Grand Finale!!! Christmas Baking!

Well, I am back online after a week of being separated from the outside world, or so it seems. Earlier this week I finished packing all of my Christmas Baking up into Christmas tins for distribution. It was an all morning affair but *sigh* I am finally done!! Here are some pics of how it went:

Getting Started:

Assembly Line:

Finished with 95!!!! Messy Kitchen!

Christmas Baking (Long) Day 10 ~ More Recipes!!!

WOW, super long day today. It was supposed to snow all day so I planned to stay home. It didn’t snow too bad but I did stay home (sort of good because I didn’t have to move boxes then) OK here we go:

1. Finished Peanut Blossoms, have them coming out of my ears now!!

2. Made Peanut Butter Balls: want to know how ?? here it is:

1 c graham crackers

3 1/2 c. powered sugar

2 sticks margarine

1 c crunch peanut butter

Mix well and roll in to balls. After this I like to put them in the refrig or the freezer so they harden a little so it is easier to dip them.

Melt chocolate. Can used either almond bark or chocolate chips/wax .

Dip balls into chocolate mixture and place on wax paper (or trash bags like I did since I ran out of wax paper !)

3. Make Turtles!! my favorite (to eat, not make!)

Melt: 14 oz caramels ( I use Kraft individually wrapped squares) with 1/4 c. evaporated milk

Add 2 c. pecans after the caramels are melted (2 c. says the recipe. I like to do 1 1/2 c. pecan halves plus 1 c. pecans chopped, they are not so gooey this way and stay together better)

**** very important. You need to drop these by the teaspoon but from MUCH practice I finally figured out that you should spray the wax paper with non stick spray that way you won’t be picking little pieces of paper the bottom of your caramels !

Same as Peanut butter balls, melt chocolate, (I was running out of my almond bark to I did half bark and half chocolate chips and it worked fine.) These for sure need to be in the freezer or they are a sloppy mess. I put one pan in the freezer at a time and switch them out as I dip them

Now, you can’t be pokey Joe on these, the chocolate doesn’t last forever!!

Here is the real picture! I am a MESS as is my kitchen.

I am finished with the baking part I think so tomorrow I will be cleaning up and packing every thing up so we can move on Friday and Saturday. Next week I plan to pack them in the tins and get cards done!!!           

Christmas Baking Day 8 and 9

No pics today but the last two nights I have been baking more of the Peanut Blossoms, almost done!!

Christmas Baking Day 7

Did a quick run to Aldi and Wal-Mart ( which is out of Caramel squares already!)Finished the Peanut Butter Cups (ran out of Reese's the other day so got more tonight)

Did 3 batches of Peppermint Fudge (now ran out of peppermint extract so I may be done with those)

Started on the first half of the Peanut Blossoms (a lot more to go! ) Obviously ran out of Paper towel so using Valentine's Napkins:)

Well, have to show your this. I LOVE this pan. It is a WILTON brand 11 x 13 with a cover. Also showing off my kitchen labels from MyTwoBabes

Peanut Blossoms:

1 c. peanut butter

2 eggs

1 c. shortening
4 T milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

3 1/2 c. flour

Roll into balls, then roll in sugar. Bakc 10-12 min at 375 degrees. Put chocolate kiss in center immediately after taking out of the oven.

Christmas Baking Day 6

Finished 2 more batches of Peppermint Fudge (one last night, one this morning) Only 3 more to go!!

Finished the last 2 Batches of Fantasy Fudge.

Unwrapped all of the Reese's and Kisses (wow, what a job! Did spend some quality time with the kids at the table singing Sunday School Program songs)


Baking Peanut Butter Cups now, 100 down so far.

Peanut Butter Cups:

1/2 c. margarine

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 c. flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Bake in small muffin tins. 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Press Reese's mini PB cups into center immediately after baking. ENJOY!!

Check the sidebar soon for some of my other recipes!!

Baking Day 5

Day 5: Shopping again!!

Then 2 more batches of Fantasy Fudge. The flexible silicone pans are working AMAZINGLY!! No waste, no sticking, I even bought one more today.

First Batch of Peppermint Fudge, back by popular demand it is super creamy but very easy to make.

8 Batches of White Chocoloate Clusters: ended up with about 230 of them.

Now: TIRED!!! We are moving a week later than we thought so I have to try to get more done here than I planned.

How to bake Christmas Goodies for 100+: Days 1-4

Since this is my fourth (but largest) year of making an assortment of goodies for my husband's clients, I thought I would bring you along. Everyone always asks: "how do you do it!". If you break it down it really isn't that bad (plus Obama is speaking tonight so nix the TV:)

DAY 1: December 26, 2008. Went to Wal-Mart and bougth 75 Christmas tins (red with white snowflakes) and 25 red circle trays at 50% off ( I will show you them later, they are still packed away)

DAY 2: (last week) Shop at Aldi for basic baking supplies. Mix Peanut Blossom Cookie Mix and Freeze. (6 batches)

DAY 3: Mix Peanut Butter Balls mix and freeze. (6 batches)

DAY 4: (today) Mix Peanut Butter Cup Mix and Freeze. (6 batches) Make first 2 batches of Fantasy Fudge. Tried something new this year. I always seen to "waste" some fudge becuase it is hard to get it out of the pan even if I line with wax paper first. I found these silicone flexible pans at Aldi for $3.99 so I am giving them a try.

Next I need to shop for more special things like evaporated milk, caramels, white baking chips, dipping chocolate, almond paste, white frosting, etc.

Stay Tuned and I will show you my progress up until the end!!!