Homemade Holiday Caramel

I love caramel.  It’s got to be one of the best candy inventions of all time.

Whenever someone sends me a chocolate box, guess which ones are gone first?

We decided to make our own at home and wrap them up as little goodie and hostess bags to give away this holiday season.

You can too…

crafts   Homemade Holiday Caramel

The boys are also bringing them as gifts to school…though they’ll be bringing them without nuts, we’re all nut free facilities around here.

Homemade Holiday Caramels

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes  Cool Time: 2 hours

What you need:

Candy Thermometer

Parchment Paper

Cooking spray

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups heavy cream

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter

½ t salt

1 T vanilla extract

optional

Fancy Sea Salt (i.e. Fleur de Sel)

Chopped toasted pecans

Chopped peanuts

Gift Bags

Wax Paper

Ribbon or Raffia

crafts   Homemade Holiday Caramel

What to do:

Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper.

Lightly coat with cooking spray.

In a medium pot combine sugars, corn syrup, evaporated milk, whipping cream, butter, and salt.  Mix well.  Heat over medium heat.

crafts   Homemade Holiday Caramel

Using your candy thermometer watch the heat and when it reaches 250 degrees remove from the pot.  Stir in your vanilla then pour into baking dish.

crafts   Homemade Holiday Caramel

Cool in the fridge.  Once cooled cut into small pieces and wrap in wax paper.

crafts   Homemade Holiday Caramel

Place in gift bags and tie with ribbon and raffia.  Optional….top your caramels with sea salt, or chopped nuts.

Letters to Santa

It’s that time of year!!!!

Are you bombarded this time of year with that wonderful question…

“What do the kids want for Christmas?”

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who wants to buy them stuff, but honestly…

I can’t keep it all straight!

Oh and those commercials….

The never ending loop of holiday commercials!

All I hear…

“Ma, can I have that?”

“Ma, can you put that on my list???”

“Ma, come quick, you’ve got to see this!”

First off, I don’t have to come quick.  We have DVR.

Secondly, I don’t want to see another commercial for Tron, or Star Wars, or Lego, or Spongebob Operation!

So, I’ve come up with a solution…

crafts   Letters to Santa

Letters to Santa – Or to Hanukkah Harry…

Prep Time: 5 minutes Craft Time: 25 minutes

What you need:

Poster board

Markers

Kid scissors (or regular scissors depending on the age of your kids)

Glue Sticks

Catalogs Galore (Toys, Electronics, Clothes – all the stuff that comes to your house all the time this season.)

crafts   Letters to Santa

What to do:

Set the kids up at the table with their catalogs and scissors.

Let them cut out all the things they’d like to ask Santa for (toys, iPods, socks, whatever)

Once they’ve cut it out have them glue it onto their poster board.

crafts   Letters to Santa

They can color their poster board too and decorate it to match their personality so Santa will be sure to know it’s theirs, and you’ll know what to tell the in-laws when they ask what the kiddos want this year.

I made one too…

crafts   Letters to Santa

I’m telling Santa that I’ve been a very very good girl and I’d really like that smoker please!

Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Do you have as many gifts to give this year as I do?

The kids have friends, teachers, and coaches galore…

Not to mention all the neighbors, mailmen, trainers, etc.

How many coffee gift cards can I possibly give out?

Well here’s the answer…

This one comes together in a snap and it’s super delicious to boot!

 

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Holiday Bark

Prep Time:  10 minutes  Cook Time: 5 minutes

Cool Time: 1-2 hours

What you need:

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

2 11 ounce bags white chocolate chips

1 T walnut oil

¾ cup dried cranberries

1 cup shelled pistachios

gift boxes or bags

ribbon or raffia

What to do:

In a large microwave safe bowl combine chocolate and walnut oil.  Heat on high at 30 second intervals stirring in between until just melted.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Remove from microwave and stir quickly to finish melting.  Pour in cranberries and pistachios and stir to combine.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Pour out onto a greased sheet pan into a thin layer.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Refrigerate until cool.  Break up into jagged pieces.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week Holiday Bark

Place into gift boxes tied with ribbon and raffia.  Perfect festive holiday gift for anyone on your list!

