Christmas 2022

Happy New Year. Thought a quick Christmas wrap up post was in order. We had a nice holiday at home with our kids. The usual: lots of food and gifts and merriment. I hope you all are well and wish for all a healthy and happy 2023.

This year Dean and I did all the decorating over Thanksgiving weekend. Boy, were we tired but it was nice to have it all done.

I have to have a kitchen tree. I spend so much time in this room that I love the glow of a tree. I bought some cupcake lights off of Amazon. I think they added a whimsical feel to the tree.

I am a vintage gal and I think I love how it reminds me of my mom's kitchen. Some of my Pyrex was hers.

The old vintage graphics on boxes were just the best don't you agree? I think they should go back to the colors and images of the olden days. I am so drawn to vintage Christmas gift tags. I think they remind me of presents under the tree as a child.

I found cute vintage inspired gift wrap at Walmart this year.

I just am a sucker for cute ribbon and kept some out so I could wrap extra little gifts I had picked up.

Happy little boxes of goodies ready to be handed out on Christmas Eve.

In the summer we had to say goodbye to our 17 year old chihuahua but we also have welcomed a new member of the family. Someone dumped a little cat near our house and she was screaming and crying and only 4lbs when we coaxed her to come eat in our yard. After a few weeks we finally caught her for a vet visit and some shots and then a week later to fix her. She has gone from a very scared feral little thing to feeling right at home and now spends most of her time sleeping on our furniture.

Her name is Peanut and you can see she has made herself at home.

Dean and I (and Tugg and Luns) wish you all the best and again a Happy New Year. Thank you for coming by and reading this very long post.

 

Sees Copycat Bordeaux Candy Recipe

 

Sees Copycat Bordeaux Candy Recipe

• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar

• 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter

• 1/4 cup Whipping Cream

• 1/2 tsp Instant Coffee Powder

• 1 pinch Salt

• 2 cups Powdered Sugar ; sifted

• 12 oz Chocolate or White Chocolate

Sprinkles or Jimmies for Garnish

Instructions:

1. Over medium heat, melt butter and brown sugar together in a heavy pan. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.

2. Stir in whipping cream, coffee, and salt and bring back to a boil. Stir constantly for 30 seconds and remove from heat.

3. Let cool for 10 minutes.

4. Add in powdered sugar and mix well.

5. Chill until mixture can hold shape of a ball. Roll into 1.5 to 2 inch balls. Chill again to firm.

6. For the dip, melt chocolate in the microwave in 1 minute increments or over a double boiler. Add the crisco to the melted chocolate and mix well. (I usually temper chocolate instead or use Ghirardelli melting chocolate) Melting Chips like Wiltons are the best. You can find them here: Wilton Candy Melts

7. Using a toothpick and fork dip candy balls to coat in chocolate and put on wax paper or parchment paper to dry. Add sprinkles on top before chocolate sets.