Tasty Treats

What a difference a year makes.  Last year at this time, I was trying to squeeze in time at work to click on the "add to cart" button on Amazon.com for my Christmas shopping.  Instead of baking/making Christmas gifts, I was just buying everything.  Yes, it was expensive to do all of my Christmas gift shopping that way, however I wanted as much time with my precious pretties & heavenly husband at night.  Dragging them around from store to store just wasn't my idea of a great way to spend the evening.

However, this year is much different.  We have less money now since I am not working, however I have more time which is priceless.  Less money doesn't mean less thoughtful gifts though.  A lot of people are getting baked goods that I actually MADE this year.  WHAT?!?  Yes.  Stephanie has been slaving away in the kitchen.  So, instead of going to a store and buying a cute dish towel or candle for teacher & neighbor gifts, they are getting some chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate cake balls, ooey-gooey pretzel sticks, peanut butter cup cookies, and cracker toffee.  They taste good, and you can make a lot with not a lot of money.  Here are just two recipes that are quick & easy:

Ooey Gooey Pretzel Sticks (A Shout out to Julie Gunn Strihan for the recipe!!)

Get the big pretzel sticks - I think they are the brand Hanover.  Just don't get the little butter twig looking pretzels.
1 Bag of caramels
1 package of chocolate almond bark
1 Bag of crushed Heath Toffee Bits
Wax or parchment paper

Melt caramel in one pan (I added two tablespoons of water and 3 TBS of butter for a thinner consistency
Melt almond bark in another pan
Pour bag of toffee bits on a plate.

Dip half of pretzel stick in caramel, and tap it to get the excess off.
Dip same half of pretzel stick in chocolate, and tap to get excess off.
I let them cool for a minute or two on the parchment paper (while I was busy dipping other pretzels)
Once they cooled off a bit I then rolled them in heath bits and put them back on the wax paper to dry.
They are the bomb.com!
Now Julie drizzled chocolate over the sticks once they were dry, but since I am not a big chocolate fan I didn't.

The recipe I am making tonight is the Saltine Cracker Toffee.  I have heard you can also make this with graham crackers.  (Shout out to Carlye Bindel for the heads up on this tasty treat!)

Ingredients

• 4 ounces saltine crackers
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
2. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer.
3. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread t cover crackers completely.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts. Cool completely and break into pieces.