Starting Summer Early

It got up to 96 degrees yesterday. In the evening. It was 88 at lunch time, then it got hotter and hotter.

It was one of those evenings where the kids spend all afternoon and evening in their swim suits playing in the kiddie pool and sprinklers.

This is my favorite kind of weather. When I was a stay at home mom, backyard-pooling could become an all day event. Isabel would get to eat a popsicle and splash around for hours. I’d strip Truman down to his diaper, lay a cool pillowcase on his bouncy seat and put him in the shade for a nap. I’d grab a magazine, stick my feet in that ice cold water and drink a coke. Insanely fun for all. Why is the water in a splasher pool is always icy— even on a 90+ day?

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It’s been a while since I’ve shared a good recipe.

This is one from my friend Maria. She makes this sweet Chex mix (sometimes with chocolate drizzled over). Yikes it’s delicious— her recipe is called School Fuel. Yum.

I mixed it up a little bit. Here’s my version--- which we made three batches of this weekend. One with popcorn, one without, one with almonds.

Sweet Party Mix
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup raw honey (the original recipe calls for corn syrup, I’ve even used maple syrup all work)
Shake of salt

4 cups whole wheat Chex cereal (you can use any Chex or Crispix)
2 cups popped popcorn (with the ‘old maids’ removed)
1/2 cup almonds (or peanuts)

Pop popcorn according to directions or use these. Put aside.

Mix butter, sugar and honey in the biggest bowl that will fit in your microwave. Microwave for 3 minutes. Or until bubbly. Dump chex, popcorn and almonds in the bowl and fold into the syrup until coated.

Microwave for 1 minute, stir to coat more of the syrup. Repeat two more times. Layout on sprayed cookie sheet or on wax paper. Salt lightly. Let cool 10 minutes. Break apart large chunks. Makes enough to bring to a party.

This is wonderful on days you don’t want to use the stove. And it can be eaten in a lawn chair with feet in a ice-cold pool!