December 20, 2013

Peppermint Saltine Toffee Bark

Pin It!
This time of year, it's so easy to get caught up in making things perfect.  There are all these expectations about food and decorations and traditions - and it can get overwhelming.



I've realized how easy it is to make blogs a highlight reel. I don't want this to be so realistic it's painful, but I do want to seem like a real person, not a manican with a perfect life. My food doesn't always turn out. I don't always get in my run. I don't always look cute.  I know you know that, but I always try to post the good stuff. I know when I read some people's blog, I think "yeah right, you're that perfect."  I'm sorry, but there is no husband like that, ma'am ... Arguments are part of life and you have to argue at some time!  But I digress. 

So these next couple paragraphs are some things I've been thinking about that aren't necessarily highlight reel worthy.  We'll see how this goes ;)
I don't think we get Christmas. We get the tastes of peppermint and eggnog, we manage the money for gifts and presenters, we analyze the lights and ornaments, but we miss the joy. We get the idea if instant gratification, but we miss the fulfillment of contentment. 

I won't lie, I've felt pretty out of the loop. We just decorated our tree, I just put snowflakes in my room, I haven't poured over the Christmas books like I used to, and I haven't baked with any holiday candies this year - at all.  There is a part of me that screams I'm ruining the Christmas spirit by my poor follow through on traditions. The moment when I realized Christmas was a week away and we have no snow. Do you know how disappointing that is?  

But the worst feeling?  When I no longer get the butterfly stomach and absolute impatience that I always used to have.  I would wait at the window until family arrived.  I would have a countdown. I felt like I would burst I was so excited.  Am I losing my Christmas spirit?!  Is this part of growing up?!  Why is it like this?!  

That childhood innocence is fading and I miss it. I lost the freedom to dream unrealistically and to be confident in those dreams. When I let myself be more concerned with appearance and reputation, I put relationships and activities second. Christmas is not about impressing family, it's about enjoying family.  Sometimes, enjoying family means half lit trees and toll house cookies. That's okay. That's more than okay. 

We did a devotional about how it is important to have schedules, but we need to let some things just go.  Schedules are to be our guides, not our masters.  I tend to be mastered by my schedule and I realized a lot of my disappointment about Christmas were because I was tied to the "schedule."  I knew Christmas was about family and not location or tradition, but this year, I'll get to live it out.  My cousin, Gracie, broke her growth plate in her foot and will not be able to come up this year - at all.  We might go down, we might not, but either way, Christmas will not be what I was expecting - at all.  And it isn't super fun.  For me, Christmas is about the relationship with Gracie.  The snow forts, the snow ball fights, the make up sessions, the late night talks in our spare room; and that won't happen this year.  But I want to go in with an attitude of gratefulness, because that schedule in my head?  Things won't be as fun if I let it be my master.  Christmas will be special, just in a different way, if I enjoy Christmas for what it is, not what I think it should be. 

Also, speaking of Gracie, here is a pic of the magnet board I made her.  Not going to lie, I really like how it turned out.



But with every rainbow there is a storm ... I accidentally ruined my Vanity jeans with the black magnet paint.  Long story short, I wasn't painting in them, but the paint got on them.  It was sad. :(  Oh well, it could've been worse!  I just painted the whole thing several times with magnetic primer and then, using painter's tape, painted the stripes on.

And lastly, sorry I haven't been able to comment back or on your blogs - our Internet has been down until this morning (apparently, but I bet it will quit as soon as I hit publish;)  But, if the Internet had been up, I probably wouldn't have gotten the snowflakes hung in my room.

Gosh, I haven't even talked about the bark.  It's really good, can we just say that?  I've seen the white chocolate/peppermint combo EVERYWHERE and I decided I would jump on the bandwagon, too.  Have you ever had saltine toffee?  It is absolutely incredible.  I just subbed white chocolate chips for the regular chocolate ones and then used crumbed candy canes instead of toffee.  The batch I brought to a party?  It was gone. 

Peppermint Saltine Toffee Bark
Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life

40 saltines
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup crushed candy canes

Line a 15x10x2 pan with foil.  Arrange the 40 saltines over it, so none are overlapping.  In a small pot, melt butter.  Add sugar and stir for 3-4 minutes, until bubbly and slightly thickened.  Pour over saltines.  Bake for 9 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with white chocolate chips.  Chips will begin to melt, spread them out over the saltines.  Sprinkle candy canes are top.  Let cool for an hour and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  Enjoy!

27 comments:

  1. I love when bloggers keep it real. Try not to overthink things and focus on the good. I'm not always the best at this and have my own set of issues I'm trying to tackle but when you zoom out life is really not so bad for either of us. You are such a sweet girl and your family is so lucky to have you and you them. Try to remember that beautiful :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are your own set of inspiration Davida! :) Thank you for your sweet words. I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season! xx

      Delete
  2. Ok so one of the reasons why I love your blog is that you are so freaking real!! And a great writer too (just saying). I love this post and I am so happy you are thinking of all these things. But try not to think too much about what you are missing out on and try to enjoy the holidays. Time is especially moving so fast this month but once the family arrives next week, it will all slow down. I always look forward and count down to when my family is coming to town despite being almost 30. It will never go away!! I hope you have a great Christmas season and countinue to count your many blessings :)
    PS: I love peppermint and white chocolate. This bark can be so addicting, I can tell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, thank you so much! You're comments always brighten my day, always, and I thank you Zainab! Have a wonderful Christmas!

      Delete
  3. Def one of my favorite posts from you, girly. I agree with the other comments, I'm so glad you were willing to be real! The magnet board you made her is absolutely adorable. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, that means a lot Chloe! Thank you so much and Merry Christmas, sweet friend!

