I can tell you what my aunt, who was locally famous for these (even appeared on TV with a marzipan making demo) used to do. She would make decorative tree centerpieces with them. Get a small Styrofoam cone from a craft store. Green is good if they have them: she would spray paint hers gold. Set in into a decorative base. You can use something you have around, like a small candy dish, or even a small new clay flowerpot. I think she adhered the cone to the base with floral adhesive. Maybe trimming the cone at the bottom to fit closely inside the base. Then just stick the small fruits in with toothpicks, arranging so the Styrofoam surfaced is completely covered. If there were gaps she would put in tiny craft store picks with silk leaves on them. It takes more fruit then you think to cover a cone, so dont buy a large one. The fruits that look best for this purpose are uniform sizes; like citrus fruits, apples, and pears. Not bananas or potatoes. Makes a very pretty centerpiece for Christmas. You can have your guests help themselves to the candy fruit after dinner, or keep it indefinitely. The fruit will dry out eventually and become very hard. You can also make a wreath or candle ring with a Styrofoam wreath form.

Hi loggerbaby, You have LOTS of great responses, & I want to chime in too. After smoking for some 54 years (started when I was 14), about 40 years non-filters, & 2 packs a day for the last few years, I wound up in the hospital for six days last May with a very bad asthma bronchial attack - my first. I had two nicotine patches while there. The doctor said when releasing me that by that time the nicotine was out of my body (I've read that it's gone in 3-4 days). When I got home I knew I could not smoke again - I had been too sick. (Though I LIKED smoking, really resisted quitting & resented having to.) I didn't use anything, but did deep breathing, lots of breathing in & out through my lips, licked my lips a lot, drank lots of water, ate a sack of lemon drops (those help) & got up & did something each time I wanted a cigarette. All of these physical actions helped at the moment. I tried not to think ahead - just took it a day at a time. I'm still not smoking, I'm still firm on not wanting to (in fact, just last week gave away the two cartons of cigarettes that I had when I got sick), but at times still want a cigarette. I've found the desire is pyschological - I'm not wanting the tobacco; it's the action of inhaling or having one with activities: when I'm waiting for something to finish cooking, or when I get in the car, for example. I've also found it is wonderful not to be tied to cigarettes, not to cough & have people remark on it, not to feel like a leper because I smoke, not to have to go outside (especially in the wet or cold) when at friends, not to have to take my DH's scorn & "stuff" he would heap on me. (Funny, though; after 10 years of him not smoking, he started again last October. He sneaks - hasn't admitted he is smoking, but I & others sure can smell it.) Try to realize that the physical feelings will last about a week & that the longer you go without smoking the better you will feel. Physical activities such as walking and/or exercise will help you feel better too. I wish you all the best, loggerbaby, & I KNOW you will be happier & feel better when you stop smoking. BTW, if you want someone to talk with, I'll be glad to call or email you. Kathleen

Have no fear, here is your recipe, Sharon! I have made this 2 years in a row for Christmas and since I was ignorant about making it and wasn't at all afraid that the chocolate might not adhere to each other, I just followed Sharon's directions and came out with a perfect peppermint bark both times! This is a good recipe. Sharon's Peppermint Bark 1 lb bittersweet chocolate 8 drops peppermint oil 1 lb chopped white chocolate 3/4 cup chopped candy canes Line a 11 X 17 inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside Melt bittersweet chocolate in a heavy pan over low heat, stirring constantly. Stir in 4 drops of peppermint oil. Spread evenly over pan and chill for about 1 hour. Melt white chocolate in a heavy pot over low heat, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining 4 drops of peppermint oil and then add in candy cane. Spread white chocolate over chilled dark chocolate, spreading to the egde of the pan. Chill 4 hours. Refrigerate just until just before serving then break into pieces. Will keep in the fridge for 3 weeks ( yeah right!!! LOL)

