Today's Brilliant Idea

 

On a whim, I made french toast with egg nog - sooooo creamy and custardy! I added a few eggs and cinnamon too, but it was mostly egg nog. Super festive! Yum!

Bakin', Makin' and Decoratin'

 

 I'm baaaack! I've been soooo busy I just haven't had time to blog about it! It's been a flurry of activity at my house this holiday season; busier than usual, if you can believe that! First, I've been decorating up a storm, inside and outside:

My "helper" and I have been working in the kitchen a lot too, making a few goodies like:

 Chex Party Mix (of course),

 

Chunky Chocolate Jam Bars (see 9-6-11 post for recipe),

 

and Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark (new this year!) 

 

 

The recipe is super simple: line a jelly roll pan (or big cookie sheet with deep edges) with foil. Make a layer of mini pretzels.

 

Melt two sticks of butter in a saucepan. Add one cup brown sugar.  Bring to low boil, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens (I let it bubble for 5-7 minutes). Pour over the pretzels. Throw in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.

 

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 cups chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate Ghiradelli chips - oh the decadence!). Pop back into the oven for a minute or two to get the chips all gooey and melty. Remove from oven and spread chocolate with a spatula.  Sprinkle generously with fairly coarse sea salt. Pop into the freezer for at least 2 hours (I let mine set overnight). When frozen, break into pieces with your hands and try not to eat it all!  I store mine in the fridge, because when the bark becomes room temperature, it becomes super sticky! Mere words cannot describe how good this is! Try it and see!

 

And of course, Regan and I have been making things! She is constantly asking to do crafts!  

 

We've created some cardboard gingerbread houses,

and some festive "who who" ornaments to give as gifts.

 

And, there's still a week until Christmas! Stay posted for yet more goodies!