      Delete
  4. You expressed so many feelings I've shared leading up to the holidays. I love the honesty of this post, and I hope on Christmas Eve, a few of those butterflies find you again :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are awesome Erin! Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you, too!

      Delete
  5. Dear Mary Francis, These things happen to us all. Things don't always go as expected. As the song goes in the movie "White Christmas", Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep". It is very true. Enjoy your family and keep everyone in your prayers. Cherish each moment.

    The Saltine Candy sounds like an excellent combination.

    Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. xo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Count your blessings ... something so simple, yet so hard. Thank you for the reminder; its going on my quote board now! Thank you, Catherine. Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  6. Mary Frances, You hit the nail on the head...you've opened my heart and eyes to something- the truth.

    When I started blogging, I think the underlying reason was because I was at point in my life where I didn't know who I was...I was lost...lost in life and the daily routines...I lost sight of my dreams, my desires...and lost my confidence as well. I thought blogging would help pull me from that. Like I could recreate myself...I could put up this front of what I wanted people to see and believe when they read my posts and saw my food. I used it to hide the real me because I felt less than. I wanted to be that perfect person that we sometimes live vicariously through.

    But after a while, I lost my interest because there was no fulfillment. I wasn't blogging for enjoyment or to share my interests...I was blogging to pretend to be someone else. And I feel like you now. Equally disappointment because all that perfection that we strive for doesn't exist. Nothing is perfect. Nothing will go exactly the way we plan or wish to be...sometimes though, when we accept that fact and leave it the hands of God, it all falls into place and comes out better than we ever expected.

    Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your thoughts, because you spoke straight to my heart. I worry much too much about what people think of me and I have let that lack of confidence and fear take the joys out of special moments of life...or rather, what should have been special moments in my life. But I will try not to let the holidays be a time of sadness...things aren't the way I wished they could be either. I pictured this Christmas so differently, but I'm blessed to have it and to be able to celebrate with my mom and brother and in good health.

    I pray you and yours have a beautiful and merry Christmas. I have found so much joy in reading your blog and hope that in the coming year as bloggers we can all grow closer together and inspire one another as we have thus far.

    God bless my dear friend and I hope your cousin gets well soon. I love the magnet you made for her.

    Warm Hugs,
    Tammy<3

    P.S.
    The bark looks delicious and festive ;)

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your honesty Tammy! You are such a sweet blog friend. I hope we both can let go of fear and truly enjoy Christmas with family. I hope I can read one of your posts soon ... I have enjoyed you very much, girl! xx

      Delete
  7. Hi Mary Frances! Thanks for expressing what you really feel inside, because it's great to read about the real blogger behind the blog. I've been feeling like that lately too, and it's definitely helpful to know that some people feel like that as well.
    Try to enjoy Christmas as much as possible. Don't focus on what you lack, but on what you have... Your parents, siblings, loved ones... They love you and I'm sure they'll make these days incredibly awesome for you all!
    I really really really hope you have such a wonderful holiday! And I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers your way for your cousin to get better soon! xo
    p.s: the bark looks delicious! I'd love to try saltine toffee :--)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Consuelo! Your comment, your prayers - they all mean so much! Have a wonderful Christmas! xx

      Delete
  8. Great post Mary Frances! I also like your 'realness' and your posts are always so fun to read! Funny story about the bark:This morning Jack came up while I was looking at this and was like, "Who made that peppermint stuff at the party the other night? I don't even want to know what's in it, but that was really good." Sorry, cross country made him a health freak.:) I agree with him, too. It was great.:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, that made my morning! :) We're all better off not knowing the ingredients in this! I'm so glad you all enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting, Anna, and Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  9. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of peppermint (I know, I'm crazy), but I've always loved how it looks! So pretty and undeniably festive.
    Christmas spirit always seems to be stronger towards the beginning of December, just as holiday decorations start to get put up and Thanksgiving is officially over. I've found that in the past years, the actual week of Christmas never really feels festive because of all the craziness of holiday travelling and logistics. Still, it's always special in one way or another in the end. Don't worry too much about breaking the schedules. Sometimes the best memories are born from spontaneity and compromise, and none of us have much control in the grand scheme of things after all! Consider it a lifted burden :) Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My dad is slowly teaching me that spontaneity is not bad ... and I'm so excited for family, not schedules to be most important. Thank you for how genuine and encouraging you are, Irina! Have a Merry Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  10. Peppermint bark is a big weakness and favorite of mine, it's something I can dangerously keep eating! Your recipe looks amazing Mary Frances! Sending you big hugs on your sincere post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is now a weakness of mine, too. Thanks Pamela! Sending hugs back this Christmas!

      Delete
  11. This was such a beautiful post, Mary Frances. So perfectly written and definitely true to the season. I agree, sometimes I don't like this whole growing up thing and not having the same excitement about the holidays but then I realize that Christmas is about family. Thank you for being so real, it's so refreshing! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas, enjoy it! :)

    Also, the bark AMAZING. I can only imagine how addictive it is!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ally, your comment is just as pretty to me. :) Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  12. Is it white sugar or brown sugar?? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used white sugar, but brown sugar would work in a pinch, the toffee would just be darker. Sorry about that! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!

      Delete
  13. Thank you so much for your honesty Tammy! You are such a sweet blog friend. I hope we both can let go of fear and truly enjoy Christmas with family. I hope I can read one of your posts soon ... I have enjoyed you very much, girl! xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love hearing about "Life Happening" with other bloggers- love the times when I don't edit those thoughts out, whether my readers appreciate them or not-

    Saltines and Chocolate- my kind of treat!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Okay...I'm just now getting back into the world of internet after being sick for a whole week, and I can't believe I missed this! I've never tried Saltine Toffee before, but holy shmoly, these look good! :) I can't wait to make some of this!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! Your comments make my day!

DMCA.com Protection