Chocolatey covered mints

Chocolatey covered mints

Recipe

4 ounces cream cheese-softened
3 tablespoons butter-softened
3/4 teaspoon mint extract
1 pound powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops green food coloring
1 bag of milk chocolate chips or Candiquik coating

Combine all ingredients and then place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight. When chilled roll into balls and then place back in fridge while you melt the chocolate.

To melt the chocolate chips, I used two saucepans. Fill the bottom pan halfway with water and pour the chocolate chips in the smaller top pan. Heat on the stove on low, stirring until the chocolate melts.

Dip and roll the mint balls in the chocolate and place on wax paper and then place in refrigerator until set.

Melt in your mouth sweetness!

The original recipe had double the ingredients, did not use mint extract, but used peppermint extract, and was not dipped in chocolate, but was pushed through a pastry bag with a star tip.

 Use peppermint extract, omit food coloring, roll mixture into a log shape, slice, and then dip in dark chocolate to make peppermint patties.

This recipe was shared on facebook by Alexis Sayler you can follow her here https://www.facebook.com/alexissalyers07

Toilet Paper Roll Decorations

Yesterday I wanted a quick craft to work on and here is what I made!

They are sooo easy to make and take no time at all.

Here's what you'll need

toilet paper rolls

paint in colors of your choice

hot glue gun and craft glue

ribbon

clear spray paint

glitter or fake snow

embellishments of your choice

 Start with your toilet paper roll. Flatten it out and then cut off even strips. 

 For the green one I wanted it to resemble holly leaves so I folded my strips like this.

This will be a snowflake

And for the snowflake one, I wanted it to have more detail so I cut some strips in half like this.

I used hot glue to assemble the red and green ones, but ran out of glue sticks and had to use craft glue to assemble the snowflake. I prefer the hot glue because it's quicker.

After assembling them, I used different types of paint, because I didn't have spray paint in the colors I wanted, so I used craft paint and a paintbrush. If you use gloss spray paint you don't need to spray them with  the clear spray paint.

And here's the finished decorations!

Poinsettia 

(you could glue some green leaves to the back)

 Holly

And last but not least,

Snowflake

Looking for other ideas to recycle your toilet paper rolls? Try http://familycrafts.about.com/od/cardboardtubecrafts/tp/ToiletPaperRollCrafts.htm
Or http://www.favecrafts.com/Green-Crafting/16-Uses-for-Toilet-Paper-Rolls