WMSC #69 - October 15, 2011 - Vampire Bites

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone is off to a good start.  Today I am posting a tag I made for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  I really love the fall and the cooler temperatures it brings.  Summer time for me is mostly spent outdoors -  BBQ and food on the grill - I even plug a steamer outside to handle the veggies.  Colder weather of fall marks the beginning of baking for me.  It serves a dual purpose of helping heat the house - and filling it with all the fantastic smells of home cooking.   This is such a comfort in the midwest on a cold winter day!

Every fall I make several batches of this carmel corn snack mix for friends, family, bake sales and the like.  One year I sent 50 bags of it to San Diego, CA when my nephew was in Marine boot camp (gotta send enough for everybody!).  The recipe is at the end of this post.

I copied and pasted the design from the blog into word.  I enlarged it to about 5" and used it as a template.    I cut the hat out of paper I stamped with the gingham pattern from Gingham & Co.    I made the black organza ribbon accent by pulling the bottom wire from both ends of a 12" length and twisting it into a circle.   The rest was simply layering and embellishing.   I love how that oval classic frames looks like it was meant to wrap around that Vampire Bites sentiment.  I don't know how Claire does it! 

 I hope you like the tag and will give the snack mix a try - it's sweet /salty combination is  really addicting!

Popcorn Snack Mix:

Spray a large aluminum foil roasting pan with non stick spray. 

Combine:

3 quarts popped popcorn

4 cups Cheerios (oat cereal o's)

4 cups Corn or Rice Chex or Crispix Cereal

2 cups salted peanuts or your favorite nuts

In a large saucepan combine

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

bring to a rolling boil.  Boil for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat; quickly stir in  2 tsp pure vanilla extract  and 1/2 tsp baking soda until mixture is light and foamy.  Immediately drizzle over popcorn mixture; mix well.  Bake uncovered at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool completely. 

Makes approximately 5 1/5 quarts or 10 cellophane snack bags

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Midnight Feast, Oval Classic Frames, Gingham & Co.

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Ornate Artisan Tags & Accents, Classic Ovals, Fancy Tags Two

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Tangelo  Ranger/Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Black Soot