By Teri Cayton
The Parsons Advocate
We are getting very close to the holidays and I am going to give you a good recipe this week for homemade gifts for your family, for pets and gifts to give to others. I love to give pets special gifts because I don’t want them to be left out of the festivities. Momma Said, “Love them all, big and small!”
It is the season to reach out to friends and family that seem to slip through the cracks during the year. Sometimes I feel so lost and just want a warm hug from mom. I envy those who still have a whole family unit (which seems few and far between these days). I never felt much love from my dad and I guess mom just filled that void.
I miss the family meals and the smells from the kitchen. She had recipes that I have tried to imitate but it just doesn’t work. Maybe I am imagining how things tasted back when I was a child. I know everything changes with time but I would love to have a time machine and go back and relive some things in the past. Momma Said, “Some things are better left in the past where they belong.”
Air Fried Puppy Poppers
“Great gifts for your friends and family’s fur babies”
INGREDIENTS
- ½ CUP unsweetened applesauce
- 1 CUP peanut butter
- 2 CUP oats
- 1 CUP flour
- 1 TEASPOON baking powder
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine the applesauce and peanut butter in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Add the oats, flour and baking powder, and mix together until a soft dough forms. Roll the dough into balls about ½ teaspoon in size.
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 350ºF.
- Spray or brush the bottom of the air fryer basket with oil. Place 8 to12 balls into the air fryer basket. Air-fry for 8 minutes, turning the balls over halfway through the cooking time. Repeat with the remaining poppers.
- Allow the cooked poppers to cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Sweet and Salty Snack Mix
INGREDIENTS
- ½ CUP honey
- 3 TABLESPOONS butter melted
- 1 TEASPOON salt
- 2 CUPS sesame sticks
- 1 CUP pepitas pumpkin seeds
- 2 CUPS granola
- 1 CUP cashews
- 2 CUPS crispy corn puff cereal Kix or Corn Pops
- 2 CUP mini pretzel crisps
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine the honey, butter, and salt. Stir until combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the sesame sticks, pepitas, granola, cashews, corn puff cereal, and pretzel crisps. Pour the honey mixture over the top and toss to combine.
- Preheat air fryer to 370ºF.
- Air fry the snack mix in two batches. Place half the mixture in the air fryer basket and air-fry for 10 to12 minutes, or until the snack mix is lightly toasted. Toss the basket several times throughout the process so that it cooks evenly and doesn’t get too dark on top.
- Transfer the snack mix to a cookie sheet and let it cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to one week, or package in gift bags with tags and ribbons for holiday gift giving.