Christmas with Wendy

I spent Christmas with my big sis in Alabama. I had lots of fun with the whole family and miss them tons.

Cookie Decorating

Tonight I got together with some old college roommates for dinner with their families. They are such dear friends. We had some chicken and rice soup and creamy chicken noodle soup, which was very welcoming with all the snow we got today. Afterward we decorated sugar cookies, ginger bread people and rice crispy treats. Everyone was very creative and had fun decorating and eating the yummy treats.

Chocolate Candies

I have had this recipe ever since my first year at BYU. One of my roommates let me help her make them for Easter.

Chocolate Easter Eggs

1/2 cup margarine
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk (1/2 can)
7 1/2 cups powered sugar (2 lb bag)

Cream margarine, vanilla and salt. Beat in milk until very smooth. Add powder sugar 1/4 cup at a time. Beat after each addition until smooth. May add more or less sugar if necessary for workable consistency (should have firm fondant). Form egg shapes and place on wax paper covered trays. Cover well with plastic wrap and refrigerate till hard for dipping - overnight is best. Fondant may be frozen (very well wrapped) then thawed, shaped and dipped.

Coconut: 1 1/4 cup coconut - Add to fondant.
Maple Nut: 1 1/2 tsp maple flavoring and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts - Add to fondant.
Cherry Nut: Add 12 oz well drained chopped maraschino cherries and 3/4 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts). More sugar may be added for good consistency.

Chocolate Dip
1/3 stick paraffin was
12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt both together in double boiler (or crock pot) over low heat. Dip eggs and return to wax paper tray to cool. When cool decorate with decorating frosting.

The picture above is the coconut candy and pictured below is the cherry nut candy. This is the first time I made the cherry nut and I like the way it turned out. Also, I used approximately 6 cups of the powered sugar on the coconut candies. The cherry nut did take about 7 cups powered sugar. Once I get my fondant shaped I like to stick them in the freezer. That way I don't have to wait overnight to dip them in chocolate. I have a mini-crock pot that works nicely for dipping as well. If you don't want to shape them into eggs or little balls, you can also use molds. I have tried this before, but I'm not very patient to work with the mold. Perhaps another time.

Parties....

I have been to several parties the past few weeks and I'm exhausted. They have all been fun, though. Stephanie came to the work party with Donna and me. We had a turkey dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Last year we had a buffet, but this year we were served at our tables. I though it was nice and we didn't have to battle it all out at the buffet table. heehee!

Festival of Trees

Last weekend I went to the Festival of Trees for the first time. My niece performed with her dance class. The pictures I took came out very blurry, but the dancing was really cute. The picture above is the Christmas tree that was decorated with Hershey bars. We all like chocolate so that tree was an eye catcher. The boys almost became chocolate snatchers. Anyhow, I enjoyed my time there and hope to go next year.