I am so glad the holidays are approaching. I’ve been craving sweets! In my family, it is a time to bake and share delicious treats with others. I give tins packed with homemade foods to friends and relatives. It is an old custom and one that I think has been lost. Sure, it’s easier to go to the bakery, but I like the fact that it is made with love. Here are a few things that I make that I wanted to share with you.

Fudge

4 1/2 cups of white sugar, 1/2 cup of butter, 2 cans evaporated milk, 2 cup of milk chocolate chips, 3 cups of marshmellow cream, Optional chopped walnuts

Mix sugar, butter, milk in kettle. Boil for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and pour into large cake pan. Let cool and cut into squares. It is a softer fudge!

Lefse

4 cups of potatos (peeled, boiled, and softened), 1/2 cup of butter, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 1/2 cups of flour. (play with the amount. You don’t want it sticky, so add more flour if it is)

Roll out the dough into a dinner plate size flat pancake. Heat cast iron grill very hot with a tab of butter. Brown dough. This is similar to flat bread, but the Sweds spread butter on it, sprinkle brown sugar and roll it up to eat. You can also use jams, cinnamon/sugar if you prefer.

Chex messy

3 cups of Corn Chex Cereal, 1 cup of melted Chocolate Chips (or butterscotch, peanut butter, ect), 1 cup of powdered sugar

Put cereal in gallon size ziplock bag and pour melted chocolate over the cereal. Shake! Now pour in the powdered sugar. Shake. It looks really messy in the bag, but pour it out on a cookie sheet or piece of foil and pick out the pieces after letting them set for 10 minutes.

Peanut Brittle in the Microwave

1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of karo syrup, 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, 1 tsp of margarine, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, karo, and salt, cook in microwave for about 4 minutes, or just until amber colored. Remove from oven (it’s very hot, be very careful) and add peanuts, cook about l to 2 minutes more, remove from oven add the margarine, baking soda, and vanilla all at once, and mix thoroughly, spread on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam. Hurry, it sets fast! Once cool, break into pieces and put in sealed container. I also coat the cookie sheet with a little butter so it doesn’t stick.

A new one I am trying this year is Ritz Peanut Butter Chocolate sandwiches. Here’s the very easy recipe.

Take a Ritz cracker, spread a thin layer of peanut butter on cracker, put another cracker on top to make a sandwich. Dip in a package of melted Milk Chocolate Chips with toothpicks. Set on Wax paper to set.

What is your favorite holiday treat? I’d love to hear what your family loves. =)