Rice Crispy Chivada

This recipe was given to me from Emily during a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Not your usual snack mixture; has a great Asian flair!

5 c Rice Crispies
1/2 c unsalted peanuts
1/2 c almonds/ cashews (or both)
1/4 c raisins
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp coriander powder
10-15 curry leaves (optional)
salt, to taste
2 tsp icing sugar
2 tbsp canola oil

Heat canola oil in a medium size pot, add nuts and curry leaves, roast well.
Remove from heat and add rice crispies and other remaining ingredients, mix well.
Store in air tight container, or divide into decorative jars for gift-giving.

Raspberry Layered Dessert

As requested from my MIL.

Crust*
2 c Graham crumbs
1/2 c margarine or butter, melted
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cake:
1 pkg(brick) light cream cheese, softened
1/4 c icing sugar
3 c light whipped topping, thawed
1 c boiling water
2 pkg Raspberry flavour no-sugar gelatin
3 c frozen raspberries

Crust: mix crumbs, margarine and cinnamon. reserve 2 tbsp for topping. press remaining into a 13x9 inch pan. *Next time I may try a premade crust to save time, or a chocolate crust!

Cake: beat cream cheese and icing sugar until blended. Stir in 1 cup whipped topping and spread over crust, refrigerate. Add boiling water to jelly mixes, stir until dissolved (about 2 mins.) add berries, and stir until slightly thickened. pour over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate 30 mins, or until set but not firm. Cover with remaining whipped topping and then reserved crumb mixture. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

Transportation: do not make the mistake I did...put on a cover with 2 ice packs on top. When the lid gets taken off, the whipped topping peels right off and stays on the lid!

Tuna Melts

I've never made tuna melts before, and I loved these!

1 can of tuna, drained
1/2c or more of Gaucamole, or Victorian Epicure Gaucamole, prepared
1 apple or 2 ribs of celery, diced
4 pitas*
3/4 grated cheese

combine first 3 ingredients, and spread over pitas, top with cheese. Heat in oven at 350 for 10-15mins. Enjoy! Recipe easily doubles for a larger family. Serve with tossed salad.

*I used the new D'Italiano Foccacia buns (opened), which were tasty, and the tuna mixture fills the holes in them.