Christmas Goodies

Last night on our walk around the neighborhood, I brought my camera and took a few photos of the homes that were decorated. This one, as you may imagine, captured my heart. :)

So when we got home, I was filled with a bit of the Christmas spirit. Sunday we are getting together with some friends for Christmas goodies so I decided to make a couple of things.

Here are my standard Pretzel Kisses. This year I decided to make them out of Hershey Hugs instead of Kisses.I think they are prettier in the Hugs. And I don't typically like white chocolate, so I won't eat any of them. Bonus.

That being said...about the not liking white chocolate, I do like the follow sweet treat. I got the recipe last week when I went to a Pampered Chef party. It's called
"Festive Cranberry Crunch Bark"Ingredients:
1 package Ambrosia White Bark
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup almonds (toasted and chopped)
2 cups rice krispies

After removing the white bark from packaging, divide each cube into smaller cubes for easier melting. Melt bark in a micro proof container for 3 - 3 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Dump 2 cups rice krispies and stir till well mixed. Combine cranberries and almonds. Dump 1/2 of the cranberry almond mixture into white chocolate and stir till well mixed.
Using parchment paper and a cookie sheet, dump the mixture on parchment paper and spread out as thin as you want. Add remaining cranberry/almond mix to the top and press into the bark with spatula or parchment paper. Refridgerate till solid, 30mins or so.

Break into bite sized pieces.

These taste a lot better than I expected. But they are rich, because of the white chocolate I suspect, so the good thing is I have no desire to eat more than a couple pieces. I think the almonds and the crunchy rice cereal makes it so yummy.

I've got at least one more thing to make tonight. Now that recipe, Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars, I have to be very careful not to eat the entire pan of. And it's one of those sweet treats that is so bad for you, you almost don't want to know whats in them. however, I'll share the recipe here, too. I only make these at Christmas time, and usually only every other Christmas. Happy Baking!
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