We're Moving!

Salt and Pepper is getting a facelift!  We've changed our name, look, and address.   You can now find us at charlieandmorsel.wordpress.com.  There will still be the same great recipes and more!  See you over at our new space!

Ooodles of Puppy Chow!

I've never made puppy chow before, so I never realized how delicious peanut butter, chocolate, and cereal can be.  This recipe is so easy and yummy!  A perfect Labor Day weekend snack!

Puppy Chow:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup butter (I always use a little bit less butter than called for, but 1/4 cup was the closest measurement)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 8 cups Crispix or corn squares
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter.  Microwave for 50 seconds or until melted.  Stir.  Add the vanilla and mix together thoroughly.

Measure out 8 cups of cereal in a large bowl.  Add the chocolate mixture and stir until cereal is evenly coated.

Place chocolate/peanut butter-covered cereal in a large plastic bag.  Add the confectioners sugar and shake the bag until all the pieces of cereal are coated with sugar.

Spread onto a wax paper-covered tray and cool for 7 minutes.  Enjoy!

Panera's Cinnamon Crunch Bagels

    

     I have been trying to get my hands on this recipe for the longest time, and, finally, I found it.  You know how the bagel has a specific taste to it, but you can't pin-point it.  Panera's secret ingredient in their cinnamon crunch bagels is... white chocolate!  Okay, these bagels require a bit of time and work, but they are totally worth it.  It took me about two and a half hours from starting the dough to taking them out of the oven.  But you will be so happy you made them!

Cinnamon Crunch Bagels (adapted from Copy Cat Recipe Guide)

Dough:

• 4 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 cup vanilla/white chocolate chips, melted
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt

Topping:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup cinnamon (this may change depending on how much you like cinnamon)

In a bowl, mix the the yeast and 1 1/4 cups of the flour

In a small bowl, mix the water, cinnamon, white chocolate, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and the salt. 

Combine the yeast and water mixtures and beat with a hand mixer for 2.5 minutes.  The dough will seem like cookie dough at this point, so keep adding flour until you can't mix with a hand mixer anymore.

Take the dough out of the bowl and add more flour until the dough is stiff.  Knead on a floured surface until you can shape the dough into a ball.  

Divide into 12 portions.  I rolled the dough sections into a snake or breadsticks, then made them into a circle by connecting the two ends.  Let sit for 15 minutes.

Start a pot of boiling water.  Reduce heat to medium, and add the bagels to the water, three at a time.  Let the bagels cook in water for about three minutes each.  *Heat oven to 415 degrees*.  Take the bagels out of the water and drain them.  Place bagels on a baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet with the bagels in the oven and cook for 5 minutes.  While baking, combine the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.  Melt the butter and add to the cinnamon sugar mix.  Take the bagels out of the oven and brush with butter/cinnamon sugar mix.  Thoroughly coat the bagels.

Bake the bagels for another 15 minutes, or until the topping is crunchy.  Let cool for about 4 minutes.  Enjoy!

yummy!

Yield: one dozen bagels

Fashion Forward for Fall

I think autumn is one of the most fun seasons to dress for.  You get to wear big sweaters, cable knit scarves - without the heat of summer or the freezing temperatures of winter.  I put together some color schemes and clothes I'd wear this fall.  And I got to use my new Adobe Creative Suite!  Eeeh!

I'm really loving this mustard color for some reason.  And it looks so great with turquoise and brown.