Lara - I made the giant peppermints last year. They were very fun & easy to make. Here's how: I purchased several round/flat styrofoam disks and printed off the attached template and I might have enlarged it (can't remember). Place template over the styrofoam and trace pattern onto the styrofoam with an ink pen - making sure to press through so the marks are on the styrofoam. I used red fabric paint in a bottle and followed the lines and filled in with the red making sure to alternate the red with the white from the styrofoam to give it the peppermint effect. I also came down the sides with the paint. Optional - you can sprinkle glitter in the wet paint. Depending on how you are going to use them, you might also want to paint the backside as well. You have to play around with the placement of the template so that the two sides match up. Once the paint is dry, cut clear cellophane and leave enough on the ends to "tie" like candy. Some of mine, I made to look like lollipops by sticking a wooden dowel in one end. For the red stripe on the dowel, I used red shiny curling ribbon and glued it to the dowel. Hope that makes sense - I do not do well with giving instructions..... Dawn

Thank you all for the responses. I did wait about 8 minutes even though the recipe says 5, so that was the problem. I know because I made it again (just had to see if I could do it! I will freeze a lot of it)(found a different recipe, but for the same size pan) and turned it out the instant it came out the oven. It came out perfectly! I have made it in a cast iron skillet when I was teenager at my grandmothers house... I don't own one, but maybe it's time to consider buying one! The ugly one tasted OK, but it was dry... I just pour milk over it when I want a piece. Gldno1, I also tried to stop baking (and stop attending this forum) in an effort to lose weight. I was still just as fat, just got sad on top of it. I'd rather be plump and happy than skinny and miserable! I enjoy baking (and this forum) and cannot stop!

Your trees are lovely, with or without the packages under them....I'm glad I'm not the only one to look at the whole picture...I love those lace curtains in the background, Patti...And I dream of having a fireplace... We put our tree up last week, big artifical thing, and it's crooked...No matter what we do, it leans forward and at this point, my DH said, that's the way it's going to stay....It really looks good from the front! As far as wrapping, all the gifts are sitting right here in the dining room, unwrapped, waiting for me to get with it....I'm hoping to find enough gift bags to fit everything in and save on the wrapping....It just wouldn't be right if I didn't wait until the last minute..... Happy Holidays, everyone!

Yes, it was coffee, Rita and I'll make you a cup if you'd like. ( : Finally finished wrapping the last of the gifts and they're under the tree. Now to get to the dishes so I can bake. I never did get on the treadmill. Oh, well...