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GIFT EXCHANGE:
I got off work at 6 and had to go home and get Nicole and Sarah's presents, then I ran back to work and gave them their presents and came back home for a second time.
I was planning on giving the girls their presents on Christmas Day but I didn't realize Sarah had off Christmas Day and that Nicole likes to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. It wasn't a problem - just kind of funny .
Nicole gave me a little bear and some sweet pea lotions from Bath and Body Works. I named the bear SWEET PEA!
Nicole and Sarah loved their gifts and said they couldn't wait to give their kitties their toy mouses. I knew the pet toys would be a hit. LOL.
A FEW PRESENTS FROM MOM:
Anyone who knows me pretty well knows that I am not a cook, but I do like to bake. Well, since we were making goodies for the holiday my Mom got Michelle and me a few early Christmas gifts - all having to do with baking.
Mom gave us some silicone baking dishes, a few silicone baking spatulas, some silicone cupcake trays in the shape of gingerbread men, four silicone Santa measuring cups, and a few other things - including a Burl Ives Christmas CD with my favorite Christmas song on it (Have A Holly Jolly Christmas).
My Aunt wanted to know what the CD had to do with cooking - my Mom said "to listen to while we bake of course" and she pulled out her Christmas present to the family. I've been wanting one for a few years now - ever since the old one broke - a record player. It's similar to the old one - as in it plays records, cassettes and the radio - but this new one also plays CDs.
So, I happily ran into my old bedroom closet and pulled out all the records - my Mom's from childhood, my grandma's old ones, and all the kid ones Michelle and I used to listen too. We had a blast singing and dancing in the kitchen and living room.
********************************************We made three different kinds of desserts:
Pigs in a Blanket, Eclair Pie, and Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms
I was going to have a step-by-step of the whole fun baking process - and it would have been cute too - but sadly for some reason the pictures I sent from my camera-phone didn't send to my email address - I don't know what happened. But because I deleted them as I sent them there is no way to re-send them :(
On the bright side I now know how to use my Canon Digital Camera that my Aunt got Michelle and me for our Birthday back in June - I took pictures of the finished products on Christmas morning with it (the Eclair Pie slid on the short ride from my Mom's house to my house (oops!) so it's not beautiful anymore like it was.
PICTURES OF THE FINISHED PRODUCTS AND THE RECIPES:
PIGS IN A BLANKET
INGREDIENTS:
at least one can of Pillsbury Poppin' Fresh Biscuits
a bag of Hillshier Farm Lit'l Smokies (we bought it at Sam's Club)
optional: Colby Jack Cheese
** Preheat Oven to 450F.
**We used two cookie sheets and cut each of the biscuits into halves on one sheet and once we wrapped the smokies and cheese in the dough making the PIGS IN A BLANKET then we put the PIGGY on the other sheet.
** Once we finished making all the PIGS IN THE BLANKETS we put the Tray in the Oven for 8-10 minute
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KISSES PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS
INGREDIENTS:
48 Hershey's Kisses Chocolates
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt granulated sugar
**Preheat oven to 375F. Remove foil from Kisses chocolates.
**Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
**Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on un-greased cookie sheet.
**Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. IMMEDIATELY press a chocolate Kisses into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and allow to cool completely. About four dozen cookies.
Recipe straight from WOMANSDAY magazine
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FRENCH ECLAIR PIE
(see it slid) :(
INGREDIENTS:
1 8oz. carton cool whip
2 packages instant French Vanilla Pudding
3 cups milk
graham crackers ( how many depending on your container - I used 16 crackers)
chocolate frosting
**Add milk to pudding and mix well (blender allowed). Let sit 5 minutes. Add cool whip (whole carton) and mix well (NO BLENDER - use a spatula fold in).
**In a 9 in. x 13 in. pan place a layer of graham crackers. Then alternate pudding and chocolate iced graham crackers, ending with a layer of chocolate iced graham crackers with icing on top.
Refrigerate over night.
You now have a French Eclair Pie!
**Recipe taken from my Grandma's collection - slightly revised - we like more chocolate!
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