Tripping Over Typeset

On Friday’s we meet with our friends over at Kate’s place for Five Minute Friday.  This week we are choosing our own word prompt and linking together here.  My word pick is: Countdown

We are in the final countdown… seven days ’til Christmas.

It doesn’t seem possible that we could be this close. But what’s even closer is the countdown to Sam coming home. We are three days out before the family is under one roof again. We are all looking forward to her coming home!  But before that happens other events must take place first.

I was chit chatting with one of my favorite cashiers in one of my favorite stores yesterday when she said, “I just have to get through Sunday then it will be smooth sailing.” I said, “Me, too…Let’s just get through Sunday.”

On Sunday, we have our kid’s production at church, our open house in the evening and Sam’s return in the late night. So it really is a “Let’s just get through Sunday” kind of motivation.

We do this craziness every year with the kid’s production in the morning and open house in the evening. It makes for a little crazy but I’ve learned some tips through the years so it’s not that bad.

Our open house is just that… opening our home for a 3 hour period where around 60-70 people stop over to say Merry Christmas and share in the goodies of the Season.

So in preparation for that event, yesterday was shopping, today is baking, tomorrow is rearranging furniture to make room for people and then Sunday is Sunday… and Sammy is home. (See how it keeps coming around to that! It’s all happiness and we’re counting down the minutes!)

One of the big hits of our open house is the food and a favorite is my mom-in-law’s recipe of Rocky Roads (aka Butterscotch Confetti.) This is an incredibly easy recipe and crowd-pleaser. Others have asked for the recipe so I’m sharing it with you.

Rocky Roads

• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• ¼ cup hard margarine (or butter…. We use margarine)
• 8 oz package of miniature marshmallows

Heat first 3 ingredients in large heavy saucepan on lowest heat, stirring often, until chips are almost melted. Do not overheat. Remove from heat. Stir until smooth. Let stand until bottom of saucepan is cool enough to touch.

Add marshmallows. Stir until coated. Press firmly in greased or foil-lined 9 x 9 inch pan. Chill until firm. (Cut into 36 squares.)

My personal favorite is to eat these chilled and fresh out of the freezer… yummy and a bit addictive!!

Another family favorite is Easy Peanut Clusters.  I made this last year. They are made in the slow-cooker and super-duper easy.  If you’re looking for simple and delicious, this is for you!  The recipe is shared here.

I am trying a couple of new recipes this year and one of them is Ree Drummond’s Bacon-Wrapped Dates. A friend of mine made these last week and they were amazing. Click here for the recipe.

I am off now to get this baking started, crank some oldies tunes, and corral this house of men with their Nerf gun wars. (A story for another day!)

Happy Friday, friends!

Jump into the conversation:

• What does this last weekend before Christmas hold for you?
• Share one of your Christmas recipe favorites.
• What are you counting down to this year?