Monday November 27 2006 - MMmmmm Chocolate...

We had a wonderful weekend. Each year around this time, I think about making homemade chocolates but each year, I come up with excuses as to why this year just isn't my year to learn and start. But this year, I decided that I'd learn and where else to learn, but from the master chocolate maker herself...my mother in law!!!! She's such a pro at it and after a 3 hour session with her, I have a whole new appreciation for candy making. I have a long long way to go...but I'm pretty pumped about it. My sister joined me and we had fun learning together. I think the nicest thing was that we did it, totally without children around so I found that I had better concentration and could listen to her tips better. So thanks for the great weekend Mom.

What is better than chocolate? MMMmmmmm!!!!

And Brooklyn also discovered Grandma's "special" pantry and managed to wander in whenever she could to sneak some treats.... NIce try Brookie... but NO!!!!

The girls had a blast playing with cousins and just enjoying being at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We also attended a fun musical play that the community put on. Great memories were made for sure. When we returned home, I was still on a "chocolate making high" and we tried our own little batch of fondant after church yesturday. We made "Olympian Cream" fondant. I've never had such a tummy ache over the anxiety of hoping that it would turn out. It was nerve racking!!! We didnt' have a wooden paddle to beat the fondant with but my husband thought that since it was a small batch, he would do it with a wooden spoon. Well, he busted that handle in half and, he eventually switched to his trusted hard spatula (the one I can't stand). I was secretly hoping the whole time that this stupid spatula would break too. I've got my trusted 'ol spatula that works the best... it's white and is thin and bendy so it can slip nicely under anything. Kendalls' favorite flipper is this blue plastic one that is so hard with no give and the flipper is so thick and hard to slide under things without wrecking your pancakes or cookies. Anyway, wouldn't you know, it withstood the beating of the fondant (drat!!!). I'll just have to continue using it as a chissle-ing tool for those things that accidently get burnt on!!! Anyway, long story short, the Olympian Creams worked!!! Oh happy day! So, now just to make the time to dip!! Thanks again Mom for taking the time to teach me.