Manic Mama of 3

Making Life Just A Little Less Hectic Together

Christmas Pretzel Kisses

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If you are looking for an easy snack for your Christmas get together, these Christmas Pretzel Kisses are perfect!

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My kids love pretzels and so I am always looking for new ways to dress them up. These Christmas Pretzel Kisses are both adorable and yummy at the same time. This takes a twist on the Chocolate Pretzels recipe that we all know and love and dresses it up for the holidays.

I know that my kids have end of year parties, and this is something that they can help make. With just three simple ingredients, you will have the perfect finger sweet for little hands.

All you need to do is lay out your pretzels with a Hershey’s kiss of your choice on top of each.

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After you have melted down each of the kisses a small amount on top of the pretzels in the oven, this is when you will add your Holiday M&Ms. This is seriously the most fun part for the kids besides eating these Christmas Pretzel Kisses once they are done.

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Make sure to print out this recipe card and enjoy making these for your holiday get together (whether it be with kids or not). These are so delicious and easy to make that you will want to over and over again!

Christmas Pretzel Kisses
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Ingredients

  • 24 waffle-style pretzels
  • 24 Hershey's kisses (I used peppermint)
  • 24 Holiday M&M candies

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil or a silicone baking mat.
  3. Place pretzels on baking sheets, spacing out so they don't overlap.
  4. Unwrap Hershey's kisses and place one in the center of each pretzel.
  5. Place in preheated oven for 2 minutes, until kisses become glossy.
  6. Remove from oven and place one candy-coated chocolate in the center of each pretzel, pushing down gently to set.
  7. Chill in refrigerator before serving.
http://manicmamaof3.com/2016/12/16/christmas-pretzel-kisses/

Let me know if you have ever made anything like these Christmas Pretzel Kisses before! Do you have another variation that you love? We are also in love with our Finding Dory Pretzels that we made to celebrate when the movie came out! Make sure to check those fun snacks out as well.
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How to Make a Kid Friendly Cheese Board

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I love to make cheese boards around the holidays! They are a quick and easy way to add a little extra to your holiday spread. Here is one that even the kids will love.

My kids love anything simple and so this spread is one of their favorites. They are not huge on sandwiches but love meats and cheeses. So I decided to give this a try at lunch one day and it was a huge hit!

I really love Stella Cheese for the taste and my kids love sweet pickles along with the olives. Ham is their lunch meat of choice but you can switch that around to your child’s preference.

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Here is all you will need to make this easy lunch with Stella Cheese!

When you are in a rush and have no idea what to feed your little ones or even yourself for that matter, this is one of the easiest go to things to eat. You can even pack these things up for an on the go snack to keep you going throughout the day.

Stella has tons of different kinds of cheeses so no snack would ever be the same.

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1. Stella® Organic Parmesan Cheese
2. Stella® Parmesan Cheese
3. Stella® Asiago Cheese
4. Stella® Blue Cheese
5. Stella® Feta Cheese
6. Stella® Fontina Cheese
7. Stella® Fontinella® Cheese
8. Stella® Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
9. Stella® Goat Cheese
10. Stella® Gorgonzola Cheese
11. Stella® Italian Sharp Cheese
12. Stella® Kasseri Cheese
13. Stella® Provolone Cheese
14. Stella® Ricotta Cheese
15. Stella® Romano Cheese
16. Stella® Swiss Cheese

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Click here to enter to Win a Trip to Napa Valley With Stella Cheese!

Christmas Fudge

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How to Make it Through School Breaks Stress-Free

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I am not going to lie here people; I live for the day my kids go back to school. It’s not that I don’t love them, or you know, being with them every second of every day including when I pee. Ok, let’s be real; school breaks can be some of the most stressful times for you and your kids. Here’s how to make it through school breaks stress-free and even pee in peace!

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Stick to the School Routine

Many parents get off the routine or let their kids get off routine as well. This is a method for disaster and chaos. Kids need routine, and if you can keep it as close as a normal day, the better. Wake them up at the same time, make breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. Doing these things will take some of the stress out of the day.

