Birthday ~ Random Tidbits ~ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's gorgeous out this morning!  We will have a white Christmas this year.

I got my homemade "lysol" wipes restocked.  

They are made with 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, a teaspoon of dawn liquid soap, and what ever essential oil I feel like adding.  There are recipes all over the internet to make these. I add 10-12 drops tea tree oil.  Be sure to use a thick paper towel to make these.  

Our youngest turns 16 today.  Boy do the years fly by.  She was the toughest labor, smallest baby (only one to weigh under 10 pounds), and the quickest recovery.  Went to the hospital on the 22nd, had her on the 23rd, and was home on the 24th.  Best Christmas ever.  

The blueberries have been simmered in wine, the cookies are all made, as well as the candies (more than I anticipated).  I need to boil my sweet potatoes today for another pie, and also bake sweet potato fries (to reheat in the oven tomorrow).

The scarf orders are all complete.  I am down to working on making my one daughter her Harry Potter scarf.  I've had compliments on my own "HD" scarf while I've been out and about too.  

The dogs have scarves now too.   King is sporting the red one and Zuri the princess pink.  I just need to make one for my grand pup Mia.  

I'll be taking a short break from blogging (oh what will I do with my time?), as we are getting very busy around here - birthday, Christmas our 19th wedding anniversary (going on 20 years) and then New Year's Eve.  See ya' when we slow down a bit.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Macadamia Peanut Brittle Recipe ~ Homemade Peppermint Patties

There was a request for the other brittle recipe, so here it is:

Macadamia Peanut Brittle
(you need a candy thermometer to make this)

1 cup sugar, organic
1/2 cup light corn syrup, organic
1/4 tsp. salt 
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup peanuts, organic
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, organic
2 Tbsp. butter organic, softenend
1 tsp. baking soda 

Prepare a baking sheet by greasing it with organic shortening.  Set aside on a hot pad.  Measure butter and soda and keep nearby.

In a medium saucepan mix sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.  Place candy thermometer in pan.  Bring to a boil.  

Toss in nuts and continue to boil. Stir consistently, but slowly so you do not slow down the temperature, but keep it from sticking to the pan.

When it reaches 300°F remove from heat and remove thermometer, add butter stirring.  Once the butter is melted, stir in the baking soda and pour onto prepared pan.  It will foam up.   Spread the mixture out and allow it to cool completely.  

Break into pieces and store in an air tight container.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I also made homemade peppermint patties for the first time.  So easy to make too.  Here is that recipe:

(Youngest helped me)

Homemade Peppermint Patties
3/4 cup organic sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 tsp. organic (or homemade) peppermint extract
4 cups organic powdered sugar

Mix and roll flat on a non-stick surface to about a 1/2 inch thickness.  This dough is sticky, so you may need to work it a bit by hand, then roll between two pieces of parchment paper.  Or coat the rolling pin with powdered sugar.

Cut into small pieces and all them to dry on a non-stick pan for up to 12 hours.  You could get fancy and make small circles, but for us squares were quick and easy.

Drop each piece into melted dark chocolate and coat.  Place pieces on waxed paper to harden.  Store in an airtight container.

Note:  You won't use an entire can of sweetened condensed milk, so I put my leftover milk in the fridge to use up later.  There are many tips on using leftover sweetened condensed milk on the internet.