Can you believe I’m posting on a Saturday?! Neither can I.

It’s not that I don’t like posting on Saturdays, it’s just that I never seem to have time. And not that I have time right now but I wanted to share a few things with you that I think are very important and it should not surprise you this important stuff has to do with food.

Below, I have reposted one of my most popular posts from last year. Remember my Handmade for the Holiday series?  Really tasty food that is unbelievably simple to make? Well, see below for the repost and then early next week I will be sharing a NEW recipe. So, if you run to the grocery store this weekend, please pick up these THREE, yes, just three items. I’m all about preparing you.

Ritz crackers

Peanut butter

Almond bark

Do as I say and also as I do. You’ll be glad you did. (I promise.)

Also, Megan asked me to post the photo of my kids visiting Santa in color, I just can’t resist her, so I’m doing just that.

santa-in-color

Remember, I don’t use flash, I really cranked up my ISO for this shot. (ISO 3200)

A few other questions answered:

Anna’s boots are from Target.  That Santa is at Bass Pro Shops. We take our kids there every year, not only is it free and they give you a free printed awesome photo, but you’re allowed to take pictures! And the staff is amazing and the Santa is perfect and there’s even a fake reindeer that looks really, really real. Like too real. Like maybe it’s real and I just put my kids’ lives in danger real.

Yes, I signed up for the discounts at Justice.

Now onto the recipe that you must try.

I know quite a few people who do not like to bake, who say they don’t know how or who are just too busy to do so.  So, I’ve decided to share one of my favorite recipes that is so easy, I guarantee ANYONE can do it.  The best part?  It’s a great gift…I promise it is.

Also?  You need not turn on your oven.

First…take two cookie sheets and put them in the REFRIGERATOR.  Don’t forget this step, it’s of upmost importance.

Do you have a double boiler? ( if you do not have one, that’s okay, I went without for YEARS and just used a regular saucepan with boiling water in it and a heat-safe bowl on top.  It gets super hot, so be careful.

This is what a double boiler looks like:
double boiler

You’ll also need the following:

what you need

Specifically, you’ll need-

16 oz (2 boxes) of Semi-sweet bakers chocolate
Peppermint extract (NOT mint, okay?)
2 sleeves of ritz crackers
some holiday sprinkles, of course!

Friends, what we are basically making is a nice little replica of thin mints…it’s not exact but they are very good.  (some people say they are better, but I disagree and I am an expert.)

A cookie.  Made with Ritz crackers.  Can you believe it?

ritzy'

Begin boiling your water.

Cut up your chocolate, I cut each half in half

Once your water is boiling and your ingredients are ready (I believe in totally prepping before beginning the baking/cooking process, you should, too.)  add your bowl or top saucepan to the boiling pan of water.  I turn the heat down to medium.

Add the chocolate, stirring often.  Once the chocolate is completely melted, add 1/2 tsp of  peppermint (NOT MINT) extract.  Stir thoroughly.

Retrieve one of the two cookies sheets out of the refrigerator and line with a single layer of wax paper.  Dip a cracker into the melted chocolate covering just enough of the cracker that your fingers do not get burned, then use a utensil to dip the undipped side.  I use the Pampered Chef skinny scraper, but you can use anything, really.

I also try to keep the flat side of the crackers as the top of the cookie but that’s just me, I prefer the way it looks.

Tap off excess chocolate (do not touch the chocolate with your fingers, you’ll burn your skin off) and place on cookie sheet.  If you do not put your cookie sheets in the refrigerator, your chocolate will pool up and your cookies won’t look as pretty, so keep em’ cold.   If you do not use wax paper, your chocolate will adhere to the cookie sheet and you will not be able to get them off of the sheet without breaking them.  I know this because I’ve done this.  This is also known as FAILURE.

You should stir your mixture up nicely after every sixth cookie or so.  K?

If you have a broken Ritz, do not use it, just cover it with Cheese Whiz and pop it in your mouth.  The last thing you want are crumbs in your chocolate mixture.

ready for cold

I do not decorate all of the cookies because some people prefer non-decorated cookies but if you do decorate them, this is the time to do it, while the chocolate is still nice and melty.  (yes, that’s an official term)

Have your sprinkles ready.  That’s important.

cookie decor

Once you have filled up the cookie sheet, place back in refrigerator.  Take out other sheet and fill up that bad boy with more of the ritzy, chocolate, peppermint (NOT MINT) goodness.

Once the chocolate is all used up…you’re done.  That’s it.  Place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 30-45 minutes.

Remove and place in muffin papers and place in cookie tins.    I was able to fill up six muffins liners, five cookies high and then filled up the other side of the cookie tin with Dove chocolate.

Who wouldn’t love this gift?

tin of yum

*if you use mint extract and not peppermint extract, your cookies will taste like toothpaste and that is disgusting.*

*trust me.*

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