Peppermint Bark

8:30 p.m.

We're about to make Peppermint Bark.  Britt made this at a friend's house and swears it's easy as pie and tastes just as good.  She wants more brickle too. I'll let you know how it came out.
Made Choc. chip cookies yesterday.  My oven definitely needs to be calibrated.  Had some success using a combination of parchment paper and placing the oven rack in the top 1/3 of the oven instead of the middle.  that was the only way to keep the bottom from burning.   Also, having made these cookies so often, I could make them blindfolded, I still think they taste better with margarine.  I made them last night with butter and came to this earthshaking conclusion yet again.

Hoping to make my cranberry pecan bars and butter cookies later, but not sure if we'll get to that. It depends  whether or not I get help with  all this mess from the local people!!!
stay tuned!
Stress level: simmering.  Last few days have plum worn me out.

Update: It will all get better somehow:

I just woke up. fell asleep on the couch from 10:30 to 12.  Now I have to finish two more loads of laundry and then I'm going to hit the sack. 

About the bark,  If I were 10 again (or fourteen), I would probably love it.  Personally, I think it's just too sweet. Several of the reviewers at the site suggested adding peppermint extract to the recipe, but I can't imagine even adding that.  Britt loves it, however.  Rick thought it was just ok.  It's not a bad recipe, just not something I could cotton up to.  ;) 

Williams-Sonoma, however, makes an absolutely  delicious peppermint bark.. yummm!

Vanilla Stories~

We also made Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies.  These were pretty good. Not as good as I thought they'd be, but not bad, either.  We made the cookie too large, for starters. If you make them, roll them into small balls, that are not much bigger than the cherry itself.   Our first batch was about 3" diameter, much too large!

  The idea is to bite into the cherry, and that wasn't possible with the oversized ball.  So it's better if your balls are smaller.  I never thought I'd ever say this type of thing.

I ran out of vanilla extract in the middle of the recipe.  I'd put 1/2 a tsp in with the butter/sugar combo and was about to pour the remaining 1 tsp and....there wasn't any left!! I could have sworn I bought another bottle of vanilla at the beginning of the season and was using the new bottle.   What happened to all my vanilla!!@

Anyway, Britt and Sam were dispatched to a friend's house nearby to pick up a mere teaspoon of vanilla.  They returned shortly with almost 1/8 CUP of vanilla@!!  My friend said it was extra good quality vanilla from Mexico and the best you can get.  From Mexico??  Have you ever heard of Mexican vanilla extract?    Sometimes I buy the good bourbon vanilla extract, but I've never heard of Mexican variety.   In any event, this type smelled so good, just a real strong vanilla scent.  It may have affected the cookie taste.., but still, they were good. just not overwhelmingly outstanding.  Of note, my family disagrees with me and they like them.  LOL If I make them again, I'll stick to McCormick's.

I've been using the cookie pans with parchment paper and am still using the top shelves of the oven until I can get the oven calibrated.

Now, this might be my last post of the season. Tomorrow, in a swift change of plans, we are heading down to Ft. Meyers where we'll spend Christmas eve and Christmas Day with Rick's brother and family. His grandparents will be in from Canada as well.  We haven't spent Christmas with them in a few years so it will be fun to see them again.

Then we return late afternoon Monday to finish packing. Tuesday morning  we leave for Port Canaveral for a 4 day cruise to Nassau.  I've never been on a cruise and am trying not to think about norovirus and all the missing people lost at sea.  Quite frankly, cruises have never been my idea of a good vacation, but this time around, a big group of us are going and it should be fun.  I'm still not keen on the timing, however.   I have a friend that does this the day after Christmas every year. I think she's crazy.  Never AGAIN. She's co-ordinating the whole trip and promises we'll love it.

However, trying to find a pet sitter who is qualified to handle needles/syringes and a diabetic dog was a nightmare. I am so afraid he'll have another seizure after the sitter gives him his shot and leaves the house. Finally found a good one, I hope.  Trying to get everything ready for Christmas, the presents, cooking, all the small things that add up, the shopping for all the family members, packing and shopping for cruise clothes for all four of us in the winter...it has been exhausting.

  Yes, this is Florida and the temps have been in the 80's all week, however, our department stores seem to think we're living in Minnesota and are loaded with racks of sweaters and heavy weight shirts and slacks. Their buyers need to move down to Florida and stock some damn shorts in the middle of December. More than one rack of bathing suits would help, too.

  Finding shorts and bathing suits this time of the year was a challenge that involved going to too many malls and beach specialty stores to find warm weather clothes. Trying to get a certain male member of the family to be dragged to the store to find a decent dinner coat took more mental exercise than I was in the mood for dealing with.  I lost four pounds this week just from shopping.  I'm not kidding. I am totally wiped.  Well, we'll see how it goes. If I don't come back, come looking for me. I might be off on an island in the Caribbean and just might not want to be found! You can stay too.  Bring cookies. And rum.  oh, and diet coke with splenda.
Merry Christmas everyone. ;)

Comments

[kenju]

I gained two pounds just reading your post!!
Merry Christmas!

[Seamus]

WOW! It's Wonky Laura and the Candy Factory! ;)
You know there are probably a lot of folks who could get into a "shopping diet" - seriously! You may be on to something here.

Which island???? ;)

Merry Christmas Laura! Enjoy your cruise :)

[Terri]

Hope you'll be able to slow down and enjoy that cruise. Sounds like you're going to need it. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great time at sea. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you return.

[FloridaCracker]

Similar thoughts on cruises. I hope yours goes well, you sound like you need some lounge chair in the sun therapy.

Merry Christmas to the entire VitaminSea clan. Getting to "know" your family has been one of best things about this blogaddiction.

Safe travels!

[deb]

Merry Christmas, Laura!

[Sara Sue]

Let me see, cookies, rum, diet coke and splenda - check! Oh...and we can get bathing suits down there, cheap!!

Have a wonderful time, Laura, you deserve it!

[Tammy~Kentucky Gal]

My daughter loves to make and eat the Peppermint bark...I've never had any myself!
I'm just stopping by on Christmas Eve to wish you and yours a very Merry and love filled Christmas!!
Love YOU!!
:-D

[Nils]

Merry Christmas, Laura .. have a great - and relaxing - cruise, and come back refreshed and revitalized. Take care of yourself. See you when the Christmas craziness is over!!! ;)

[kenju]

Merry Christmas, Laura!

[Deana]

I hope you have fun and get lots of cool chillin' down time....enjoy the cruise. And I hope you guys had your best Christmas ever!

[wordgirl]

I gained 5 pounds just reading that post and now I can't fit into my pants.

[CircusKelli]

I'm with Wordgirl -- make that 11 lbs gained for me now. Thanks... ;)

I hope you had a really great holiday, and a fantabulous cruise, Laura!