Gingerbread Men Cookies

Only 5 Days Till Christmas!

My little gingerbread men are decked out in peppermint and ready to celebrate this most wondrous holiday!

Wouldn't Santa just love these..I know my Santa would! 

I wanted to try Kim's, aka  The Partiologist, gingerbread recipe.
I'm so glad I did. I love it.

The dough was very easy to work with and even though I've never been a huge fan of gingerbread, this was really good!

On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll out cookie dough and cut using your favorite cutters.

Bake @ 375 for 5-6 minutes.

When I came across this cutter set at Michael's, I knew exactly how I would use it!

I can find no link online but as of two days ago they still had them in stock.

It's a "Celebrate It" brand 9 piece gingerbread man set.

I wanted it for the sweet little cutters including the scarf, tie, sunglasses etc. 

I already had the hat, heart and mustache cutters from other sets also purchased at Michael's.

Coat each cutter liberally with cooking spray.

Now what goes better with gingerbread than peppermints?

Let's melt some while the cookies are cooling!

It's so easy. Just check out my mittens ornaments or these peppermint stockings!

One of my favorite peppermint crafts was this mini-mug house I made a couple of years ago.

Unwrap candies and place on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet.

Bake @ 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until melted.

Remove pan from oven and immediately and firmly, press cutters into candy.

Let sit for about 4 minutes. Remember as these cutters are metal they will still be fairly warm.

 Just make sure the candy is cut through. Gently pick up the candy to press the piece out of the cutter and lay it back flat on the pan till cooled.

Pretty in peppermint!

I like the way these turned out.

That hat. That tie. Soooo cute!

I used mini chocolate chips for the eyes and attached them along with the peppermint pieces with some canned, ready-made chocolate frosting.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Wishing You All the Merriest of Merry Christmases!

Sweet thoughts, Karen

Grinch Candy Spoons

Grinch Candy Spoons!

Ah! This story gets me every time!

I also made these Grinch lollipops a couple of years ago.

To make the Grinch candy spoons, you will need:
yellow oval sprinkles
black confetti sprinkles
black string licorice
white Sixlets
white sparkling sugar
Bugles
red, green and white candy melts
candy writer pen
not pictured: corn syrup, paintbrush, wax paper, heart sprinkles

 Attach black sprinkles to yellow "eyes" with corn syrup.

I forgot to take photos for making the eyebrows.
Basically I just used my scissors to cut and trim them from the black string licorice. Super easy.

After I saw these adorable bugle Santa hats at Shelly's Cookies & Cups, I knew the Grinch would love to have one of his own! 

Instead of marshmallows, I used Sixlets for the hat tip.

Melt candy melts @ 50% power in 30 second intervals stirring each time until melted and smooth.

Dip Bugle in red melts, attach candy ball and hold a few seconds till set. Lay on wax paper till firm.
Dip bottom end of bugle into white melts, sprinkle on white sugar and let set till completely set.

*i used the tip of a spatula to clear the excess melted candy from hat opening to ensure it would sit atop the Grinch's head.

 Melt green candy melts at 30 second intervals @ 50% power stirring each time until melted and smooth.

Dip spoon into melted candy and clean excess from edges.
Place candy eyes and eyebrows.
I then rested mine on the curve of a fork until candy hardened.

 Time to Grinch up his face.
I gave one Grinch a sweeter face with curved eyebrows and a kind smile.

Using the black candy writer, draw his nose and mouth.

 Feeling Christmasy yet?

Don't forget the Grinch.
I know he's mean and hairy and smelly.
His hands might be cold and clammy,
but I think he's actually kinda...
Sweet!

Merry Christmas!

Comments fill me with cheer!

Sweet thoughts, Karen

National Cookie Day~3 Faves From the Archives

National Cookie Day!

I love cookies.

 I grew up with tons of homemade cookies (thanks Mom!) and I made sure my kids did too. Currently my grandbabies are enjoying that same sweet tradition. Between my daughter and myself, there is no shortage.

As far as pretty cookies go I am not the greatest-by far-decorator. That said I do have a couple that I had a lot of fun with. They both happen to be snowman cookies.

I also have one yummy chocolate chip rendition I'm including for this little round-up!

Just click on the link below each photo for the how-tos and recipes.

Happy Baking!

