Easy French Bread

I made this while I was getting dinner ready tonight! It is that easy, but super delicious. The recipe is my sister-in-law Brenda's from our family cookbook.

2 1/2 c. Warm Water
2 tbsp. Sugar
2 tbsp. Yeast
2 tsp. Salt
2 tbsp. Oil
5-6 c. Flour

Combine water, sugar and sprinkle yeast on top. Allow to soften. Add oil, 3 cups of flour and salt. Mix well. Add remaining flour until it pulls away from the sides of the mixer. Knead 2-3 minutes. Divide into 2 balls and shape into loaves. Let rise about 30 minutes. With a sharp knife make 3 slashes 1/8 inch deep on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Butter the top when it comes out of the oven.

Christmas Treats

We had fun making treats! I'm not a very good baker so this year I decided to go with mostly candy for my plates of Christmas treats for friends and neighbors. I found some great recipes that will become a holiday tradition, and also used some family recipes that are a tradition already!

Carmels: Grandma Stahle

2 c. Sugar

1 can Evaporated Milk

1 c. Light Karo Syrup

1/8 tsp. Salt

1 c. Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

Mix together and stir constantly while cooking slowly over medium-low heat. Cook until it forms a firm ball in water (232-245 degrees) about 20 minutes. Take off heat and add vanilla. Pour into buttered glass pan. Let set then cut into small squares.

Tish's Microwave Fudge: click HERE 5 minute super easy and yummy fudge!

Marshmallows from Our Best Bites HERE I made mine with peppermint flavoring (soo good with hot chocolate) and then dipped them in red candy melts and crushed candy canes.

Pretzel Turtles from Our Best Bites HERE So easy and delicious!

Nutter-Butter Santa's:

1 pkg. Nutter-Butter Cookies

1/2 pkg. white Candy Melts or Almond Bark

1/2 pkg. red Candy Melts

small white Marshmallows

shredded coconut

red & black jel icing

Melt white candy melts according to package directions. Take a nutter-butter and dip the top and bottom in to the white chocolate. Dip one side into coconut. Set on wax paper to set. Once all cookies are dipped in white chocolate then coconut and set, melt red candy melts. Dip the non-coconut end of cookie into red chocolate leaving a little bit of the white chocolate showing, to form the hat. Stick a marshmallow on the side and put on wax paper to set. Marshmallow will stick as it cools. Use black and red jel icing to add eyes and a nose. Not hard, just a little time consuming!