Christmas Baking

If you're like me, hearing your kids bicker all day can make you as crazy as a soup sandwich. So before I started my holiday baking I thought it to be in everyone's interest to start off with a spot of wine. Let me set the scene. I had just finished clearing and cleaning the kitchen island and Ryan brings his paperwork in to pay bills or go through mail or whatever. To me, he might as well have plopped down kindling right there on my island to start a fire! Yeah, it was that kind of day. Ryan had some Christmas carols playing in the living room that sounded more like Thrash Metal to me. I have to confess, I don't really love Christmas music. I can handle Frosty or Rudolph but when you get into that Jazzy or Country stuff I feel like I'm gonna snap. So I think you get it. I was grouchy but it was not going to prohibit my Christmas baking. I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea from all my pretty pictures. I like to keep things real. 

Haystacks

3 Cans of chow mein noodles

2 Bags of Butterscotch chips

Put your morsels in a large microwave safe bowl for 1 minute and stir.

Put back in the microwave for 1 more minute and stir. You want it to be a smooth creamy consistency. 

Sir in your chow mien noodles a little at a time until well coated. 

Some people like to add peanuts or peanut butter but this is the way I like them best.

Then just spoon them out onto wax or parchment paper.

There you have your cute little haystacks. This recipe will yield about 36 dependent on how big are small you make your stacks.

Some call them bird's nest. That means a little more shaping and just drop some M & M's for your "eggs."

Oreo Balls

1 package plus 6 extra. You have to buy 2 packages because you need to account for all the Oreos that will be eaten while you try to make this recipe.

We crush them by hand because the kids like getting their hands dirty but you could also just give them a quick spin in a food processor.

1 Box of  softened cream cheese 

Mix together to form a well blended dough.

Roll into balls.

You'll need about 1 pound of vanilla flavored candy coating. I use almond bark. 

Melt it in the microwave for about two minutes stirring after one minute.

Dependent upon your mood, you may find it necessary to add more alcohol. 

I went with a little Vodka, Cran-Raspberry.

Dip your balls rolled Oreos in the melted candy coating and sprinkle (before coating dries)  with colored sugar if you would like to add a little color.

By the time I finished these I was in a much better mood. I'm sure it was the Christmas cheer and not the alcohol.