Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Candy canes, cocoa, and questions of course

Before I post the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge (because who has nothing else to do besides hang out online??) I'm going to share a fun little gift idea I found guess where? Ha! Pinterest of course, home to a gillion great ideas.

I have overnight house guests arriving tonite and even though we're family (or maybe especially because we're family) I wanted to make a little gift bag filled with Christmas cheer. We won't see this particular branch of the family tree over Christmas so I put a couple of little goodies into a bag and also added a couple of homemade items.

One is a cute Snowman canister full of granola. You'll find the recipe here and I'm seriously addicted. It is di-vine! The other homemade item is a container of peppermint cocoa mix. So cute if I do say so myself and really simple to put together. You layer the ingredients in a 1-quart clear container, add the directions for serving, and voila-a yummy comforting chocolate treat.


You'll find the recipe here but the layers are powdered milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, mini chocolate chips and...get ready for it...today's Photo Challenge Prompt...'a candy cane or five'.


Actually this recipe called for 1/2 cup of crushed peppermint and I had about 20 of the mini candy canes in my pantry so I used those. I put them in a baggie and enthusiastically pounded them with the back of a spoon. Pretty and therapeutic!

Now on to this week's questions...I know everyone is busy but you need a break from the shopping and the wrapping and the baking, right? Here ya go...be sure to come back tomorrow and link answers with all of Santa's elves.


1. Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special for your guests to make them feel at home? How long should a house guest stay?

2. Walter Elias Disney was born this week (December 5) back in 1905 ...what's your all time favorite Disney movie? Here's a list in case you're struggling...and yes, you have to pick one.

3. What was the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?

4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

5. Amaryllis-snowdrop-poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?

6. What is one thing on your personal Christmas wish list? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this answer an actual item.

7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

15 comments:

  1. What great ideas Pinterest has.....I'm sure your guest are going to love it! Have a wonderful day! I'm wrapping today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your house guests are going to love their goodies. What a great hostess you are!

    ReplyDelete
  3. have a wonderful family visit!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pinterest is such an awesome tool. I use it all the time. Those are fabulous gifts your family will love. Your photos for the daily challenge are fantastic. I'll be glad to get back home so I can get back in the game. I'm still looking for that hippopotamus! Lol. Have a great day. Blessings, SusanD

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy birthday to Disney! And that recipe looks soooo good. Happy Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I may have to cave and start checking out Pinterest ... I see so many interesting things from Pinterest on everyone's blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your concotion sounds DE-LISH! I am definitely going to give that a whirl! Many thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your recipes, I've been on the hunt for a great granola recipe! Thanks :o)

    God bless and have a beautiful day sweeite!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joyce,

    Yummy I love your premade mix of Hot Cocoa and in meeting Susan's photo challenge at the same time! I need to try this in my cocoa mix and will let you know how it goes tomorrow. I'll get my picture up later today after meeting an old friend for lunch and include your Hodge Podge questions too!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ooooh! Those layers ARE lovely. My kids always argue over who gets to crush the peppermints when I make Peppering Pretzels. Maybe because I let them use the mini sledge hammer. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would love the peppermint flavored hot cocoa. YUM!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I needed a break after getting home from shopping and before wrapping and the school run and the piano lessons and...thought "bet Joyce has her HP qu's up." Great questions once again. BTW I saw something similar to your cocoa idea. It's the same layering thing but the container is an apothecary jar. Can't wait to make some gifties like you have.

    ReplyDelete
  13. that is some delicious looking granola! i'll have to try that, my mom makes pretty good granola too but doesn't add anything sweet. ;o i like adding chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Have fun with your guests. Those are two great items to make. Thank you for the links. See you tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete