Looking for a quick, easy addition to your holiday cookie tray? Check out these salted caramel bites. The hardest part is removing wrappers! To make these you'll need: Caramels Meltable chocolate (such as milk chocolate chips) Sea salt tooth picks microwavable bowl plastic wrap plate or platter 1) Start by unwrapping all of the caramels then set them aside. This takes the longest time and is the hardest part of the entire recipe. 2) Melt the chocolate in the microwave making sure not to burn it. For best results, microwave for short intervals and stir in between. We used fancier, more expensive, brand name chocolate chips to make our salted caramel bites taste better. 3) Lightly push a toothpick into a caramel and use it to dip the caramel into the melted chocolate. Cover the caramel completely. Hint: Do not push the toothpick too deeply into the caramel or you won't be able to get it out. 4) Use another toothpick to help remove the first … [Read more...]
9 Easy, Last-Minute Christmas Cookies
The count down to Christmas continues. Have you made Christmas cookies with your children yet? If not, don't stress, we've got 9 super easy Christmas cookie recipes that are sure to please and make it look like you've been baking for weeks! 1) Candy Cane Meringues--Don't these look delicious?! I can't believe they are super easy to make too! 2) Coconut Macaroons--Yumm for those of us who love coconut. 3) Oreo Truffles--One of Hubby's new found favorite cookies! 4) Santa Nutter Butters--How cute are these? Sure to make it look like you spent a ton of time too. 5) Vanilla Almond Snowballs--Vanilla and almond together? A great combo. 6) Boiled Cookies--A Christmas family tradition growing up. 7) Cookie Sandwhiches--Another cookie that will make it look like you've been baking for weeks. 8) … [Read more...]
Easy Oreo Truffles
Are you looking for some easy, last minute Christmas cookies to make with your kids? These Oreo Truffles are perfect! Not only are they simple with just three ingredients, they are also super fun to make! Those three ingredients you'll need? One package of Oreo cookies, one 8 oz brick of cream cheese, and 2-3 bricks of white baker's chocolate. Red or peppermint sprinkles are optional. 1) Start by crushing the whole package of cookies into crumbs. You can hand crush them, but using a food processor or blender works best. 2) Next soften the cream cheese and blend it well with the Oreos. 3) Take a spoon full at a time of the Oreo-cream cheese mixture and roll them into balls. Set aside on a cookie sheet until you have rolled all of the mixture into balls. Put the balls in the refrigerator until hard (about 1/2 hr). 4) Using a double boiler, melt the white chocolate. If you don't have a double boiler (we … [Read more...]
Minty Chocolate Love
One of my favorite "seasonal" beverages is a Ho Ho Mocha. Kind of a silly name but a fabulous drink for the chilly air! This beverage contains two of my favorite flavors: mint and chocolate. I have finished decorating for Christmas (yup...I'm that person) and I was thinking up some new ways to enjoy the tastes of the season.What you will need:mini candy caneswax paperdark chocolate chips (you can use milk or white too)festive sprinklesLay out your unwrapped candy canes on the wax paper in a heart shape, making sure to leave space between each heart.Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave safe container in 30 second intervals...stir between each 30 seconds. Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic bag and snip off a TINY piece of the corner to allow the chocolate to be squeezed through (like a piping bag).Fill each heart with chocolate and add sprinkles. Let the candy hearts set (this should take about an hour) without being disturbed until the chocolate hardens again.Remove from the … [Read more...]
Ice Box Pudding
Don't let the title fool you...this is NOT pudding! It's a desert made by layering Lady Fingers with rich chocolate filling and served with whipped cream. Ice Box Pudding has been a family tradition since well before I was born. It's been handed down from my Great-Great-Grandma, to my Great-Grandma, to my Grandma, to my dad mom, and now to me. Traditionally the desert served for the men's birthdays (instead of cake), in my immediate family, it is the desert served on Christmas Eve. You see, my dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. My Grandma was adamant that on Christmas Eve they celebrated my dad's birthday and not Christmas. Thus Ice Box Pudding is served on Christmas Eve. Somewhere my mom has the recipe written in my Great-Grandma's handwriting but unfortunately, she couldn't find it in time for this post. Above is the recipe that was handed down to me. Written in my mom's handwriting, laminated, and ringed into a small book full of other family recipes. For such … [Read more...]
Santa Trail Mix
Pintrest- you've probably hear of it, and if not you probably live here... it's a rock...in case you can't tell If you're not on Pintrest and would like to be then shoot me an email and I will be happy to send you an invite (it's exclusive like that). I saw a great idea for a Christmas trail mix on that site and I though to myself "self, that is some tasty looking mix! You should make some and add your own jazz and spice to it." My kids were happy that I had that conversation with myself because it sure is yummy! Here's what you will need: 2 cups of red and green M&Ms 1 cup of dry roasted peanuts 1/2 cup of Craisins or other dried fruit 2 cups of Chex cereal (I used the rice version) Pretzels (holiday shaped ones are best) Bugles mini marshmallows coarse sugar 1 package of red melting discs (candy aisle) 1 package of green melting discs (same aisle) 1 package of white chocolate chips (or almond bark) Shortening Assembling the Santa … [Read more...]
