Puppy Chow

Oh my goodness, I wish someone had told me earlier about these scrumptious little treats!  My sister made goodie trays for everyone in the family and she included some Puppy Chow in mine.

After one taste, I immediately called my sister for the recipe.  She said the recipe was found here at Food.com.

9 c Chex cereal

6 oz melted chocolate chips, melted

1/2 c peanut butter, melted

1/4 c butter, melted

2 t vanilla

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

Put the cereal in a large bowl.  Combine the chocolate, peanut butter and butter; microwave on high for 1 minute or until melted.  Stir until smooth.  Add vanilla and pour over the cereal.  Stir to coat.  Pour into a large Ziplock bag; add the powdered sugar.  Shake to coat the cereal.  Pour out on waxed paper to cool.  Store in sealed containers or bags.

This is so yummy!  I really could have been selfish and not shared with the rest of my family… but ‘tis the season and all that, you know.

I’m joining Patti and Paula at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday and Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday.  See you there!

Hope your holidays were filled with yummy treats too!

DG

Let It Snow

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!  I had so much fun spending time with my family.  My son was home for 2 days and he kept everything lively here at home.  He and my middle daughter played a game of Twister Christmas night that had us all laughing until we cried.  My kitchen floor became an impromptu race track for some remote controlled cars that my grandsons received.  Although I do miss the laughter and fun we had Christmas day, it’s so nice to sit back and relax for a bit now.

For Christmas dinner, I set up the island in my kitchen for my grandsons.  I wanted the setting to be playful and fun, but very simple.  I wish I had thought to use a white tablecloth so it would have looked more “snowy”, but this was put together super quickly and I just didn’t think about it.

I thought these plates decorated with a merry snowman would be perfect for them. 

Silverware was tucked inside a blue stocking.

White napkins were decorated with blue and white curling ribbon and a mitten ornament.

Snowflake goblets completed each place setting.

Greenery was decorated with red berries and blue and red ornaments for the centerpiece.

A snowman nutcracker took center stage.

Peppermint striped candles were placed at each end of the greenery.

Cute little snow people salt and pepper shakers were a thrift store find.

I love this little thrift store find!  This roly poly snowman is a jam jar and his sole purpose in the setting was to look adorable! 

My grandsons really enjoy having their own special “table” at Christmas and I had so much fun creating this one for them!

I’m joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday.  Hope to see you there!

Thanks for visiting!

DG

 

 

A Melody That Would Last Forever

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever. -- Bess Streeter Aldrich

I’m joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

To all my wonderful blogging friends, I hope you and your family to have a blessed, Merry Christmas filled with much love, laughter and song.

DG

Coconut Yum Yums

I’ve had this recipe in my cookbook at Food.com for quite a while and thought it would make a nice addition to my goodie trays this Christmas.  The original recipe, posted by MizzNezz, can be found here at Food.com. 

Is it a cookie…or is it candy?  I don’t know, but they sure are good!  The recipe was super easy to make and, start to finish, probably took about 20 minutes.

1/2 c butter
3 c coconut
2 c powdered sugar
2 oz semisweet chocolate

Combine the coconut and sugar in a large bowl.  Melt the butter and add to the coconut/sugar.  Mix well; scoop out small portions with a spoon.  Roll into balls and place on cookie sheets.  Make an indention in each one.  Melt the chocolate and place a small amount in each indention.  Chill until firm.

The original recipe states a yield of 36, but I must have made mine a bit smaller as I ended up with 48 of them.  

I’m joining Miz Helen at her Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday.

Thanks for visiting today!

Merry Christmas,

DG

A Merry Blue and Gold Christmas Setting

                        You better watch out, 
                        You better not cry, 
                       You better not pout,  
                       I'm telling you why

              Santa Claus is coming to town!

 

                           He's making a list, 
                       Checking it twice, 
                        Gonna find out 
                   Who's naughty or nice.

             Santa Claus is coming to town!