Plan Activities for Your Kids to do

The winter break is typically the longest. You want to have crafts or activities to do with your kids that keep them occupied as if they were in school. When kids get bored, it’s all over from there. Read “Winter Craft Ideas for Your Toddlers” to find crafts you can all do together. Here are just a few fun ways to keep your kids from getting bored:

  • Make Oobleck: Oobleck is a liquid, I mean a solid, well who knows?
  • Play Board games: Board games are the best.
  • Make edible play dough: Kids can eat their creations after they play.

Take Time for Yourself

During the holidays, there is so much going on that you forget to take the time you need. Take at least 5-10 minutes a day to meditate, pray, sit in peace or exercise. This helps alleviate stress while making your mind focused and ready for more action.

Plan for kids to Visit Relatives

Breaks are the perfect opportunity for your kids to spend the weekend with grandma, visit aunt Susie for the day, or take an ice fishing trip with uncle Joe. Make plans for your kids to get out of the house and go spend time with their relatives. This gives you peace and it keeps them from getting bored.

How do you keep the stress levels down in your house during school breaks? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

Caramel Apple Cream Puffs

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Tis the season for amazing food! If you are looking for a dessert that is a little different than your ordinary pie, I have a treat for you. These Caramel Apple Cream Puffs are sure to add a great variety to your dessert line up.

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When it comes to desserts, I am always down for a great slice of pie or even cake. My kids, however, are a different story. They love to have something that they can eat when they are on the move. These Caramel Apple Cream Puffs are great for just that. Visiting with family is always so busy and they always want to bounce from one person to the next. Plus, these puffs save you on some extra dishes since they can be taken right from the dish and eaten in your hand.

I know that I am always looking for a recipe for a dessert that is semi good for you and tastes delicious. If this is you, too, then you need these in your life. They also make for a great take home dessert when it comes time to dish out the leftovers. You can just pop a few of these into the take home container that you know everyone will be wanting to take with them.

With just a few ingredients, you can have a dessert that everyone will be talking about and wanting the recipe for!

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I know that with the Fall season we always have apples in our house, so this is totally one of the best ways to enjoy them.

 

Yields 26 puff pastries

Caramel Apple Cream Puffs
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Ingredients

    Puff Pastry
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 cup all purpose Flour
  • 4 Eggs
  • ½ cup Butter
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
    • Apple Filling
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 apples, peeled, cored and diced
  • ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons of water
  • 1 box of caramel pie pudding filling (2 cups of milk for pudding)
    • Caramel topping (as desired)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.
  2. In a large pot over high heat bring butter and water to a boil. Stir in the salt and flour, lower heat to medium and mix together until it becomes a ball form. Place dough in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Whisk in one egg at a time, being sure it’s well mixed before adding another. Repeat for all four eggs.
  4. Add in the ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix.
  5. In an ungreased pan, drop in 1 tablespoon of dough at a time.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
  7. In a large pan, melt butter and add in apples. Sautee for 5-7 minutes over medium heat. Add in cinnamon, brown sugar and water. Lower heat to low, gently keep stirring for an additional 2-3 minutes until apples are tender. Remove from heat.
  8. In a medium bowl, make the pie according to directions.
  9. Once puffs are done, slice in half. Spoon on one teaspoon of caramel filling and then ½ teaspoon of apple filling. Layer again with the other half of the puff. Drizzle caramel on top.
http://manicmamaof3.com/2016/11/22/caramel-apple-cream-puffs/

Make sure that you get these on your menu OR just enjoy them for the perfect cooler weather snack. I know that my kids love to help me make these Caramel Apple Cream Puffs. I definitely don’t feel guilty making them for a treat either. Next time you have a craving for an apple dessert, this is going to be your go to for sure.

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I know that just looking at these pictures of how these puffs turn out is making you drool? Am I right?

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These puffs are definitely hard to eat just a couple. Even though this recipe yields 26 puff pastries, you are going to want to make even more than that. Make sure that you hide some to keep for yourself after your get together is over, too. You will thank me later!