design each moment

Peppermint Bark

My mother is a great candy maker. Holidays at our house always include homemade candy. She makes fudge (the best I have ever had) and peanut brittle, and english toffee to name a few. Kevin and I have taken on the tradition and even though I don't expect to ever make toffee as good as my mothers we enjoy making candy and sharing it with family, friends, and neighbors.

Today I decided to try out a new candy "recipe" (I didn't have a recipe so we made one up) - Peppermint Bark. It was fun and so easy even Cole, (age 3) got to help!

(Alexis writes our family notes on the chefs board)

Step 1 - crush the candy canes - (this is where Cole helped) we used the end of a 3 pound weight. The candy canes were sandwiched between layers of waxed paper to keep them from "flying" off the counter.

Step 2 - melt a bag of white chocolate chips (a little over a minute on medium power in the microwave did the trick.)

Step 3 - Stir the chocolate and mix in 1/2 - 1 cap of peppermint extract.

Step 4 - Pour and spread chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with waxed paper & sprayed lightly with cooking spray.

Step 5 - add crushed candy cane. (I like some of the candy cane mixed into the chocolate and some sprinkled on top.)

Hope you are enjoying each moment of this holiday season.

Counting Down

Every year we count down the days before Christmas with our count down tree.

I've mentioned that I am trying to create an extra special Christmas this year.
I have been doing things a little above and beyond so...

This year I decided to make counting down the days a little more exciting. I took the numbered "ornaments" out of their storage pocket and attached them each to a gift. My children open a gift each morning before they place the numbered ornament on the count down tree.

There are 25 days to count down; so, I had to be a little creative with the gifts (didn't want to blow the budget.) All of the items are things to help us think about Christmas. Some of the gifts are Christmas music, some are Christmas stories, some of the gifts are supplies to make Christmas crafts or goodies to share with friends and neighbors.

I have had so much fun putting it all together and I am certain that it will make this year's count down more memorable.