Baby it's COLD outside!

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
And the kids are not being so delightful!
Since they've no place to go,
Make some dough! Make some dough! Make some dough!

So I don't know about your kids but mine don't seem to want to be outside for very long. Sure the snow is super amounts of fun but it is COLD!! The only problem with them not wanting to be outside is that this usually means that they are inside. Now your children are probably different but sometimes, just sometimes my children are slightly, well maybe just a little. . . obnoxious. Seriously though I can only take so much when I have fudge cooking on the stove, cookie dough truffles in the mixer, some telemarketer in my ear telling me all about the advantages of owning a time share and three children running through my kitchen all toting Nerf guns and screaming "Lets kill him!" at the top of their lungs while pulling a stuffed toy Elmo behind them at the end of a jump rope. Yeah this really is just not bringing on the Christmas spirit for me, go figure. So here is my solution for cooped up kids and the never ending question of what Christmas treat do I give to my neighbors this year! Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Clay dough
This is super quick and easy to make and is guaranteed to keep your kids busy for DAYS!
In a large bowl combine 1 cup smooth peanut butter, 1 1/4 cups powdered dry milk, 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar and 1 cup white corn syrup. Mix all the ingredients and knead until it's all incorporated. Put this in the fridge just till it's chilled. You don't want to leave it in there for too long or else it gets too hard and you wont be able to use it. I love this dough because it is edible so clean up is a breeze. It tastes just like peanut butter fudge. mmmm. I usually give my kids some raisins and celery to play with this and when they are tired of playing they just eat it all for snacks. Any left over dough that is not used just put in an airtight container or bag. Do not store in the fridge! This is shelf stable and should be stored in your cupboard just chill before bringing it out to play with.


Cookie Dough truffles
1/2 c butter softened
3/4 c brown sugar
2 1/4 c flour
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Add the flour, milk and vanilla.
Stir in 1/2 c mini chocolate chips
1/2 c chopped walnuts
Shape into 1" calls and freeze until firm.
melt 1 1/2 lb semi sweet candy coating.
dip balls in chocolate
Store in refrigerator