Christmas toffee

When i was a teenager, i worked at a little country resturant called Stoggy Hollow ( in Woodstock CT). i spent a good 8 years waitressing, baking and cooking there. In those 8 years i made some life long friends. My former boss, Carol, is still one of those dear friends. Every year around Christmas, Carol would make tons of this toffee and package it up in attractive tins to sell. Every year i got yelled at for eatting what i was suppose to be packaging. Finally, a few years before the business sold, Carol gave me the recipe. Now i make this toffee every year, and think of her every time.

Christmas Toffee

2 sticks butter

1 cp sugar

1 tbsp light corn syrup

1 tbsp water

1 large bag sliced almonds

1 large Hershey chocolate bar, shredded

Mix first four ingredients over medium heat. stir occasionally. Using a candy thermometer, stirring occasionally, wait for the temp to be just under 300 degrees. This is just below the hard crack level.

while the toffee is cooking, butter a cookie sheet and top with almonds then chocolate. When toffee is done, pour over the almonds and chocolate. Immediatly cover the bare side of toffee with chocolate then almonds. Allow to refridgerate for atleast an hour before cracking into pieces.

Gingerbread cookies

Christmas traditions start with gingerbread cookies. My gingerbread cookie recipe is borrowed from my friend Dawn, who makes the most amazing gingerbread you will eat. Every year she would bake some and bring them into work for us to enjoy. Thankyou Dawn, for giving me a new tradition to share with my kids.

Gingerbread Cookies

3 cps flour

3/4 cp dark brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

12 tbsp softened butter

3/4 cp molasses

2 tbsp buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

combine all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. in your mixer combine butter and sugar til fluffy. add egg and vanilla and mix. add buttermilk and mix well. alternatly add dry mix and molasses. mix til soft dough forms. make two balls out of the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for atleast 4 hours. roll out til 1/4 inch thickness. bake at 350 for 9 mins

Healthy eats basket

Theres a really great cafe that opened in the center of my little town in Eastford CT. The owners of Corriander, were nice enough to allow me to sell a few of my crochet foods. So i went down with an arm full of doughnuts, cupcakes, and a few dolls. But then i got home and thought, maybe i should create something extra special to display there. So over the past two weeks, in between customs, i created a few new items and threw them all in a very cool basket.

I have featured my carrots, eggplant, and strawberries in my farmers market sets. With this basket i wanted to add a few new items, so i came up with a pear, apple, and a couple large portabella style mushrooms. In my Farmers Market set, theres a half dozen of white eggs, which i didnt want in this set. So i took out them and added the other new items in place of them. All displayed in a cotten crochet basket.

Im really excited about this set, and i think Corrianders people will think its something unique as well.

Big toy stocking November 18th!

getting ready for Christmas shoppers! Im doing a pretty big toy/playfood stocking at my personal cart on November 18th. I have a little of everything, in all colors. I was really inspired by rainbows this stocking.

www.hyenacart.com/jodysdesigns

Be on the lookout for Wonderland Congos Stocking stuffer stocking. The first week of December, me and the other vendors will be stocking small wonderful items. I plan to stock alot of little elephants, and maybe some reindeer poop! Wouldnt be xmas without the reindeer poop! Be on the lookout for that stocking.

www.hyenacart.com/wonderland

lets not forget Black friday is approaching.The ladies of Mainstreet Congo will be stocking crazy sales, auctions, lottos. So make sure you sit by your computer and stalk!]

www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet

Home Grown Familie/ Polar Bear Creations

One of my Mainstreet Congo mates, Sue of Polar Bear Creations, was reviewed by the Home Grown Families Blog! Showing my excitement and support for her, as well as entering the blogs giveaway, i am posting a bit to help out!

to check out the giveaway/review, check out the link here:

www.homegrownfamilies.blogspot.com

there are several ways to enter the giveaway. you can fan her page, her blog, etc. i recommend giving it a shot, cause Sues dolls are worth the effort. We own one of Sues mini babies,and have bought a second for my niece. Sue puts alot of love into the dolls, and is dedicated to the homemade toy movement! Sue can be found at

www.polarbearcreations.com

www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet

Time to make the doughnuts!

My kids scream for doughnuts on the weekends! They call them "do dos!" So of course i had to crochet some! Im listing sprinkles and frosted doughnuts on my big stocking November 18th. This is a new playfood to my growing menu, that im hoping will be a hit!

A rainbow of colors!

With the seasons changing, i have found inspiration everywhere! The leaves on the trees are a brilliant display of a whole rainbow of colors. Its the perfect time of year for a nice walk, and pumpkin picking!

With the rainbow inspiration, i have decided to stock my personal cart with colorful items. With the holiday shopping season lurking, i know some moms are already thinking ahead. So, to make it easy for them, i am going to do a nice big stocking of my finest goodies and some new items.

Pictured here is a small tease of what i will be stocking on November 18th. These are my magic mushrooms in rainbow. The mushrooms are perfect for play kitchens or pretend play. My children love them for throwing at each other, lol..

To see when im stocking, and where in November, please visit Jodys Designs facebook page. Look under notes for the whole list.