Thanks to Google for the photo.  Our cats won’t pose like these. 
I don’t think these presents will stand a chance up against these two. 

Never before at Christmas time have I ever had the gifts wrapped before midnight on Christmas morning.   Often hubby and I  were both bleary-eyed when our three boys woke up to open presents.  Where is the coffee? 
This afternoon my youngest went out with one of his brothers and I had over six hours to my self.
 
I thought I could clean the tub and take a hot bath without expecting someone to come bursting to ask if I had seen this or that.  And then, I heard an angel chorus….I could get all the Christmas presents wrapped!  I could even use the big table and not have to hide in our bedroom.  I wouldn’t have to lean over the bed, wrapping on top of the comforter; having to be careful not to cut fabric when I cut the wrapping paper. 

After about 3 hours, Pete and Sam called to say they were on their way home…”Did I need anything?”  “Yes,” I shouted, “I need you to stay gone two more hours!”  Sam wanted to know if I was wrapping stuff for him…he wants a razor skooter…the kind that sparks.  “No,” I said, “I don’t think there’s anything here for you yet.” 
Five hours later, I had everything wrapped…including the skooter….buried behind the tree.  Stocking stuffers are in five separate bags, ready to go when my family is down for the night.  I have a  new bottle of cough syrup to go in my stocking.  The kitty treats and toys are in their own gift bags.  

When hubby got home from work and the boys returned from the movies we had bowls of Superbowl Soup (shameless plug for past post) and corn bread.  I still haven’t asked what movie they saw, (maybe I don’t want to know) while enjoyed two more hours of wrapping in peace. 

This evening I walked past the tree.  There hiding underneath was AJ, with her face buried in her gift bag. 
Even she can’t wait for Christmas.

     It must have been in the mid 1980’s when this famous fudge recipe was published in the local paper.  I remember wanting a new fudge recipe and since this was from my favorite candy store, I was excited to try it for the holidays. 

     This candy store is in the Western United States…as far as Texas…I believe…a very familiar white and black box….to walk in any of their stores and take a deep breath is pure heaven.  That’s how my kitchen smells when I make it, so it’s worth the effort. 

     It is very satisfying when this recipe works for another reason.

     I LOVE the look on family and friend’s faces when they take that first bite.  I suppose it’s close to voyeurism but….I’ve even come up with a new lexicon for it….

“Fudge Porn”…  The look on someone’s face when biting into fudge I made for Christmas.  ”The look on her face as she inhaled the piece of fudge was *%!#^*&#. ”   (This is a family show.)

     This is a tricky recipe.  I am sure that seasoned candy makers will read the following recipe and say, “That’s easy!”  There’s nothing to it!”  But one of the first years I made it, all did not go according to plan. 

     Money was tight and candy ingredients were expensive, at least it seemed that way to me.  We had planned to give this famous fudge as Christmas gifts.  I bought all the ingredients; I had purchased cute holiday pans.  Everything was assembled; even my husband was willing to help. 

     I was at the stove stirring, and stirring.  I followed the recipe to the letter.  The mixture had come to a boil, maybe it had boiled too long before the temperature was lowered.  Maybe it was because it was raining outside….but even after it went through the mixing cycle, it never got dull or thick.  It went into the refrigerator to chill and harden, and it never did. 

Seriously.  It. NEVER.  Hardened.  Viagra & Cialis wouldn’t have helped. 

There was no way that I was going to waste all that chocolate and butter. 

     What did I do, you ask?  We incurred the additional expense of canning jars; we slapped fancy homemade labels on the jars and we presented gifts of Gourmet Hot Fudge Sauce to our friends and family.  I don’t think they knew before this very moment that the recipe went haywire and that’s why I could never duplicate it again. 

     I am sure that someone out there would disagree, but my advice?  Don’t make this fudge recipe when it’s raining. 

Famous Fudge: 

1/2 cup real butter

1 cup Nestle Semi – Sweet Morsels

1 teaspoon Watkins vanilla, or your favorite brand. 

