Butter Pecan Fudge

This is one of our favorite Christmas Candies- an alternative to traditional Chocolate fudge. It's Butter Pecan Fudge (without the Pecan's in this picture). My kids are funny about nuts so I make some with nuts and some without.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup pecan halves, toasted, and coarsely chopped

In a heavy saucepan, combine the butter, sugars, cream and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly!!!! Boil for 5 minutes (set a timer and sit there and stir, stir, stir!!)
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar and nuts. Spread in a square baking pan and refridgerate until hard. Cut into squares.

Cookie Dough Truffles

Here is an easy Christmas Candy that your kids can help make, more importantly they are really yummy. As far as a dipping candy, these are the easiest ones I've ever made so that is a plus too.

Filling:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 can Sweetened Condensed milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup minature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (that is if your kids will eat nuts)

1 1/2 pounds chocolate candy coating for dipping

Cream butter, brown sugar until fluffy. Add flour, milk and vanilla- mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into balls; place on waxed paper lined baking sheets and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.

Melt the chocolate coating in batches in the microwave. If you've never dipped chocolates, melt it for 1 minute first and then 30 sec. intervals until it is smooth, stiring in between. Dip balls in and place on wax paper lined baking sheets. Refridgerate until hard. Store in air tight container in the fridge.

Happy Candy Making!!

Soft Gingersnap Cookies

I can't take credit for this recipe but I wanted to share it. My awesome friend Heather Wagstaff (who I have quoted the Texas Caviar recipe in here as well) gave me this recipe. My kids and Brady LOVE these cookies. They need NO adjustments from me- so here's the recipe. Thanks Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wet Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter (a note on this- don't substitue margarine, they just don't turn out the same)

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

Dry Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp Baking Soda

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp salt

Mix Wet ingredients together, mix dry ingredients together. Mix dry into the wet. Roll into balls, roll into sugar

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Do Not Overbake!!!

Ham & Cheese- Shells & Trees

This is throw together poor man's food, but it's an absolute kid favorite at our house. I mostly make it when Brady is out of town and don't feel like making a big production for dinner. It's got your carbs, protein, and veggies all in one dish and the kids gobble it up. It's not really a "RECIPE" but it's just an idea that I'm throwing out there that is very kid friendly (unless your kids won't eat broccoli, but maybe they will in this dish).

3/4 box Shells pasta, cooked and drained (small shells, medium shells, or just "shells", but not large or Jumbo shells)
1 cup cooked broccoli chopped up
Ham, chopped (how ever much you want really)
1 jar Bertolli Alfredo sauce.
a little salt & pepper to taste.

Combined it all- kind of like a gullosh. My kids really love this. Brady even eats this great.