knitting, what knitting?

I haven't posted about much knitting lately.  Let's put it this way, Christmas knitting will be posted after Christmas, SHHHHH, it's a secret!

I have been knitting socks while I travel, these are self striping cuties from lolipop yarns.  It is the type of knitting that is hard to put down as the stripes are so fun to watch develop.

Ode to Maple Drops

Dear Hubby has talked about Maple drops for 21 years, his grandma made them and he would help her dip them. He explains his youngest brother has the most experience with the dipping as his grandma would babysit him.  He begged his Aunt for the recipe a few years back and when I read the ingredients I have to admit I was very shy of how to make them.  Something called Mapleline that I've never seen in our grocery stores and paraffin wax were part of the list.  I remember years ago in home ec. we would use paraffin wax but the whole idea of it just did not set well with me.  Well, when I am wrong I will admit it, these drops ROCK!

My grandparents all passed away before I was ever born so the memory of making candy with a grandma just melts my heart.  I hope someday I will have grandchildren (many years from now) and I can continue this family recipe and memory.

Here is the recipe, keep in mind it is a family recipe where measurements are not precise and it all goes by taste and family knowledge watching one generation from the next.

Grandma Davison’s Maple Drops

 

2 LBs powdered sugar

½ LB butter

2 T cream

Mix above, add more butter or cream if needed.

Add Mapleline (we used maple extract) to taste, 1 Tablespoon at a time.  I think we used 5 T.

We mixed with the Kitchenaid (one of the best gifts dear hubby has ever bought me).   If not dry enough add more powd. Sugar.

When well mixed shape as desired.  We rolled into marble or smaller size drops.

Place on wax paper.  Refrigerate overnight.

The next day

Melt 6 sq of bitter chocolate with paraffin wax, 2 walnut sizes.

We used double boiler.

Dip and refrigerate.

 

Making Merry

We've been a candy factory at our house.  Peppermint bark turned out really great, we made it last year and it was a hit.

Our first time making maple drops.  This is candy dear Hubby's grandma used to make and I will write a post just for that coveted candy.  It turned out really good.  Dear hubby did all of the work with just a little help from me, nothing better than a man in the kitchen!

This year I tried divinity for the first time.  My mom used to make it and so did my mother-in-law.  I've never been a big fan but it seems festive.  Well, I think I cooked it too long and it is too hard.  I will remember that for next year.

I made 12 loaves of pumpkin bread (my mom's recipe) for my staff at work.  I am pairing it with dish towels, I hope they like!

This is just a cute moose that I made many years ago, her name is Merry Moose.

These are the gift bags that I will bring to work tomorrow.  I have staff out of town too so sending something other than home-made bread to them.

Chocolate Covered Cherries and other goodies

One of dear hubby's favorite goodies is the chocolate covered cherries that I make each year.  I always try to make them on deer hunting weekend when he is away which gives them a good 2 - 3 weeks before Christmas to sit up.  They need to rest for at least 2 weeks.  Here is the recipe:

2 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 T milk

1/2 t. almond extract

2 - 8 oz jars marchino cherries w/ stems

2 cups chocolate chips

2 T shortening (Crisco)

Combine sugar, butter, milk and extract.  mix well.  I usually put in fridge for 30 min or so to make sure it is solid enough to work with before next step.

roll into 1 inch balls then flatten into 2" circles, so it will wrap around the cherry.  Sometimes I just kind of try to frost them with my finger if it is too much filling the other way.  place on wax paper lined cookie sheet.  cover loosely and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

melt choc chips and shortening (I like to use a double boiler).  dip cherries into the chocolate then back to the wax paper to harden.  Store in covered containers in refrigerator.  The longer you store, the juicier they get.

First time I've tried toffee. 

Another candy first time try for me.  It is peanuts, marshmallows and chocolate. 

Out with the old

We replaced the hardware in our kitchen covers and I love the results!  Replacing the old brass hardware with a nice heavy black. 