Holiday Gift Week – Hot Cocoa in a Jar

You asked for it…

You got it!

Baby It’s Cold Outside…

Nothing better this time of year than a big ol’ cup of hot cocoa.

Why not wrap up some love for your friends, teachers, coaches and neighbors this year

It’s ok…go ahead and steal this great idea for a holiday gift.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week   Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Hot Cocoa in a Jar
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

crafts   Holiday Gift Week   Hot Cocoa in a Jar

What you need:

2 cups Instant Nonfat Dried Milk
¾ cup sugar
½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1/2 cup non dairy creamer
1 t salt
1 cup mini marshmallows

Options:
add a layer of nutmeg and cinnamon
add a layer of crushed candy canes
make a flavored hot chocolate by adding a layer of flavored powdered non dairy creamer – Amaretto, French Vanilla, Irish Coffee, etc.

What to do:

Layer all ingredients into a jar with Marshmallows on top. Or you could combine all the ingredients into a bowl then place into the jar and top with marshmallows.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week   Hot Cocoa in a Jar

We did it both ways. Close jar tightly and cover with fabric and ribbon. Affix with the following instructions.

crafts   Holiday Gift Week   Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Hot Cocoa Mix – remove marshmallows, set aside. Shake jar well. Take out 2-3 to tablespoons and place in a mug. Mix with 8 ounces hot water, or coffee. Top with marshmallows. Enjoy. Happy Holidays!

crafts   Holiday Gift Week   Hot Cocoa in a Jar

Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar

Back by popular demand…

Some of our favorite make at home gifts.

Looking for a new and unique gift idea?

Something different for neighbors, friends, teachers, coaches, and anyone else on your list this holiday?

How about a home cooked meal?

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Beef Noodle Soup in a Jar

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

Mason Jars

Ribbon

Colored cloth/fabric

Decorative paper for instructions

¼ cup red lentils

¼ cup green split peas

¼ cup barley

1/3 cup beef bouillon powder

¼ cup dried onion

2 T. parsley flakes

1/3 t. thyme

1/3 t. pepper

1 t. basil

1 t. garlic powder

½ t. celery seed

S&P

3 cups tri color pasta, separated into colors.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Layer ingredients neatly one by one into a large mason jar.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Close jar tightly and cover with fabric.  Tie with ribbons.  Affix instructions:

1 jar holiday gift soup

1 22 ounce can crushed tomatoes

8 cups water

Bring water and tomatoes to a boil in a large stock pot.  Add soup mix.  Simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until noodles are tender.  Enjoy.  Happy Holidays.

appetizers   Holiday Gift Week   Soup in a Jar

Let the kids help you with writing the instructions and be sure to let them sign their names!

Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

My favorite Thanksgiving leftover?!?!

There’s no better way to use up that leftover turkey.

What could be better than a turkey pot pie?

Come on now,

Get your turkey on…

Again.

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

Turkey Pot Pie

For the Crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1/4 pound cold unsalted butter, diced

1/2 to 2/3 cup ice water

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Flaked sea salt and cracked black pepper

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

For the Filling:

leftover turkey

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups turkey stock, preferably homemade

1 chicken bouillon cube

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

2 cups medium-diced carrots

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas

1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

S&P

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, heat the turkey stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium low heat until soft, about 10 minutes. Toss in carrots and  cook for two more minutes.

Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.

Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick.

Add S&P and heavy cream.

Add the turkey, peas and parsley.

Mix well.

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

For the pastry, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. Pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas.

With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together.

Dump the dough out onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Divide the dough in half and wrap the halves separately in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Turn  the oven up to 375 degrees F.

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

Roll out each half of dough on a floured surface.  Roll the dough until it is about a 1/4 inch thick circle.  Set the first circle into the pie plate.  Pour the filling into the crust lined pie plate.

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

Top with remaining crust.  Trim the edges and crimp the two crusts together.  Make 2-3 slits in top of the crust.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt.

dinner   Loving Leftovers Turkey Pot Pie

Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.

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