           He sees you when you're sleeping, 
             He knows when you're awake.  
      He knows when you've been bad or good, 
            So be good for goodness sake!

                 So...You better watch out, 
                       You better not cry 
                      You better not pout, 
                      I'm telling you why.

              Santa Claus is coming to town.

                    With little tin horns  
                    And little toy drums. 
                       Rootie-toot-toots  
                   and rummy tum tums.

             Santa Claus is coming to town.

                        With curly head dolls  
                    That toddle and coo, 
                        Elephants, boats 
                     and kiddie cars too.

               Santa Claus is coming to town.

              The kids in girl and boy Land 
                        will have a jubilee. 
           They're gonna build a toyland town 
               all around the Christmas tree.

                 Oh....You better watch out, 
                        You better not cry. 
                      You better not pout, 
                      I'm telling you why.

                   Santa Claus is comin'  
                   Santa Claus is comin' 
                   Santa Claus is comin' 
                             To town.

I’m joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

I’m so glad you visited me today and I hope your Christmas holidays are merry!

DG

There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Today, I’m sharing the last of my decorated Christmas trees – one in the hallway and one in the kitchen.

There’s no place like home…the Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies.  I can remember, as a child, being so excited when it was played on tv.  Many years ago, I started collecting Hallmark’s Wizard of Oz ornaments and this is one of my family’s favorite trees that we decorate. 

Along with the Hallmark ornaments, the tree is filled with apples, lollipops, poppies, and snowflakes.  A yellow cloth covers the bottom of the tree.  One day, I’ll probably quilt the fabric to look like a yellow brick road.

Dorothy and Glinda…

The Great Oz…

“Ruby Slippers” sit on blue and white gingham fabric…

The Scarecrow was always my favorite of Dorothy’s friends.

I’ll get you, my pretty…

and your little dog too!

The kitchen is truly the heart of my home.  It’s the place where we gather to talk about our day and just spend time together.  It’s a place of warm cookies and milk, fun , laughter and yes, even sometimes tears.

At Christmas, my kitchen is transformed into a Candyland.  I love to see how my grandsons’ eyes light up when they come to visit!

This is a fun “grandmother” ornament that I found a few weeks ago at the thrift store.  She’s all ready to bake with her bag of flour, rolling pin and cookie recipe!  I love the little bun in her hair!

The Hoosier cabinet is set up as a candy station.  Apothecary jars are filled with lots of goodies and treats.

The candy tree always brings a smile to my face!

The gingerbread teapot, sugar and creamer were thrift store finds.  They brighten up the corner of my kitchen.

Before I close this post, I would like to introduce you to a very important member of our family.  I was browsing through my favorite consignment shop and there she was…sitting there, just waiting to come home with me.  My daughter named her…what else but “Ginger”, since of course she is a gingerbread girl.  She’s even baked cookies in honor of your visit!

I’m joining Marty for Table Top Tuesday.

Ginger and I thank you so much for visiting with us today and we hope you have a  

Merry Christmas!

DG

 

    

Christmas in the Living Room

Wow, it’s hard to believe Christmas is only a week away!  I am SO NOT ready!  I’m sure next week is going to be very hectic for me trying to get everything finished up before next weekend. 

At least the decorating is finished!  Here are some photos of my living room all ready for Christmas.

This is our main tree.  Each year, I buy a special clear or spun glass ornament for each of my children, so the tree is predominately decorated with them.  There are also ornaments on the tree that my children made in school when they were younger.  We added in a few silver glittery balls to the tree. 

There are also pink sparkly ornaments scattered around the tree.

The fireplace mantle...

Curio cabinet and hall tree...

The village is set up on top of my piano…

Have you been Naughty or Nice this year?? 

On the coffee table are two of my Snow Queen figurines...

I made the beaded ornament cover for this ball several years ago.

Living room as seen through the looking glass…

I’m joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. 

Thanks bunches for visiting with me today!  I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

DG