Christmas Goodies Part II

So I wanted to try a few new recipes (you know, to help me decide whether or not to add them to our already too long list) this year. Jury's still out.

These are basically semi-sweet chocolate, caramel, and pecans. But the caramel is too hard and they didn't cut up well. However, they do taste pretty darn good :-)

Sweet peanut brittle. I have never been a peanut brittle fan, but My Man likes it. I think they're a keeper.

These are thin mints. That's a ritz cracker in there dipped in peppermint flavored chocolate. These are a little too easy to just pop in my mouth as I walk by, and I'm not even that big of a peppermint fan.

Christmas Goodies

Okay, so every year my sisters, mom and I schedule one day to make Christmas goodies. And yes, I mean one DAY. It cannot be helped. We must play loud music and drive my mother crazy and we must sample everything we make. Multiple times.

One year I should actually figure out the percentage of goodies we actually give away and the percentage that we store. On our persons. Nevermind, that's a terrible idea.

Anyway, the list of goodies always, always includes...

fudge (we just use the recipe on the back of the fluff jar),

hopscotch crunchies (these don't look like much but they are unbelievably awesome and this is the recipe I always get asked for),

and holiday popcorn (1 cup worth of popcorn kernels, 1 package almond bark and 1 1/2 cups m&ms).

It usually includes

pretzel rods dipped in almond bark,

holly

and peanut butter balls,

and this year we added oreo bon bons. My dairy air is not thanking me.

Oh well. We had a blast. We always do.

Oreo Bon Bons (Thanks, Katie!)
I package of oreo cookies - not double stuffed
1 package of soften cream cheese - I usually let it sit out for 20 min and then use it
1 package of vanilla almond bark.

Place the whole package of oreos into the food processor and grind down until it becomes like a fine dust - no big clumps. Place softened cream cheese in the food processor and blend until everything is mixed.

Roll into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Freeze oreo balls for an hour.

Remove oreo balls from the freezer and dip in the melted almond bark and place on wax paper. Then decorate the bon bons if you want. I always store bon bons in the freezer or refrigerator because they have cream cheese in them. Also, I use a toothpick to dip them.

Holly
10 oz. bag of marshmallows
1 stick butter
1 1/2 T green food coloring
4 1/2 cups frosted corn flakes
red hot candies

Melt marshmallows and butter. Mix together melted mixture, cereal and food coloring and spoon onto a sheet of waxed paper. Place 2 or 3 red hots on each 'drop'. Let cool.

Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter
3 cups rice crispies
1 package chocolate chips
1/2 block paraffin wax

Melt butter. Mix together sugar, peanut butter, butter, and cereal. Roll into one inch balls.Melt together chocolate and wax. Dip balls into chocolate mixture to cover completely. Remove and let cool on wax paper.

santa claus cake for the kiddos

My icing job should have been so much better on this, but I was trying to keep from having to make another batch :-) I don't think the kids will be too picky...

My Mail Man

This was my mail man today. She was dying to get suited up and go out in the snow. So I let her mail my Christmas cards. BAD IDEA. The mailbox was frozen shut. So here I go in my housecoat and slippers... I hate snow in my slippers. I'm sure our neighbors are loving us.

Sugar Cookies Revisited

Okay, new pics. Fun, festive Christmas Sugar Cookies.

SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp butter at room temp

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

In a bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light. Add the eggs, vanilla and almond and beat until smooth. In another bowl, stir flour and baking powder. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until smooth. Scrape dough onto a sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap and flatten into disc. Wrap and chill about 1 hour or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375. Use non-stick baking sheets, or light grease baking sheets.

Divide dough into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one-fourth of dough about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using cutters. Place on baking sheets, spacing about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle with sugar crystals, if desired, or leave plain to ice after baking.One sheet at a time, bake cookies for 6-8 minutes, or until light brown on the edges (I use my Pampered Chef stoneware so it takes a little longer at first). Transfer to racks to cool.

Store plain cookies in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

PETIT FOUR CAKE FROSTING:

3 cups powdered sugar

1/2 of 1/3 of a cup white corn syrup

1 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted

1/4 cup or less water

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp rum, lemon, or almond (optional-I use almond)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a spoon except water. Slowly add water until frosting is desired consistency. Store covered in the fridge up to two weeks.

very busy weekend

crazy busy wonderful weekend. We went to Lily's 3rd Birthday Party. And, as My Man said, her parents set an all all time high precedent for birthday parties :-) Let me just say it was basically a soccer party with an activity leader at an indoor court that involved turf! The kids (and the dads) had a blast! And Lola showed an aptitude for soccer!

And here's my little sheep. Who sang out and did her motions and smiled. Cutest thing ever. Ever. Did I say ever?

I mean, look at this face!!!!???!

So happy. What a great night.

Let me just tell you,

I have seen the preview for my little girl's Christmas Program tonight. And it's going to be so stinking cute! Can't wait to share pictures from tonight!

funny

So, I neglected to share some of the more humorous shots. My sillies...

Help!

Okay, please vote for a Christmas card (or make a suggestion) so I can finish these, print them, and mail them! Which one's your favorite? I'm naming them so it's easier to vote....

Black Classic

Vintage One
Vintage Two

Flowers

Peace

Weekend

It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I can't even remember exactly what we did... But, I can recount the weekend.

Friday I went shopping, like I always do, with my sisters and my mom. We had lunch at On the Border (AWESOME) and saw New Moon (AWESOME). What a great girls day out. And then that moment when you get home and everyone's so happy to see you (including My Man :-), who watched the kids from 8 to 5 and got absolutely no work done (gasp), so I could shop :-)

Saturday was all day long Christmas decorating that was not completed at the end of the day and the house was trashed. I'm chalking it up to being in a new house. I have to refigure where everything should go!

Sunday was church and then a Thanksgiving leftovers meal with my extended fam. We should have gotten home so much sooner b/c my house was still a mess and the decorating still wasn't done and now there's breakfast mess on top of it... anyway, Sunday night (what? Sabbath?) finished the mantel, put all the boxes away, My Man cleaned up the kitchen and we crashed.

Monday was all day long deep cleaning. I'm still recovering. So, today is cyber catch up day. I'm going to try to catch up here and there, email and stuff, but also... I'm going to try to take the kids' Christmas pictures. I know, I'm certifiably insane. I'll let you know how that goes.

Then maybe I can make 3 dozen oatmeal cookies and a couple dozen sugar cookies?! HA!