Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks

Okay, now y'all are really going to fall over.  TWO recipes in one day?  I know, I've outdone myself :).  Actually, I saw these on Pinterest (sigh), so I made my own slightly different version.  I took them to a fun Welcome Winter party last night, and they were a total hit, so I had to share!  Here's the pin I saw from Good Housekeeping.  Cute, huh?  I know, and SOOO easy!

But I like a little peppermint in my hot chocolate, and the straws seemed a little useless, so I did candy canes instead.  Here's what you need:  Candy canes (two dozen or so), large marshmallows (I used the regular large ones, not the ginormous ones, they don't look like they would even fit in a cup, but you could try them!), round nonpereil colored sprinkles, milk chocolate chips.

This photo uploaded sideways and I am too lazy to fix it, but unwrap your candy canes and shove them into a marshmallow as shown below

 melt your chocolate chips in the microwave in a small bowl according to the package directions (I only did about 1 1/2 cups of chips at a time to keep it from hardening before I had used it all). Pour your sprinkles into a small shallow dish.

Dip your marshmallow into the chocolate and spin until sides are covered

 then dip directly (lightly) into the sprinkles

 and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper to cool ( you can put them in the fridge for 10 - 15 minutes to help them set faster)

Arrange on a cute tray (they won't stand up because the candy canes are too heavy, unlike the straws, but they look cute laying down :)

 And serve with Stephen's Gourmet Milk Chocolate hot chocolate.  Yes, if you love yourself or your friends, you HAVE to use Stephen's. Trust me, it's worth it.  You can get it at some Costco and Wal-Mart locations, or on the Stephen's Gourmet website). No, they didn't pay me to say that :), it's just that good. Mix it up in your Cocoa Latte (also a must, it keeps it mixing and warm all day, LOVE that thing :), and serve at your Christmas/winter themed party.

 So cute, and SOOO delicious!  The marshmallow and chocolate melts into the hot chocolate, making it extra rich and creamy, and the candy canes start to dissolve into it, giving it a peppermint kick.  LOVE these, my kids are begging me to make more!

 ENJOY!

White Chocolate Marshmallow Awesomeness Popcorn

Okay, I really have no idea what to call this, so there ya go :).  This stuff is addicting.  You have been warned.  ALSO, don't fall over dead at the fact that I of all people am posting a RECIPE, ME, the lady who does NOT cook.  Yeah, that should tell you how easy it is, pretty sure a monkey could make it, but seriously, amazingly yummy.  I made this for parties last year and got tons of requests for the recipe.  I will admit that it's not my recipe, but someone at my son's preschool gave it to me over the phone once and I have no idea who she was, so I can't give credit, and I tried to find it on the internet but couldn't, so this is my version of it.

 You need: 
- 2 bags microwave popcorn (less butter is better, I went with the natural simply salted (no butter), but you can do whatever
- 1 to 2 cups mini M&M's (or nerds, peanuts, toffee bits, chocolate chips, whatever)
- 2 to 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 (12 oz) bag white chocolate chips
- colored sugar sprinkles

PS - do you want to see what a clean and neat cook I am?  Yeah, another reason I don't cook :)

And here is yet one more reason, my lovely, oh-so-happy kitchen helper :)

Okay, so pop your two bags of popcorn and removed all of the unpopped kernels. Pour them into the biggest bowl you have.  If you don't have a ginormous bowl (I have had this bowl for a million years, I have no idea where it came from, I think someone left it in an apartment in college and I didn't know what to do with it so I kept it, I use it ALL of the time!) pour into two large bowls.  You need plenty of mixing room (I made a batch prior to the photos, so ignore the messy bowl).

 

 Mix in marshmallows, and sprinkle M&M's (or whatever you choose to mix in) on top

I forgot to take pictures of the next part, but melt your white chocolate in the microwave according to the package directions (usually 1 minute at 70%, then mix every 10 - 15 seconds until melted and smooth).  Pour the melted white chocolate over your dry ingredients and mix (I use two spoons like tongs :) until everything is evenly distributed.  This photo is only half, I had already moved onto the next step with the other half.  Sorry!  I get impatient!

Take half of your coated mixture and spread it onto a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. 

Sprinkle lightly with colored sugar sprinkles.


Pour the rest of your mixture on and sprinkle with more colored sugar.  Allow to cool (you can toss it in the fridge for like 10 minutes to speed it up), break into pieces, and put in a cute bowl for your party (or in little bags for neighbor gifts, or eat it yourself :).  Super easy, super fast, and it makes a TON!  I honestly don't like marshmallows, and I still love this (you can use less marshmallows if you prefer, like 2 cups instead of 3)

Okay, so I didn't do the cute bowl part, my camera battery died, but you get the idea.  Trust me, it's prettier in person, and to-die-for delicious!  I have also done it for baby showers (use theme-colored mix-ins and sugar sprinkles, or sometimes I only mix in marshmallows, no M&M's, and then drizzle with pink/blue colored candy melts and pink/blue colored sprinkles for a baby shower or shower favors (I saw cute baby shower favor holders that said 'She's about to Pop' and were shaped liked popcorn containers at Hobby Lobby).  Anyhow, it's just a basic recipe, you can do whatever to make it your own.  Enjoy!