Andy the double fisted mouser!

Love that smile!

The fondant dough is really fun to play with and so yummy!! 😛 It was suprisingly easy to do!


HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES
4 large jars maraschino cherries WITH STEMS
2 lbs. sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. almond extract
additional powdered sugar
FOR THE COVER MIXTURE:
1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 block food-grade paraffin, shredded (like cheese) AKA Gulf Wax
Drain maraschino cherries well on paper towels.
Cream together sifted powdered sugar, margarine, almond extract and almost all of the condensed milk. You may or may not need the last tablespoon of condensed milk, depending on the weather and humidity, etc.
Mold this mixture in small amounts around the dried cherries to create a layer which entirely envelopes the cherry. Dip hands in powdered sugar to make easier when molding mixture around cherries. Place balls on a cookie sheet and freeze for at least 45 minutes.
Make the cover mixture of: chocolate chips and shredded paraffin. Microwave 5 minutes on high, stirring every half minute to keep chocolate from burning. This can be reheated in microwave if gets too thick.
Hold the cherries by their stems and dip them completely in the chocolate. Place on another cookie sheet on wax paper. Let sit overnight.
The caramel pecan pretzel candies were extremely easy!

Friday- Make chocolate covered cherries & pecan caramel pretzels (my creative things this year) as gifts. Find 2 last gifts I need.
Saturday- bake 10 dozen cookies (in a TOASTER OVEN Wheee!) Ghiradelli shortbread with chocolate centers and either sugar or oatmeal. Ends the coworkers gifts.
Sunday- A friend’s GIANT Christmas party bash. He lives 2 hours away so it’ll take all afternoon and evening.
Monday- Make gingerbread house walls (in same toaster oven) for homeschooling group’s party. It’s BYO walls. LOL. And 1 kind of candy. And a gift. And an appetizer… oh yeah, MAKE the appetizer.
Tuesday- HSing Christmas party. 3 hours in the afternoon. Laundry!
Wednesday- New stove gets delivered. The irony… but huzzah! It’s been 6 months since I’ve had an oven!! More laundry!
Thursday- sleep in haha. Maybe start packing. Definitely make something in new oven. Any votes?? Finish wrapping presents. Coordinate which ones go where and when.
Friday- Make my Aunt’s gifts. She collects snowmen so I bought her 2 snowman shaped muffin tins. I am going to make her 2 dry mixes- 1 of my famous sweet cornbread and then a cranberry pecan one.
Saturday- DH’s work’s snazzy jazzy Chriostmas party. Complete with baby-sitter. :jump for joy: Also, take down the Christmas lights (we don’t want Mickey and Minnie stolen while we’re gone for a week) and pack for trip. Give gift to neighbor and ask him to get our mail for next week.
Sunday- Spend morning with grandparents and a few other family members and do a small group gift exchange. Travel ALL the rest of the day and maybe into the next morning. That’s if everything and body fits in the car. 😛

This year’s Christmas lawn decorations! 😀

Bren’s Snowman 🙂
To make your own snowman from Family Fun, go here.

A girl on one of my boards designed this background.