Christmas Cookies Galore!!

I really enjoy cooking, baking-- and occasionally even cleaning.

I highly doubt you will ever convince any of my children of any of those things... Life has seriously been a wild ride on a collision course- where baking is done by Wal-Mart, where while I DO cook when I can- there are days when salami sandwiches, a piece of fruit, and some cherry tomatoes or sliced cucumbers  is as fancy as dinner gets, and where cleaning has become as futile as brushing my teeth while eating Oreos- I do it, but you can't ever tell.

Every year during the holidays, the kids (and their Mama) get excited to do some baking.  And the kids want to HELP.

And even "DO IT MYSELF!" Heaven forbid--- eek!

Kylie is 9, almost 10.

She wanted to make chocolate chip cookies.

I was feeling obsolete at her independence, amazed at how grown up she has gotten...

Until I looked over at her while I washed her dishes and saw this....

My faith in humanity was restored, and my little girl was back ;)

Alaina is four- and FIERCELY independent.  Finding a good project fer her was more of a challenge. 

I came up with White Chocolate-Peppermint Puppy Chow.  

SUPER EASY! With just four ingredients and no 'cooking' she loved it!!

First she unwrapped a box of candy canes, placed them in a Ziplock baggie and crushed them (by far her favorite part!)

Then we measured 5 cups of Rice Chex into a large bowl.  Meanwhile, I melted 10 ounces of white chocolate in the microwave.

Pour the chocolate over the Chex and mix gently. Adding the peppermint pieces towards the end. 

Put 1 cup of powdered sugar into a large ziplock baggie.  Add chocolate covered Chex, seal and shake to coat.  

I think it is much better chilled.

We also made Pretzel Turtles.

 (Line a cookie pan with parchment paper. Place small pretzels on it, top with a soft caramel.  Pop into oven at 300 for about 5 to 10 minutes, remove when just soft, but not melting. Gently press a pecan into the caramel- so that the caramel goes down into the pretzel. Cool completely.  Then melt some milk chocolate, pour half a tablespoon or so onto a fresh piece of parchment paper and place prepared pretzels on top. Cool completely.) DIVINE! Thank you Pioneer Woman! 

And they liked making buttons, too...

Pretzels on parchment paper, top with a Hershey's kiss. Pop into 200 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove and push Red or Green M and Ms down into the chocolate. Cool.

It was a fun project-- and Tristen even enjoyed unwrapping- and tasting all the candies.

I think I will call this project a win.

I think I will ignore bedtime tonight, too.

With all of this extra sugar, it's not going to be worth beating my head off the wall.....

Happy Holidays!  Hope your family is having as much fun with it as we are :)

P.S. Papa John's cooked tonight. I have a limit, and it was met for the day :)