Oreo Truffles

These truffles are so amazing! They're very rich but so good. Definitely one of my favorite Christmas treats. I found a few different recipes for Oreo Truffles so I combined them and came up with this. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreos, ground in blender or food processor
1 1/2 pkg cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Reserve 1/4 cup crushed oreos for topping. Combine remaining oreos and cream cheese. Beat together until mixed well. Form into small balls (about 1 inch) and refrigerate for a few hours until firm. Melt milk chocolate in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip half of the truffles into milk chocolate and place on wax paper. Immediately after dipping, sprinkle reserved oreo crumbs onto truffles. Press down so it sets into chocolate. Repeat with white chocolate. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

makes about 50 truffles

Favorite Christmas Recipes

I love this time of year! I especially love all of the yummy food that we get to eat at Christmas time! I've made a list of my favorite Christmas recipes. Enjoy!

Christmas Treats:

Andes Mint Cookies

Chocolate Orange Brownies

Andes Mint Fudge

Caramel Brownies

Peanut Butter Truffles

 Christmas Breakfast:

Buttermilk Syrup

Christmas Side Dishes:

Chantilly Potatoes

Christmas Salad

Christmas at Disneyland

It's time for the holidays at Disneyland!!!

November 13- January 6

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at the happiest place on earth!

I love Disneyland at Christmas time. The whole park is decorated for the holidays and they have special parades and fireworks that you can only see this time of the year. You might even get to meet Santa Claus! It really is so magical. It's one of my favorite times of the year to go to Disneyland!

If you would like to plan a trip to Disneyland for the holidays (or anytime after), contact me at thetravelingcircus39@gmail.com.

Saving Money on Christmas Shopping

It's November and you know what that means... Christmas is right around the corner!

I love Christmas! I love everything about it. The music, the lights, the parties, the treats, EVERYTHING!!! I especially love Christmas shopping and finding awesome deals. My kids know they're not getting what they want unless I can find it for a good deal. When they open their presents, they sometimes ask how much I paid for it because they know I wouldn't have bought it unless it was a good deal. They've learned to really appreciate a good deal!

So I'm going to share my tips on how to get more for your money at Christmas time. There are a lot of really great sales out there and you don't actually need to go shopping on Black Friday to get those sales.

First, decide what your budget is going to be for Christmas gifts. Then have your kids make a list of everything they want. You can make it a running list and add things and take things off because kids sometimes change their minds. Check different stores online to find out how much each item will cost and write it down on your list. I usually check Amazon, Walmart, and Target and that gives me a pretty good idea about how much each thing will cost. Then check the websites frequently to see if the price drops. If the price drops significantly, buy it. If you can get everything on your list for a lower price you'll be able to save a significant amount or maybe even get more for your money.

When the Black Friday ads come out, check the ad for each store. The ads should be coming out in a few weeks and you will be able to view them online. Decide if there's anything that is worth going shopping for on Black Friday. You might find something that's worth going to the store for but keep in mind that you might have to go early and wait in line. It also might cut into your time with your family on Thanksgiving.

If you find something in the ads that you really want, check around online. You may be able to find it for the same price before Black Friday.

Here are some things that I have learned about different stores:

Amazon
Amazon is very competitive with their prices. If there is something advertised at another store, there is a good chance that Amazon will lower their prices to match it. Right now Amazon has their Countdown to Black Friday sale and you can get some awesome deals. They also have a Holiday deal page with lightning deals. If you're not familiar with this you need to check it out. I've used this multiple times and scored some amazing deals. How it works is each day there are specific items that will go on sale at certain times. The price won't be listed until the sale is live. Once it goes live, you can buy it for the sale price but the quantities are limited. I've seen things sell out in less than five minutes! If you're an Amazon Prime member you can have access to certain deals a half hour early.

I would recommend checking the Lightning Deals page every morning to see if there's anything you want. If you find something, go back to that page at the designated time and buy it. But you have to hurry because it can go quick.

Here are the links:
Lightning Deals 
Toy Lightning Deals

Walmart 
There are some great deals at Walmart on Black Friday but that place can be a madhouse! I know because I've been there on Black Friday! Did you know that some of the items advertised in the Black Friday ad are also sold online for the same price on Thanksgiving day? Last year I got on the Walmart website at midnight before Thanksgiving when the sales went live and I was able to get many things that I wanted without having to go to the store and fight the crowds. Just remember, the more popular items will sell out fast and if you can't get it, you might have to go to the store during the Black Friday sale.

Kohl's
Sometimes I feel like I have to get a little creative when I shop at Kohl's. A lot of their prices are higher but when you combine the 20-30% off coupons and the Kohl's cash, you can get some great deals. They also let you stack coupons which I think is great! Kohl's also has a rewards program Yes2You Rewards. You earn 1 point for every dollar that you spend and once you've reached 100 points, you'll get a $5 reward certificate. This is in addition to all of the other deals that they have.

