Burlap Covered Christmas Treat Boxes

For this post, I teamed up with Oriental Trading to create these easy Burlap Covered Christmas Treat Boxes.  They would be great for giving gifts to friends, co-workers, teachers, etc...  I love the plastic Chinese take-out boxes for these festive creations.  And who doesn't like getting a box of yummy chocolate?!

Supplies needed:
Red Take Out Boxes from Oriental Trading
Original Tacky Glue found, or any other strong adhesive
Burlap Paper Stack from Oriental Trading
Oriental Trading Stickers of any kind
Ribbon of any kind
Hershey's kisses or any other small candy

Directions:

1. Cut burlap paper to fit on one side of the treat box.  Attach with glue.
2. Put sticker in middle of burlap. 
3. Tie ribbon to the top of the handle.
4. Fill with the candy of your choice.

If you are looking for more great Christmas ideas and party supplies go to Oriental Trading.

**Oriental Trading sent me products for this review.  All opinions are my own.

Please stop on over to say hi!!

Thanks ~ Nichi

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Edible Hearts

Looking for a great way to top your Valentine treats?  This is it.  A simple and quick edible heart that will make your Valentine smile.  I made these toppers for some cupcakes this weekend by using THIS same technique for my Edible Snowflakes. 

Supplies needed:

chocolate almond bark (or chocolate of your choice)

piping bag and tip

parchment paper

Heat chocolate or almond bark in microwave at 30 second intervals until melted.  (I prefer almond bark because it sets up quicker.)  Let cool a few minutes so it isn't too hot to pipe.  Put into piping bag with small tip.   Draw or print a heart design onto paper and put under parchment paper for template, or just create your own like I did. 

Pipe design slowly onto paper.  Complete heart and slide design under wax paper to begin the next one.  Let dry completely.

Carefully peel snowflakes off of wax paper and place on cupcakes or cookies.

The finished product!!

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Source: a Mandatory Mooch original

Edible Snowflakes

Happy December everyone!!  I'm so excited to start the month off with a great post.  I've been anxiously waiting to be able to share these beauties with you.  

Today I'm sharing a fun tutorial for Edible Snowflakes.  These fun creations will be a great embellishment for your holiday cupcakes and cookies.  You have to make these!!

Supplies needed:
vanilla almond bark (or white chocolate)
piping bag and tip
waxed paper
Wilton white pearl dust
Wilson sugar pearls

Melt white chocolate or vanilla almond bark and put into piping bag with small tip.  I prefer almond bark because it sets up quicker.  Draw or print a snowflake design onto paper and put under wax paper for template.  Pipe design slowly onto wax paper.

Complete snowflake and slide design under wax paper to begin the next flake.  Let dry completely.

Brush with Wilton white pearl dust, found at most hobby stores in the cake decorating section.

Pipe a small amount of chocolate or almond bark into center of flake.  Top with a blue (or color of your choice) Wilton sugar pearl.

The finished product!!

Carefully peel snowflakes off of wax paper and place on cupcakes or cookies.

I even made some different sizes along with my daughter's name for her birthday cake.  She loved it and I hope you do too!!

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Source: a Mandatory Mooch original

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Thanks!!  ~ Nichi

Quick and Easy M&M Cookies

Who has a package of M&Ms laying around?  Aren't they just asking to be mixed into these yummy cookies?  I love this recipe.  It is super quick and easy with only a few ingredients.  A great treat to make for last minute guests or gathering.  The cake mix keeps them soft and moist.  Hope they go as fast in your house as they did in mine.

Makes approx. 18 large cookies

Ingredients:

1 yellow cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 c. vegetable oil

3 Tbsp. water

1 c. M&Ms

Directions:
1.  Mix together cake mix, eggs, oil and water until well combined.  Stir in M&Ms.
2.  Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. 
3.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Let cool completely.

Source: a Mandatory Mooch original recipe

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Ranch Oyster Crackers

Yummy!!  Don't these look like a tasty, salty, crunchy treat?  This was a terrific recipe that I discovered last year for the holiday season.  It is a super quick recipe that will be devoured in minutes.  Great for a last minute appetizer!!

Ingredients:
1 (1 oz) package ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 bag oyster crackers
 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250°.  

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine first 4 ingredients and mix well. 

3. Stir in oyster crackers mix to coat. Pour crackers onto a large cookie sheet.  

4. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  

5. Cool and and store in a covered container.

Source:  "mooched" and adapted from www.examiner.com  

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Mallow Pops

I love to spend late nights in my kitchen after my husband and kids are in bed.  But, I'm a night owl.  No early morning fun for this gal.  I just don't function well.  I seem to get a second wind late at night and my mind wanders with baking, craft, and project ideas.  These were a fun late night creation this week that I made for my sister's birthday.  We had a small gathering to celebrate and I wanted something fun for the kids.  Aren't they cute??  They would also be a great treat for your upcoming classroom Halloween parties.

(printable recipe)

1 pkg. of almond bark or white chocolate
1 bag of large marshmallows
paper straws or lollipop sticks (I cut straws in half)
sprinkles
wax paper

Push straws or sticks half way through marshmallows

Dip in bark or chocolate

Dip into colorful sprinkles

Place on waxed paper to cool

Source:  The Mandatory Mooch original

This recipe was featured on Michelle's Tasty Creations

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Mini Apple Pies

Being a working mother and wife makes for a crazy life.  I need simple quick recipes that I can share with my family.  Today I'm sharing my newest creation...easy Mini Apple Pies.  They will fill your house full of a warm cinnamon apple smell without slaving away in the kitchen.  I can't wait to try them with other wonderful fillings too.  I hope you enjoy!!