 Snowballs of Fun Snowman Cookies

3D Snowman Cookies

 Ultimate Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet thoughts, Karen

Frozen Turkeys Marshmallow Craft!

Hey y'all! It's almost time to thaw out your Thanksgiving turkeys!

But you know, I like frozen turkeys too. Especially when they're so cute..and su-weet like these!

Say Hello to the good people Tom!
Well..he would, but his mouth is kinda frozen shut!  ;o)

You will need:
S'moreMallows
Blue Nerds-for the snood
White Sparkling sugar
Blue food color spray
Blue Airheads
Berry Blast Mike and Ikes
Blue candy melts
Candy eyes
Canned frosting
Pretzel sticks

Protect the surface on which you will be spraying your marshmallows. Now spray your marshmallows! 

Warm the frosting in the microwave for a few seconds. Mine took less than ten. Now dip the mallow bottoms in to coat and sprinkle on the sparkling sugar.

Let set.

Oh y'all know how I love making bird legs.

Remember when I made these! Or how about these?!

Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30 second intervals on 50% power, stirring each time. 

You can put the candy in a baggie and snip off a tiny corner to pipe, or pour into a squeeze bottle with tip to pipe. Or you can do like I did and use a decorator bag with a tip.

Lay down a sheet of wax or parchment paper to prepare the turkey legs on. Now just pipe a turkey foot..hehe..and place a pretzel leg into it. Hold in place just till it stands on it's own.

Pipe some feet without pretzels as well. Let set to harden.

Use the candy melts-you could use the frosting just as well-to attach candy pieces.

I used a sharp pair of scissors to snip off a little triangle of blue Airheads candy for my beaks. Oops...which i totally hung upside down on all my poor, cold turkeys! 

Looking good from up here!

Eeek! How cute is this?!

These are not only adorable, but yummy too!

That's All Folks!

Happy Thanksgiving from my house to yours.

Sweet thoughts, Karen  :o)

Praying For Paris

#prayingforparis

Sweet thoughts, Karen

Salted Caramel Sauce and My Fourth Birthday!

Salted Caramel Sauce & Birthday #4!

 I am celebrating my fourth year in bloggingdom!

Celebrating with one of my favorite things..Caramel Sauce.

I made it for the first time last month, and have make several batches since then. 

Some dark, some medium and some light in color, with medium hitting just the right flavor for me.

Hubby and I have been enjoying many of the fall festivals in North Georgia this month. Of course the first thing I was drawn to were all the yummy festival foods and treats. That's when I saw those cute little apples wedged and drenched in caramel sauce. We even had our own caramel apple booth set up @ our church festival this week!

Here is my version.

My grandbabies came over just after this little guy finished his photography session..it did not survive. They loved it!

 Birthday number four and looking for many more!

Pictured below are the ingredients you'll need.

 In the end I went with regular granulated sugar.

Heavy cream, butter, water, sugar..

Vanilla,

and beautiful salt. I am a salt fiend.

Combine water and sugar in a 2 quart, heavy bottomed saucepan. Cook over medium heat without stirring. Swirling the pan is okay.

It takes mine approximately 30 minutes to reach this medium amber color.

Slowly pour in heavy cream while stirring. Turn heat to low and stir till incorporated.

Remove from heat and add butter, vanilla and salt, stirring till smooth.

Pour your beautiful, finished caramel sauce into a glass jar.

 Let cool and store in refrigerator.

Oh my yum!

So many delicious ways to use your caramel sauce.

Drizzling this golden syrup over a warm apple pie topped with ice cream comes to mind..

Salted Caramel Sauce

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup heavy cream

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a 2 quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together sugar and water. Cook over medium heat without stirring. Swirling the pan is okay..and kinda fun!

Cook mixture until you see it turning a medium amber color.

This process takes about 30 minutes.

Slowly add cream-turn heat to low- while stirring. It absolutely will spitter, spatter and foam up in the pan. Keep stirring till incorporated. Remove from heat and add butter, vanilla and salt. Stir until smooth and pour into glass jar.

Let cool. Store in fridge. 

After reading many opinions on just how long this yummy stuff will last, I've decided to go with the expiration date on my package of heavy cream.

Thanks for stopping by.

Comments and new members just add to the birthday fun!

Have a sweet day, Karen   :o)