Kohl's also sells a lot of things online for Black Friday prices and their sell starts a few days before Thanksgiving. So there really is no need to even go to the store. Plus, around Thanksgiving, they usually offer $15 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend which is a great incentive!

Target
Target is also very competitive with their prices. Right now they are offering free shipping on all purchases made online until Christmas. No minimum purchase required! They also have a Cartwheel app that is awesome. If you pay attention to the Carthwheel app you might be able to score some great deals. Some of their deals are available one day only so you have to go to the store early because they run out fast!

You can also shop online at Target for Black Friday. The sales usually go live at midnight before Thanksgiving.

*When shopping online don't forget to shop through Ebates and earn cashback! It's a great way to earn some extra cash. I've earned about $120 just by shopping online!

Chantilly Potatoes

This is my favorite potato recipe ever! You can't go wrong with mashed potatoes mixed with heavy cream and swiss cheese! So delicious! I make these potatoes every year for Christmas and Easter. It's always a hit with my family.

Printable Recipe

Chantilly Potatoes
5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups shredded swiss cheese
1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese

Boil potatoes until tender; drain. Combine potatoes with salt and pepper, then mash. In a separate bowl, beat cream until peaks form. Fold 2/3 of the cream into the mashed potatoes until mostly absorbed. Gently spoon into a greased 9x13 baking dish. It doesn't have to be even on top. Be careful not to deflate the potato layer. Fold parmesan cheese and all but 1/2 cup of the swiss cheese into remaining cream. Spread over potatoes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. If serving immediately, broil for 2-3 minutes until heated through and brown on top. If serving later, cover and refrigerate. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Buttermilk Syrup

This is called Buttermilk syrup but I think it should be called caramel syrup because it tastes just like homemade caramel. It's so delicious! This syrup can be served with pancakes, waffles, or french toast and it's perfect for breakfast on Valentine's Day or Christmas morning. 

Printable Recipe

Buttermilk Syrup
1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Stir in sugar and buttermilk and bring to a boil. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. Remove from heat. It will be really bubbly so let stand for a few minutes until the bubbles go down. Serve with french toast, pancakes, or waffles.

Christmas Salad

This is one of my favorite salad recipes. We always have it for Christmas dinner at my parents' house. The colors are very festive and the flavors always remind me of Christmas. I recently made this salad for our ward party and it was a huge hit. It's so delicious!

Printable Recipe

Christmas Salad
Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp poppy seeds

Salad Ingredients:
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup swiss cheese, cut into cubes or shredded
1 medium apple, cubed
1 medium pear, cubed
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup cashews, coarsely chopped (optional)

To make dressing blend together sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, and salt. With blender running, gradually add oil. Then add poppy seeds and blend together until well mixed.

In a large bowl, combine lettuce, cheese, apple, pear, and dried cranberries. Add desired amount of dressing and cashews. Toss to coat.

*Note: This makes a lot of dressing. You probably won't use all of it to dress the salad.

Andes Mint Fudge

Chocolate and mint is one of my very favorite flavor combinations. This fudge was so delicious and it was so easy to make. The only problem is it's a little addicting!

Printable Recipe

Andes Mint Fudge

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow creme

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (10 oz) bag Andes Mint Baking Chips

1 tsp vanilla extract

Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray; set aside. In a large saucepan, heat butter, sugar, marshmallow creme, and evaporated milk over medium heat until it boils, stirring constantly. Let boil and stir constantly for 5 minutes. Add Andes Mint chips and vanilla and stir until the chips are melted. Immediately pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate for about 2 hours to set up. Cut into 1 inch squares.

Recipe adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff

Peanut Butter Truffles

These truffles taste just like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. They are so delicious!

 

Printable Recipe

Peanut Butter Truffles

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 bags milk chocolate chips (about 18 oz)

Mix together graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Shape into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes. 

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate at 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until completely melted. Dip each ball into the chocolate and place on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until completely set. 

Makes 4-5 dozen truffles

Chocolate Orange Brownies

When I was a little girl, my grandma used to give us chocolate oranges for Christmas. Now I always get one in my stocking, even if it means buying it myself. It's one of my favorite Christmas treats and it brings back so many memories. When I tasted these brownies, it brought back all of those Christmas memories. These brownies taste just like a chocolate orange. They were so heavenly!

Printable Recipe

Chocolate Orange Brownies

Brownies:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Orange frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 1/2 tsp orange extract
red & yellow food coloring

Chocolate topping:
2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350. Beat together butter, sugar, and cocoa. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add flour, salt, and vanilla and mix well. Spread onto a greased cookie sheet (10x15x1). Bake for 22-25 minutes. Cool for about 30 minutes before frosting.

To make orange frosting, mix together butter, powdered sugar, milk, and orange extract. Add 10 drops of yellow food coloring and 3 drops of red food coloring to get the pale orange color. Frost brownies and place in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

To make chocolate topping, melt chocolate chips and butter in the microwave at 30 second intervals until melted, stirring in between. Spread over frosting. Place in the refrigerator to set.

