Yes, the batteries were recharged. Elli and I also had plenty of time to prepare for her class Christmas party. Instead of a gift exchange, the teacher invited parents to bring in treats for the kids. That was always my favorite part of school Christmas parties as a kid, but these days it's kind of a fine line. Between food allergies, health particularities and kid-friendly options, what to choose becomes harder and harder. But I had the perfect idea.
I had made these treats for a kids Christmas party many years ago, and they were a huge hit, both with parents and kids. The idea came from Kraft Food and Family magazine and the pictures were of two little girls having a grand time.
Christmas Pretzels
Pretzel rods
1 cup of Baker's chocolate chunks, melted (I opt for the microwavable bowls)
4 cups fruit-flavored rice cereal
Melt chocolate. Pour 2 cups of cereal on a large dinner plate, reserving the remaining 2 cups until needed. Cover each pretzel rod halfway with chocolate; immediately roll in cereal. Place on a wax-paper covered cookie sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until chocolate is hardened.
Melted chocolate. Small bits of cereal. "Fra-jee-lay" pretzel rods. Oh, yes, this rang with the promise of one grand mess. But that was okay. What's Christmas without a grand mess on the kitchen counter? Between these Christmas Pretzels and now-traditional French Toast Casserole from Gooseberry Patch for Christmas Eve, my kitchen was bound to be a giant pool of sticky sweetness.
Before we started on the pretzels, I walked Elli through each step so she knew what to expect.
"We can make some for your Christmas party at school," I said. "We'll make one for all your friends."
"I am going to make one for my friend Finnegan," she replied. You may recognize that name. If it sounds familiar it might be from the story I've told you before. When we were working with Elli on her full name, we would prompt her, "What is your name?" She would respond "Elli no hit Finnegan, not nice." They have since learned to like each other.
"What about Karson? And Izzy?" I asked, naming off the other kids in her class.
"Yes, I am going to make some for them."
"All right. Well, we better get started."
I opened the bag of pretzels, which Elli immediately began to eye, plotting her move. I then poured the cereal out onto the plate and popped the chocolate, in it's convenient little bowl, in the microwave until it was melted.
"Look, Mommy," Elli said, holding a pretzel rod in the cereal. "You dip this in the cereal."
She was halfway correct. "Yes, you do, sweetheart. But first we have to put chocolate on it."
"Choc-o-let?"
"Yes, chocolate."
"Oh-kaaay." She almost sounded resigned, but once I showed her how to dip the pretzel in the chocolate, any hint of resignation disappeared like chocolate milke in a preschooler's cup.
The only thing about the Baker's microwavable cups is they are a little too short to dip a pretzel in halfway. So, I instructed Elli in the art of using a spoon to scoop the chocolate up and around the pretzel rod.
"All right, Elli. Now the fun part. Roll the pretzel in the cereal. Quick, quick."
"Nice job!" I took the pretzel and layed it on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet. "Let's do another one. Who is this one for?"
Elli grabbed the pretzel from my hand and said, "Luis!"
"Okay, let's make this one nice for Luis."
We repeated the process 12 times, once for each kid, for the teaching staff and a few extra just in case. We laid each rod on the cookie sheet to be put in the fridge overnight and then wrapped up in Christmas-themed snack bags. Then, while Elli licked the chocolate off the spoon...
...I made a little treat for her teacher and school director: chocolate-dipped plastic spoons accented with cinnamon, toffee and mint chips to be gifted with individual packets of hot chocolate. Mmmm. Maybe I should have made some for myself, now that I think about it.
It was a quick and easy adventure in the kitchen, and one I'm guessing the kids in her class enjoyed (at least, no pretzels were sent home with me). Nonetheless, I didn't feel like have any more cooking time that day, so I told Daddy that "baby wants Chinese food" for supper. Perhaps the craving really did come from baby sister, or perhaps I was inspired by the ending of "A Christmas Story." Either way, we had a little Chinese pre-Christmas and enjoyed each other's company -- a well-deserved treat after a very hectic week apart.
Hope you all had a Christmas full of merriment and fellowship with family and friends! Leave me a note, if you so choose, to tell me about the traditional dishes or activities your family enjoyes at holiday time.
Overall Christmas Pretzels Ratings (5 being the best):
Elli-friendly cooking: 5
Elli-friendly eating: 5
Simple: 5
Fast: 5
Frugal: 4
My favorite family tradition is Grandma Lehenbauer's delicious candies and cookies, which she made every Christmas season. After the family dinner the goodies would be spread out on the big dining room table. We grandchildren were allowed to pick one treat. It was difficult to choose, but my two favorites were her marble fudge and her cutout frosted sugar cookies. I have continued the tradition of making frosted sugar cookies for my children and now my gradnchildren. When old enough, like Elli, they are allowed to help. What joy!!!
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