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Peanut Butter Toffee Bark

December 19, 2011 By 1 Comment

OK — I have to say that the said ‘secret ingredient’ in this is a tad weird but I assure you, I tested and tried this recipe and it is so yummy!! See if people can guess what that ingredient might be. My youngest guessed cause he said he saw the bottom. Intrigued?? Read on ;)

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Peanut Butter Toffee With Saltines – Grin & Bake It

1/4 lb (one sleeve) saltines (the salted ones)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chips

1/3 cup peanut butter

Chopped M&M’s

Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper (the pan needs to have a lip to it or these things will leak all over your oven.) Place saltines in pan, salted side up. Leave just a bit of space between crackers so the toffee with encase the entire cracker when done.

Bring sugar and butter to a boil in a saucepan. Boil for 3 minutes (time the boiling after the whole thing starts boiling, not just the edges). And, resist the urge to stir it.

Pour boiling mixture over crackers. Place in oven for 5 minutes.

Put dollops of peanut butter on top and return to the oven for 1 minute.

Spread melted peanut butter over mixture with spatula and top with chocolate chips. Then, put back into the oven for 1 minute.

Use spatula to spread the chocolate chips (which have melted). Top with M&M pieces (or whatever you come up with). Place in freezer for at least 1 hour. Once these are set, crack them into individual pieces.

Filed Under: Holidays, In the Kitchen Tagged With: ,

Christmas Crafting and Gift Giving Ideas

December 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tis the season ~ and my how fast it is going! Insert sigh. I get so sad at how fast this time of year is. How about you? Are you all about the season or ready to see the craziness end? I never seem to do all that I want to do. Thanks to Pinterest I am reminded of the million and one ideas that I’d LIKE to do. It’s OK, I seem to do plenty and it is all so much fun! The kids are officially on Winter Break as of 12:35pm yesterday. After two days of parties and some very cute renditions of Christmas songs and The Night Before Christmas, I am ready for things to slow down. No schedules and time with my kids to be Merry & Bright. Of course on the list is some holiday crafting! Some of the below we will do and others are on the future holiday to do list. Enjoy!

Whole Living Magazine shared this idea for herbal firestarters. A warm, cozy fire that smells good? Sign me up!

Oh Martha — she just has some of the best ideas! You can find so many ideas on her site but I will share some of my faves with you.

Pipecleaner candy canes. Too cute {and easy!}

Seed packet ornaments. My in-laws would get a kick out of this idea! What a fun way to decorate for an avid gardener.

 A great way to use old buttons.

I have wanted to do this idea for a couple of years. I even bought the cookie cutters but that is as far as I have gotten ;)

Homemade lip gloss? Yes really. This cute idea came from Cheeky Kitchen.

I heart wood blocks and all of the things you can do with them. I really love this idea for wooden photo holders over at Under the Table and Dreaming.

I also found these fab no sew wine bags on Under the Table and Dreaming. I have the felt but I have not made them … yet!

Every year we make plates of treats for the neighbors. As part of our gift, we also prepare a bag of reindeer food for the little ones in the house. The boys help me assemble these bags. The Idea Room had a little blog post and a printable for this sweet idea today.

Once again Pinterest strikes ~ this time I saw these glizty cardboard stars on a site called Make Something. They are so fun! Apparantly they were used in a store front window display but hmmmm, they sure would add to my decor. Perhaps strung loosely across the ceiling? They are fun and simple.

Do you have any holiday crafting or easy gift ideas? I’d love to hear them. Happy Holidays. May they be full of all things happy for you and yours.

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Crafts, Fun finds, Holidays Tagged With: , ,

Avalanche Bars

December 16, 2011 By 1 Comment

All that I can say about this recipe is yum. So delish and perfect for a cookie exchange. Which I happen to be going to in an hour. Also, I should mention that Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes a version of this which is what pulled me in when I found it on Pinterest courtesy of Cookies and Cups.

{my camera has gone all crazy lately so I am sharing one of her pics — they do look this perfect ;) }

Avalanche Bars

1.  In microwave-safe bowl dump in white chips and heat on med power for 1 minute.  Stir and continue in 30 second increments until chips are melted.
2.  Combine the peanut butter with the melted chips
3.  Add the krispies.
4.  Let cool approx 15 – 20 minutes stirring every 5 minutes or so to help cool.
5.  Add the marshmallows and the mini chocolate chips and stir to combine.
6.  Dump mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly, pressing lightly with the back of your spoon, but do not compact too much, otherwise they will get hard.
7.  Press the remaining chocolate chips into the top for garnish.

Filed Under: Fun finds, In the Kitchen Tagged With: ,

Holiday Mantel 2011

December 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

I adore the change of seasons but mostly I love September – December when my mantel changes nearly monthly. It is so fun to be expressive and creative with holiday decor, candles and whatever else I can dig up.  Every year I seem to recreate my decor. Partly because I forget exactly what I did the year before. I always say that I will take, print and file photos to remind myself of what I did — but I always forget. This year will be the year .. maybe ;) My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia is featuring a fun mantel linky party. This is a blog that I love to follow. Her home is beautiful and her ideas inspiring. Head on over to check out my holiday mantel and others. Bee inspired!

My sources? I created the M {for our last name of course} using a cardboard M from Joann’s and covering it in red burlap. The wreath was a Target find a few years back. The cranberry garland is a Michaels find. The bronze candle decor is from Pier One. I found the sweet little frame at HomeGoods. My holiday candle is from Bath & Body. I always pick them up when they are 2 for $20. I found the little red mercury tea-lite holders at Target just this year for 99 cents. Most of the stuff has been around for a couple years but every year I find something new to add to my collection.

 

 

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Fun finds, Holidays Tagged With: ,

Getting Crafty with Advent Calendars

December 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

I see so many ideas of crafts I’d like to do. Especially now that Pinterest has become a part of my world. I do {heart} Pinterest!! I recently hosted a little Holiday Open House to showcase some of my crafts. It was first attempt at hosting such a thing and I think it went well. I sold some, had requests for other things and learned a lot! I had some other fabulous vendors here as well. Curious? Here are the Etsy links:

Buffalo Hill Designs {hey, that’s me!! My shop doesn’t have a lot at the moment due to holiday events and keeping my home stocked to sell.}

K Andez It’s a Bow Thing {who happens to be my cousin as well — craftiness runs in the family :) }

Love Your Body Essentials

Lumen Candles

The Local Honey Market

Now aside from all the fun I had at my Open House, I wanted to share one of my creations with you. Maybe it will inspire you to get crafty or at least do an Advent Calendar with your kids. Or maybe you will contact me and say, “Hey, I’d love to buy one of those nifty advent boards you made.” Which by the way, I have not listed them on Etsy but they are $35 {shameless plug over here!!} Regardless, I wanted to share them because I think they came out so cute! Instead of goodies, I put little notes in each day that gave something to do. These are special things to do as a family. Won’t you remember the moments instead of candy? I found this idea on Pinterest, click here to see the original.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Crafts, Fun finds, Holidays Tagged With: , ,