Twisted Turtles

Y'all ready for this?

The other day,

2 days ago actually...

I stumbled across this simply (emphasis on the 'simple') AMAZING recipe for Turtles.

{I have since renamed them "Twisted Turtles'' as there are pretzel twists involved}

Clever, I know.

And the funny thing is, while surfing, I said to myself,

 'Self-- Is there sucha thing as homemade turtles with pretzels???'

And low'n behold.

There is.

I found the recipe on the blog named 'Twig and Thistle'.

Prepare to amaze......

Twisted Turtles

Shopping List: Rolos, mini-pretzels & halved pecans.

That's it.

That's all.

Preheat oven to 220 degrees F.

Arrange pretzels and Rolos, like-a-so:

Pretzel/Rolo Army:

I surrenderrrrrr!

Bake in the oven for a whopping total of Two Minutes.

Once removed from oven,

immediately press the halved pecans into the warmed Rolo.

As seen here:

Let the turtles set in the fridge for a couple minutes.

And you're done.

These are the most easy & perfect looking treats you're gonna make all Christmas,

so you'd better get on it : )

James, hoisting the angel up onto the tree.

After some tweaking and a few new ornament additions,

the tree is finally up and looking as whimsical as ever.

Handsome, I'd even dare say.

The Running Theme:

Red & gold with green, bronze and champagne accents

.... and a dash of candy cane striping here and there.

What's your theme?

It's Rich

My Lovely Assistant, seen here:

Ava

The Recipe:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

courtesy Betty Crocker

{Yooou Rock Betty Crock'}

It kinda goes like-a-this:

In separate bowls,

follow the directions for each recipe.

(One bowl, brownie batter, the other chocolate chip cookie dough)

Pour brownie batter into a greased-up 8 by 12 dish.

Add spoonfuls of cookie dough to the brownie batter.

Gently pat down clumps of cookie dough into the batter.

Lick spoon clean.

Bake in a 350 degree, preheated oven for 35- 40 minutes.

And the best part of this recipe:

Whipping up the Chocolate Ganache to blanket these beauties with

courtesy Bakerella.

Chocolate Ganache

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

6 Tbsp butter

In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.

Pour over the chocolate morsels.

Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.

Pour over brownies and let set before cutting.

Unfortunately,

and then again,

fortunately,

Bakerella has supplied this last photo as I did not have my own sufficient image :(

{My new camera and I are frenemies at times-- I still have a lot to learn....}

But, I swear to you...

Mine looked just like this ; )

Letters to Santa: 2010 Edition

 Off to mail our letters!

Don't it just warm your heart?

It does mine : )