Chocolate Pretzel Rings

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I made several cookie sheets full of these simple Chocolate Pretzel Rings. Some for treats, some to share around with friends, some for a fun activity with Kathy’s grandchildren and some for anyone who showed up for a visit! I also filled several small holidays tins, lined with colored plastic wrap. Very cute and makes a quick gifty treat.

You’ll love the combo of salty and sweet, but most of all how easy and cute they are to make. Would you call them a cookie, a candy or just a super fun snack?

CHOCOLATE PRETZEL RINGS

Ingredients
Bite-Size Pretzels
Hershey’s Kisses
M & M’s

Buy any amount of the ingredients.
I bought the giant size bag of each item as I knew I would be
making oodles and oodles of them over the holidays.

Instructions
1. Place the pretzels on baking sheets
(I lined my cookie sheets with Reynolds Non-Stick Foil, but silpats or parchment would work just fine.)
2. Place a chocolate kiss in the center of each ring.

Bake at 275 degrees F for 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is softened.
Remove from the oven and work quickly.
Place an M&M on each, pressing down slightly so chocolate fills the ring.

Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes or until chocolate is firm.
NOTE: Do not leave them in the cold refrigerator too long as the sheen
of the chocolate and the M&M’s disappears. Store at room temperature.

You can see from the various pictures I have posted here that the sky is the limit when it comes to which kinds of bite-sized pretzels to use (rings, twisted, braids, square waffle style, etc.).

It is super hard to find the Pretzel Rings here locally, however all the other shapes work just as well and certainly end up in the same place. But if you really can’t live without the novelty of the rings, or can’t find them in your area, then you can buy them here at Intercourse Pretzel Factory in Pennsylvania, but they are super pricey.

They would be fun to make any time of year because you can color-coordinate the M&M’s to each holiday. Think of the possibilities!

It is also evident that you can use any kind of Hershey’s Kisses (plain, hugs, striped, peanut butter, mint or other flavors, colored, or a combo, etc. Melting times might vary, so watch them carefully in the oven.). One person made them with Peanut M & M’s, another with Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and another with chocolate chips in each little hole of the pretzel.

Oh my gosh, how about Rolo’s with pecan pieces and make them into Turtles! Or instead of M & M’s, use baby marshmallows, nuts or crushed candy canes. The mind boggles with ideas. Use your imagination!

BETCHA CAN’T EAT JUST ONE!

For the Slipper Obsessed

Martynas Birskys of the Vilnius-based design studio
“Da Da Da” sells slippers / shoes made out of bread!

For your comfort, you can select from various sizes and grains.

It’s hard to argue with his sales pitch:
“eatable . . . dries itself . . . made from bread . . .
first in fashion . . . needs no pressing . . .
feels good in dry climate . . . won’t sag.”

Check out all the different styles:

~HERE~

~ Thanks to Andy for this terrific link!

MovieSet Review ~ “Four Christmases”

FOUR CHRISTMASES
A happily unmarried couple want to avoid spending Christmas
with their families at all costs and instead travel to exotic locales.
But when they find themselves fogged in at the San Francisco
airport and their flight to Fiji cancelled, they have no choice but
to spend the holiday with their divorced parents and the rest of
their dysfunctional relatives. All madness ensues once the
different families get together. Like four holiday house parties!
This film addresses broader themes of how people really know
each other and the importance of connecting with family, no
matter how crazy they might be.

~With This Great Cast~
Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Tim McGraw
Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek & Mary Steenbergen

~ CAUTION ~
Adult language and themes with some comments about
Santa that may upset young children. Rated PG-13.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

PLEASE NOTE: This movie is NOT about
“normal” families — like mine & yours!

Ah, Delicious Pumpkin Pie!

THE PUMPKIN

by John Greenleaf Whittier (1850)

Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,
Like that which o’er Nineveh’s prophet once grew,
While he waited to know that his warning was true,
And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain
For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.

On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden
Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden;
And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold
Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold;
Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North,
On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth,
Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines,
And the sun of September melts down on his vines.

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored;
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before;
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye,
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?

Oh, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune,
Our chair a broad pumpkin, — our lantern the moon,
Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam
In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!

Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better
E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!

It’s Thanksgiving Day !

Best Holiday Wishes
~ To You All ~
Whether Near or Far
Have the Happiest Thanksgiving Ever!

1 Day ‘Til Thanksgiving

2 Days ‘Til Thanksgiving

MovieSet Review ~ “IN THE LOOP”

IF YOU ARE INTO:
Politics, Military & War Stories
Fast-Paced Satire & Witty Banter
Lies & Misunderstandings
Smart & Funny Exchanges
Startling Obsenities
Biting & Impolite British-type Comedies

Then “IN THE LOOP” is a movie for you.
A Transcontinental Political Farce
All With A Very Clever Cast

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

3 Days ‘Til Thanksgiving

4 Days ‘Til Thanksgiving