LINE YOUR DOOR WITH GINGERBREAD BOYS TO SNIP AND TAKE ALONG -A SWEET GOOD-BYE

 I have done this post

a couple of times.

Several people said 

they had never seen anything like it.

I thought I would post before it

gets any later in the season--

in case you want make these for 

your own home.

I have been doing this since my

own kids were small.

You know how a front door says 

WELCOME

when you come in?

By the way-

Those sleigh bells are off the horses my 

father drove as a young man.

So -there's my 

Happy Hello!

BUT I like my door to say

GOOD-BYE

when someone leaves, too.

And I like to say it NICELY

Unlike some people that say-

Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the 

way out.

How do I do that?

I let my visitors take a little memento

of their visit with them.

It is called 

Cut and Run Take

Here they are my sweet little

GINGERBREAD BOYS

hanging in a row.

Here's how to make this 

sweet little door hanging.

Roll out Saran Wrap about 2 feet longer 

than the side of your door.

Lay your Gingerbread Boys in a line 

on the center of the plastic wrap.

leaving about 4-6" between them.

You could also do this with any sturdy

cookie- like a sugar cookie cut 

like a snowflake or star.

Flip them upside down making sure that they

are still in the center

Pull the plastic wrap to the back

overlapping it so they are enclosed 

all the way around.

Gently flip them over and using ribbon

tie a knot above and below EACH one.

Hang some children's scissors on

some curly ribbon from the top

to cut the saran wrap.

When you cut them apart 

you will cut between the ribbons 

leaving each one fully encased 

In plastic wrap.

Here I am making a cut between the ties.

You start with the bottom one and 

each person can cut off a gingerbread boy 

to take along when they leave.

I hang them on a nail 

hidden on top of the door jamb.

shhhhh-MyHero hates nails anywhere

I dressed the top 

with some greenery and red balls.

I love  Gingerbread Boys, don't you?

Sometimes I feel sorry for them though.

Poor things.

pinterest image

The one on the right hears about like 

MyHero does-especially when it comes

to trying to get a chore done!

Now- get in that kitchen and start baking!

As for me..

Well, I am trying not to BAKE

so that I don't EAT

Gingerbread Boys!

OH!  And these are really cute with

SNOWFLAKE CUTOUTS

instead of 

Gingerbread boys.

Image

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

I will be back soon with a

Pick Your Favorite Christmas Table....

PINKY PROMISE!

NANA DIANA'S CARAMELS--EASY PEASY-NO FAIL RECIPE

Every couple of years I post

this recipe because people

LOVE IT!

AND- you can't screw it up.

 When I was a kid,

 my mother

often whipped up a batch 

of fudge from scratch

after the chores were done

on a snowy Pennsylvania night.

I make caramels instead.

As you can tell, I love to bake

and make candy.

I don't know how many 

caramel recipes I have tried

over the years.

Some of them called for

stirring for what seemed hours

and then...

they might or might not

"turn out".

These are quick!

Less than 10 minutes from

start to finish AND they

NEVER FAIL 

to set up properly.

I am not sure how these would 

turn out if you have an old

low wattage microwave.

I think most of them are at least

1000 watts now.

I have made them in 1000W,

1200W & 1500W mics

and the timing is the same.

Ready?

Get yourself a nice big 

microwave measuring cup.

I use an 8 cup one.

Make sure it is microwave safe.

Before I start-

One warning-

You CANNOT double this recipe.

You would have to make two batches

if you want more.

Everything that is measured out

is in 1/2 cup increments.

Melt 1/2 cup butter.

Remove from microwave.

Add 1/2 cup Karo syrup,

1/2 cup light brown sugar,

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup sweetened CONDENSED MILK

(not evaporated milk)

Stir until mixed and dissolved.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 minutes.

Stir down.

Microwave on high 3-1/2 more minutes.

Remove from mic.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts-if desired- I don't.

Stir until few air bubbles remain.

Pour into 8x8 buttered dish.

Refrigerate until set.

Cut into squares.

You can wrap these if they last long enough.

Ours never seem to make it to the

wrapped stage!

Serve these to your husband.

Make sure he eats twice as many

as you do.

