annie blog

What to Make?

I need some help here.

Reason: the holiday baking season will be upon us (me) soon and I’m taking a little poll.

What treat do you always, ALWAYS enjoy receiving to eat during the holidays? I’ve been making Rocky Road Fudge for the past several years. (It is great, by the way, you should totally try it.) And before that, there were the years that I made toffee. The year of cheese straws was memorable, too. Me and cheese straws go way back. Those and cucumber sandwiches — but I digress.

I want to make something new and great. I want to make something that will be appreciated by all the people who are sweet to my squirrelly boys and to friends and family, too.

So, what do you really look forward to or remember fondly getting in the past. Did your grandma make pralines every year? Rum balls? Pecan bars? What says “yummy holiday treat” to you?

I know you’re probably wondering and thinking that I should chill as it is not EVEN Thanksgiving yet. I do like to do my X-mas baking and gifting in early December, though.

Oh, and my neighbor just put a whole box full of Christmas tins that she has received over the years on the curb today. It sat there for all of 2 minutes before the Hoosiers known as Jonnie and Annie moseyed on over there.

I’ve got my boxes y’all. What do I put in them?

What to Make?

I need some help here.

Reason: the holiday baking season will be upon us (me) soon and I’m taking a little poll.

What treat do you always, ALWAYS enjoy receiving to eat during the holidays? I’ve been making Rocky Road Fudge for the past several years. (It is great, by the way, you should totally try it.) And before that, there were the years that I made toffee. The year of cheese straws was memorable, too. Me and cheese straws go way back. Those and cucumber sandwiches — but I digress.

I want to make something new and great. I want to make something that will be appreciated by all the people who are sweet to my squirrelly boys and to friends and family, too.

So, what do you really look forward to or remember fondly getting in the past. Did your grandma make pralines every year? Rum balls? Pecan bars? What says “yummy holiday treat” to you?

I know you’re probably wondering and thinking that I should chill as it is not EVEN Thanksgiving yet. I do like to do my X-mas baking and gifting in early December, though.

Oh, and my neighbor just put a whole box full of Christmas tins that she has received over the years on the curb today. It sat there for all of 2 minutes before the Hoosiers known as Jonnie and Annie moseyed on over there.

I’ve got my boxes y’all. What do I put in them?

Question: What is dandelion hair?

Now you know.

Question: What is dandelion hair?

Now you know.

Question: What is dandelion hair?

Now you know.

Snowbear’s Birthday
Well, unbeknownst to me, today was Snowbear’s birthday. Snowbear is the long-loved bear of my youngest son. He has many stuffed animal loves, but Snowbear came first. Just this week, I had a dream about Snowbear, myself. I dreamed that I was cradling him and singing him that song from Dumbo, Baby of Mine — that is, I thought it was a dream until I saw Snowbear on a makeshift pallet by my bed when I woke. #4 son informed me that Snowbear had really liked my singing to him. Weird.

Anyway, like I was saying, today was Snowbear’s birthday. And, so, we celebrated.

Snowbear had a makeshift tower of books to sit on.

We drank Dr. Fizz. We ate Dum-dums.

In fact, I think that Snowbear’s birthday may have been a ploy to get more Dum-dums.

Oh, how we love, LOVE Dum-dums.

Of course, 2 dum-dums are better than one.

That is something that I just love about #4 son.
He is a here-i-am-world-embrace-me kind of kid.
He is passionate.
He is imaginative.
He believes in celebrating.
He believes that more is better.

And heaven help you if you want to convince him otherwise.

Snowbear’s Birthday
Well, unbeknownst to me, today was Snowbear’s birthday. Snowbear is the long-loved bear of my youngest son. He has many stuffed animal loves, but Snowbear came first. Just this week, I had a dream about Snowbear, myself. I dreamed that I was cradling him and singing him that song from Dumbo, Baby of Mine — that is, I thought it was a dream until I saw Snowbear on a makeshift pallet by my bed when I woke. #4 son informed me that Snowbear had really liked my singing to him. Weird.

Anyway, like I was saying, today was Snowbear’s birthday. And, so, we celebrated.

Snowbear had a makeshift tower of books to sit on.

We drank Dr. Fizz. We ate Dum-dums.

In fact, I think that Snowbear’s birthday may have been a ploy to get more Dum-dums.

Oh, how we love, LOVE Dum-dums.

Of course, 2 dum-dums are better than one.

That is something that I just love about #4 son.
He is a here-i-am-world-embrace-me kind of kid.
He is passionate.
He is imaginative.
He believes in celebrating.
He believes that more is better.

And heaven help you if you want to convince him otherwise.

Snowbear’s Birthday
Well, unbeknownst to me, today was Snowbear’s birthday. Snowbear is the long-loved bear of my youngest son. He has many stuffed animal loves, but Snowbear came first. Just this week, I had a dream about Snowbear, myself. I dreamed that I was cradling him and singing him that song from Dumbo, Baby of Mine — that is, I thought it was a dream until I saw Snowbear on a makeshift pallet by my bed when I woke. #4 son informed me that Snowbear had really liked my singing to him. Weird.

Anyway, like I was saying, today was Snowbear’s birthday. And, so, we celebrated.

Snowbear had a makeshift tower of books to sit on.

We drank Dr. Fizz. We ate Dum-dums.

In fact, I think that Snowbear’s birthday may have been a ploy to get more Dum-dums.

Oh, how we love, LOVE Dum-dums.

Of course, 2 dum-dums are better than one.

That is something that I just love about #4 son.
He is a here-i-am-world-embrace-me kind of kid.
He is passionate.
He is imaginative.
He believes in celebrating.
He believes that more is better.

And heaven help you if you want to convince him otherwise.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Translation: Rice Crispy Treats made with browned butter and a little salt.
Reality: They are awesome.

I just love recipes like these. Recipes that use all the regular ingredients for something that you’ve made often only manipulating the ingredients to end up with a much tastier product.

Yes, these are aldivore. Score! Try them.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Translation: Rice Crispy Treats made with browned butter and a little salt.
Reality: They are awesome.

I just love recipes like these. Recipes that use all the regular ingredients for something that you’ve made often only manipulating the ingredients to end up with a much tastier product.

Yes, these are aldivore. Score! Try them.