Is it wrong for me to tease you with pictures like this?

 

 

 

If the answer is yes, then I sincerely apologize!  I had a fantastic first day in Florida.  I spent some quality time catching up with my aunt and my grandpa!  I took a dip in the pool, briefly trying out my new goggles and then came back inside to read, actually finishing my book.

 

 

All in all, it was a pretty great day!  Along with reading, resting, and eating at the deli, I lugged my laptop down here so that I can catch up on emails (I’ve been awful recently) and some blogging.  Not at the expense of my vitamin D needs, of course, but I thought I would have some free time at night to catch you up on all my holiday baking.

Which brings me to this very important question…

 

Where Have All the Circular Pretzels Gone?

 

I searched near and far, high and low, this store and that store, plus another store and could not find circular pretzels for this year’s holiday chocolates.  I’m sure had I planned in advance I could have ordered some online, but since I found them so easily last year, I didn’t think twice.  I had some help from my mom in locating a non-buttered square pretzel, which was a successful stand in.

 

 

Afterwards, I found football shaped pretzels that would have be fun.  Maybe next time!

 

 

I spent an episode of Grey’s Anatomy unwrapping Hershey kisses.  I love variety when it comes to these festive sweets which means mixing different kisses and M&M flavors.  This year’s kisses included milk chocolate, dark chocolate, hugs, and white chocolate peppermint (these are the BEST!).  The Grey’s drama continued and my wrapper pile just kept growing!

 

 

When my show was over, I took my bowl of kisses into the kitchen.

 

 

 

Then got to work…quick hands mean action shots are hard to get.

 

 

 

This year’s M&M flavors included…

 

 

Plain (what was left after the BOY discovered them), mint, white chocolate peppermint, and coconut!

 

 

I mix and matched all of the kisses with all of the M&M’s for some fun flavors and colorful candies!

 

 

 

 

It is a-okay if your mouth is watering right now because this simple recipe is BIG on taste!

 

 

I loaded up my chocolate pretzels with some holiday bark to share with my coworkers.  It’s amazing how simple these are to make yet wherever I bring them, EVERYONE loves them!

 

 

 

 

I ended up with plenty of candy to share.  After making the bags for my coworkers, I added some to my already full holiday tins.

 

 

And of course brought a bag down here with me to Florida!

But the big question remains…how many will be left when I return home. The BOY has already asked which containers ‘hiding’ in the freezer are on and off limits?  And he has snuck into his parent’s tin of cookies TWICE!

 

 

At least we know if a big snow storm hits, he’ll have plenty to eat!

 

 

Chocolate Circle Rings Squares

 

Ingredients

Circle or square pretzels (in a pinch, the regular shape will work too!)

Hershey’s kisses

M&M’s (get creative with your flavor combinations)

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pretzels on baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Unwrap kisses and place them on top of pretzels.

Bake for 4-5 minutes until chocolate is soft. Look for chocolate to start to ‘sweat’ and if you are not sure, try a tester M&M.  The ugly ones are perfect for snacks and samples!  (***NOTE: Milk chocolate will take longer to melt while white chocolate will melt quickly).

Remove from oven and immediately place an M&M on top of the chocolate pushing it down. Refrigerate until set.

Store in airtight container in the fridge of the freezer.

 

 

Other Varieties…

 

Turtle Pretzels

 

 

 

Candy Corn Hugs with Pumpkin Kisses