Gracious Rain

December 12, 2008June 23, 2020

Mock Turtles

Go ahead–spend all day making elaborate neighbor treats this Christmas. Yeah, yeah…knock yourself out. Or…

…you could spend just a few minutes–less than ten, in fact and give these tasty treats a whirl. You won’t be sorry.

Mock Turtles

Ingredients:

Rolos (caramel chocolate candy)

Pretzels (grid shaped work best)

Pecan halves

Directions:

Heat oven to about 250 degrees. Set pretzels on cookie sheet.

Place 1 Rolo candy on each pretzel.

Set in oven only until the chocolate is soft–about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Press 1 pecan half onto each Rolo. Remove from warm pan to cool.

Now, promptly give them all away to your neighbors or you’ll be sorry…or full of pretzels…and pecans…and chocolate…and caramel… There will be no end.

You can make your own luscious egg nog without coming anywhere near drinking a raw egg (sorry Rocky). The difference between Vanilla pudding and French Vanilla pudding is that–one has eggs already in the mix–the other doesn’t. Simply perfect.

Ingredients:

8-9 cups milk
1 3 oz package of French Vanilla Instant pudding
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp of nutmeg

In a large bowl, mix the pudding with 2 cups of the milk. When pudding is set, add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix very well. Chill.

Drink it up.

Egg-less Nog

Ingredients

8-9 cups milk
1 3 oz package of French Vanilla Instant pudding
½ cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
½ tsp of nutmeg

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix the pudding with 2 cups of the milk.
When pudding is set, add in the rest of the ingredients.
Mix very well.
Chill.

December 12, 2008January 14, 2022

Christmas Hugs

While you have your oven on…

Ingredients:

Pretzels–the grid kind work very well

1 pkg. Hershey’s hugs

red and green M&M’s

You can make these little gems in just a few minutes. Heat oven to 250 degrees. Place pretzels on cookie sheet. Put one, unwrapped Hug on each pretzel.

Place in the oven for 1-2 minutes–or until the tips of the candy are soft. Remove from oven. Gently press an M&M on the top of the Hugs. Makes a really pretty neighbor treat too. They’ll think you slaved…

Christmas Hugs

Ingredients

Pretzels--the grid kind work very well
1 pkg. Hershey's hugs
red and green M&M's

Instructions

Heat oven to 250 degrees.
Place pretzels on cookie sheet.
Put one, unwrapped Hug on each pretzel.
Place in the oven for 1-2 minutes--or until the tips of the candy are soft.
Remove from oven.
Gently press an M&M on the top of the Hugs.

December 11, 2008June 23, 2020

Twelve Days of Christmas–Nativity

On December 13th, there are officially 12 days left until Christmas…I know, scary.

So, if you’d like to do the “12 days of Christmas” for someone–there are plenty of fun ways.

My personal favorite approach is the one that has the little nativity pieces and scriptures or verses to go along with it. I found this darling Nativity set at Walgreen’s for only $4.99. At that price–I bought a couple. Please don’t buy an ugly nativity. You’ve seen them–where even the sheep look like they’re being pinched. Cute is so much better.

What you’ll need:

1- 11 or 12 piece Nativity Set

1- Star Ornament

12 Cello bags

Raffia or Curly Ribbon

Small candy treats (optional)

Anyway, so you will pick a neighbor or friend that you would like to give a gift to each night until the 24th of December. Now choose carefully– because if you pick someone that is too far away you may miss a night and that will really screw things up. Someone up the street a few houses is perfect because you can drop off the treat and run. Less chance of getting caught when there’s no car involved. Be sure to let the kids help.

Since each nativity set can be slightly different–you know, one will have a shepherd and donkey and another will have two sheep and a cow–so you have to be flexible. A decent knowledge of the Christmas Story would be helpful as well. I’ve made it easier for you. Just click on the Scripture tags..you’ll see.

Scripture Tags #1

Scripture Tags #2

Scripture Tags #3

Once you’ve chosen your family, you make up the bags. It is so much easier and less stressful if you make all 12 bags in one sitting.

Wrap the ornaments and put one in each bag.

If you choose to add treats make sure you have enough for the family. Try to keep your son from swiping the Cream Savers.

Add curly ribbon or raffia–for fluff. Print and cut out the scripture tags and attach one to the appropriate bag. The order I chose to use was:

Day 1 Joseph

Day 2 Mary

Day 3 Lamb

Day 4 Lamb

Day 5 Angel

Day 6 Manger

Day 7 Ox

Day 8 Wiseman

Day 9 Star

Day 10 Wiseman

Day 11 Wiseman

Day 12 Baby Jesus

Deliver one each night for 12 nights– the last one being baby Jesus on the 24th.

December 10, 2008June 23, 2020

Fancy Paper Snowflakes

When I first saw one of these elaborate snowflakes online, my immediate thought was, “Yeah, sure. Way too hard.”

Then, I looked at the directions more closely and thought, “Well, maybe if I put my glasses on and wait until it’s totally quiet in the house and I can concentrate.” Sadly, this house is never totally quiet, so that was out.

But after looking even closer I found that even if you have little kids running all over the place or you’re surrounded– as I am–by crazy people, the good news is: YOU CAN STILL DO THIS.

I’m serious.

I’ve already told you how I feel about hard stuff–I don’t participate.

So if I can do it–baby, you can do it.

You will need 6 squares of paper–any size…but the same size. You will also need a pair of scissors, some transparent tape and a stapler. THAT’S IT!!

I used a stick to hold this one up so I could take a picture of it. You don’t need a stick. Forget the stick.

Click here for actual EASY step by step instructions and you’ll be making so many snowflakes that you’ll scare yourself. You are going to love this.

Carry on…