Chocolate Snowballs

This is a Betty Crocker cookie recipe that I baked for the first time this year. It makes a chewy, delicious cookie, and was actually better than I expected. The Hershey kiss in the middle gives it a big boost of chocolate flavor. Next time I want to try Hershey Kisses with almonds.

Chocolate Snowballs

1 pouch (1lb 1.5oz) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup finely ground almonds
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla
30- 40 Hershey Kisses
confectioners sugar

Heat oven to 375. In a large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, flour. cocoa, and extracts until soft dough forms.
Shape dough into 3/4” balls. (The original recipe says it makes 60, but I ended up with around 36). Place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Roll in confectioners sugar when cool.


Combine all ingredients until soft dough forms. I used whole raw almonds and ground them in my food processor.

It will make a dough that looks like this:

Roll into 3/4" balls:

Wrap a kiss inside of each one:

Bake at 375 for 8 - 10 minutes. Allow to cool and roll in confectioners sugar.

Martini Glass Candleholders

I saw this idea in a Rachel Ray magazine. I found these pretty blue martini glasses at the Dollar Tree and the silver taper candles at Hobby Lobby:


I used wax candle adapters to adhere the candles to the insides of the glasses:

Then I poured in a few Hershey Kisses:

And added a few sprigs of greenery:

This is a lovely and inexpensive decoration that you can put together in a matter of minutes.

Tree Place Card

This is a cute Martha Stewart project that you can print, cut, and fold. First, go to this link:

Tree Place Card

Then click on the word download to pull up the design to print. Print it on card stock. It will look like this:

Follow the easy folding instructions, and within minutes you will have this cute little tree:

You can write the person's name on the star.
I thought this was really fun and easy. I hope you do, too!

Uber Award

I was very honored to receive the Uber Amazing Blog Award from AK Mom at What's Baking?
Go check her blog for some great recipes!

This award is a blog award given to sites that:
~ inspire you
~ make you smile and laugh
~ or maybe give amazing information
~ are a great read
~ have an amazing design
~ give you any other reason that make make you think they are uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:

~ Put the logo on your blog or post.
~ Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
~ Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
~ Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.


These are some of the blogs I enjoy and I that believe deserve the Uber Award:

The Knit Owl
Always an inspiration, Amby has some amazing Indie Crafts for sale, and just in time for Christmas!

Beach Eats
Go to Diva on a Diet's blog for great recipes as well as a good laugh.

Fin-ish Me Cupcakes
She is from Bangkok, Thailand. I look at her pictures and drool.

Inspired Kara
Kara has inspired me on more than one occasion with her creativity.

Adventure Creations
Rebecca has just recently started her blog, and her recipes look delicious.

Thank you AK Mom!

Oreo Truffles

This recipe has been around for a few years but this is the first time I have tried it. It is an easy recipe, but I am not fond of the dipping part. But that's just me. They really aren't hard to make. Also, I dipped them in a mixture of milk and semisweet chocolates, and I think they are better dipped in white chocolate. If you opt for white chocolate, use Ghirardelli instead of Nestles. The Nestles brand does not melt well. I have learned that the hard way more than once. Nestles white chocolate gets no more chances.

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreos
1 - 8 ounce pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
12 ounces white chocolate (or whatever you prefer to dip them in)

Crush Oreos in a food processor until they are the consistency of fine crumbs. In a medium bowl, combine the cookie crumbs with cream cheese and vanilla. Roll into balls and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Meanwhile, heat chocolate in the top of a double boiler until melted. Dip each ball into the chocolate and place on wax paper.
(I used a long toothpick to dip them with, then placed them on the wax paper. Then I added a tiny bit of chocolate to the top and swirled it).
Chill in refrigerator until hardened.

Process Oreos until they are fine crumbs:

In a medium bowl, combine with softened cream cheese and vanilla:

Beat until well mixed:

Roll into balls and chill:

I tucked a few away for a nurse friend of mine who is moving to Atlanta. : (

December Craft and Cooking Class

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching a Christmas crafts and cooking class in the month of December at the home of Tammy Walker. We will set up several stations where we will be doing fun gift wrapping, cooking, baking, and crafts. There will be good food to eat as well as door prizes. My goal is to inspire your creativity as well as enable you to leave with some new ideas that will make your Christmas preparations a little more adventurous.
We are going to have so much fun! I hope you can come!

Christmas Class

Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Place: 8511 Cedar Mountain Road
Cost: $20
Moms and daughters are two for the price of one.

If you would like to come, please email me at vwfranks@gmail.com. I can then give you additional details as well as directions.