Making Buckeyes

Being from Ohio, making buckeyes for Christmas has been a long time tradition in my family. I got my love for baking from my mom. She started teaching me how at a very young age. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of making cookies and candy during the holidays. And who doesn't love peanut butter covered in chocolate...right???

I have seen many recipes over the years but this one is by far the best. Not because it's
the recipe my mom used and passed on to me but because the chocolate doesn't melt easily in your hand and it gets nice and glossy.

You really have to get your hands into the peanut butter mixture to make sure it is mixed

well. If you don't, you can end up with little bits of powdered sugar in the peanut butter. They keep well in the fridge and can even be frozen if you want to start making them a couple of weeks ahead of time.

Buckeyes

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 cups powdered sugar, sifted

4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 stick parafin

Mix peanut butter, butter and vanilla together. Add confectioners' sugar and mix very well. Form into balls. Melt chocolate and parafin together in top of double boiler. Using a toothpick, dip the formed balls into the chocolate leaving part of the top uncovered to resemble a buckeye. Place on wax paper to dry. Once they have dried you can put them in containers in the fridge or even freeze them.

CherryPeachBananaPecan with a little bit of sunshine :)

I love smoothies! They are so super easy. My favorite way to get a quick and healthy breakfast in the morning. I always use bananas so I cut them up and keep them in the freezer ready to go. I like to try different combinations of fruits and nuts. This morning

I had a couple of peach slices left in a bag, some dark cherries and pecans and, of course, the bananas. It was a deliscious combo. Honey made it nice and sweet...Libras like sweet :) and the sun was finally shining this morning after all the weeks of rain we've had. Good morning, sunhsine!

Fruit Smoothie for One

1/4 c. almond or soy milk
1/2 c. yogurt
1/2 T honey
1 T flax seed powder
1-2 T nuts
1/2-3/4 c. frozen fruit

Just put everything in the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy. Nothing could be easier.