Tuesday, December 13, 2011

♥ Tea on Tuesday: Hallelujah! Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars ♥

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups finely crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafers
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
2/3 cup butter
2 1/2 cups peanut butter
3/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups sifted powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degree F. In a medium bowl stir together graham crackers, the 1/2 cup melted butter, and the cocoa powder. Press into the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

2. In a medium saucepan cook and stir chocolate pieces and the 2/3 cup butter over low heat until melted. Carefully spread half of the chocolate mixture evenly over crust. Chill about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Cover remaining chocolate mixture; set aside at room temperature.

3. In a large bowl combine peanut butter, the 3/4 cup butter, and the vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.

4. Gradually beat in as much of the powdered sugar as you can with the mixer, beating on low speed. Stir in the remaining powdered sugar. Pat evenly onto chocolate layer in baking pan.

5. Spread remaining chocolate mixture evenly over peanut butter layer. Cover and chill for 2 hours. Cut into bars.

Makes about 60 bars.

~~yummy recipe and photo from: Midwest Living~~

Monday, December 5, 2011

♥ A Christmas gift ♥

If you like making jewelry and your friends like your jewelry, what makes the perfect Christmas gift? :) My dear friend Helen, who reminds me of my grandmother, loves the jewelry I make. I have worked with her at my "real" job for almost 15 years now and we've been exchanging gifts for probably almost 15 years now! I always try to find her something unique and something with pink roses--she LOVES pink roses as much as I love tea. :) And of course she always finds me something with tea, many times she finds a unique teacup ornament for my Christmas tree.

I made a pair of earrings for my shop early in the fall and she fell in love with them. She doesn't have pierced ears or I would have gladly given them to her right then! So I decided I was going to order more of the handmade floral beads and make her a pair. Perfect for Christmas! Don't you just love finding that perfect gift? Needless to say, she was THRILLED with them!! I also made her another pair with pink flowers and swarovski crystals--oh, bummer, I forgot to take a picture! And I also made her a green bead and pearl set too--I did remember to take a picture of them! So here they are...the perfect gift for dear sweet Helen who loves dangly earrings!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

♥ It's that time of year! ♥

Busy, busy, busy! OMGoodness! My Etsy sales have soared with the holidays! I am not complaining though. ;) I'm quite happy to be shipping out so much, but I've had to restock alot, especially my tea ball infusers. I seriously need some elves right about now! ;)

I can't believe it's December already! I'm trying to get more teaballs made and in my shop for the holidays. I even have some Christmas-themed ones that I love, love, love! :) I hope to be adding more as soon as my next bead shipment comes in with more charms. So here's a few I've listed for the holidays!
How's your December starting out?