Christmas tree

Quickie but goodie! butterscotch rice crispy treats colored with green food coloring shaped into a christmas tree wrapped in sour cherry candy rope, big cinnamon gummy bears and about 50 gum drops. a little hard to see but there is a rice crispy star on top.

rice crispy treats:

3 tblspn butter

10oz. marshmallows

6 cups rice krispies cereal

1 cup butterscotch chips

5-10 drops green food coloring

put butter in a pot and cook over low heat.

once butter is melted, add marshmallows and cook down until melted.

add butterscotch chips until they too are mostly melted.

while everything is cooking, put the 6 cups of cereal into a large bowl.

combine all ingredients into large bowl and stir around just until incorporated. before adding food coloring, take out a small hunk of treat, that will be for the star. add green food coloring to the rest if the bowl, incorporate until smooth.

lay a piece of parchment paper on the counter and take out the ball of rice crispy treat.

slowly mold the christmas tree making sure not to pack to tightly otherwise the treat will be to dense.

once the tree is shaped, add decorations however you like! just like a real tree!

take the small hunk you took out, and shape it into as best a star as possible. i like making a disk, leaving it in the fridge for a bit, then cutting the star out. push a tooth pick into the star and place on top of the tree. enjoy!

Strawberry waffles with brown sugar bacon

so not that this is a dessert, but man were these waffles were good, and just in case someone needs a super easy super tasty recipe for breakfast, well... here's one you can use! not to mention a little candied bacon to go with them...

candied bacon:

cook the bacon as regular, but while cooking, just sprinkle a little brown sugar over each piece to add a little flavor and crispiness.

Strawberry waffles

1 3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups buttermilk*

1/3 cup oil

2 eggs

1 cup chopped strawberries

add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. add the rest of the ingredients into the dry mixture. whisk until mixed. make waffles based on instructions of waffle maker. enjoy!

*if you want a sweeter waffle, you can substitute regular milk for buttermilk. use 1 tablespoon baking powder, and omit the baking soda.