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Are you ready for the Celebration of the Lakes festivities this weekend? If you've never attended this festivity, you're missing out on a lot of fun. There are activities for the young, middle aged and older people. Can you guess which category we're in? You're wrong! We're just kids at hear so we're in the "young" category! We enjoy watching the hot-air balloons drifting skyward, wishing we could be in one of them. We're hoping that the weather will co-operate so we can see them rising in the crystal cool air. There are 3 days of fun for everyone. So, boots, warm jackets, scarves and mittens on and you're good to go.

When you're all pooped out and are dragging yourself home, have some snacks to munch on while relaxing. It's also Super Bowl Sunday so with the snack recipes I've added a couple of dip recipes that you might like to try. All of them can be made ahead of time, so take your pick. They're all basically good for you, too.

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HAPPY TRAILS SNACK MIX

3 c. miniature pretzels or pretzel stix snapped in half

2 c. mixed nuts

1 c. Kix cereal

1 c. chopped dried apples

1 c. raisins

3/4 c. chopped dried pineapple

1 pkg. (1.69 oz.) milk chocolate M&M's

1 pkg. (2.17 oz.) Skittles - optional

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Store in air-tight container.

Makes 2 qts.

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CRACKER SNACK MIX

1 c. each, bite-size cheese fish crackers, bit-size shredded wheat biscuits, oyster crackers, Ritz bits

2 T. canola or salad oil

1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 t. garlic powder

Dash of hot sauce (tobacco sauce)

2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Combine all crackers in a large bowl. Combine next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; mix well with a wire whisk. Pour over cracker mix. Sprinkle cheese over mix; toss to coat. Spread in shallow baking pan (9x13 pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, stirring once. Cool completely. Store in air-tight container.

Makes 4 c. Double the recipe if you want lots.

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SUPER SNACK MIX

1/4 c. butter or margarine

1/3 c. creamy peanut butter

2 T. firmly packed brown sugar

3 c. wheat chex

2 c. rice chex

2 c. thin pretzels, broken in half

2 c. M&M's peanut chocolate candies.

Melt together butter, peanut butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring until melted. Combine cereals in large bowl; drizzle mixture over cereal, mixing well until coated. Spread in a 15 x 10 jelly roll pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool thoroughly. Add pretzels and candies; mix well.

Makes about 8 c.

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CREAMY CHICKEN DIP

1 c. mayonnaise

1 c. sour cream

1-8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped

2 T. each, dried minced onion and dried parsley flakes

1 T. soy sauce

1 t. garlic powder

2 c. shredded, cooked chicken breast

Assorted Crackers

In a large bowl, combine first 7 ingredients. Fold in chicken, mixing well. Serve with crackers.

Makes 3-1/2 c.

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MUSHROOM-ONION DIP

2-8 oz. pkgs. Cream cheese, softened

1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

3/4 c. milk

1/4 c. dried minced onion

2 t. Worchestershire sauce

1/2 t. garlic salt

Potato chips, sun chips, Doritos or assorted crackers

In a large bowl, beat first 3 ingredients until blended. Add next 3 ingredients; mix well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Serve with chips or crackers

TFD: Enjoy the weekend but be careful on the ice and stay out of way of snowmobilers and hot air balloons! Hoping the weather will co-operate. HAVE FUN!

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