Creamy Hash Brown Casserole

1/4 cup butter, plus more for dish
1 onion, chopped
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can cream of celery soup
1 (8-ounce) package shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (30-ounce) package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups crushed potato chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a casserole dish.

In a small skillet, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft. Pour mixture into a large bowl. Add the sour cream, cream of celery soup, cheese, garlic powder, hash browns, and salt and pepper. Combine until well blended.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top evenly with crushed potato chips and bake for 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Carmel Pretzel Snacks

15 ounces mini twist pretzels
2 cups mixed nuts
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 pinch salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). In a 9x13-inch baking dish, combine the pretzels and nuts. Set aside.

In a large saucepan combine the butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Stir together over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and cook until very thick and at the 'firm ball' stage (260 degrees F, 125 degrees C). Remove from heat, pour over pretzel/nut mixture and mix all together. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread out on wax paper to cool.

Nuts and Bolts

2 pounds salted nuts and cashews
1 box Wheat Chex
1 box Rice or Corn Chex
1 box Cheerios
1 bag pretzel sticks
2 cups vegetable oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Heat oven to 250 degrees F.

Mix nuts, cereals and pretzels and divide between 2 large foil roasting pans. Mix oil, sauce and salts together. Pour 1/2 in each pan over the nuts, cereals and pretzels. Bake for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool on paper towels. When cooled, store in airtight containers.

Super Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

16 oz can vanilla frosting
18 oz jar creamy peanut butter

Empty jar of peanut butter into mixing bowl. Remove lid and foil from frosting. Heat frosting in microwave for 60 seconds or until completely melted. Pour melted frosting over peanut butter. Mix well. Pour into 13x9x2 pan. Allow fudge to set and cut into small squares.

Variation:

Make the above recipe as stated. Then make another batch using chocolate frosting and pour over the first batch.