Three More Sleeps

Every day I tell my grandson Noah how many more days, or "sleeps" until Christmas.  Three more sleeps, for the kids, and 72 hours for us elves to finish preparing for the big day!  I worked some elf magic in the kitchen yesterday in preparation for baking day. 
First I want to tell you about something I made that many of you probably know about.  I, however, did not.  My friend Deb was talking about this yummy treat.  It is called Rocky Road, or Rocky Road Fudge.  She told me what all she does, and then I googled it to find a few variations.  I used:
1 bag of chocolate chips ( I used the milk chocolate for this )
1 bag of mini marshmallows
salted peanuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 T butter

Melt your chocolate in a saucepan with the butter, and condensed milk.  Stirring whole time, on low heat.  Once melted, add your marshmallows and peanuts, stirring to distribute.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 dish, and let cool in fridge for several hours before slicing.

Oh my is this ever yummy!!!  Thank you Deb!!!  I may never make real fudge again!  This is just as good, if not better, and way easier!! 
Do you see my Gold Canyon candle burning in the background?  My daughter Erika is selling these, and I have been buying them anyway from other people, so now I will get them from her. The Christmas Pine is heavenly!  You would swear that a fresh cut pine tree was just brought into the house!!!
Yesterday Noah and I made all the sugar cookie dough for our baking day.  He was a very good taster helper!

I used my favorite snowman measuring cups.

After getting all the dough done, I made the royal icing for the decorating of the cookies.  Whipping the merinque.

Noah selected the colors for the icing.  He came up with some good choices.  And he also came up with some very colorful fingers!!

I also have had my bread machine going for the past few days.  I did my favorite, English Muffin bread the other day, and tried a new one yesterday.  Nebraska Oat Bread.  Wow!

This was very moist and dense.   Yummy!  Can you read the recipe?

I did not add the raisins or craisins to this.  I discovered I had two recipes for this.  The other one is called Nebraska Oat Bread.  I did the one where you warm the milk and add your yeast to the warm milk.  Then dry ingredients to the pot first, adding wet last.  Baked on white cycle.
Noah found a box of Skittles in my sewing room-staging for Christmas room, and we decided to fill the train cars with them. 

Not to worry Mama, I took most away so he wouldn't eat them all!!
Earlier, Christopher next door asked to come bring him a Christmas present.

For any of you that may be new to my blog, Christopher lives next door.  He has Down Syndrome.  He is 18 years old.  A gentle soul.  We love him.  Since I babysit my grandson while Mommy works, Noah gets to see Chris often. They have a special bond.  They had a good time playing with this UNO game. 

Christopher's Dad told me once, " We are so fortunate because even though all of our children will grow up and begin their own lives, we will always have a "child" in Chris."  I loved that. 
I must skeedattle.  My son in law Jake is coming soon with my little dumplin' granddaughters.  I will have the three cuties making Christmas cookies!  Pictures will follow.
Hope you are staying dry if you live in my neck of the woods where it has rained relentlessly for 6days!  Be safe!!!