He's makin' a list

He is checkin' it twice

Gonna find out who is naughty and

Nice, Santa Claus is coming to town

yummy recipe

 

I made up this Cheerio snack mix for my guys to take deer hunting.  Word on the street is it is both naughty and nice.... hmmmm, wonder if I should call it Chance Crunch?

  I am not keeping a separate blog anymore for just recipes because it is too much work.

My sister in MO sent this to a bunch of a us a couple months ago.  It is addicting. 

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

1/2 tsp salt

6 cups Cheerios (I used honey nut)

1 cup pecan, walnuts or peanuts - I used walnuts

1/2 cup silvered almonds, sliced work fine too

1 bag of craisins

 

Preheat oven to 350. Butter jelly roll pan

Heat butter, sugars and salt in a saucepan, over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes

Mix cereal, nuts and craisins in a big bowl

Pour syrup over cereal mixture and stir to coat.

spread in pan and bake 15 minutes.  cool for 10 minutes before loosening with spatula.  Then let cool 1 hour before storing. in covered container.

Makes about 8 cups, if you are feeding an army, double it and use 2 jelly roll pans.

warning, very addictive and not low calorie, however it does have some healthy stuff in it!

 

 

Decking the halls

I thought it would be fun to do a little holiday house tour in this blog post.  I love to decorate for the holidays and this Christmas I am really excited because we are hosting dear hubby's side.  I updated a few things and still putting out some oldies.

 

I've always wanted matching wreaths for every light fixture on the outside of our home.  Going to the Amana's last weekend and seeing the homes with wreaths just sealed the deal!  At first I just bought two wreathes for by the front door.  I decided once I got home and loved the way they looked that I should go get the other three as I may never get the exact match again.  I love the results!

I hope they will withstand the Iowa winter but for now it is 60 degrees and I think they will be OK.

Dear hubby has a hunting themed tree in our great room.  College girl and I found some really cute additions while we shopped this weekend.  Oh yes, we were helping the local economy and the small businesses!  The deer are so sweet, a buck and a doe.

I always like these smore's ornaments and look at what we found, a hunter!

I changed up the mantel a little this year, tried to keep it a little more macho since we have the "man tree" in the great room.  I also learned that the NOEL needs to not be in front of the TV to help with dear hubby remote stress.  I love these stockings that I bought 19 years ago through Lillian Vernon, back in the day where you did everything via the mail, no Internet. 

I put together a new arrangement for the big glass candle vases.  This year I have green and red bells combined with silver pine cones in the bottom for the great room. 

I am putting my Santa collection on top of the cabinets, out of sight out of mind for Chance the pup!  These are some adorable cookie jars, my oldest sister gave me the one on the left many years ago, I just love it!  The one on the right dear hubby bought me in Galena many years ago. 

 Here is what I have for Santas, it is a combination of my own plus my sweet mother-in-law's. 

I am a total copy cat with create Atkins Shelley!  She gave me the idea of cookie cutters in a jar, I love it!  Better than cookies because they have no calories.

 

 When Christmas shopping for my father-in-law I ran across these cute little elves, there were three of them for something like ten dollars.  I put them in funny places and hope to surprise a few people!

This is my Christmas village in my antique pie safe.  I don't know what to do about the cords.  they look best at night when they are illuminated and I don't think the cords are as noticeable.  I am tempted to spray paint the cords so they at least don't stand out so much.

I think this is still my favorite, love seeing Santa taking off for his long trip around the world.

Here is an update on this arrangement.  I put the little three dollar packs of pastel bulbs in the glass vase for the powder room.

I think it is a nice touch.

This is the dinning room tree, I keep it out year round and decorate it seasonally.

 

 

Here is my favorite decoration, Santa's little helper! 

 

Christmas in the Amana's

Sweet College girl and I went on a house tour at the Amana's this weekend.  It was such a great way to kick off our weekend of decorating our own house.

I think the guys would love this "tree'!

I love the wreaths on every window of the houses!

This house was not on the tour but I love the big wreath in the middle!

I have so many ideas to decorate with, keep posted!