I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Archives for December 13, 2012

December Daily 2012- days 1 thru 10

DecDaily2012_cover

Here we go again!

Well, last year I had the best intentions for sticking with my December Daily but stopped when I dropped  my Instax Camera in NYC a third of the way through the month. I could have kept going but I wanted to use just the Instax pics for the album and I was super bummed. I liked the look and I liked that it was instant so there is no excuse not to keep up since I didn’t have to worry about printing. Well, then I went and broke the camera and hit a road block. I might go back and just print out pics for the rest of the month incluing the srory about breaking my camera- hense the switch in picture styles, which will forever drive me crazy.

So I got another Instax and have let to break it so the month is going along smoothly. Well, I did drop it at our Christmas Party this past thursday and it’s still kicking so here’s hoping it lasts for the rest of the month and beyond. (But really, what the hell is wrong with me cropping cameras?!) I really love the quirky camera and the pictures from it so I love having the album of just these pictures.

  DecDaily2012_day 1a DecDaily2012_day 1b

-Day 1-

DecDaily2012_day 2

-Day 2-

I am trying to keep things pretty simple with my December Daily by keeping the embellishments minimal. I purchased the DecDaily kit that Kelly Purkey created so I am using all of the papers in the kit, plus a few other solids since I want to continue on past xmas for the whole month. Her kit inlcuded a stamp set, some buttons (2012 on the cover), gold doilies and some alpha stickers. To that I am using lots of washi and some of other embellishments I keep around for winter themed scrapbooking.

 DecDaily2012_day 3a DecDaily2012_day 3b

– Day 3-

DecDaily2012_day 4a DecDaily2012_day 4b

-Day 4-

DecDaily2012_day 5

– Day 5-

This page is boring to me, maybe I’ll add to it or maybe I’ll forget about it. ha

DecDaily2012_day 6

– Day 6-

DecDaily2012_day 7

– Day 7-

DecDaily2012_day 8

-Day 8-

I really am jealous of the people that have really beautiful December Daily albums that are loaded with photos, notes, embellishments, and all that jazz but I have to just enjoy that mine is all mine and I am doing things my way, at my pace. If I were to try to tackle more I wouldn’t be done with page 1 so I am savorying that I am 1 third of the way through and I am still enthuastic about it.

DecDaily2012_day 9

-Day 9-

DecDaily2012_day 10

-Day 10-

I can’t wait to keep going through the rest of the month. I am really enjoying my December Daily photos and the album. So much fun!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls

Amanda picked peppermint for this week’s theme Thirsty Thursday. I honestly can’t stand peppermint outside of the holidays. However, from the day after Thanksgiving to New Years it is full on peppermint explosion. But then nope, not happening at all (with the ice cream exception)!!! So bare with all of my minty recipes now, including this recipe for Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_01 Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_02

When I was younger I would take Godiva hot chocolate truffles and put them into cups of hot milk and stir like crazy so melty ribbons of chocolate would swirl around the cup before I would take a big gulp. It was my favorite thing to do at my dad’s house at the holidays. Since I made a hot chocolate mix last week I figured I would make a hot chocolate truffle for this week to transport me back in time.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_03 Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_04

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_05 Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls_06

While you can make these hot chocolate truffle balls like me with peppermint extract and Andes Peppermint Mint Chips on the outside, you can make them in a variety of ways.

  • A plain truffle would be nice with a sugar and cocoa powder mixture on the outside.
  • A truffle with some cinnamon extract and a cinnamon and cayenne mixture on the outside for a Mexican hot chocolate.
  • Use a orange, hazelnut, or raspberry extract without coating. Really the flavor possibilities are endless!!

I hope that you enjoy my Hot Chocolate Truffles as well as Amanda’s Peppermint White Hot Chocolate. The peppermint and chocolate combination is such a hit that we both featured the peppermint in hot chocolates, but in very fun, very different ways.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls

Makes 12 truffles

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • Andes Peppermint Crunch Chips

Process

  1. In a heavy bottom sauce pan or in a double boiler, melt the chocolate, cream, sugar, and salt together on low heat. Whisk consistently until smooth. Add the peppermint extract prior to removing from heat.
  2. Let the chocolate cool to room temperature and then put into the refrigerator to completely chill.
  3. Once solid, scope out into 12 truffle balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Chill again for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Roll the chocolate into balls, then chill again until completely solid and formed.
  5. Push the Andes mint chips into the surface of the ball. Stone in the refrigerator for 1 week.
  6. Enjoy your hot chocolate truffle with 8 ounces of hot milk. Drop the truffle in and stir until the ball has melted.