Tinsel Baby

My momma said that she could stick this little fluffy baby under the Christmas tree and I’d be content forever–or at least while she got some of her work done. The lights and tinsel and shiny glass ornaments still have the same effect on me these days. I could sit in a dim room, lit only by the tree and be happy for a long, long time.

Last year, while trying to recreate some of the past Christmas magic, I realized that we were missing tinsel. Even in a black and white photo–you can see how sparkly and magic it is–and I wanted to give my kids a bit of…ancient culture. Anyway, I went to several places and no luck. No tinsel to be found…anywhere. One clerk even told me that it was banned because cats eat it and die. Wow–that was a bit dramatic. At any rate, I quit looking for that nasty cat slaying tinsel from that second on.

Until…after…Christmas, when–without looking–I found a whole cart full at Rite Aid for ten cents a piece. It was meant to be.

Watch out Beany boy…

I sort of bought 6 million packs…

for posterity’s sake.

heh, heh.

Chocolate Chunk Cocoa Mix

Seriously now–who, on your list couldn’t use a lovely jar of homemade cocoa mix–hmmmm?

Luckily, it very simple to toss together and makes positively a ton…or about 10-11 cups of cocoa mix.  Just perfect for funneling  into a few pretty jars and tying with ribbon.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups Hershey’s Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

5 cups Carnation powdered milk

1 cup  Borden’s Non-Dairy Creamer

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Measure all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk them until they are evenly blended. Store the mix in a tightly covered container at room temperature until you’re ready to package it and pass it around to the neighbors. Unless, of course, you intend to save it all for…ummm…

food storage.

Hey–not a bad idea!

Be sure to add a tag to the jar that says,

“Spoon about 1/4 cup of mix into a large mug. Stir in very hot water. Top with mini marshmallows or whipped cream. Sip ever so slowly in front of a nice, warm, crackling fire.”

For a little variety, try crushing candy canes and adding 1/2 to 2/3 cup to the mix.

Chocolate Chunk Cocoa Mix
 
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 cups Hershey’s Cocoa
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 5 cups Carnation powdered milk
  • 1 cup Borden’s Non-Dairy Creamer
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Measure all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk them until they are evenly blended.
  2. Store the mix in a tightly covered container at room temperature until you’re ready to package it and pass it around to the neighbors.
Notes
Be sure to add a tag to the jar that says, “Spoon about ¼ cup of mix into a large mug. Stir in very hot water. Top with mini marshmallows or whipped cream. Sip ever so slowly in front of a nice, warm, crackling fire.” For a little variety, try crushing candy canes and adding ½ to ⅔ cup to the mix.

 

Candy Making Winners!

Yes…you heard me right. I said WINNERS…with an S.

Got in a mood at the last minute and decided to pick TWO winners! So here they are…

Jeanette and Jenna!!

Congratulations ladies~ you’ve each won the HP book “Candymaking” along with a incredibly cool candy thermometer to go along with it.

Thanks everyone for entering–you are all fab.

Merry Christmas and ho-ho-ho!

Christmas Angels

It’s funny–isn’t it–that these little ones don’t really question…

all the boxes and crates and tins that we carry in from wherever they’ve been hiding since last Christmas.

Do you think they wonder why this time of year we surround ourselves with sparkly stars, gingerbread, pine cones and tiny shepherds?

Or do you think, maybe…

that in their gentle angel hearts…

They just know?

{True Gifts}

“We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves—giving of the riches of the heart and mind—and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store.

“Of course, among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love….

~James E. Faust


 

 

Happy Birthday April!