elementary School collected wish list items for the Ronald McDonald House instead of exchanging Christmas gifts with each other.
And the Tate High School National Honor Society stopped by to volunteer during the week (pictured below).
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Santa Visits Century Branch Library
December 21, 2012
Santa Claus made a special stop by the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon. Children were able to join Santa and his helpers as they celebrated Christmas with a story, crafts, lots of fun and a little one-on-one time for the kids to tell Santa their wish lists.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Extension Offices Collect Half Ton Of Peanut Butter For Needy
December 20, 2012
County Extension Offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties collected nearly a half ton of peanut butter during a recent “Take a bite out of Hunger” food drive.
The Escambia County Extension Office collected 336 jars of peanut butter weighing in at 430 pounds, and the Santa Rosa County County Extension Office collected 378 jars weighing 490.6 pounds.
During the peanut butter food drive campaign, Extension Office is 15 Northwest Florida counties collected a total of 2,039 jars of peanut butter weighting 2,843 pounds. In addition, the the Florida Peanut Producers Association donated a 1,400 jar pallet of peanut butter.
The peanut butter will be donated to local food pantries.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Byrneville Christmas Play
December 19, 2012
Students in grades K5-2nd at Byrneville Elementary School presented their Christmas program “Granny McBee’s Christmas Eve” at Northview High School Tuesday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Submitted photos by Raja Atallah, click to enlarge.
Manna Hat Fetches Record $2,000
December 19, 2012
A new record was set during the seventh year of the Annual Manna Hat Auction by CatCountry 98.7. Last year the CatCountry 98.7 Manna Hat raised $1,676 but this year the Manna Hat auction collected $2,000. That will allow Manna to feed 66 local residents who need food.
John Cheney and his wife from Pensacola were the high bidders. He said, “as business owners, we felt like it was the right thing to do to help out with a very worthy
cause”.
Country artists like CMA Entertainer of the Year Blake Shelton and his wife, CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, helped out by autographing the special hat that was put up for auction on the eBay this week.
Eric Church (CMA Album of the Year), a three time signer, said, “I’m honored help and be asked again”. One hundred percent of proceeds from the auction will be presented to Manna Food Pantries before Christmas.
Manna Food Pantries has seen a 60-percent increase in usage in the last two years. “Manna gives people Hope,” said Brent Lane from Cat Country 98.7.
Manna is a private, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to alleviating hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties of northwest Florida. Manna is nonsectarian, community focused, volunteer supported and committed to the philosophy, “waste not, want not”. Manna believes that every person has a right to live free from hunger and that every person is to be treated with respect and dignity.
Manna Food Pantries began serving the hungry on January 3, 1983, then known as Manna Food Bank. Since then Manna has served over half a million people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, from Century to Navarre.
CatCountry 98.7 is a family-owned radio station with a history of putting community service first. What started off as a way to do something fun, and do good for our community has really taken off.
“The artists all signed it enthusiastically,” said morning host Lane. Artists who signed the hat included Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer, Craig Morgan, Lee Brice, The Eli Young Band and Eric Church.
“CatCountry 98 7’s mission is to help our community in every way that we can. All the artists who were involved in this should be applauded for their contributions as well,” said Dave Huxeng, station owner.
Pictured: Brent Lane, DeDe Flounlacker (executive Director of Manna), Kim and John Cheney from Pensacola , presenting Manna a check for $2,000. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.