Yummy Valentine's Day cookie Bouquet

At one of my former jobs, one of my co-workers always brought in these DELICIOUS Cookies...

They are so yummy! I love them. I have not made them until now! I get some of my best inspiration at night as I am laying my head on the pillow to go to sleep! So, as I was falling asleep this little bitty was born...

My Take on a Cookie Bouquet...

Ingredients:

* Ritz Crackers (I know crazy, but they are so yummy as this cookie, I promise)

* Creamy Peanut Butter

*White Chocolate

*Sprinkles (Optional) I added sprinkles to them to give the cute factor, but they do not need them.

They actually taste better without sprinkles on them.

*Bamboo Sticks

Lay out your Ritz Crackers on wax paper and spread the peanut butter on each cracker. I put the bamboo skewer in the center and added a little extra peanut butter to the center to compensate for the stick.

Mmmm.... Peanut buttery goodness!

*Put your ritz crackers with the peanut butter in the fridge*

This is a very important step. Let them chill for about 20 minutes.

This keeps the peanut butter firm while dipping in the white chocolate

 so you don't have a peanut buttery mess!

*While you are waiting you can work on the tin holder!!*

Melt your white chocolate on a medium heat. Once the chocolate has melted, remove it from burner. I use a saucepan with water and a stainless steel bowl that I set on top. This works great! You don't need a special pan to melt the chocolate in.

I just spoon the chocolate onto the cookie. The bamboo skewers are super handy for this step.

 

Now you can sprinkle the sprinkles onto your cookie... I really wanted to use Ritz in the shape of hearts for Valentine's Day, but they do not have them. All I could find was football shaped Ritz. Darnit! So the sprinkles give it that same cutesy Valentine's Day Flair.

I tried using a stencil for the hearts and that just didn't work with the melted chocolate so I just used my fingers and put the sprinkles on in a -V- and it worked! *Sigh*

Oh aren't they just cute??? Don't worry about the big blob of a cookie to the right, while it is still soft just trace around the shape of the cookie with a toothpick and it will not be a ginormous blob when it hardens!

These Cookies really are so yummy! You should try them! You will love them. They are SO Easy!

After you make them, E-mail me at holly-aitken@gmail.com and let me know how they turned out!

Now that the cookies are ready, let's make the container they are going into...

I started with a craft ball... Hard foam

I cut it in thirds with a saw. This way it will fit into the container and I can do this bouquet 3 times!!

Insert your foam in the top of the container.

I made mine flush with the top rim of the vase.

I took squares of tissue paper and folded them around the end of a paint brush.

I put dabs of craft glue in sporatic places and using the same paintbrush end, I put the tissue paper on the glue. I pushed them into the foam with the brush as well to make them really secure.

Add Ribbon (of course) and Voila... you have a cute little Valentine bucket!!!

You are now ready to insert your cookies and go!!!

  

 So Pretty and so EASY!!!

Your kids will love it!

I will be posting in the summer, my idea for a Summer Fruit Bouquet...

Stay tuned!!!

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The DIY Showoff

What would Fall be without a Caramel Apple?

You know me... I like things to be easy, fast and inexpensive! The less I have to measure the better!
I made caramel apples yesterday for the party tomorrow and thought I would show you how I do things. Be prepared to be amazed. No measuring or sifting or counting involved!
Ingredients:
* Apples (I made 12)
* Store bought individually wrapped caramels (I used the Kraft caramels in the yellow bag)
* craft sticks or popsicle sticks (The Kraft caramels come with 5 in each bag)
* two cans sweetened condensed milk
That is it, Seriously! You don't need anything else, I promise.

* * * * Step 1 * * * *
Remove all the wrappers from the caramels... this can be kind of tedious, but if you have little ones they will love this step.

* * * * Step 2 * * * *
Put the caramels and the sweetened condensed milk into a sauce pan and put it on low heat. Stir constantly. This is quite tedious and takes a bit of time, but it is SO worth it! IF your heat is too high, it will scorch the bottom and you will have chunks in the caramel. Believe me I know. I have tried to cheat time before!

* * * * Step 3 * * * *
Now you can take the time to peel the stickers off your apples and wash them. Dry them thoroughly so the water does not get into the caramel. insert your sticks at least half way through the apple.

* * * * Step 4 * * * *
Haha, Keep stirring... Oh look at that pretty caramel color! My mouth is salivating

* * * * Step 5 * * * *
Check to see that the caramel is done and ready to coat the apple. I do this by dropping a dab of caramel into some cold water. If it is chewy and the consistency that I want, it is done. No Candy thermometer needed!
this is the best I could do as far as a picture of this step is concerned! I was working by myself and had to juggle hot caramel and a camera.
* * * * Step 6 * * * *
The best part... DIp your apple!
I use a spoon to help coat it. Pushing the caramel up the sides.

* * * * Step 7 * * * *
Place on wax paper and let cool. I love this caramel. IT is really chewy and smellicious! It perfumes the whole house!

So there you have it, your basic Caramel Apple!
I had left over caramel, so I just cut up an apple and ate it with it. You could make more covered apples though.
Everyone have a wonderful Fall Season! I hope that you enjoy your time with family and friends!
IF you do make this recipe, please comment and share with me how things turned out. I love and appreciate all comments! They warm my heart!