BIG NEWS!!! I found a place to live! A home sweet home! And I just want to say THANKS to all of you out there who gave me referrals, called me when you saw “For Rent” signs up and to those of you prayed and prayed and prayed! While walking the neighborhood last week I saw a newly placed “For Rent” sign in front of a single family home, complete with a big yard and lots of privacy. What a relief it was to hand over the security deposit for the place… even though we have yet to see the inside of the house! 

No, I am not kidding! The rental market is so competitive here with only one percent available that you have to trust the people you meet and them, vice versa. So it’ll be a big surprise to us come January when we move just two blocks up the street. Have I mentioned how happy I am that we don’t have to leave our sleepy neighborhood?! You don’t realize what a good thing you have until it’s about to be taken away from you, I’ve learned from experience. Now I can focus on the holiday season and baking Christmas cookies and snacks!

This recipe I’m sharing with you is amazing!! My girlfriend Jill introduced me to this Christmas Caramel Crack last year and I was hooked right away. It is incredibly easy to make and even easier to eat. My holiday motto: Don’t worry about what you eat from Christmas to New Year’s, worry about what you eat from New Year’s to Christmas! Life is too short to not indulge in old family recipes and traditions! That’s why we work so hard all year long- to enjoy the things that only come but once a year, right?! The second recipe, Green Wreaths, is just as easy to make and Andy’s grandma used to make him these cookies every year so now I’m continuing the tradition and sharing them with you too!

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Christmas Caramel Crack- makes one baking sheet worth 

Ingredients:

-1 stick of butter

-1 cup brown sugar

-2 cups chocolate chips

-1 cup pecans

-2 sleeves of Saltines

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Place parchment paper over a baking sheet and layer with Saltines.

2. Boil the sugar and butter together and wait until it gets gooey and has a carmel color to it.

 

3. Pour the carmel mixture over the Saltines. I used a spatula to help smooth it out.

4. Then place in the oven for 5-8 minutes or until the mixture begins to bubble.

5. Take the Saltines out and throw the chocolate chips and nuts on top.

6. Refrigerate for a minium of 2-3 hours and then break into small pieces! Your friends will love you for bringing this!

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Green Wreaths- makes 55 cookies 

Ingredients:

-8 cups Corn Flakes

-2 packages of mini marshmallows

-1 stick butter

-1 T almond extract

-1 T vanilla extract

-2 T green food coloring

-1 package of red hots (the store was out so I made do with Red Tamales that I sliced up)

-baking sheets and parchment paper

Directions:

1. In a large pot, melt the marshmallows and butter together by bringing them to a boil.

2. Quickly add in the food coloring and extracts and mix again.

3. Take off the heat and add in the Corn Flakes and mix well.

4. Using a spoon, scoop a bit of the mixture out onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

 

5. Add 3 red hots and let cool, then enjoy! Easy peesy!

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I’ve read/ listened to 85 books this year and I’m ending the year (unless I have time to read one more book) with this classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. So many of the books I have read make mention of this book that I decided it was time to check it out.

What are you reading???? I want to know!

Have a wonderful holiday if I don’t see or talk to you before then and as always, thank you for following the Yummy Yogini blog!