Monday, December 21, 2009

Shipped

I just went to the post office and feel like I practically risked my life to do it.

The house is TRASHED after 4 days of being mostly shut in, toys and snow pants fighting for dominance on the living room rug, fire making mess by the kind-of-doesn't-really-work wood stove, wrapping mess around the tree, baking mess in the kitchen, packing peanuts forming a cushy path between the two...

The last several days have been focused on survival basics like heat and food and not so much on getting ahead on my Christmas list of to dos. I was able to get some of my gift box baking done yesterday but still had some to finish up, as well as packaging, and boxing up today. When I woke up this morning I knew I had to put a serious move on if I was going to get it all done and in the mail with even a remote chance of making it in time for Christmas.

And I did. I got 6 boxes packed and boxed appropriately and juggled into and out of the post office (with rowdy stragglers entail).

First let me refer you to last year's POST. Sadly, due to my time constraints, and sheer exhaustion, I wasn't able to turn out the same level of Christmas box.

This year I used packing peanuts instead of freshly popped popcorn (GASP!).

No music.

No cloved oranges.

In short, this year I was a helluva lot more approachable. So if you wake up everyday wondering how you can live up to my level of awesomeness.. well... this year is for you.

This year I made my Iced Sugar Cookies...


note my all white theme. Lazy or brilliant... you decide (I vote lazy & brilliant). I'm pretending it's an ode to our recent snow storm. The truth is white icing vs multiple shades of icing... is ten times less work.

I made my Gingersnaps...


And instead of Caramel Corn & Dipped Candy Cane Oreos, I made what my mother calls Cake Balls.

Now I can't say "cake balls" without feeling a little "Miss Jackson" if you catch my drift.

So I have renamed them..
"Triple Chocolate Cake Bites"

Here is how you make them (since I know someone will ask): One box cake mix (any flavor) baked as directed in a 9x13 pan. While hot break up into crumbs with two forks. Add a container of prepared icing (any flavor) and mix thoroughly. Chill. Using a spoon and your hands roll Tablespoonfuls of your mixture into balls. Place on cookie sheet and chill. Melt chocolate (any flavor) and dip balls into chocolate to coat. Place back on cookie sheet (sprinkle with toppings while still wet!) and let chocolate set before packaging.
I packaged them a couple of ways. I set each one in a mini muffin liner and placed them in the bottom of egg cartons, or for my brother's brood in this covered peanut tin. While I'm loving the look... I'm not sure anything can top the egg carton for shipping purposes... and seriously... how cute is the half and egg carton?! I got that idea somewhere on the internets but can't remember where. So thanks random crafty person!

FYI that is my wrapping paper for this year (love it) and I got it at (where else?) Target.

Now, I am going to warn you that I found the cake bites to be pretty labor intensive. The dipped cookies were MUCH faster to make. But one pan of cake makes about 80 cake bites so maybe it's worth it. They are very rich and truffle like. I used devil's food cake and dark fudge icing. I coated them in white chocolate, milk chocolate,and dark chocolate. I sprinkled some with sprinkles, some with crushed candy cane, and left some plain. They definitely taste better "the next day" once they have set more. So these are potentially great for gift giving.

The rest of the recipes can be found HERE.

That's all folks!

I'm off to try and take a breath and force the kids to watch Hallmark Channel Christmas movies.

17 comments:

SoonToBeMrsZ said...

WHOA you have been super busy .. with all the snow and Christmas prep! Hope you all stay warm and have a WONDERFUL Christmas!

HC said...

Oooooo... the cake balls (tee hee) are AWESOME. I totally want to make those. Adam and I made Paula Deen's Peppermint bark this weekend so that he wouldn't be the big fat loser at my family's 2nd Annual Homemade Christmas. Of course, now his gift totally blows my homemade fridge magnets out of the water, but whatev.

Mrs Furious said...

BsOnlyToots,
Thanks!
You too :)


HC,
Am I the only one who hears "cake scrotum" when they hear "cake balls" because when she told me she was making cake balls I thought she was making cake shaped like testicles.

HC said...

Oh, you're not alone. :)

Perhaps they should be served as dessert after a nice roasted rooster dinner...?

Julie said...

Mrs F, I think of the Alec Baldwin and "schwetty balls" skit on SNL many, many years ago. You can't say cake balls without cracking a smile.

Everything looks smashing.

I have to go look for your sugar cookie icing recipe.

Mrs Furious said...

Julie,
really basic royal icing. Depending on who I'm making it for I use either egg whites or powdered egg whites. I add enough powdered sugar to make a thick icing and then thin it with a little water. I use the whisk attachment on my hand held mixer... but any would do the job. When I'm going all out I add a drop or two of glycerine... but that is not necessary... just makes it extra shiny.

Andrea said...

your cookies look like they belong in a magazine I really need to work on my cookie skills!

inkelywinkely said...

know what I did? Nearly killed Punk, no kidding- details later, took a shower, and made tuna. Then, I called the local pizza joint for delivery because I found a coupon in the phone book that expires this month. LOL.

busy, busy, busy I tell ya. haahah

Elizabeth said...

mom made a penis shaped cake for a theater party we had at our house once.

I was probably 13, so old enough to handle it, young enough to be horribly embarrassed/fascinated by the theater folk.

And your Christmas box stuff rocks. I have done no such useful thing, and hope to have presents done, maybe, if I'm lucky...

See you at Mame's Christmas Day afternoon? Maybe the good presents under the tree will be ours this year!

Kiki said...

I bow in awe of your skills...everything looks AWESOME!!! The white...I say shabby chic...which I love!! Glad you're all okay!!!

gooddog said...

Mrs F-

Your cookies ALWAYS look amazing to me. I took some to work when I won the easter basket last year and tried to pass them off as my own for a few minutes. NO ONE took the bait. They look store bought.

I made your chocolate dipped-candy cane sprinkled-oreos again this year for people. I love those things and they are super fast. I used some mint oreos and some regular this year for variety. I am all over those cake balls and intend to make anyone who wants one ask for a "cake ball, please".

So, those 6 people who are getting your awesome boxes are fortunate... but I am just as grateful for your ideas and inspiration! Really!

Happy 3 days till Xmas. :)

Mrs Furious said...

Kiki,
Ooh Shabby Chic... why didn't I think of that?!


Elizabeth,
We get in on the 26th. I guess there is a pizza party and you all are coming. See you then! Have a safe trip!


Gooddog,
Oh thanks for the compliments. I was too anal to let Kid make them but if you aren't giving them away it would be fun, albeit a germ cesspool, for the kids to make them... if they like sticky hands. If not it would be a nightmare!

And don't say 3 days... I still have all my wrapping & assembling to do.

Julie said...

Mrs F,

Is it okay to eat raw egg whites? I don't have time to find the powdered version.

funderson said...

I say BRILLIANT!
Also, welcome to my world with the snow pants and crap all over. Only it is winter a really really really looooong time in the Rockies.

Mrs Furious said...

julie,
I've been doing it my whole life.
So does Paula Deen if that helps ;)

Mrs Furious said...

funderson,
Yeah I miss the snow... but I do NOT miss all the extra snow crap necessary to go outside.

Jaime said...

Effing hell. As if my "must bake" list wasn't already the length of my arm...now I have to add cake balls! :) Yum.

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