Why I love football

The Super Bowl has one meaning, and one meaning only for me.  The chance to eat delicious snacks for dinner.

There have been occasions when I have watched the game.  Mainly when the Patriots are playing.  And, maybe the Seattle Seahawks, but maybe not, because I don't remember that ever happening.

--update.  I googled it, and according to Wikapedia, their one and only Superbowl appearance was in 2006.  That is recent enough for even my old, tired memory, so apparently I didn't watch, even then.

I really didn't watch yesterday.  Not a single play, although the game was on the television in my home, and I picked a favorite.  The Packers.  Hooray!  My team won!

I picked them based on their uniform.  I think it is friendlier than the Steelers uniform.  Green is such a soothing color.  Unlike football, which is not soothing at all.

Anyway, the highlight of yesterday's snacking was Coconut Chex Mix. In all my days, I have never heard of such a thing.  Thank Heaven for facebook, and a facebook friend's plea for the recipe, or I might have lived out my life without tasting my new favorite treat.

Of course, I googled this as well, and picked the version that most closely matched the ingredients I had on hand.  Then I changed it a little.  That's how I cook, what can I say?

If you love coconut, and butter, you should definitely try this.  We have a little left over if you want to come by ...

Coconut Chex Mix Ingredients:

12 cups Chex cereal (I used half rice/half corn)
2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
1 cup toasted slivered, sliced, or chopped almonds
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups corn syrup
1teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Start by toasting the almonds.  I cooked them right in my largest le crueset (Dutch oven?) so I could mix the other ingredients in the same  pot.  I like to limit the number of dishes I use, because I don't like doing dishes.  I cooked them over medium high heat for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Remove from heat and stir in coconut and cereal. It will look like this . . .


Mmmm, smells good already.

But, it's going to smell better when we add this . . .


I like Kate's butter.  It's local (mostly, I consider Maine local).  It's made with cream from humanely treated cows.  And, that baby is darling!  That's some good marketing right there!

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan with the sugar and corn syrup.  Use all your sugar, like I did.  Just kidding, use all your sugar only if you have exactly 1 1/2 cups sugar, like I did.



Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes.  When it is ready, it will be golden brown, like this . . .



Remove from heat, and stir in the extracts.  It will splatter, so wear protective glasses.

Stir into cereal mixture . . .



Yummy!

It will make this much.  Which will feed me and a few other people.



Enjoy!  To think I could have been eating this for the last 46 years.  Tragic!