2 cups C & H pure cane sugar

5  and 3/4 ounces of a cup Carnation Evaporated Milk

10 large Jet Puffed Marshmallows (no more, no less)

     Combine butter, chocolate, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.  Set aside.  Place sugar, milk and marshmallows in a HEAVY medium saucepan.  Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When mixture begins to boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 6 minutes stirring constantly.  Pour the hot ingredients over the ingredients in the mixer bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer until fudge is thick and dull.  This should not take very long.  Pour into a 8 inch baking pan. Refrigerate several hours or over night.  Makes 36 squares.

Cooks Notes: 

     Now honestly, are you really going to take all this time and then just make an 8 inch pan of fudge?  No, I thought not.  You are going to double the recipe.  You will be using a 13×9 pan, lightly sprayed with Baker’s Joy or similar product.

    Proceed with the recipe, but double the ingredients.  When you reach the evaporated milk, you are going to use the 12 oz standard size can.  However, you will NOT be using a full can.  Instead, measure out approximately 1/2 oz of the milk and discard, or pour in your coffee.  You want to add 11 and 1/2 ounces. 

     As far as the marshmallows go….20 total….yes, I know I thought it would be fine to add more too…but those were the times when I had to go out and buy canning jars.  By-the-way, that’s happened, twice. 

     While you are cooking the milk, sugar and marshmallows, you are going to notice that there will be/ might be a streak of “brown” in the milk/sugar/marshmallow mixture that will make you think that it is burning on the bottom.  I lift the pan off the heat, lower the heat and return the pan to the stove all while still stirring.  (I was multi-tasking before it was popular or even had a name.)   

     When the mixture comes to a boil, I watch for 8 – 10 bubbles of boiling, lift the pan from the heat, lower the temp and continue to stir for 6 minutes.  Be sure that you set the timer. 

     Pour the hot mixture over the chocolate, vanilla and butter.  As you begin the mixer, be careful as the sticks of butter are going to “shoot” through the moving beaters.  Butter, that has been softened, NOT melted, is a good idea.  As you scrape the batter bowl, you will start to notice that the chocolate mixture is no longer shiny.  I generally blend in the mixer bowl for about 5 minutes.

     Pour into the prepared pan and place in the lower part of your refrigerator.  In about an hour, check the pan.  If it doesn’t move when you tip it in either direction….Houston!  We have fudge.  If it doesn’t?

     You too will be schlepping off to the store to buy canning jars.

     For those of my fans…..I think there are two of you….who have been following the saga of the heritage albums that were being created as Christmas gifts for my in-laws….our tale continues…

     When we last heard from our heroine, it was the 11th hour and the albums were still not finished.  On the 23rd, I was up until 2 am and the same for Christmas Eve, or should I say Christmas Day?  They were finally complete at 10 am Christmas morning.  Once again I said to my husband as I wrapped his family’s gifts….”Do you really think they will like them?”  “Yes dear, I think they will love them!” 

     Later Christmas Day, after dinner was eaten, tables were cleared, left overs were divvied up…it was time for exchanging gifts. Perhaps it was the turkey/ham/tamale high that led to the assorted “oooh’s and ahhh’s” as each gift was opened.  This year, someone had the grand idea to switch the tradition from going from youngest to oldest, leaving Sam to wait, surprisingly patiently, for his turn to open his gifts.

     When all the gifts were opened, some of us were contemplating tackling the dirty dishes before Round Two….dessert….I said, “Oops! I forgot two gifts.”  I brought out two huge, brightly wrapped boxes and placed them in front of their recipients.  I also grabbed the tissue box from the kitchen.

     Before long, the tears were falling and the “ooh’s” were quite sincere. When I was asked how I found this invitation or that photo, I just smiled.  “It’s a secret,”  I said.  They had a different answer…”You’re awesome!  This is the best gift I have ever received!”

Okay – It’s the eleventh hour…..
The fabulous gifts for my in-laws are still not finished. They are with-in hours though…..I hope.
I really should have realized that making two albums for lives over 7 + decades long was going to take me more than a month…..no thanks to the photo developer in my area…who will remain nameless…..
I had big plans to share special recipes on my blog….doesn’t look like that is happening…

The last time a pulled an “all-nighter” was when I was in college…and no, I’m not sharing how long ago that was. 
I have managed not to get the latest bug that is going around…knock on wood, Formica, and Prego flooring…..Where is my Emergen-C?

