rolo's disappear fast, during holiday season, etc, as they are so good.

Ironically, many of the fun/easy things that have been made at home for holiday treats has found their way into the commercial division and it kinda takes the fun out of old family holiday favorites you made with the help of other family members (dipped pretzels, Muddy Buddies, caramel corn, flavored cocoa mixes, Party Mix...).

I remember when "Party Mix" was a much anticipated labor of love with multiple bags/cans/boxes of things tossed together and you applied your "secret" flavoring ingredients in melted butter or cooking oil and baked it in a roasting pan. Now it's available in several flavors and no longer a MUST-MAKE for the holidays. [Although I still make a small batch of gluten-free Party Mix and we keep the last container of it for the Super Bowl - because it's not unheard of for the best part of the game was eating the Party Mix ;-)]

I guess the commercial world knows a "good thing" when they see it.

-Grainlady

Have any of you made or tasted the Reese's peanut butter cup puppy chow? My youngest daughter made it and it is pretty good! In the past I have made the old version with out the peanut butter cups and it was good too.

Sue

I am not much for baking. But I do make Chex mix every year. Plus my husband's birthday is Christmas Day so I always bake his favorite cake. Which is carrot cake baked from scratch.

jewels, I got excited because I expected this to be a thread about all of the favorite goodies everyone plans to make for the holidays this year! :p

I love pretzels! I like them plain for the crunch and the salt -- not sweet. :)

Sorry to disappoint you Party...LOL. I was just excited to see those pretzels. I love different shaped pretzels, club crackers, etc. Mk kids love packaged Chex Mix, but I don't think those bags even come close to the homemade mix.

@Janey_Alabama...your post could have been written by my mother. Her husband's birthday is Dec. 25 and she always makes his favorite, carrot cake, for dessert. :-)

I don't get it. Are they the candy thing or is that just a suggestion and they're plain circles?

I makes "turtles" out of the round pretzels....put an unwrapped rolo candy in the middle, melt just a bit and top with pecan half....simple and oh so good!

I think I'll stick with the twisted pretzel--it will support the melted chocolate kiss better. I do mine with the pecan like phoggie does.

plllog.....just the ring. It's says the recipe for the candy is on the back.

Where have I been? I've never heard of these...and they look pretty good!!!

Thanks, Nicole! The idea of a round pretzel is intriguing. I don't know where you've been, but I've been at Trader Joe's. Blue corn tortilla chips but no round pretzels. :)

I found the round ones at Walmart on an end cap. The back of the bag says to fill the circle with chocolate chips, melt and then put a M&M in it and to do this on parchment paper. There are some cute recipes on Pinterest with the round pretzels.

I bake less and less at holiday time. I will bake pumpkin bread and freeze a loaf to serve at Christmas too. Grandson's birthday is Christmas Day, so we always have birthday cake and often another dessert for the adults.

Pinterest #1

#2

Interesting, Jewels. They're like other versions of matzah toffee--just melt. :) Very cute.

HERE'S pictures of some of the pretzel treats.

Since I don't eat these kinds of goodies, I don't make things like that very often. But I love to make candy and bake and do so during the holidays to give as treats. I haven't decided what I might make yet.

Here's a recipe for spiced pecans that is a favorite of mine, and something that I do nibble on. I've had it for a long time but don't remember who to attribute it to.

4 1/2 cups pecan halves

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 + tsp. cayenne or other hot pepper powder

1/8 tsp. powdered cloves

Place pecans on cookie sheet and bake at 300 for ten minutes.

Heat butter and all dry incredients in a saucepan and pour over nuts when they come out of oven, stir well; bake for ten more minutes.

Cool completely before storing air tight.