Homemade Potpourri Gift Bags

This is an incredible smelling stovetop potpourri perfect for the holidays.  I usuually have cinnamon sticks on hand to simmer with similar spices, but I LOVED the addition of the orange and cranberries.
Bagging up the contents (without the water, of course) and including a cute tag with instructions for use makes a great neighbor, co-worker, friend gift for the holidays, too!

1 orange
4 cinnamon sticks
1/2 C fresh cranberries
1 TBSP whole cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Quarter or slice the orange.
Place all ingredients into a small saucepan.
Fill the pan with just enough water so that all of the ingredients are covered.
Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat so the potpourri simmers.
Add more water as necessary.
I keep mine on the stove for about a week (the orange starts to not look too pretty anymore, but it is still fulfilling its purpose of making my house smell amazing!) and keep adding water as needed.

This is slightly adapted from www.iheartnaptime.net.

M&M Turkeys

These turkeys are a fun tradition my mom had when we were kids.  Each year she made them for neighbors and our family on Thanksgiving day.  It is a fun, simple project - a chocolate turkey...who can turn that down?

Take a 5"x5" piece of brown craft netting and fill with 1/4 C M&M's.

Tie the bundle with a 6-8" piece of gold ribbon.

 

 Using bumpy pipe cleaners (cut as you can see on the left), to create turkey heads.  Glue a googly eye on each side.

Put the turkey head into the netting at the "neck" of the turkey and hand out your little gobblers!

Almond Joy Truffles

These coconut bites taste just like Almond Joys...without the almond (I think they are called Mounds?).  Maybe next time I will add the almond in the middle.  Yum!

4 C flaked coconut
3 3/4 C powdered sugar
2/3 C sweetened condensed milk
1/4 C butter, softened
1 package of white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips (or any other chocolate chips)

Line a pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix the coconut, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and butter well.  Add a little more sweetened condensed milk if necessary (I did for one batch but not for the other).
Shape into 1" balls and place on the parchment paper.
Refrigerate coconut balls for at least 1 hour until they are firm.
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave (20-30 seconds on power level 5/6 at a time) until smooth.
Dip the coconut balls in the chocolate being sure to let excess chocolate drain off.
Place on the parchment paper.
Refrigerate until the chocolate is hardened.
If desired, melt a contrasting color chocolate and drizzle over the top or while the chocolate is still moist, sprinkle with coconut.

*This recipe is adapted from Taste of Home.

Goodie Plates

What do you get the person you have no idea what to get for Christmas (or any occasion for that matter)?  A cute plate of gorgeous homemade goodies, of course!
Cute plates can be found for $2-3.  The recipient gets goodies and a beautiful addition to their kitchenware!

Oreo Truffles

Normally truffles are a lot of work to make for something so small, but it is so worth it!  These truffles take almost no time at all and are quite heavenly!  I got them from a girl who helped me to throw a bridal shower for one of my best friends.  Enjoy!

1 package of Oreo cookies
1 package of room temperature cream cheese
1-2 bags of milk chocolate baking chips or 1-2 bars of Symphony milk chocolate

Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookies sheet.
Using a food processor, chop the Oreos into tiny pieces.
Combine thoroughly with room temperature cream cheese (I found it works best in the food processor - the truffles were a lot smoother).
Roll into 1" balls and place on parchment paper.
Place mixture in fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Gradually melt milk chocolate in the microwave 20-30 seconds at a time (I did not melt all the chocolate at once).  Make sure there are no lumps in the melted chocolate.
Using a fork, submerge individual balls into the chocolate.
Remove the ball when completely covered in chocolate and place on parchment paper.
Let balls harden in the fridge until firm.
When the chocolate is hardened, melt a little more milk, white, or dark chocolate and drizzle on the top of each truffle.
Place in the fridge until it's time to eat!