The Perfect Treat for Any Holiday: Sparkling Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

My favorite thing about these is how festive they are.  It's such an easy way to turn a generic snack into something exciting.  (Note how I found a way to add "sparkling" into the title!  Isn't anything that sparkles 10 times more exciting than something that doesn't?)  :)  

I feel like I am always in need of something quick to bring whenever we are invited to someone's house.  Jon and I usually bring a bottle of wine, but there is something so personable about actually making something for your host - whether it is an edible treat, or even something else they can enjoy.  (Side note - a friend of mine recently brought me homemade lipgloss - how nice is that!)  I also have a tutorial for some easy DIY Wine Charms which would be another great host gift!  

This quick treat is simple enough to whip up on a whim, and is unique enough to set you apart from anyone else bringing the usual bottle of wine.  I made these for a St. Patricks Day get together at my cousins house - hence the green - but you can make them festive for any occasion by changing the color of the sprinkles.

Ingredients:

Meltable white chocolate 

Pretzels 

Colored sprinkles

Parchment paper 

THAT'S ALL!

Instructions:

Melt the white chocolate - you can use a double boiler or the microwave.  I used the double boiler method the first time I did these, and a bit of the steam got into the chocolate and it seized up on me... TWICE.  I didn't even know chocolate could do that!  I used the microwave after that and it was much easier…even though I had to go out buy more chocolate unexpectedly…  it happens, right?

Dip half of the pretzel into the melted chocolate, and gently shake the excess away.  Scrape one side of the pretzel against the side of the bowl so you will be able to lay the clean side down on the parchment paper.  Holding the chocolate dipped pretzel over a bowl, sprinkle a generous amount of sprinkles over the melted chocolate until well coated.  Lay on the parchment paper to harden, clean side down.

You can also try using different kinds of sprinkles to liven these up even more - multicolor, perhaps?  Different shapes?  The sky is the limit!

Inspiration:  Love From the Oven

The Gold at the End of Your Rainbow - Easy DIY St. Patrick's Day Postcards

I tell you what - there are times when I look at the things I make and wonder why I am a childless 28 year old coming up with crafts that would obviously be better suited for children.  (For the record, I am not planning on or hoping to have children anytime soon!)  I suppose one could make the subconscious biological clock argument, but in any case, I spent an afternoon this weekend making these watercolor St. Patrick's Day postcards - complete with a chocolate coin favor.  :)  (I very much enjoy including a small favor along with a simple card sentiment!)

I thought they were fun, and yes, if you have kids this would be something easy for them to make.  I think the picture is pretty self explanatory, but in the vein of all DIY blog posts, my instructions are below!  

Materials:

• I used the Avery 4-per-sheet textured postcards that I have blogged about before - you can get them on Amazon.  They make your life so much easier, and are great with watercolor paints!  
• Watercolor paints
• Chocolate Coins (I got mine at our local Cost Plus World Market.)

Instructions:

Take your postcards (or regular paper), and paint a rainbow on each.  I put one of the coins in the bottom corner when I was doing this so I could see how the rainbow would turn out.  You can probably paint your rainbow any way you like!

I waited until AFTER I had painted the watercolor rainbows (and they had dried completely) before actually printing the "You're the Gold at the End of My Rainbow!" sentiment on them.  This is because the printer ink and bleed a little bit when you paint watercolors over them.  It turned out much better this way!

I used regular tape to tape the chocolate coins in the bottom corner of the cards.  Boom!  You can write on the back to give out and/or mail them to others.  I thought they were a fun way to wish someone Happy St. Patrick's Day, along with a sweet treat!  Enjoy - don't get pinched today!  

Lucky You! 7 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a lot of fun.  It's a good excuse to dye random foods green, give out colorful candy and blame unfortunate happenings on those pesky leprechauns.  The last few years, my cousin has had some of us over for some Guinness and corned beef - it's a good time!  This coming Monday, that is where you'll find me!  If you aren't sure how to take advantage of this random holiday, I've collected a few ideas I've found around the internet that I thought were fun.  If I had kids, unlimited resources or tons of time on my hands I think I'd do all of them.  As this is not the case, I hope you might enjoy one or two of them!  (Follow the links below to get the instructions/recipes, and/or to pin the images.)  

1.  Make some Rainbow Fudge to give out at work or school.

Source:  Lemon Tree Dwelling

2.  Have some friends over and make your own Irish Coffee.  (Just like at the famous Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco!)

Source:  YumSugar.com

3.  Give out green bracelets to save your friends or coworkers from a friendly pinch… :)

Source:  Living Locurto

4.  Kick back and enjoy a Green Leprechaun cocktail.

Source:  Celebrations at Home Blog

5.  Make some easy rainbow candy packs to give away to friends.

Source:  Love & Sugar Kisses

6.  Print out a free printable and display it at your desk for some extra luck.  

Source:  Mom 4 Real

7.  Serve a traditional Irish Dinner of Guinness, Corned Beef and Cabbage.  Yumm!

Source:  Tammilee Tips

Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day! 

*~*~*