Chocolate Rum Truffles

A simple easy Christmas Candy recipe Chocolate Rum Truffles are boozy, chocolaty and make a fun DIY Christmas gift. They smooth boozy melt in your mouth Chocolate Truffles can be rolled in whatever favorite topping you like from chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or even sprinkles.

We've been enjoying these boozy Chocolate Rum Truffles over the holidays and I can't wait to make another batch for New Years Eve.

These are so easy to make and the perfect sweet treat to enjoy with a glass of champagne.

I love the soft silky smooth dark chocolate centers with the bitter cocoa powder coating or rolled in chopped nuts.

One of the most important things to remember when making truffles is to use good quality chocolate and rum.

The Diplomatico Rum provides a wonderful silky smooth finish to sneak into these boozy little truffles and compliments the dark chocolate beautifully.

I guarantee Chocolate Rum Truffles will impress the ones you love.

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Hearty Beef Stew

Oh the weather outside is frightful but this stew is so delightful.. Since there's no place to go let it snow...Let it snow...Let it snow! 

In my dream world I would make a huge pot of Hearty Beef Stew and we would be snowed in with sledding, stew and hot cocoa with a fire but we live in Washington so we rarely become snowed in.

Well except the year Colt and I decided to deliver newspapers for some extra cash for Christmas, of course that was the worst snow fall in the history of our existence. I will never not tip the delivery person again.

We started the week of Black Friday and let me tell you that was an experience in it's self just bundling the papers let alone me driving while Colt tossed them out the window while trying to find addresses in the dark and we had to pick up 2 loads in our mini van just to be able to fit all the newspapers.

The following weeks were filled with feet of snow and papers stacked around our kids (they were all small at the time so they slept while we delivered) and some nights they would have production problems and the newspapers wouldn't arrive until 3 or 4am in the morning and you would be stuck waiting until they arrived. Definitely one of the crazier things we've done.

Anyways back to this Hearty Beef Stew....We've been enjoying this in our regular dinner rotation the last month or two. It's easy to make, full of flavor and perfect yucky weather comfort food.

I love the look and taste of pearl onions and small multi colored potatoes in this stew but when in a pinch I quarter small onions and dice a few potatoes instead. Sometimes running to the store just isn't practical. I used fresh sage, rosemary and thyme off my plant growing in the kitchen but these too can easily be substituted with dried herbs. I find the earthy tones of sage really makes this a big old bowl of comfort perfect for these dark days of winter.

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Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch

Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch is a favorite holiday punch recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Pitcher cocktails are an easy for entertaining. Pomegranate Juice, Cranberry Juice, Rum, and Pink Moscato make this perfect for parties and holiday entertaining.

Other Thanksgiving and Christmas cocktails we love to make are Red Wine Pomegranate Sangria, Cranberry Moscow Mules, Hot Apple Cider Buttered Rum and Hot Apple Cider Buttered Whiskey. 

With the Holidays here and Christmas quickly approaching I figured there was no better time then the present to share this Sparkling Pomegranate Berry Punch aka Jingle Juice.

This weeks theme is Libational Recipes and with Rum and Pink Moscato Champagne I think we have it covered.

Pomegranate, cranberry and raspberries make this a smooth sipper with a gorgeous color perfect for brunch, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years and any other special occasion! 

I like to soak the berries in the rum prior to making the punch for a boozy little treat in the bottom of your glass.

Be warned to tread lightly and sip slowly these go down faster then you'll realize.

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Double Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies

Soft and chewy chocolate cookies with chocolate and mint chips are a favorite all year and super easy to make.

When we were at the grocery store last weekend there was one of those displays of mint baking chips on sale that was screaming, stock up! Stock up now before they're gone because you know the minute you run out and head back to the store to get more they'll be gone.

So yesterday when the kids were wanting to make cookies to fill our snowman jar we decided on Double Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies.

They're always a favorite and perfect for the cookie jar or holiday cookie trays.

We thought these would be great to enjoy while we decorated our Christmas tree, but by the time we had dinner we opted to snuggle on the couch with our cookies and watch a Christmas movie instead. Our poor tree has been sitting in the corner of the living room naked for the last few days.

Hopefully tonight everyone will be up to getting it decorated.

If not we'll have to make another batch of Double Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies for tomorrow because they'll be gone by tonight! 

Good thing I stocked up.

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24 Candy Making Ideas Perfect For The Holidays

Since I've been thinking about making some candy with the kids over the next few weeks I thought it was a great time to share 24 different candy making ideas that I love, perfect for gift giving or just to enjoy.

I always love making and giving homemade gifts for the holidays. These candy ideas are perfect for cookie trays, holiday parties, and to bring a sweet treat to your neighbors.

Whether you're adventurous or traditional you'll find plenty of ideas to get your creative juices flowing and leave you salivating for more.

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