        The dishes are washed, the turkey is digesting, the L-tryptophan is rising in my blood stream….I will be nodding off shortly.  What I really should do is grab my sister-in-laws, and take a brisk walk, before coming back to indulge in Round Two….PIE! 

     We’ve drawn names for Christmas Day’s gift exchange….we’ve taken my ’tongue in cheek’ survey that I make up every year so that family members  have hints and ideas for the gift exchange.  E.g. “do you prefer thongs or bikinis?”  In some cases, it’s a picture no one wants to see! 

     But the quiz really doesn’t matter for me this year, since my in-laws will be receiving heritage scrapbook albums from our family.  The photos I am including go back 5 generations.  I think that I will win MAJOR daughter-in-law points with those….as if I am worried. 

     I have always liked giving more personalized gifts.  When my husband was sick, the boys and I would bake, giving cookies and special treats for Christmas gifts.  We would also make fun crafts to give as gifts. 

     When they were very young we made the applesauce/cinnamon ornaments to give as gifts.  I am sorry that I don’t remember the recipe at the moment.  We didn’t use cookie cutters; we cut out the boys’ handprints.  It was very cute. 

     This ornament is a fun craft that you can do yourself or with your children.  This idea is not new, but the kids love it.  I think it is a good reason for making a mess in my kitchen since someone else hosted dinner this year.

     It must have been about 15 years ago that I first tried this craft at a mom’s group gathering.  At Michael’s craft store they sell clear glass tree ornaments.  There may not be a Michael’s in your neighborhood or corner of the world, but there is the Internet!  These clear glass ornaments come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  3-4 sizes of round ones, some flat on one side and even small heart shaped ornaments.  Sometimes these are on sale for as little as $1.99 for 4-6 ornaments. 

     You need a few bottles of Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint, also easy to find.  There is no end to the colors available.  These can be priced as low as $.99 cents a bottle.  You can pick two colors that coordinate with your home, jeweled tones, e.g. ruby, emerald, sapphire, and diamond, or even your favorite football team’s colors.  I like to add a complimenting metallic or opaque color. 

     Now you have your two ingredients.  Cover your work space with newspapers, have plenty of paper towels handy,  just in case.  I like to wipe the ornaments off before beginning.  You are going to remove the metal topper of the ornament and set it aside.  Check the lip of the glass ornament for rough edges, you will want to avoid a “Christmas Crafts Emergency Room visit” if at all possible… trust me.  Assemble the two to three colors of paint that you want to use.  

     Squeeze a small stripe of paint inside the ball, apply a strip of the same color one the opposite side.  The stripes of paint will meet inside at the bottom of the ball.  Apply the other color in the same manner.  You can apply the metallic color in between the two colors you have chosen.  Once the paint has been applied, you can begin slowly turning the ornaments to make the paint move.  It will start swirling inside the ball.  If the paint is not moving, you can add more paint, you really can’t make a mistake.

      My sons and I, would talk while we made the ornaments.  Sometimes we’d have lunch or some hot cocoa while we waiting for the paint to start swirling inside.  Sometimes we would get impatient…. That’s where the paper towels come in.  We securely cover the top of the ornament with a piece of paper towel and then we SHAKE!  We have gotten some fabulous results doing this.   

     I would like to tell you that we get equally great results waiting and slowly letting the paint swirl as we slowly turn the ornament…or setting the ornament back in the container, turning every 10 minutes or so.  But….we’ve never had the patience!

     One year I was actually thinking ahead, and bought several boxes of the heart shaped ornaments.  The boys gave these to teachers and grandparents for Valentine’s Day.  Hope you enjoy this craft idea.  The best part about it, is spending time with your children.

With that title, it does not seem like this post will be about the warm “fuzzies” of Christmas. 

