When I was in college, I had a friend named Susan. She had a philosophy regarding dessert. Basically, if it wasn't chocolate, then it wasn't dessert.

This year, my mom had planned to bring all the desserts for our Christmas get together, but she is the opposite of Susan...she really doesn't care for chocolate. Since I am, well, more in Susan's camp than my mom's regarding dessert, I was looking for a quick and easy chocolate dessert to bring to Christmas. I found a recipe for fudge at Cooking--Add A Pinch, and I loved the idea of a peanutty fudge...but I had to change the method. Robyn made her version of this fudge in the microwave. But I was too chicken to do it her way. You see, I have been burnt to many times by trying to melt chocolate in the microwave (pun definitely intended). I guess I get too impatient and try to run the microwave too long. The chocolate becomes too hot in places, and I ruin the texture and the flavor.

More power to you if you can use the microwave to make this fudge recipe, but if you're like me, and view chocolate too precious a commodity to waste, then my version of this recipe uses the tried-and-true method of making fudge in a double boiler. And honestly, if you start boiling the water before you gather your ingredients, it really won't take more than 10 minutes longer than the microwave version.

My version of this recipe also doesn't use sea salt for garnish like Robyn's does. I used cocoa for garnish (more chocolate the better, right?). I also thought it would be nice to garnish with chopped dry roasted peanuts.

Ingredients

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
cocoa (or other garnish)

Start a small pot of water boiling, or a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler (which I do not) you will need a metal bowl that will fit on top of the pot.

Line a square baking pan (either 8x8 or 9x9) with parchment paper, letting some excess hang over either side. Use cooking spray to lightly grease the parchment. Set aside.

Once the water is boiling, add chocolate, peanut butter and butter to the metal bowl (or double boiler insert) and set on top of boiling water. (The bottom of the bowl should not touch the boiling water.) Stir constantly until melted.


Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and stir well.

Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth by gently tapping the pan on your counter.

Set into your freezer for 5 minutes, then garnish with a dusting of cocoa (or other garnish as desired).


Put back into your freezer for about 30 minutes, and then cut. I used a bench scraper to cut my fudge, and it worked great. Cut into 1 inch squares and then use the parchment to lift out of the pan. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.


If you're looking for a quick sweet treat to take to a party tonight (you know, before all those resolutions kick in), this is the treat for you. Especially if you believe it has to be chocolate to be a dessert.

Enjoy!

Today, i'm over at one of my favorite blogs...Ginger Snap Crafts.


I am so excited to join Ginger for her Christmas Break series. I hope you'll tag along and check out my post.

I'm sharing some of my very favorite projects for the year!

It's time for the last menu plan of the year...or really, the first of next year. Through the holidays, I have to admit that I'm less than inspired to cook--you know, the crazy schedules, the crazy amounts of goodies at work, and all the crazy expectations! So I'm really glad that we are hopefully settling back into a routine this week.

Monday: Special New Year's Eve Menu: Steak, Potatoes, Asparagus, and Carrot Cake (Ok, so one more meal out of the routine!)
Tuesday: Quiche, Salad, and Fruit
Wednesday: Pork Roast in the crockpot, Applesauce, Carrots
Thursday: Pizza and Salad
Friday: Crockpot Chili
Saturday: Brown Sugar & Spice Chicken, Roasted Potatoes and Garlicky Sour Cream Dip



Sunday: Leftover Chili Burritos

What are you starting the year eating?

A few months ago, I was at a church attic sale and ran across these for a song:


They are candle holders for taper candles. I almost never use tapers, but I loved the form of these tassels. And of course, the chipped gold wasn't really working for me, either. I just knew that if I gave them a little love, they would be perfect on my mantel!

First off, these guys had a lot of wax dripped all over.


I used soapy water to gently clean them and a case knife to remove the wax. This step took just a little bit of patience.

Then I found some great spray paint. I'm not a big spray painter, but I knew I wanted something glossy, but neutral. This glossy gray paint fit the bill perfectly!

Unfortunately, the nature of the tassels (as in super detailed) meant a lot of coats of spray paint...from all different directions!


But eventually, I got the coverage I wanted.

These guys sure shine against my (still) white walls in the living room! I know that we're going to have loads of fun together! It's amazing what some spray paint will do for a couple of dollar purchase!


But I'm still not going to use them with tapers....

Today, I hope you have a wonderful, blessed time with family and friends.

I'll get to see my mom's extended family today! I haven't seen some of those folks in 2 years, which means that they haven't met the twins, either. I am hoping that the twins don't freak out when they see that many people at once...many of whom they've only met once or twice, if at all. But I still can't wait!!


I also hope that you find a peace and joy that only a little baby born in a manger so long ago can provide.

Merry Christmas from my family and me!

Do you have any cookies ready for Santa?


We made these little cookies for the man in the red suit today. If you hurry, you have just enough time to put them by the tree before you go to bed to dream of sugarplums...

Dipped Gingerbread Cookies

Cookie Ingredients:


6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoons vanilla
the zest of 1 small orange or tangerine
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Glaze Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons water

With a mixer (I love my stand mixer!) beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed.


Add molasses, vanilla, and zest, and mix until well blended.

Pause to watch your kids dance to the beat of the mixer


While you're blending, in another medium bowl, mix together remainder of the cookie ingredients (or have a helper do it).


Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet while your mixer is running on medium low.


Split the batch of dough into two and wrap in plastic wrap.


Let it sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours but less than 8.

Preheat oven to 375. Line cookie sheets with a silicone liner or parchment paper.

Flour your work surface and rolling pin well, and roll one part of the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. Use a cookie cutter of your choice.



Place your cookies on your cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.


Bake for about 8-10 minutes--Start checking them at 8. Let them sit for about 5 minutes or so before putting them on a cooling rack.


You can decorate them any way you want, but I decorated mine by mixing powdered sugar and water. I then dipped the cookies in the glaze. It makes the trees look like they have snow on them and the gingerbread men look like they have pants on.



I based this recipe on one I found at Food.com, but I changed a few ingredients!

Well, it's time for a big holiday week! We're looking forward to lots of family time.

However, at this point, it looks like I'll be working Wednesday through Friday, while my husband has off all week. So...I'm planning the week so that he can do the cooking. Maybe that will mean we'll eat dinner before 7 o'clock!

Monday: Special Christmas Eve Dinner with just the immediate family...Loaded Baked Potatoes & Honey Glazed Chicken
Tuesday: Christmas with my extended family. I'm bringing Gingerbread Cookies and Deviled Eggs


Wednesday: Shrimp Stir Fry
Thursday: Twice Baked Potatoes & Sausage


Friday: Chili in the Crockpot
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner


Sunday: Some kind of soup...now that it's finally cold, I'm kind of craving soup!!

Update: I think I had auto post do this a little too early...sorry about this! This will be live this afternoon!

Do you  know Kelley over at the Grant Life?

She is an awesome blogger and a very sweet lady! She has been a great, encouraging bloggy friend to me.

And this is how sweet she is...she and some other lovely ladies are donating money for each link that is shared at Kelley's Financial Friday to the United Way of Sandy Hook/Newtown. This money is in honor of all of those affected by the horrible tragedy last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Along with other bloggers, I am sharing this link party on my own blog to spread the word.

Please, this is really really easy. If you have a project, recipe, or other post, please share through this link party. If you do facebook or twitter, please share this link party. It is something small...but something we all can do!!