Remember- the fatter he gets

the skinnier you look

standing next to him!;>)

If you do have some left to wrap

they make a perfect little 

take-along gift in a pretty 'card box',

like the post before this with the fudge in it.

CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST--AND I AM IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE????

Well, this is NOT

the Michigan coast

that we live on.

Green Bay is actually on the
bay across the peninsula
from Lake Michigan.

But this post is not taken from this area.

Our Christmas Coast

looks cold and angry here.

That means that I am always longing

for the warm, beachy

Christmas that is found

on a Southern coast.

Sometimes I dream
that I am actually living
in the South again..
where it warm and sunny
year round.

But today I am content
to find these images
in an old 
Coastal Living

and dream my own little

dreams about actually

living there.

Look at the view

from this living room.

The dining room is equally awesome.

And the deck.

Now I'm not saying that this

is STAGED...but did you notice

that the same RUG that is

under the dining room table

now appears on the deck?

Hmmm...or maybe they have

two identical rugs?
And two identical trees with
the ornaments switched up a bit?

I have to tell you that

when I lived in Florida

in the 70's, and again in the 80's.

that shell encrusted pieces

were considered kind of

um..I hate to say it..tacky.

But tastes change

and there are people that would

love to have this shell covered chest.

Don't you just love beachy keen

feeling in that bedroom?

And, what

Coastal Home is complete

a

Gingerbread Lighthouse?

And,  personally, being

a former

MERMAID myself,

 I LOVE these cookies.

Do you think every sailor

is always looking for his

own personal mermaid?

Whaddaya mean you don't

think I used to be a

MERMAID?

Really?

Well, then, here's the proof!

What?

You don't believe that's me?

Well....you know what I have to

say to that?

Glubbb...glubbb...glubbb...

which translates (roughly)

to ..............

oh-never-mind

I will back in a day or two

with a special

GINGERBREAD BOY

idea for you.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CARD BOXES FULL OF PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

 I have done a post about this before

 

but I wanted to do it again

just in case you need a

Little sumthin/sumthin 

 

to give as a little gift.

AND you can use those beautiful boxes

that Christmas cards come in---

you know the ones that are so pretty

you don't want to throw them out.

Here is a use for them.

It's the sweetest little gift ever!

This is 

THE EASIEST HOMEMADE

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

ever.

I wish I could tell you where

I got the recipe but I can't remember.

Here's how to take the box below
and turn it into a 

special gift.

Don't you hate to throw them away

because they have such pretty

"faces"?

They make wonderful little

Candy Boxes.

Open the box and line it with tin foil.

Butter the tin foil.

Then make this:

In pan over medium heat melt

2 sticks of butter

When melted stir in 

1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy.

Like this.

Stir in one teaspoon REAL vanilla.

Add 2-3/4 cups CONFECTIONERY SUGAR

(not granulated)

(That old tin scoop belonged to my Mom-Good Housekeeping 1954)

I beat it quickly with a hand mixer

(it sets up fast) 

and then pour it into the 

buttered foil lined box.

Put it in the fridge to harden

and as soon as it sets up

lift it out and wrap it in 

parchment paper,

then wrap it with a piece

of ribbon and place it

back in the box.

 I pick up knives all year here and there
and include one in each box.

The fudge stays fresh
until they cut it.

Put the lid on and it presents

like this when opened.

 

Recipe:

SMOOTH AND EASY

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

2 sticks butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-3/4 cups confectionery sugar

In saucepan:

Melt butter

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.

Use hand mixer and quickly

mix sugar in. It sets up fast.

Place in tinfoil lined box and

set in fridge until hard.

This is the smoothest peanut

butter candy I have ever made.

This recipe makes two card boxes 

full OR 1 8x8 buttered pan.

It's quick, easy and just
a sweet little surprise.

Save a few pieces for your friends.

 Let them eat this while you sip

black coffee or diet Coke.

Remember...

The fatter THEY get the 

THINNER YOU LOOK

next to them!

It's nice to have some

HEALTHY SNACKS 

this time of year, too.

HAPPY CANDY MAKING!

I am almost finished shopping!

Whooo Hoooo for me!

As to what happened to the spacing

on this thing?

It's a mystery to me...and one I can't seem to fix.

Yes-thank you- I AM blonde!