since we will be going to SC and NC during Thanksgiving, visiting with family along the way. I like to make baskets of goodies for families to enjoy during the holidays.Today I started early by picking out pecans to use in recipes I would be cooking. I made small loaves of persimmon bread and zucchini and apple bread. I wrapped these to put in my baskets.
Then I made brownies for one of the granddaughters. Another wants chocolate chip cookies and the oldest wants chocolate wagon wheel cookies. Our son Bill's favorite is peanut brittle that I make in the microwave. I used to make it in a black iron skillet just as my daddy did. But I've learned that it's a lot faster to cook it in the microwave, and it's just as good. I made a recipe of chocolate covered wheat crackers with peanut butter between them. They taste just like Butterfingers. I have a batch of coconut/nugant filling in the refrigerator and tomorrow I will roll out little balls and dip them in chocolate. They taste just like Mounds candy bars. And of course the little sand tarts will be made tomorrow to complete the Christmas goodies I will make for my baskets. The baskets will contain jars of grape jelly, muscadine jelly, pear preserves, fig preserves, and apricot/pear marmalade. Also a bag of unshelled pecans that I picked up in a friend's yard under the big pecan trees. The 6 baskets will contain something special for each individual family.
Candy making has been a part of my Christmas traditions all of my life. When I was growing up on the farm, we always had peanut brittle, divinity (I could never make this delicacy), fudge, and pulled taffy made from syrup. I guess that's why I always enjoy making candy at Christmas time - just a tradition.
I think I'll take a tylenol and get some rest. I must have spent about 12 hours in the kitchen today.
