JELL-O Chocolate Cherry Bombs

1/3 cup boiling water

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin

1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk

2 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, coarsely chopped

14 maraschino cherries with stems, drained

14 paper cups, sprayed with cooking spray

Add gelatin into a medium, heat proof bowl

Then add the boiling water to the gelatin; stir 2 minutes or until completely dissolved

Microwave evaporated milk and chocolate in a microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is blended, stirring each minute.

Add chocolate mixture to gelatin;

Whisk until blended.

Use a small scoop (used for cantaloupe balls) to scoop up the chocolate mixture

pour into prepared paper cups.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

 In the meantime, drain the maraschino cherries if you haven't already

Besides taking pictures, I was also given the job of poking the cherries into the center of the bombs.  Push in gently.

Refrigerate for another 20 minutes.  Unmold to serve.

It's our daughter's turn to host the annual Christmas Party from some folks she used to work with.  She made these the other night to see if they would be good enough for the party.  It was unanimous from Dad, Grandma and I.  They will make their debut at the party.  I thought they would taste more like cherry gelatin but they don't.  They're so chocolatey with a touch of cherry flavor and oh so good.  I've never heard of these, she always likes to bring out new things and we're more than happy to be her guinea pigs.  Have a great weekend!

Arby's Snow Scene Tumblers

I adore these tumblers.  Ever since Arby's sold them for .99cents with a purchase back in the mid-90's.  Why they stopped I don't know but I was certainly a big fan of theirs.  I bought at least eight or ten of these tumblers and used them only during the holidays.  I also have the matching wine goblets that they sold too.  I blogged about the goblets last year and you can see them here.

Slowly through the years though I would lose as least one per season.  At first I was at a loss as to how I was ever going to get them replaced since Arby's stopped selling them.  So last season I googled it and sure enough, Ebay had a slew of them.  I was so thrilled and although I didn't purchase any then, I made a purchase last week and received a shipment of six today.  Just in time for the holidays!  Yay!

They're probably plain ol' cheapie glass tumblers but that's ok, I still adore them.  Notice the gold ring around the rim, so pretty!

I'm nuts over snow scenes, don't ask me why, I just love snow scenes.  The lighting is different as I shut the flash off my daughter's new digital camera.  She gave me permission to play with it ;)

These tumblers arrived in mint condition.  The guy who sent them did an excellent job in packing them.  He quadrupled layered each one with bubble wrap.  Then bubble wrapped them altogether, taped and secured  them.  I'm a very satisfied customer in many ways!

SHARED WITH:

Grandma Coles Peanut Blossoms

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
2 tbsps. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 bag of candy chocolate kisses
1 cup of granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Combine all ingredients except candy and the one cup of sugar, in large mixer bowl.

Mix on lowest speed until dough forms

I used my dinglehopper of a scoop to make the perfect size balls.  If you don't have a dinglehopper, you can use the palm of your hands.

Roll balls in the one cup of sugar

Place the balls on a parchment paper or a silicone lined cookie sheet.  It was my idea to make an indention in the middle of each ball,  I don't know why, it was just calling me to take my thumb and push down.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Top each cookie immediately with a candy kiss; press down firmly so cookie cracks around edge.  I sent to Hubby to the store to get a few items, and chocolate kisses were one of them.  When he got home, opened the package for me, he realized he bought the wrong kind.  He was supposed to buy the pure all brown chocolate kisses instead he bought these, white chocolate with a stripes.  I wasn't upset, I told him it didn't matter.  Any kind of kiss will work ;)

Prop for photo shoot

I love my Blackberry Bold camera.

If you love peanut butter, you'll love these.  Guess what,  I can't stand peanut butter so these don't even appeal to me but hubby loves peanut butter so if I don't hurry up and freeze these babies, they're going to disappear!!

These cookies have been made by my mother-in-law for as long as I can remember.  When we lived miles and miles away from her, she always sent us a container with homemade goodies at Christmas time.  This was a favorite with everyone in the family.  Hubby said he was in the mood for them today so I asked my MIA to see if she still knew the recipe.  She had to go hunt it down in her room and sure enough she found it.  I'm not sure where she originally got the recipe from but it does look like she cut it out of a magazine.  She had it covered in a small plastic envelope tucked away in her recipe box.  I have a feeling these will continue to be a favorite for generations to come.

i Savor the Weekend