Peas In A Pod

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Have you been looking for a fun Christmas gift to give and that comes from your kitchen?  I got a really cute gift today from a good friend and colleague at work, Jessica.

Hot Chocolate on a Stick.  It is so cute.  Inside the bag is some chocolate ganache and a homemade marshmallow.

Maybe you can see a little better here.  And there is a really cute tag on the bag explaining it all.

Here are the instructions.  I can't wait to try this.  Looks really good!  (Will bust my diet for this one.  haha.)

I took one out to get a better look at it.  I am going to drink it out of these great mugs from Germany that my grandmother gave me about 25 years ago.  I still have all six mugs and not a chip on one of them.  I love them so much.  I always think of her when I get these out at Christmastime.

Jessica said she found the recipe at this website:

http://whipperberry.com/2010/12/hot-chocolate-on-a-stick-gift-idea.html#

There are even printable tags you can use on the website above.  Nice!

I found a similar recipe and tutorial at this website:

http://www.makeandtakes.com/hot-chocolate-on-a-stick

Jessica said it was her first time making her own marshmallows and that that was interesting.  She said she had white, sticky stuff everywhere when she was whipping it up.  I have never made my own marshmallows.  My friend, Melissa (of Baking for the Boys fame) gave me homemade marshmallows one year.  My, they were good.  I can't even imagine making my own.  I'm going to enjoy sampling this hot chocolate!  Thank you, Jessica!

UPDATE:

AFTER SWEET PEA'S BATH TONIGHT, WE MADE SOME.

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO STIR IT INTO THE HOT MILK.

IT LOOKS MIGHTY GOOD.  BUT HOW DOES IT TASTE?

I HAVE TO BE HONEST.  THIS IS THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE I HAVE EVER TASTED!  WOW!  AND SWEET PEA AGREES!  VERY RICH, CREAMY, AND SWEET!

I hope this might inspire some others who are looking for a little crafty gift to give!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

UFO Update, Recipe for Butterscotch Peanut Bars, and Random Thoughts

It's Friday already!  Can you believe it?  The weeks are just flying by.

Time for a UFO update.  Not a whole lot accomplished in this department (or any other for that matter).

I finished this block for Henrietta Whiskers (a free BOM from Bunny Hill Designs).  Then, I noticed one of the strings holding up the sign is crooked.  I think I'll take it out and redo it.  Later, after quilting, this will get a button where the scarf ties and a button on each wheel of the cart.  I don't think it would be a good idea to put those on before quilting.  I am also not embroidering her eyes, as the directions say to.  They barely show up when I do.  So, I'm going to use a button or something for eyes, as well.  I think it's turning out cute.  This no longer qualifies as a UFO, because I'm caught up on it.  Now I have to get back to my other UFOs.

Hop on over to Blackberry Creek to see what everyone else is up to on their UFOs.

Tonight I have a Friday Night Sew In with the gals.  I'm trying to decide what to take.  I think I'll take Circle Stars and see if I can make progress on that.  I am going to take a back up project, however, because I think that one may require a lot of thought.  I don't do well working on things I have to think hard at during Friday Sew In.

I had to make something to bring tonight, and I felt like trying a new recipe.

I had picked up this Taste of Home Brownies and Bars Recipe Cards book at the grocery store.  There are a lot of great recipes in here for when you need bars or something to take to an event.  Recomended little cook book.  I thought I'd try a couple of the recipes.  I tried one that's a crust, then cream cheese, and chocolate on top.  It was good.  Really rich.  Not my favorite.

But I also tried the recipe for Butterscotch Peanut Bars, and it was FANTASTIC!

Don't they look fantastic?!  The combination of butterscotch and peanuts is really good!  I'm taking a plate full of these and the chocolage bars to school for a meeting with my graduate students today (last one of the semester), and I'll take the rest to Sew In tonight.

Here's the recipe.

Butterscotch Peanut Bars (Yield 4 dozen)

1/2 C butter, softened

3/4 C packed brown sugar

1-1/2 C all-purpose flour

3 C salted peanuts

TOPPING

1 package (10 to 11 oz) butterscotch chips

1/2 C light corn syrup

2T butter

1T water

1. Line a 15" x 10" x 1" baking pan with aluminum foil.  (I didn't have one and used a 9" x 13" pan and it worked fine.  The layer of peanuts was a little thicker.)  Coat the foil with cooking spray.  Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
3. Press into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes.  Sprinkle with peanuts.
4. In a large saucepan, combine topping ingredients.  Cook and stir over medium heat until chips and butter are melted.  Spread over hot crust.  Bake for 12-15 minutes longer or until topping is bubbly.  Cool on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.

Give them a try sometime and let me know how you like them!  I'm hooked!

It's a really cold morning here.  I'm ready for warm weather.

We had a beautiful sunrise over the lake behind our house this morning.  It's nice not having the leaves on the trees so we can really see the lake.  It was beautiful.  As I write this, however, it's above the trees to the right in this photo and glaring in my eyes!  LOL.

And Sweet Pea is very excited.  First of all, she gets a pajama day at school because her class did something wonderful yesterday (I can't remember what it was).  So, she is loving that.  Then, her school carnival is tonight.  I'll be taking her to that before I go to my Sew In.  AND her passport came in the mail yesterday!  (Boy, I cannot believe how much those things cost these days!)  She is really excited.  Now, she can come to Canada with us in a couple of weeks for the doll making class.  Very fun.  It's a busy day at the Pea Pod.

Well, have a great weekend.  I'm starting a diet on Monday.  I'll tell you about that on Monday.  What are you working this weekend?  I'll be doing some heaving end-of-the-semester grading.  We'll see if any sewing other than Friday night gets done...

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Baking for the boys: I feed the hungry (Recipe: Lemon Sandwich Cookies)

via bakingfortheboys.blogspot.com

My friend Melissa is at it again. This recipe for lemon sandwich cookies sooks soo incredibly good. I think I may have to try them! Hop on over to Melissa's blog to get the recipe!  Thanks, Melissa!

Bird’s Nest Cookies {recipe how to} — TipJunkie Easter

via easter.tipjunkie.com

I made these when I was a little kid, did you? Here's a free tutorial on how to do it. I think I'll ask Sweet Pea if she'd like to give it a go for a treat for her class. Very fun.

Baking For The Boys: An Attitude and Altitude Adjustment (Recipe: Brownies)

via bakingfortheboys.blogspot.com

When I first saw this photo, I thought, "Oh. My. God. Those look good!" (Sorry to those of you who find the saying "Oh, my God" offensive, but I grew up saying that and have a really hard time changing it. AND it IS what I thought!)

My friend, Melissa, is a baker extraordinaire. She maintains a cooking blog of her tried and true recipes. This one looks REALLY good. I'm gonna try it. (Too bad Sweet Pea and I made peanutbutter cookies last night. I can't justify making more treats already tonight. This will have to wait until next week).

Melissa also tells a great story about how she's got to change her life. Those of you working moms will appreciate it. Hop on over and check it out.