Dollar Tree Ornament

Every year I am impressed with the cute ornaments I find at the Dollar Tree. Last year I found the cutest white Santa faces, but this year I love these gold glitter reindeer! The best part is that they are flat, so I could glue it on a piece of green and cream chevron fabric and frame it!

Chocolate Maple Walnut Fudge

This is the yummiest chocolate fudge! All it is is the basic fantasy fudge recipe....you know it.....the one on the back of the small marshmallow cream. BUT...instead of vanilla I double the amount with maple extract, and topped it with walnuts!  Wow...it really made a difference in the taste!  Here is a copy of the fantasy fudge recipe just in case you don't have it.....

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
8 -12 ounces chocolate chips 
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
1 cup nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Mix butter, sugar and milk in a saucepan.
2 Heat until 230 degrees on a candy thermometer. Or if you do not have a thermometer, bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes. I NEVER use a thermometer, I always boil for exactly 4 minutes!
3 Remove from heat.
4 Stir in candy chips a little at a time until melted.
5 Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
6 Spread into a greased 13" by 9" by 2" pan.
7 Cool to room temperature.
8 Cut into squares.

A little Christmas all around the house...

I can't seem to leave even the smallest little nook undecorated!

Best Baked Pork Chop Recipe......

This isn't the best quality picture, and it probably doesn't make these look so yummy, BUT I promise they are! This is healthier than frying, but gives you that comfort taste of a fried pork chop. Not to mention much easier to bake than it is to fry!

1 package dried onion soup mix
1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
3 lbs. of pork chops, each about 1/2" thick
1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a flat bowl or bag combine soup mix and bread crumbs.

3. In a separate bowl beat egg, dip pork chops into egg and then into soup/bread crumb mixture

4. Place well coated pork chops on shallow baking sheet.

5. Bake uncovered for 12 minutes, turn and continue to bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes until done

The stocking were all hung.....

I'm finally finished putting up all the Christmas decorations. I love it when my house is all decked out for the holidays! Here is is a quick pic of my mantle this year. .

Photo Ornaments

Last year, but I really wish I would have started years ago I started adding photo ornaments to my tree. I love this tradition. I can't believe how much we have changed in just one year! These ornaments will be so fun to hang in ten years!!!!! I almost can't wait, but then I stop and think yikes my kids are growing up so fast  I don't wanna speed it up. Here a few pics of this years photo ornaments....

All I did to create these was have wallets made out of my Christmas pics this year, cut them out, glue them to some card stock, added a glued on bow, a hook, and hung them up. So cute huh??? Now I do have a cricut that cuts these cute shapes, but I think they would look pretty cute if I traced and cut squares too.

Hot Chocolate Station

With the temperatures in the 80's here in Texas, It's hard to imagine bringing out the Hot Chocolate Station. However.......wooo hooooo I read that we will actually get some snow flurry's here Monday!!! I got so excited. My kids love it when it's cold out, and I have a yummy cup of hot chocolate waiting for them when they get off the bus. Looks like Monday's the day!!!!!