Makes approx. 20 mini pies

Ingredients:
2 refrigerated pie crusts
1 can apple pie filling
cinnamon and sugar

Unroll pie crust on floured surface

Cut out circles with cookie or biscuit cutter.  I used a 2.5" biscuit cutter.

Chop 1/2 can of pie filling into smaller chunks

Place pie crust circles on a baking sheet.  I always use parchment paper.  Add a teaspoon full of filling to middle and top with another circle.

Crimp edges with a fork

Cut vent hole in the top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.

 

Source:  A Mandatory Mooch original

This recipe was featured as a guest post on Lady Behind the Curtain

Also featured on My Turn (for us)

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Taco Soup

  

Every fall I get in the mood for warm soups, rich desserts, and snuggling up with a blanket to watch football.  This is the recipe that is requested by my family year after year with the first chill in the air.  I hope it brings as much warmth to you as it does us.
 

Ingredients:

2 lb. hamburger meat

2 pkg. taco seasoning
4 c. water
2 can pinto beans
1 can chili beans
1 can chopped green chilies
1 can stewed tomatoes (I cut these up smaller)
1 can corn

Directions:
1.  Brown meat.  
2.  Put all ingredients (do not drain cans) into large soup pot or crock pot and heat through.  
3.  Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and Fritos or tortilla chips.

**This soup freezes great too.  I like to make a double batch and put half in the freezer.  It is also one of my "go to" recipes to take to friends or family in a time of need. 

This recipe is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

 

Nilla Wafer Treats

The neighborhood I live in has an annual fall chili cook-off.  We gather around on a September evening anxiously awaiting our chance to try many crockpots full of tasty concoctions.  After some very serious taste testing a winner is crowned.  This year I was out of town for a few days before the cook-off.  I literally got back in town one hour before the gathering.  I knew I couldn't show up empty handed...so these lovely little treats were born.  They are a lot like my Mini Cannolis that I made a few months ago.  However, they are a little simpler but just as tasty.  They would be great for any gathering, school party, or birthday treat.   Let your creativity run wild with different combinations of frosting and sprinkles!!

(printable recipe)

Makes approx. 60 - 70 treats

2 boxes Nilla Wafers
1 pkg. vanilla almond bark (or white chocolate, melted)
1 can vanilla (or flavor of your choice) cake frosting
sprinkles
powdered sugar
wax paper
 

Spread frosting onto one wafer and top with another creating a mini sandwich

Melt almond bark or chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.  Dip wafers in melted bark or chocolate.

Dip in sprinkles and lay on wax paper to cool.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve immediately or store in a covered container after set.
 

My girls even talked me into making more and selling them at a lemonade/treat stand.  What a great way to celebrate a beautiful fall day.

This recipe is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Source:  a Mandatory Mooch original recipe

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a recipe that I've been making for many many years.  It is often requested by family and friends for gatherings.  A terrific easy recipe that is great for holiday gift treats or just a quick snack for the kids.  You gotta try this one.  I like to eat it warm out of the pan by the spoonful too!! 

Makes approx. 30 cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 c. sugar 

1/2 c. light corn syrup 

1 c. creamy peanut butter 

2 c. corn flakes 

Directions:

1.  Mix sugar and light corn syrup in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over MEDIUM heat, stirring occasionally. 

2.  Remove pan from heat. Stir in peanut butter. 

3.  Add corn flakes and stir until coated. 

4.  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool. 

5.  Store in covered container.  Do not refrigerate...will get hard.

Source:  "mooched" years ago from a kids cookbook - unknown title 

This recipe is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Mini Cannolis

My family loves to visit a local Italian restaurant that has a dessert buffet full of wonderful rich cakes, cookies, and treats.  One of our favorites are the cannolis...full of rich cream and covered in chocolate chips.  I knew I just had to come up with a quick recipe of my own.  These would be great for any party, dinner, or fun treat.

(printable recipe)

Makes approx. 30 cannolis

1 box Nilla Wafers
1/2 pkg. vanilla almond bark (or white chocolate, melted
powdered sugar
wax paper

Filling:
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all filling ingredients together using a mixer. 

Pipe or spread filling onto one wafer and top with another creating a mini sandwich

Melt almond bark or chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.  Dip wafers in melted bark or chocolate

Roll in mini chocolate chips (or lay on wax paper and sprinkle chips onto bark)

 Let cool on waxed paper.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Serve immediately or store in refrigerator.  Best if served the same day...vanilla wafers tend to get a bit mushy the next day.

Source:  a Mandatory Mooch original recipe

This recipe was featured on: 
Walking on Sunshine
The NY Melrose Family  
Simply Sweet Home 

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Fresh Strawberry Jam

My Grandma Webb was an amazing cook.  One of my absolute favorite traditions was getting to pick out a jar of jam or apple butter from her freezer on my birthday.  What a wonderful treat!!  In honor of her, my girls and I love to make a batch of strawberry jam to share with family and friends. I hope this will inspire you to carry on this fun tradition with your loved ones.  

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:
"Ball" brand instant pectin
2 - 8 oz. jars
1 2/3 cup strawberries, hulled, mashed or pureed well
2/3 cup granulated sugar or sweetener

Stir sugar and pectin in a bowl.  Add strawberries, stir for 3 minutes.  Ladle jam into jars and let stand for 30 minutes.  Store in refrigerator or freeze. 

Source:  "mooched" from the Ball pectin label and a little love from my Grandma Webb 

This recipe was featured on:
 Mommy By Day Crafter By Night 
The King's Court IV

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