Family. Food. Fun. & More Food!

My sister joined me this weekend since I was a Big 12 Football widow.  We started out our weekend confirming our status as “crazy”.  That process began with our traditional dinner at Tallionos – pizza buffet – with 4 kids. (would have been 5 if Dallen had been with us!) Nope not feeling totally crazy yet.  I know! Let’s go to Wal-mart!  With our carts loaded with everything sugary AND the understanding why those kiddie leashes were invented we headed home.  It was around 8 or 9 when we started all our creations.  On the agenda: Peppermint & Cinnamon Bark, Oreo Balls, dipped pretzels, puppy chow and fudge.

Our first 2:

-Peppermint or Cinnamon Bark-

.: one package almond bark

.: approx.3/4 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint disks (or cinnamon candies if making cinnamon bark)

(reserve any larger pieces of candy for sprinkling on top)

Melt almond bark in microwave safe bowl according to package directions.  Stir in finely crushed candy pieces.  Pour onto wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Spread mixture evenly out onto the waxed paper.  If making peppermint bark and want to sprinkle the coarser pieces of candy on top it creates a nice look. 

Now on to the…

-To Die for Treats That If Left In Your Home Will Call Your Name Until You Consume Them All OR A.K.A Oreo Balls

.: one package oreos

.: one block cream cheese, softened

.: one package almond bark

.: 1 cup chocolate chips, melted

Crush entire package of oreos using food processer, mixer or all your holiday frustrations with meat tenderizer & ziplock bag.  Once crushed add cream cheese & mix together until all incorporated.  Roll dough into balls & place on wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Chill in fridge or freeze until set.

Melt almond bark.  Dip balls into almond bark to coat & place back on waxed paper.  Place balls back in fridge or freezer to set.  About the time you think you need to eat them ALL because you dipping job looks super sloppy…melt chocolate chips. Stir in 1 T shortening & then pour chocolate into a small sandwich baggie.  Snip a tiny point off one corner of the baggie squeeze drizzling chocolate over dipped oreo balls.  Super yummy & very fancy!

We also made fudge. A first for me.  While at Wal-mart we gathered the ingredients to make the recipe of fudge on the back of the marshmallow fluff jar.  HOWEVER, as we were leaving I found a fudge kit…

I’m here to tell you THIS is the way to go! It has ALL the same ingredients as the fluff jar recipe premeasured and comes with a cute little “paper” pan you pour it in (wrap with cellophane and bam! a gift!).  This kit cost $5. We bought 2 for a total of $10 (impressed with my math skilz aren’t ya!).  The baking chocolate and chocolate chips following the jar recipe were almost that much and that didn’t include the 2 sticks butter, 6 cups sugar, 2 jars of fluff, etc, etc!  I’m telling you! This kit and 2 T butter are the bomb! Fudgetastic!

It was about 2 am when we called it quits on our candy making for the night morning.  Of course Isaac woke up as soooon as my little head hit the pillow, so it was closer to 3 when I got to bed. That might sound terriable, but NOTHING is terrible when THIS is what’s for breakfast…

Us sisters love us some bubble bread.  Neither one of our husbands appreciate the glorious wonder of bubble bread.  They’re more meat 'n’ tater kinda guys.  Needless to say this didn’t last long…you know…it was the kids…they love it to…well kind of…they had some and yeah we ate a bunch in little helpings as not to appear that we were eating it all. And we would NEVER just start eating it off the platter, because ,you know, it doesn’t reheat well and there ARE starving children in Africa and it’s senseless to waste food in that event!

After breakfast the sitter was summoned and sis and I headed with Isaac to the craft shows here in town.  Our craft show attendance goes something like this…oh, bows our girls are getting a bit old, yum that ______ tastes good.  I think I want a bit of that.  Oh, that is cute- I could sooo make that.  Hmm…there’s the lady with the cookies…it’s tradition to get one…this year should be no different.  Wow.  Like that cross.  Not for $100.  We could make that too.  Oh, yeah! Here’s the woman that makes popcorn drizzled with all sorts of sugary, sweet, sinful toppings.  It’s only once a year we see her.  Better get a little.  And on it goes that we leave 2 craft shows with only food. (Well  I did buy a set of burp rags for Isaac that are sooo cute and I bought so I can make some like them!)  We headed off to JoAnn’s to purchase fabric to make crayon bags for my sister to give her kids for Christmas.  We only found one at the craft show for my niece, but nothing for my nephew.  I’ve got 2 weeks to whip those up.

I returned the sitter and it was time or my sister to head back home.  My older 2 were naughty so in true Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe fashion I scolded them soundly and sent them to bed.  All kids in bed by 8…wish I could say I was more productive, but the 3 am night before took it’s toll (and still is!)

Great weekend.  Glad for hubby to return.  Now on to the next weekend.  Bake day with my friend Karra who does things BAKERY style!!