Neil's Christmas Party

Last night Neil and I attended the TAPO Christmas Party. The Senior Center was decorated beautifully with bright pink, green and blue bulbs, lights and candles. We had a yummy country style dinner of tritip and chicken, then enjoyed a raffle and auction. Neil had worked hard soliciting donations for the party all month. He acquired a case of Crown Royal, 2 kegs of Beer, and a $200 bottle of Grand Patron Plantinum tequila (all for free)from a friend of his that owns a liquor store in town. It was the big hit of the evening. I donated a gift basket filled with my caramels, caramel popcorn and peppermint bark for the auction. It went for $80 dollars!! It was a nice evening without the kids. They went to Lyndee's grandpa Bill's house and were very well behaved.

(This is our 2006 Christmas Party. Notice the change of hair for Neil and I)

Peppermint Bark

Alex and I started our day making peppermint bark for Neil's work Christmas party. They are having an auction to raise money for the Widows and Orphans Fund so I volunteered to make a candy gift basket with caramels, caramel corn and peppermint bark. Whenever I start cooking Alex is always the first one to want to give a hand. I even bought him his own apron (Samantha has one too) for baking projects.


The rest of the day was spent running Bev around town. I do this about 2 times a week and it wears me out. She (and I) were extra crabby today!!


But all of our holiday shopping and errands are complete. YES!! I only have 2 more batches of caramels to make, grocery shopping for Christmas day and cookies for Santa.


Tomorrow the kids have Christmas parties at their schools and Samantha has a class performance. Unfortunately, Neil and I have to split ourselves between the 2. Look for pictures of the festivities coming tomorrow....

It's Caramel Making time

So far I've only made 2 batches because I got sick again. Again, I tell you!! I think working at Alex's preschool 2x a month exposes me to all of the boogie bugs. I've been sick 2x's this month! Yuck! Back to caramels...so as many of you know, caramel making has been a family tradition started by my Mom, Robyn, when I was a wee one. Every year we get out our old pressure cooker pots (I bought mine on Ebay 2 years ago) and start making the heavenly concoction. The ingredients are so simple, butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, salt, and vanilla - and yet it takes so much time and effort to make. I've tweaked the recipe over the years (like I do with so many other recipes) by adding more salt, cooking at a higher stove temp and adding a few more degrees to the candy thermometer. I've also stopped using wax paper and buy pre-cut cellophane wrappers from a candy supply co. online. I found that the wax paper melts to the caramels if the temp outside is too hot. (Maybe I shouldn't be making caramels in the summer.)
So this family tradition will be passed onto my children and hopefully to their children. I hope you all get to enjoy a bite of heaven this year!
Love...Kellie