With all of the unseasonably warm weather recently, it’s hard to believe the holidays are here.
I still remember it being Halloween, seeing Christmas décor and thinking to myself, “I have plenty of time.”
Well, folks, we are all out of time.
The stores have those helpful countdown boards and, I don’t know about you, but I choose to ignore them because it causes a stress-induced panic. What am I going to get this person? What am I going to get that person? Oh, a nice scarf — who would like this? Oh, I need to make platters for the family get-together. I haven’t ordered my holiday dress. The list goes on and on.
The worst situation is when you have to buy gifts for people and you don’t know what they’ll like, or you realize they already have everything they want. I remember a year when I sat down and realized I didn’t like anything I got anyone. If I felt that way, what would they think?
Here is the whole book on gift giving in one statement: People love food! That’s it, and that’s all you need to know. Make something delicious and you will never ever go wrong again with holiday gift giving.
The recipes below are easy-as-can-be and this Blonde, who doesn’t even do cookies, has a great cookie recipe, too.
SIX-LAYER BARS
Start to finish: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
1 butter, melted
1 bag chocolate chips
1 cup coconut flakes
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Heat oven to 350 F.
Pour melted butter into 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan. Put graham cracker crumbs on top of melted butter, pressing lightly. Sprinkle coconut flakes on top of crumb mixture. Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top of coconut, followed by sprinkling chocolate chips on top of walnuts. Drizzle can of condensed milk on top of the chocolate chips.
Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for one hour, then cut.
CRACKED SNOWBALL COOKIES
Start to finish: 8 to 10 minutes
Servings: 12
1 cake mix, any flavor
1 large egg
1 8-ounce container whipped topping
1 bag confectioners’ sugar
Heat oven to 350 F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray.
Mix first three ingredients in a bowl. Pour sugar into another bowl.
Coat hands in sugar to prevent sticking and grab 1 tablespoon of batter, rolling into a ball and placing in sugar. Place on cookie sheet. Re-coat hands after every 3 cookies.
Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool off of cookie sheet.
CHRISTMAS CRACK
Start to finish: 2 hours, 10 minutes
50 saltine crackers
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup salted butter
1 bag chocolate chips
1 19-ounce bag candies or toppings of your choice (M&M’s, nuts, etc.)
Spray bottom of disposable pan with nonstick spray.
Place crackers on bottom of pan, covering entire area. Melt butter in a pot, then add brown sugar and bring to a boil.
Pour sugar mixture on top of crackers, using silicon spatula to evenly spread. (Work quickly so mixture doesn’t harden.)
Pour chocolate chips on top and wait 2 minutes. Residual heat from the sugar will melt chocolate. Use spatula to spread melted chocolate.
Top with the topping of choice. Let cool in refrigerator for 2 hours.
Pop bark out of disposable pan and break into as many pieces as desired.
NAUGHTY KIDS COAL
Start to finish: 30 to 40 minutes
1 pound Oreos, ground to a fine powder
5 1/2 cups marshmallows
5 tablespoons salted butter
Spray an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper, also spraying top of paper with nonstick spray.
Melt butter and marshmallows in microwave for approximately 2 minutes. Stir in Oreo powder and quickly mix until combined.
Use a silicone spatula to evenly press mixture into pan. Let stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Break into as many pieces as desired.
For your friends who would like a little cocktail gift for the holidays, grab a single-serve bottle of sparkling wine, a single-serve can or bottle of cranberry juice, a can of ginger ale, and a pair of long festive socks. Put items into one sock, one on top of the other, tie off with the other sock, and add a little note: “Santa’s Little Ho-Ho-Ho. Place all ingredients in pitcher with ice and enjoy!”
