Let’s look ahead to tomorrow, which is National Cookie Day, launched in 1987 by Ohio’s Blue Chip Cookie Company. Everyone has a favorite cookie, and more cookies are baked in the month of December than any other! But why not prep some Crackin’ Toffee Crunch to join the party? But wait! Is it a cookie? Is it a cracker? Is it a candy? Doesn’t matter! It’s scrump-diddly-umptious!
Whip up a batch today, so they’ll be perfect chilled to melt in your mouth tomorrow!
Crackin’ Toffee Crunch
36 Ritz crackers
¾ c salted butter
¾ c lt brown sugar, packed
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 c mini semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1 c coarsely chopped pecans or praline nut mixture of choice
Sea salt
Lay crackers tightly together in single layer in parchment paper- or foil-lined baking pan with sides. In medium saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar over medium-low heat, using a wooden spoon to combine. Increase heat to med and bring to a rolling boil. Do NOT stir, but every 20-30 seconds, draw your spoon across the bottom in a criss-cross pattern. Continue this for 3 minutes. Remove from heat & stir in vanilla. Immediately drizzle or spoon all over the crackers; spread to cover entirely with a soft spatula. Place in 350°F oven for 5 min. Remove and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Use spatula to spread chocolate as it melts into an even layer. Sprinkle with salt & the praline crumbles. Use the back of a spoon to slightly press down on the pecan praline crumbles. Return to oven for 5 min. Then refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Use sharp knife to trim off uneven edges, if desired. Then cur or break in squares, triangles, or odd shapes. Store air tight in refrigerator or freezer.
KISS Tips: Stirring constantly can cause ingredients to separate and burn. You can also use any candy chips you prefer, inc white chocolate, milk chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch. Instead of a praline topping, you can also opt for coarsely chopped nuts of your choice.
Whip up some yummy fritters to tantalize your taste buds! “They” say that fritters have been around since the days of ancient Rome, and their popularity is even greater today.
But I made a fun twist on the stuffed pepper thinking as part of our Brunch Bites menu on Thanksgiving. Some fresh berries and chunks of fresh pineapple and a sweet roll twist on the side, made this quite a nice treat. Plus, land one or two of these beauties inside a toasty bagel or a favorite baguette or roll with your choice of spread, and you’ve got one gem of a breakfast sandwich. (Well, I’d be adding cheese and a couple slices of bacon, most assuredly.) Anyway, here’s my full recipe, which started by stuffing tomatoes, but I did the sweet bell pepper version for Turkey Day.
Skillet Stuffed Egg Rings
“Youth is not entirely a time of life; it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubts; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.”
Savory, you say? Sure. Sauté up some sweet onions and sliced mushrooms. (A combo of oyster, shiitake, & cremini makes mushroom mahhhvelousness.) Season with thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Serve over your French Toast (no nutmeg or cinnamon, please, in a savory version).
“The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.”
Today reminds me of the importance of living with an attitude of gratitude. Today and everyday I thank God for the richness with which I have been blessed. I am grateful for a healthy, loving family… especially for my vibrant 93-year-old Mother and my devoted husband who has been rebounding gallantly from a stroke on October 2. I am grateful for the countless opportunities and experiences that have come my way and helped shape my life. I am grateful for the abundance of the good Earth and the Lord who provides and guides. I am grateful for you for being among my enormous blessing of friends.
“Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing! You see things, not as they are, but as you are.”
This is a great time to do early preps for your turkey’s stuffing. I get all my onions and celery finely diced, sauteed, and seasoned ahead of time. (I even freeze them earlier in the month.) Then it’s Super Simple to toss them with the diced bread and chicken bone broth. I prep bread from the heels of fabulous loaves of bread all the time so it’s always ready for items like stuffing or meatloaf. The crumbs freeze fabulously and thaw quickly. But since today is also National Cranberry Day, why not plan to prep some fruity stuffing, too! Simply toss in some fresh (or frozen) cranberries and a chopped (peeled & cored) apple. Yummy!
“The theme for World Children’s Day 2023 is ‘For Every Child, Every Right!’ The day serves as a powerful reminder of the unwavering commitment to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or circumstances, are afforded the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.”
Today is National Soup Day in Germany. Well, I’m going to celebrate it New England style with some Lobster Newburg. In my photo, you see a great way to go extra fancy for a full lobster bisque entrée. I garnished each bowl with a couple of lobster claws and lobster cakes. Hello! Can you say delightful decadence?
KISS Tip: Do NOT overcook this or any other lobster dish or you will get tough lobster.
The 3rd Thursday of November is the day that communities come together in the fight against tobacco addiction. Go tobacco-free today during the Great American Smokeout.
In celebrating World Kindness Day, we are all fully aware of the ugliness in the “big picture.” But this day is an opportunity to apply a little tenderness in our homes, schools, or workplaces. The 2023 theme is “Be Kind Wherever Possible.” Let’s all try to breathe a little life back into the art of consideration. Encourage someone. Make someone smile or laugh. When we think a pleasant thought about someone, share it out loud. Or driving? Yeah, let’s give someone else a break, even if they are being a road hog. Today is just one day in which we can all make a kindness difference in our world.
Today I feel grateful for a great many things. I think I will choose to mention the 6 wonderful weeks of fall foliage that we have enjoyed. Now, as I look across our meadow, I still see glimpsed of the glory. The radiant reds are mellowing to burgundy, while the oranges soften into russet, and the yellows mellow into gold. Leaves have started falling here in the North Carolina foothills, but it’s been a glorious autumn, indeed.
Official funding did not follow until 1798, when President John Adams approved a bill placing the organization under the Secretary of the Navy. The premier elite fighting force in the world continues to this day. To all who serve and who have served, we thank you for your service and sacrifices over so many years.
Keep It Super Simple if you make one:
“It’s the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done.”
Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t. But if chocolate is a passion, try these super simple beauties! Your tastebuds will thank you.
Go ahead. Satisfy your sweet tooth today, because we’re celebrating the pink- and white-coated candy from by-gone days. You either love it or hate it, but Good & Plenty is the oldest brand of candy in the U.S.A., originating in Philadelphia in 1893. The Choo Choo Charlie TV commercials boosted its popularity in the 1950s. Come on… sing it! “Charlie says, ‘Love my Good & Plenty.’ Charlie says, ‘Really rings the bell.’ Charlie says, ‘Love my Good & Plenty. Don’t know any other candy that I like so well.’”