To Market, To Market...

I love grocery shopping, especially at new stores or just 'nicer' ones in the area. Touring the aisles and finding new foods. Yup, I'm a dork. What I really love are funny food finds or displays, and this one takes the cake. During my weekly grocery trip I stumbled upon this "Christmas Story" display and couldn't stop laughing. I actually tried to find a manager to see if I could buy the 'leg lamp' for a white elephant exchange!

Bacon. Salted. Caramels. 'Nuf said

What does chopped bacon, butter, sugar and a little elbow grease create? Bacon Salted Caramels. TOO. DIE. FOR. I'd post a picture of the finished product, but then I'd end up eating more of them...

Here is a link for a similar recipe.  I can't find the one I used and am on the quest to tear my house apart!

Santa and Jingle Balls

Today we visited Santa! We made our third annual trek to the downtown Nordstrom to see the jolly old man and Blake couldn't wait. Blake kept telling us that he would ask Santa for a train and that baby sister wanted a train too (uh, huh. Sure...). We saw quite a few friends on our way to and from Santa too, which made the trip even more fun.

And what better way to celebrate the holiday season?  Making some yummy holiday treats!

Jingle Balls
3 c. creamy peanut butter

7-8 c. powdered sugar
2 c. softened butter
4 tsp vanilla
3 packages (12 oz) chocolate chips
6 Tbsp parawax

Mix peanut butter, sugar, butter and vanilla together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Melt chocolate chips with parawax on stove over low heat. Roll peanut butter mix into balls about the size of a quarter. Tip - work with a small amount of mix at a time while keeping rest of mix in fridge - otherwise it gets sticky. Put balls in fridge until you are ready to dip in chocolate so they stay firm.

Using toothpicks or small forks, dip the balls into the chocolate. Set on wax paper and refrigerate.

Warning: This recipe makes about 120 chocolate covered balls! A great recipe when you want to make goodies for friends. Otherwise, cut recipe in half!

Bourbon Balls

While the boys went to the last Husky football game of the season, I tried to enjoy the fact that I wasn't in a cold stadium worrying about a newborn.  But, of course I wished I could have been there!  Oh well. 

During the quiet time at my house I made 9 dozen cookies for Piper's cookie and platter exchange party. Each attendee will go home with 9 dozen cookies - one dozen of each kind! I made bourbon balls and sampled quite a bit in the creating process. Yum!

Bourbon (or Rum) Balls
2 1/2 c. crushed Nabisco Nilla Wafers
1 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 c. finely chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp light corn syrup
1/4 c. (or to taste) Rum or Bourbon

Mix everything together in a medium sized bowl.  Roll into little balls and then roll in additional powdered sugar and place on a cookie sheet.  Refrigerate and serve.