When I was a child we got a huge tree every Christmas…flocked.   A Noble Fir looking like it was right out of a child’s picture book, covered with snow.  My father NEVER went with us to get a tree, it was my mom’s job.  Mom, my sister and I would go in search of the perfect tree.  We never had our trees in water, the trunk was  nailed to 2 x 4’s and we never had any trouble with it not standing up straight. 

My family, correction my mom left the tree up until at least Valentine’s Day…..if she tried that now I suppose the fire department would come and give her a citation.  Yes, it was embarrassing to have friends over around say…Ground Hogs Day and still have the Christmas tree up in the living room.  (side note…why is there a “Ground Hog’s Day?”  Don’t you think that ferrets, prairie dogs and squirrels would like their “own” day too?)   As far as decorating went, the tree was the perfect color scheme for those Valentine’s Day parties…..white flocked with red balls…never any different….year after year…

When we did our stint in the Eastern United States we had an artificial tree.  My mom was not happy about this AT All….the exile in the east or the artificial tree.  Many moons ago, artificial trees were not great.   I remember our first one….I think it barely lasted a year.   I swear the holes “in the tree trunk” for the branches to go into were made out of PlayDoh and tissue paper. 

Most every year as far as I can remember of my married life, there has been a Christmas tree fight.  Okay I will qualify that and say “argument.” Now, our first year married, it was a perfect idyllic setting.  Coordinating outfits, perfect smiles…Scrapbooking had not even been “invented” yet, but we set up the camera to take pictures of us decorating it.  “Oh they are sooo cute!” 

The Christmases when my husband had active cancer and was having treatments, I would take the boys and we would pick out the tree.  My husband had no desire to have any part of the tree selection or setting it up for that matter.  Understandably so, the chemo drugs had a profound effect on his system. 

I would make picking out the tree a fun, worry free outing for the boys, we would stomp around in the saw dust at the tree lot.  Sometimes a Santa would be at the farm, passing out candy canes.  The boys would decide which tree would be best.  I let them relax and have some fun while we chose a tree.  If even for a little while, they could forget that their Dad had cancer.  The boys would watch as one of the men at the tree farm would trim an inch off the trunk….there was no way my husband would have been alert enough to wield a chain saw! 

We’d bring our tree home and get it in the side yard.  This was the time when we’d have the “arguments.”  From year to year, we never had the same size tree trunk.  I remember at one time we had 6, count them six “sleigh bell” tree stands stored in the garage, all various sizes. 

The boys and I would have hot cocoa with marshmallows in the warm kitchen and then they would go play, while mommy did battle with the tree stand.  The Christmas my husband was having radiation, he came out and helped me.  There was no arguing…..sometimes you don’t know whether this is the last Christmas or not…..why have a memory of a fight when it could be the last? 

The Christmas he was having chemo; I got the tree in the stand myself….I prayed a lot…it was one of few times the tree slipped in without complaint.

Since that Christmas…Peter must have been 2…we’ve still had “tree stand fights.”  I remember one tree stand that had a spike in the bottom of the bucket like container.  It was our ‘easiest to use’ tree stand, until the year that the bucket cracked…..oh yes, you’re right it was a mess.  It was a day or so after Christmas, so we knew the tree would be coming down in a few days time anyway.  (No, I have never left a tree up until Valentine’s Day.)

Since Sam arrived on the scene the tree fights have lessened.  Sam has a talent for picking out the perfect tree.  Two years ago we got a noble fir, un-flocked.  It looked robust but manageable in the lot.  When we got it home, we needed a bigger family room!  Our older sons made lots of jokes. 

We’ve finally found a tree stand that works…after what… 28 years?  It resembles a volcano…the cats love it.  When I add water on one side of the stand, AJ gets a drink from the other….”Mom Cat – Love the new water bowl, but the garnish is a bit much…!” 

If you are wondering what we did with 6 + “sleigh bell” tree stands, that’s a funny story.  One year the cancer support group that we attended, had a Holiday Party and white elephant gift exchange….we took 6 tree stands, all beautifully wrapped.

If you are wondering about my husband’s health…how sweet you are…he’s been in remission for nearly 19 years.  Happy Holidays.