Glenda ,Can you post Reindeer droppings? We have lots of real deer around here so that would be fun to make! lol Here is some I make & love: Chunky Peanut Brittle 1 t. plus 1 ½ c. butter (no substitutes), divided 2 c. peanut butter chips, divided 1 ¾ c. sugar 3 T. light corn syrup 3 T. water 1 ½ c. salted peanuts, coarsely chopped ½ c. semisweet chocolate chips Butter the bottom and sides of a 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan with 1 ½ t. butter. Sprinkle with 1 c. peanut butter chips; set aside. In a heavy saucepan, bring sugar, corn syrup, water and remaining butter to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until butter is melted. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300 degrees (hard crack stage). Remove from heat; stir in peanuts. Quickly pour onto prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter chips. With a knife, gently swirl softened chips over top of brittle. Cool before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 2 ½ lb. ~~Fudge Krispies~~~~~These are sooo good~~~ Taste like a Nestle Crunch ! 1pkg (2c.) milk chocolate chips( not semi -sweet ) 1/2c. marg. 1/2c.light corn syrup 2 tsp.vanilla extract 1c.sifted confectioners sugar (powered sugar) 4c.Rice Krispies cereal Combine choc.,marg & corn syrup in med. saucepan . Stir over low heat until melted & smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and sugar. Add cereal Mixing lightly until well coated. Spread evenly in 13x9x2 inch pan. Chill until firm. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares. Store in refr. 48 squares. ~*~Toffee Cookies~*~ 1 sleeve saltine crackers 1 cup brown sugar, packed 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips 1 c.Butter 1c. finely chopped nuts Preheat oven to 400*. Cover a small cookie sheet with sides with foil; spray with Pam. Melt butter & brown sugar in a med. saucepan and cook approximately 3 minutes, stirring often. Place all crackers on foil. Pour sugar mixture on crackers and spread evenly. Bake 5 minutes. Mixture should boil but not burn. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly on top. Set a bread board over pan and let set 3 min.Remove bread board .Spread choc.chips with spatula as frosting a cake. Sprinkle Nuts on top ,press slightly.Place in refrg. About 1 hour.Break into pieces.Store in refrg. **People can't Believe that this is crackers! I have also tried Butterscotch chips & peanuts.Semi-sweet chocolate & peppermint candies crushed.(that one is really good!) This is a must in my house to make :-) ~~~MOUND BARS ~~~ This taste like that famous candy bar.ItÂs so good & easy! 2 c. crushed graham crackers 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. butter, melted Mix together and bake in 9x13 inch pan in 350 degree oven for 7-8 minutes. Mix 2 cups coconut with 1 can sweetened condensed milk. Spread on top of baked crust. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Melt 1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips . Spread on top.Cool then cut into bars. ~~Twix Bars~~ this is very good! almost better than the real thing. 35 unwrapped kraft caramels 1/4 cup water 1 box Lorna Doone shortbread cookies (40) 2 bags milk-chocolate chips 12oz ea. 1. combine caramels with water in small pan, melt over low heat. 2. place the cookies side by side on ungreased cookie sheet. 3. spoon a dab of caramel onto each cookie, then place all the cookies in the refrigerator until the caramel firms up. 4. in the meantime, melt chocolate chips in double boiler or microwave heating 1 min on high, stir, then 1 more min. 5. remove the cookies from frig. resting each cookie on a fork, dip into chocolate. tap the fork on side to knock away excess chocolate. place on wax paper and cool at room temp. this will take several hours but the bars will set the best this way. putting in the refrigerator for 30 min will speed up the process. ~~KIT KAT BARS~~ (very rich,cut into small pieces) Ritz crackers (I used 3 sleeves) 1 1/2 c. graham crackers, crushed 3/4 c. brown sugar, packed 1 c. white sugar 3/4 c. butter (must be real) 1/3 c. milk 1 c. butterscotch chips 1 c. semisweet chocolate chips 3/4 c. peanut butter Put graham crackers, brown sugar, white sugar, butter and milk into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Spray a 9x13? pan with butter flavored cooking spray. Put a layer of crackers (I used one sleeve) in bottom of pan and pout 1/2 of the mixture over it. Put another layer of crackers and pour the remaining mixture. Add one last row of cracker. In microwave melt butterscotch chips, chocolate chips and peanut butter together I stirred every 1 (one) minute til nice and smooth. When melted, spread evenly over the top. After it has cooled a bit, score the bars. Then let cool completely. I put in the refrigerator. After set up, cut into bars and store in an airtight container. I store in the refrigerator. Hope this helps! ____________________________________________________