Easy Toffee Recipe

I spent most of Sunday making candy and goodies for my fellow co-workers. Each year I search the Internet for new and different recipes. One thing I always look for is EASY! I love making items that look like they took time but in reality were quick and easy to whip up. One I found this year is Easy Toffee Recipe. It was easy. Of course, I didn't exactly follow directions...I always have to find a way to make the recipe my own =)

Easy Toffee Recipe

2 ½ sticks of butter, divided (no substitutes)
Saltine crackers (I used graham crackers and I like the way it turned out)
1 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
1 - 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 bag of chocolate chips (I was making candy so I melted the candy chocolate I had)
chopped nuts

1. Preheat oven at 425º. Cover a 15x10x1 jellyroll pan with heavy duty foil
2. Melt the ½ stick of butter and pour into the jelly roll pan
3. Cover the pan with crackers, breaking them to cover the small spots. Set aside.
4. In same pan, melt the 2 sticks of butter
5. Add the dark brown sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to low and cook for 2 minutes.
6. Remove from heat. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
7. Pour over crackers and spread evenly.
8. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until bubbly and the top begins to brown.
9. Remove from oven and set on wire rack. Let cool for 5 minutes.
10. Sprinkle chips and allow them to get shiny. Spread over the toffee.
11. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on top, lightly pressing them into the chocolate.
12. Let cool for 30 minutes on counter then place in refrigerator for another 30 minutes.

Cut and enjoy!!

It tastes so good and people would think you slaved over a hot stove LOL!

God bless!!

Holiday Traditions Dec22 Blog Carnival

Growing up my family had the typical traditions centered around the Christmas holiday. We hung stockings. We set out goodies for Santa and his reindeer. We got our parents up at the crack of dawn (not knowing they had just fallen asleep after assembling various gifts). One thing my parents did that I will always remember because it was so magical. We would have a live tree each year. It wouldn't come into the house until Dec. 24th. My father was in charge of the lights. Other than that when we went to bed it was not decorated. It was always so wonderful to wake up and see the tree with tinsle and ornaments just sparkling and shining. We were told that Santa took care of it! (I sure wish Santa would come take care of my poor litte 4 ft. tree that is sitting in the corner of my living room!)

Every Christmas eve, we would eat fish. We would even have shrimp...such an extravagance!! It would be ham for dinner the next day, and the next day, and the next day.

My traditions with my own children are similar. One thing we started doing when they were very young was reading "The Polar Express" and listening for the bells. We would also make a birthday cake for Jesus because, after all, it was His special day! My daughter (at 16) still puts out a plate for Santa...I must confess it keeps the little girl inside of me alive.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

Ms Moo Makes Great Soap!

First I must say...I love the shop's name...the owner of this lovely little etsy shop is lovingly referred to as Ms. Moo! She is an actve member of the Etsybloggers Team! It is a delight to just browse through the items she has for sale. The pictures are just wonderful and many of the lotions, scrubs and soaps look good enough to eat! (it would be wise to just use as directed!) Ms. Moo (Linda) is coming up on her one year anniversary on etsy and has many sales and satisfied customers. Below are some items currently for sale that I know I would like to see wrapped under my tree.

Vanilla Whipped Sugar Scrub

Razz Nill Soap

For the lucky guy...Bay Rum Soap

Limited Edition - Christmas 2008 - Candy Cane Soap

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a product tester and I got to take some Sparkling Champange Whipped Shea Butter for a trial run. It was fabulous. The scent was intoxicating! And my skin felt wonderful!

Ms. Moo takes lots of care in her creations. I hope you will stop by and give her products a try. I am hoping for some Christmas cash so I can do some shopping there too!

Happy Holidays and God bless!!

Christmas Party

Last night was my company's fancy smancy Christmas party. Here are a couple of pictures of me and hubby dressed up and ready for a fun time!

God bless and have a great weekend!!!

My Fat Bottom Zippered Bag

Well...here it is...my original creation...The Fat Bottom Zippered Bag!!!

I even got fancy and put a pocket on the inside!

I can't wait to make more for my etsy shop! Let me know what you think.

God bless!

Mondays

It is Monday morning and I am exhausted! Busy, busy weekend ~ but all went well. Last night the concert was amazing!! I am struggling to find some Monday motivation. I am faced with a list of items to do at work and I am so not motivated! Hopefully, with a cup of tea and diving in, all will get done.

I didn't craft at all this weekend ~ maybe that is why I am feeling a bit low. I always feel so much better when I have touched my creative side. There is such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when I complete a project. I really want to begin working on some Christmas gifts for the friends that bless my life. Thankfully, this week looks like I have two evenings I can do just that.

I am excited about a sewing project I have. I am calling it the "Fat quarter Fat bottom make up bag". I made one for my daughter (she always gets my first try at a new project). Then I made one for me with some improvements like a pocket inside the bag. It has a zippered closure and fits all my make up. Most bags are just too darn skinny and I can never close them. This just might be the first sewing item I will put in my etsy shop. I will get a picture and post it soon...sometime tonight I hope.

I am truly blessed!

~Music - such a blessing to be a part of a congregation that is soooo talented!

~Family - they can be quirky but I love them!

~Christmas - just the fact that we can celebrate any way we choose is a blessing!

Let me leave you with an etsyblogger team member, Tulips Treasure Box, and her amazing necklaces....check out the listing here

God bless you all!!

And the Weekend Begins

Busy, Busy, Busy this weekend.

Tonight is date night with hubby. We are going downtown to Oceanaire. The best seafood restaurant in landlocked Indianapolis.

Tomorrow, up bright and early and heading to church for a marathon concert rehearsal.

Back home to pick up my lovely daughter and off to the salon...I have gone seven weeks this time and my hair is a little worse for wear!!! Can you say ROOTS?!

Sunday morning up and out the door for church then back home and then off to church for our Christmas concert.

In my downtime I still have to drag our decorations out of the shed, go grocery shopping, do laundry, and work on my etsy items! What a blessing to have a full and busy life!!

God bless!!!

I am in a treasury!!

Thank you to ImagineThatInc for including my Raspberry and Sage drawstring bag!

My Grandmom's Brownies

When I was growing up, every Sunday we would head to visit family about an hour away. One stop was always at my mother's mother's home. She lived in the right half of a duplex across for the fire station in my Mom's hometown. As you walk in the front door, you enter a closed in porch. The house was small and so was Grandmom. As we grew up, the biggest milestone was when we were taller than she was.

My grandmother made the most delicious brownies ever! I am not sure she used a recipe. When you asked her for it she would say "Some flour, some sugar etc" She never knew exact amounts. She would just mix them up and they were perfect!

The best part was she always seemed to have a tin of brownies on her front porch. I can still remember how they tasted. I have never had better since.


I miss you Grandmom...and your brownies.

God bless!!!