Makes about 35 brownies

Recipe adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff

Andes Mint Cookies

These are my favorite Christmas cookies. They are seriously so good! I make these every year at Christmas time.

Printable Recipe

Andes Mint Cookies
2 eggs
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips
1 pkg Andes mint baking bits, divided (or 2 cups Andes mint candies chopped)

Beat together eggs, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add cocoa, baking soda, and flour. Mix well. Add chocolate chips and 1 cup Andes mints. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

Pour about 1 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Roll cookie dough into balls and then roll in sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 9-13 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately place a small amount of chopped Andes mints on top of each cookie. Press down into the cookie so it melts. Cool cookies on wire racks.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

How To Get Black Friday Prices Before Black Friday

It's about that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner...

I love Christmas! I love everything about it. The music, the lights, the parties, the treats, EVERYTHING!!! I especially love Christmas shopping and finding awesome deals. My kids know they're not getting what they want unless I can find it for a good deal. When they open their presents, they sometimes ask how much I paid for it because they know I wouldn't have bought it unless it was a good deal.

I usually go to a few stores every year on Black Friday but I've never gone in the middle of the night. Once I went to Walmart at 10 pm on Thanksgiving and it was CRAZY!!! I got everything I wanted and it was a huge adrenaline rush. I actually really loved it! But I just don't like the fact that the stores are opening earlier and earlier every year on Thanksgiving. I think that time should be spent with family and not in a store.

So did you know that you can actually get Black Friday prices without going shopping on Black Friday?

Here are my tips...

First, decide what your budget is going to be for Christmas gifts. Then have your kids make a list of everything they want. From that list, make another list of what you want to buy. Check different stores online to find out how much each item will cost and write it down on your list. I usually check Amazon, Walmart, and Target and that gives me a pretty good idea about how much each thing will cost. Then check the websites frequently to see if the price drops. If the price drops significantly, buy it. If you can get everything on your list for a lower price you'll be able to save a significant amount or maybe even get more for your money.

When the Black Friday ads come out, check the ad for each store. The ads should be coming out in a few weeks and you will be able to view them online. Decide if there's anything that is worth going shopping for on Black Friday. You might find something that's worth going to the store for but keep in mind that you might have to go early and wait in line. It also might cut into your time with your family on Thanksgiving.

If you find something in the ads that you really want, check around online. You may be able to find it for the same price before Black Friday.

Here are some things that I have learned about different stores:

Amazon
Amazon is very competitive with their prices. If there is something advertised at another store, there is a good chance that Amazon will lower their prices to match it. Right now Amazon has their Countdown to Black Friday sale and you can get some awesome deals. They also have a Holiday deal page with lightning deals. If you're not familiar with this you need to check it out. I've used this multiple times and scored some amazing deals. How it works is each day there are specific items that will go on sale at certain times. The price won't be listed until the sale is live. Once it goes live, you can buy it for the sale price but the quantities are limited. I've seen things sell out in less than five minutes! If you're an Amazon Prime member you can have access to certain deals a half hour early.

I would recommend checking the Lightning Deals page every morning to see if there's anything you want. If you find something, go back to that page at the designated time and buy it. But you have to hurry because it can go quick.

Here are the links:
Lightning Deals
Toy Lightning Deals

Walmart
There are some great deals at Walmart on Black Friday but that place can be a madhouse! I know because I've been there on Black Friday! Did you know that some of the items advertised in the Black Friday ad are also sold online for the same price on Thanksgiving day? This is unadvertised and you never now which items will be sold online but it's worth a shot. Last year I wanted to get a Little Tykes kitchen for my daughter that was advertised in their Black Friday ad. So I woke up early on Thanksgiving and I checked the Walmart website. The kitchen was in stock! I added it to my cart and it took 15 minutes to get to my cart because there were so many people on the website. But I got it and I was so excited that I wasn't going to have to leave our Thanksgiving dinner early and fight the crowd to buy a toy for my daughter.

Kohl's
Sometimes I feel like I have to get a little creative when I shop at Kohl's. A lot of their prices are higher but when you combine the 20-30% off coupons and the Kohl's cash, you can get some great deals. Kohl's also has a new rewards program Yes2You Rewards. You earn 1 point for every dollar that you spend and once you've reached 100 points, you'll get a $5 reward certificate. This is in addition to all of the other deals that they have.

Kohl's also sells a lot of things online for Black Friday prices and their sell starts a few days before Thanksgiving. So there really is no need to even go to the store.

Target
Target is also very competitive with their prices. This year they are offering free shipping on all purchases made online until Christmas. No minimum purchase required! They also have a Cartwheel app that is awesome. If you pay attention to the Carthwheel app you might be able to score some great deals. Some of their deals are one day only so you have to go to the store early because they run out fast!

*When shopping online don't forget to shop through Ebates and earn cashback! It's a great way to earn some extra cash just for shopping. It's totally legit. I've earned about $75 in the last year!

*To maximize your savings, check out my post on how to earn money by shopping online.