Sugar Plum Treats

This simple treat - candy coated marshmallow on a stick - can be made for just about any holiday but I enjoy them most passed out to casts of Nutcracker productions! You will need:

• 14 oz. bag of candy melts (I like the Wilton brand and find it @ Michael's or Jo-Ann's)
• craft sticks or lollipop sticks
• 10 oz. bag of large marshmallows
• assorted decorating sprinkles, chopped nuts, flaked coconut, and candy
• aluminum foil
• non-stick spray

1. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray it with non-stick spray.
2. Melt the candy according to package directions. Be careful not to over heat it - the color will be cloudy or have bubbles once it hardens.
3. Insert a craft or lollipop stick into each marshmallow, dip into the candy melt then into the decoration of choice. I have small bowls of different decorations all out at once and rotate each time I dip a marshmallow to give me a variety of different looking "Sugar Plums".
4. Place each marshmallow on the lined cookie sheet to harden up.
5. Once they're all decorated, chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.

You could wrap them individually in candy sucker bags tied with ribbon or stick into a Styrofoam dome. These treats could also make great place setting markers for your Christmas Dinner Table or a "Saint Nick-ed" (similar neighborhood "event" to being Boo'd - see Halloween posts) treat to pass out to neighbors. I have even seen these at cookie exchanges. I assure you will be asked to make these treats for other events too.

Cloth Candy Canes

This is a craft that needs some drying time - maybe hours. But on a frigid day it sure keeps the kids busy making a cute decoration for the holidays. You will need:

• 3x12" strips of cotton fabric (3 per project - prints and differnt colors make the best choices)
• pipe cleaners (3 per project)
• waxed paper
• white glue
• small paint brushes

1. One at a time, lay each fabric strip - print side down - on waxed paper-covered surface and using the paint brush to coat with a thin layer of glue.
2. Place a pipe cleaner along one long edge and roll the fabric around it as tight as possible. Smooth down the outer edge.
3. Make three pipe cleaners like this for a single project.
4. Pinch together the tops of three wrapped pipe cleaners and tightly twist them into a spiral, bending the top over into a cane shape.
5. Set cane in a short drinking glass to dry ( could take several hours).
6. Neaten the ends of teh pipe cleaner canes with wire cutters.

One wintery weekend several years ago, I had a whole Christmas tree full of these and popcorn garlands. It turned out great! I kept them and use them as centerpieces some years or place setting markers. The canes look like the fruity tootie variety of candy canes you buy at the grocery store. I assure you will enjoy spending the time on this craft.

Hot Chocolate Cones

I love making these to leave at neighbors who have shoveled my sidewalk, send to school for teachers on delayed start days, and even for the mailman! These treats are easy to make. You will need:

• 3/4 cups cocoa mix
• 2 - 6x12 inch cone shaped cellophane bags (Michael's or Jo-Ann's in the candymaking section)
• 2 clear rubber bands (hair accessories section @ Target or Walmart)
• 1/4 cup mini chocoate chips
• 3/4 cup mini marshmellows
• large red gumdrops

1. Pour cocoa mix into one cellophane bag and secure with rubberband.
2. Slide this into the second cellophane bag.
3. Layer the chocolate chips and mini marshmallows and top with one red gumdrop.
4. Secure the bag with a rubberband.

I tie off mine with some pretty satin ribbon and a homemade gift tag. Each bag you make should make 4 servings and keep the recipient warm and toasty! I have used this treat for party favors at holiday get togethers and open houses. I have also used them as place setting markers for big dinner parties and classroom party crafts. I assure you the folks you give this treat to will appreciate it. Although you may want to keep a stash for the neighborhood kiddos who will be begging to shovel your sidewalk on snowy mornings!

Easy Oreo Truffles

Happy Thanksgiving! Get that turkey in the oven!

Found this recipe @ http://www.fabulousfoods.com/ and I tried them out -they're FANTASTIC and SO easy! You will need:

• 1 package Oreo cookies
• 1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese
• 2 packages semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Grind up cookies in a food processor (I use my blender) until they're in fine crumbs.
2. Add cream cheese to the cookie crumbs and blend until combined.
3. Place the mixture in the freezer for 10 minutes.
4. Roll combined mixture into 1 - 1/2 inch balls and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
5. Put back into freezer (may be made 1 week ahead of time at this point).
6. Melt chocolate chips in microwave on low or double boiler.
7. Dip frozen balls into chocolate and put back on parchment.
8. Decorate with chopped nuts,sprinkles, coconut, Heath bar bits, or extra cookie crumbs before the chocolate dries.
9. Freeze until ready to serve.

The kids loved them, my in-laws loved them, the neighbors loved them. I assure you will have the same success as I.

24 hours and counting

I plan to bake and prepare all the desserts today. The turkey will be thoroughy thawed by tomorrow as I took it out of the freezer Monday morning and transferred to the refrigerator. My 12 year old daughter will be setting the table inbetween dessert projects; so I found a great picture guide in Family Circle magazine this month. It's on page 78. I hope you enjoy your day of preparations as much as I will!

Disneyfamily.com

Once again http://www.disneyfamily.com/ has some amazing crafts and recipes for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lots of ideas for kids' table! Check it out.

Table Place Cards

An non-edible one today... I am a scrapbook-er at heart. I love the paper and design of the craft. So it didn't take much for me to put together some place cards for Thanksgiving this year. I had all my supplies so it was completely inexpensive.

I started with 4x4 squares and used rusts and burnt orange along with some olive green. I folded them in half like a standard table tent and used decorative scissors on the bottom front edge. I found casual pictures of every guest (I never throw away pictures!), mounted them on cream card stock, and mounted those on the table tents. I went on a walk and found some acorns, acorn caps, small leaves, and some seeds. I glued those on the table tent next to the picture of the guest. I think they look great.

If you have guests that arrive before the big day and need something for them to do, this is a great activity. You could even extend it and have them write why they are thankful for that person on the inside. I assure you it will be a treasure!

Turkey Treats

I use the whole month of November to get ready for Thanksgiving. There are so many things to do... planning the menu, planning kids' activities, planning adult activities, CLEANING! When I plan ahead I get everything done. So this month's blogs will be dedicated to giving you ideas to get ready for the holiday.

On that note, here is a kids' Thanksgiving dessert that is so easy and could be used as a place card holder for your Thanksgiving table. I have also brought these little turkeys into my children's classrooms for Grandparents Day before school closes for Thanksgiving Break. Not sure where I found this, but Sharon Ostrander submitted the idea to a magazine I picked up somewhere and tore it out from several years ago. You will need:

• chocolate star candies (turkey feet or base)
• caramel squares (turkey body)
• chocolate striped shortbread cookies (turkey feathers)
• candy corn (turkey beak)

1. Microwave caramel squares 2 at a time for no more than 10 seconds.
2. Place the caramel on top a chocolate star.
3. Turning the shortbread cookie so stripes go horizontally, stand it behind the caramel.
4. Place the candy corn on top of the caramel sticking out like a beak.

Cute little turkey, huh? When I use these for place card holders, I sit the name card atop the caramel turkey body to lean back to the cookie feathers. I assure you your guests will find their place quickly to get this snack!