Holiday baking – my way :)

Blogland is alive with pictures of cookies, cakes, and butter tarts as people prepare their confectionary delights in preparation for the coming holidays.  I’ve never really had a sweet tooth, so I haven’t been tempted to try any of these recipes.  I’m a salty crunchy lady!  So, since I had today off, I decided to fix my holiday treat.

I don’t fix it often because it takes three pounds of pretzels, and even I have trouble consuming that many pretzels by myself before they are no longer fresh.  :)  I’m planning to share these cheesy pretzels with the other volunteers here.   The recipe also takes three days to make, so they should be ready just in time for our Christmas Day dinner. 

I think it’s more interesting to have differently shaped pretzels, so this year I included a bag of Texas shape pretzels.  You just empty the pretzels by hand (so you don’t get all that extra salt from just dumping the bag) into a huge bowl.  Then sprinkle on a 2.7 oz. bottle of popcorn seasoning.  I chose parmesan garlic for this batch.  Next, pour on the bottle of buttery flavored popcorn oil and carefully mix.

You need to then mix/rotate the batch 3-4 times/day for three days until the pretzels absorb the oil and seasoning and dry out.  That’s it!  I keep the bowl in the microwave in between mixings.  You won’t believe how tasty these pretzels are when they’re done!  It’s also a great snack for a Super Bowl Party if you are into those sporty type things.  :)   I guess it’s really not baking, but if you are a salty crunchy type person try this for your holiday snacking.

 

I got an email today from JOHN AND BRENDA. 

They sent me a picture of themselves, their rig, and Meg, their border collie, as they were pulling out from their visit with me on Sunday morning.  Seems to me that John fits in just fine down here in the southwest sporting that cowboy hat and belt buckle!  :)  I’m thinking that I may just meet up with these good folks again next winter in the Arizona desert…  Hmmm, could some desert boon docking be in my future??

 

Tomorrow, I’m off to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count.  Amazing to me that something still has the title with Christmas in it.  I’m surprised that it hasn’t been changed to the winter bird count or something like that.  This is an annual count that occurs throughout North America (and Mexico, I think).  I don’t know how long it’s been run for sure, but I know it’s over 50 years.  Groups of people count all the birds they can find in 24 hours in a designated circle that is 15 miles in diameter.  I used to participate in this count back in the 80’s when I lived in upstate New York.  It’s a real bird-a-thon, and generally a good time is had by all.  Last year Tammy, a ranger on the refuge, and I participated together.  We’ll be doing the same again early tomorrow morning.  Guess I’d better get busy and pack a lunch…

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy