Tuesday

short+sassy

I have number of things I'm looking forward to over the next week.

There is a project Holiday party the client is throwing for everyone next Tuesday.  At a nearby brewery I have not been to, so I'm looking forward to trying it.

Speaking of holiday parties, the dress I ordered from Amazon for my work one came in.  Perfect fit!  It is SO flattering on me.  I'm like, "Who is this chick with the tiny waist, wearing a size medium dress?"  

My friend invited me and my H to watch a boat parade with her on Saturday.

It's a good day at work.  I'm feeling productive and getting things done, but am not overwhelmed.

banana468

I am tired!  Dreary day today but the good news is that the landscapers came and now we are leaf free in the yard!  We had them do all the cleanup for ths year except for the driveway blowing DH did periodically.  It was so much more efficient for them to do it and pay vs. DH get out and do it and take longer and feel so miserable once all his allergies were triggered.   

I'm slumping on the gift buying and stayed up too late last night so I need to motivate myself to make some choices and tie up some loose ends.  

CharmedPam

I have very few gifts to buy but the ones I need to are the hardest.
so happy for you @short+sassy, that it fits and you love it!

I signed up for a cookie exchange tomorrow after work and asked my mom for a recipe for it since I’m NOT a baker, and she said “do rumballs, they’re easy”.
um no they’re not! It should be fool proof but mine are still so liquidy.  Oh well.  This is what they’re getting. 

VarunaTT

I'm definitely in a funk, but trying to pull out of it.  A lot of my friends are too, so I think it's just **waving around** everything.

No big news.  I did go out with friends last night and we had a good time, just chatting with each other.  So far, the "make yourself see other people one time a week" is going well.  I also was able to get Disney/Hulu back for $2.99/month, so that's nice.  I need to walk to the library to return/get books, but it is COLD outside and I don't want to, but I want the books!  The one problem of walking everywhere downtown.  

VarunaTT

@CharmedPam No-Bake cookies are my go-to.  I make them with oat milk and they are still yummy.  Forgiving, few ingredients, and pretty foolproof.  The first time I made them with oat milk, they spread out a bit more and took longer to dry and were still delicious.  I also like doing haystacks: variety of flavors, no baking, and pretty easy and just about everyone loves them.

Casadena

Any sort of nut cluster covered in chocolate is super easy as well. mix it all together, plop little piles on a plate/sheet pan, fridge, done!

Slept most of my flight and now just feel groggy and greasy. I didn't sleep well alst night though and N is getting a cold and was up a lot too. So I needed it but now i just feel a little out of sorts. Hotel was ready for check ins and i have meetings in a bit and then a holiday party. Hoping to crash early before a long day of meetings tomorrow as well. 

ei34

@CharmedPam If you have time to grab the ingredients (12oz semi-sweet chocolate, 12oz white chocolate, peppermint extract, some candy canes), peppermint bark is a tasty (but easy and no-bake) treat. 

Microwave the semi sweet chocolate (either chips or a bar, chopped) in intervals, stirring until melted, add a 1/2 tsp extract, and spread onto a 11x15” (or whatever size you have) baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 20min and while it’s in the fridge, repeat with the white chocolate (microwaving in intervals until a melted, and adding the same 1/2tsp extract). Spread the white over the semi sweet, sprinkle crushed candy canes over the whole pan and refrigerate til set (another 20 or so minutes). Break into pieces with your hands and you’re done!

Slightly out of the ordinary day- took a half day at work to attend my own kids’ parent-teacher conferences.  Received good reports overall.  DS definitely has some sort of learning disability that has not been pinpointed yet and requires further testing, but the team is aware and responsive and there’s a plan in place. DDs are sailing through and was told all three are respectful, conscientious and hard workers so I can’t hope for more than that. 

A stomach bug is tearing through my sister’s family, and has reached my parents.  We were with my sister and her kids on Saturday so I’m bracing for the worst but hoping for the best. All of our kids are past the age of sharing straws and not covering mouths so fingers crossed. 

banana468

Ugh - @ei34 I am on pins and needles this time of year with the increase in all kinds of viruses that spread like peanut butter combined with all the kid events. 

levioosa

@ei34 Healthy vibes for everyone. Hopefully you missed out on the bug.

I made peppermint bark on Sunday and it turned out great! I did make my life harder by doing a double broiler method for melting the chocolate, but all in all it was super easy. 

CharmedPam

That sounds delish @ei34.  This is a family favorite. So simple and I love them. There’s also that Christmas crack I could make.
https://homecookingmemories.com/no-bake-chow-mein-noodle-cookies-recipe/
Sounds exhausting @Casadena, I hope the party goes well!

MNNEBride

Another easy holiday treat - 1 bag of puff corn in a bowl.  Melt white chocolate in microwave or in a double boiler.  Pour melted chocolate over puff corn and stir well.  Spread on a wax paper-covered table or countertop.  Sprinkle with holiday sprinkles and let dry. Store in an airtight container or ziptop bag.  

VarunaTT

CharmedPam said:

There’s also that Christmas crack I could make.
https://homecookingmemories.com/no-bake-chow-mein-noodle-cookies-recipe/

These are what I call haystacks! 

levioosa

Another easy no bake recipe are chocolate dipped peanut butter balls (we called them Buckeyes). 

ETA: I think it's just powdered sugar, creamy peanut butter, vanilla mixed together and then for the chocolate coating, melted chocolate with a little vegetable oil to help it spread with maybe a dash of vanilla. 

MyNameIsNot

levioosa said:

Another easy no bake recipe are chocolate dipped peanut butter balls (we called them Buckeyes). 

ETA: I think it's just powdered sugar, creamy peanut butter, vanilla mixed together and then for the chocolate coating, melted chocolate with a little vegetable oil to help it spread with maybe a dash of vanilla. 

omg I love buckeyes! We make them with bourbon. 

levioosa

VarunaTT said:

CharmedPam said:

There’s also that Christmas crack I could make.
https://homecookingmemories.com/no-bake-chow-mein-noodle-cookies-recipe/

These are what I call haystacks! 

We used to shape them into nests and put the speckled peanut M&Ms and call them bird nests. 

VarunaTT

levioosa said:

VarunaTT said:

CharmedPam said:

There’s also that Christmas crack I could make.
https://homecookingmemories.com/no-bake-chow-mein-noodle-cookies-recipe/

These are what I call haystacks! 

We used to shape them into nests and put the speckled peanut M&Ms and call them bird nests. 

Oh, that is even more fun, I love it.

ei34

levioosa said:

VarunaTT said:

CharmedPam said:

There’s also that Christmas crack I could make.
https://homecookingmemories.com/no-bake-chow-mein-noodle-cookies-recipe/

These are what I call haystacks! 

We used to shape them into nests and put the speckled peanut M&Ms and call them bird nests. 

Yes! They’re more of an Easter cookie for us with the pastel M&Ms