Chocolate Covered Strawberries

This recipe only takes about 15 minutes to make, and is great for the holidays or as a contribution to potlucks. They are also relatively cheap, compared to how expensive they are usually sold for in stores. You can also get creative and dip marshmallows, bananas, rice krispies, or other treats.

Ingredients:
Nestle Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Sprinkles
Strawberries

1: Wash all of your strawberries and lay them out to dry, or pat them dry with a paper towel.
2: Pour sprinkles into a shallow bowl.

3: Put some chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave it for about 40 seconds or until the chips look slightly melted. You can also use white chocolate or dark chocolate chips.

4: Using a chopstick, stir the chocolate chips together until they are completely melted.

5: Line a plate with parchment paper or aluminum foil to keep the strawberries from sticking to the plate.

6: Dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate, then into the sprinkles (optional). 

7: Place the strawberries on your covered plate, then place the plate in the fridge until the chocolate has hardened (about 30 minutes).

Microwave Popcorn

Most people call popcorn the healthiest snack because it is full of fiber and low in calories. This is an easy way to make your own healthy popcorn in less than 5 minutes without the unhealthy ingredients of store-bought packets.

1: Pour 1/4 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag. You can get popcorn kernels at Sprouts for about $1 per pound.

2: Fold the top of the bag over several times and put the bag in the microwave. Microwave for about 3 minutes or until the popping slows to every 2 or 3 seconds.
3: Take the bag out of the microwave. You can eat them plain, which is the healthiest way, or make some melted butter by melting it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour the butter into the bag and shake. You can also add salt or other spices such as Parmesan cheese, sea salt, or garlic powder.

M&Ms Rice Krispies Recipe

Today I made home-made rice krispies treats for my friend's birthday. It only took 10 minutes to make and has 12 servings! Best served on the same day.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup mini M&Ms (you can also substitute in different candies)
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
10 oz. of regular sized marshmallows (about 40) or 4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

1: Grease the bottom of a pan and evenly spread the candy.

2: In a large saucepan or pot melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until it is completely melted. Remove from heat.
3: Add the cereal and stir until it is coated with the marshmallow and butter.

4: Spread the mixture over the M&Ms in the pan. Let it cool, then cut out squares and serve with the candy side up.

If you want to go the microwave way..
1: Same as above.
2: Heat butter and marshmallow on high for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes.
3: Same as above.
4: Same as above.



Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 2 2 inch squares, calories: 180, calories from fat: 45, total fat: 5g., saturated fat: 2g., trans fat: 0g., cholesterol: 0g., sodium: 115mg., total carbohydrate: 33g., dietary fiber: 0g., sugars: 19g., protein: 2g.