Candy for Christmas

Sunday I made a couple batch of candy for the Christmas Season.  The first is called "Rudolph Noses".  I found this candy on "Pinterest".  The recipe is just Pretzel Circles, Hersey Kisses and Christmas M & M's.

They are so easy.  Next picture is a close up.  

They look just like Reindeer noses.  I put parchment paper on the cookie sheet and then the pretzels.  Unwrap a Hersey's Kiss and place in the center.  Put in oven at 250 degrees for approximately 2 - 3 minutes.  

Bring out of the oven and press a M & M into the center.  So easy.  Let cool and they are ready to eat. Yummy!

This is the Biscotti in the oven.  There is a batch of Cherry chip and Chocolate Chip and also a batch of Walnut and Date.  I decided to use up condiments from the pantry.  Now to slice them and back in the oven they go to dry out.

Here is the finished product.  They are so good with a hot cup of coffee!

These peanut clusters are so easy to make.  The recipe follows:

Crockpot Chocolate Candy

2 lbs. (36 oz.) salted dry-roasted peanuts

4 oz. (4 squares) German's sweet chocolate

12 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips

2 1/2 lbs. white almond bark

Put peanuts in the bottom of a 4qt. slow cooker.  Layer the chocolate over the peanuts, beginning with the sweet chocolate, followed by the chocolate chips, and then the almond bark. Set the temp on the low setting and cook for 3 hours.  Do not stir mixture. After 3 hours, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth.  Drop the candy into the small cupcake liners, using about 1 tablespoon per liner.  All the candy to cool completely before removing the cupcake liners. Makes 85 to 90.  

I did not remove the liners.  Easier to serve with the liners on.  This is the easiest candy I have ever made and the clusters are so good.

Enjoy your baking!

Thanks for stopping by.

Sam & Pat's birthday party

Sam is now a teenager.  He is a forward on the A Basketball team for Dowell Junior High.  

We won't say how old Pat is but he looks great for his age.  

Since I did not get a picture of the birthday cake I will show you my center piece for my table.  

Michael and Theresa waiting for their piece of birthday cake and ice cream.  

Little Lily is sitting on Theresa's lap.  

Steve and Tre' the proud parents of the birthday boy, SAM!

Thanks for stopping by.  

Saturday night dinner at Steve & Tre's

A plate full ofSteve and Tre's kabobs ready for the grill!  

They contained shrimp, green pepper, red onion, mushrooms and sausage marinated in their secret sauce.

They were delicious.  

I made a fresh pumpkin pie for dessert. 

Ange, Sam and Sage.  

I missed getting a picture of Sam and Ange at Thanksgiving for everyone to see.  

Ange is loving her new job at St. Bernard Sports.  

They came especially to pick up their Christmas tree that was in Steve's attic.  

Mike and Theresa with their two dogs Waverly and Lily.   

Mike and Theresa worked all day Saturday so they dropped the dogs 

off at our house to spend the day with us.  

Steve and Tre' are putting the kabobs together.  

They work well together and are great cooks.

Today I am getting some gifts wrapped and laundry done.  This next week we will be celebrating Pat and Sam's birthday on Saturday and Sunday.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Dickens of a Christmas - Part 2

We went to downtown McKinney on Friday night after Thanksgiving for a bite to eat and to view the Tree Lighting.  This is Angie and Dave from Omaha at Churchills.  Notice the decor behind Dave.  There was a gentleman playing the Irish Tin Whistle.  It was great.

Mike and Theresa enjoying the moment.  

They split the Fish and Chips dinner.  

Very good.

Steve, Tre' and Jack in the background and Jake on the left.  

Reese and Nana waiting for our dinner.  She is coloring on her menu.  Reese had Chicken nuggets. 

 Nana and Papa shared the Fish and Chips.  After dinner we went to the Petting Zoo.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Dickens of a Christmas

Granddaughter Reese at the Petting Zoo in downtown McKinney.  She is petting the little spotted goat.

Reese loved the llama.  

Petting the miniature donkey. 

Baby Pot Belly Pigs she really liked.  They were trying to get away from the crowd.  

Today we are putting up the Christmas Tree.  

Dave and Steve are going golfing at 1:30. 

 Angie, Theresa and Tre' are going to the "Breaking Dawn Part 1" movie. 

 Sage, Jake and Papa are going to Cabella's.  

Nana, Reese, Jack and Sam will be staying put and finish decorating the tree.  

After the movie we will be making some Christmas ornaments. Tonight we will be having ham for dinner along with Cheesy potatoes that Sage has requested. 

Thanks for stopping by.  

Thanksgiving

We set the table for 16!!!  This year we brined the turkey in an Apple Juice Brine.  

I got the recipe out of the Dallas Morning News.  

Son Steve is carving the turkey.  

He stepped up to the plate of carving the turkey about 5 years ago and has become great at it.  

Thanks Steve for taking on this job.

Here are our two oldest grandchildren.  Sage and Jake.  

We love having them here.  

Sage is from Dallas and Jake is from Omaha.  

He will be with us until Sunday.

Deb, Theresa and Tre' having a glass of wine and watching the carving of the turkey. 

 I can tell they are ready to dig in to all the food.  

We have five dogs with us this weekend.  Brownie, Lucy, Waverly, Lily and Daisy.  

Sage's dogs, Grunt and Tug stayed in Dallas...  Thank you Sage. 

 Today we will all be watching the Nebraska/Iowa Game.  

This evening we are going to downtown McKinney for the 

Tree lighting ceremony and possibly grab a bite to eat.

Hope your Thanksgiving was a special as ours.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Little Witches

This picture is of our granddaughters in Omaha.  

We can't wait for their arrival on the 23rd for Thanksgiving.  

Thanks for stopping by.