Every year for the last six or seven ( we can’t remember exactly when we started😳) my cousin, sister-in-law and myself have gotten together to make candy for Christmas gifts. The last three years my daughter has joined us also! 

 We have been doing it long enough now that we kind of have it down to a science! Although over the years some of the candy we make has changed out of necessity due to dietary restrictions we still manage to make A LOT! My Sister-in-law is in charge of the candied nuts, she has done it enough that she can tell by the way they look if they are done or not! I make the carmels and help mix up whatever truffle(s) we are making.  My cousin does a lot of the ‘balling’ of the truffle filling. My daughter helps out with whatever is needed. Then once everything has been balled up and chilled we all begin the chocolate dipping. It’s not really that easy to make them pretty but after a few we usually get in a groove and do a pretty good job if I do say so myself! This year we made 200 bourbon balls, 60 peppermint patties, 100 salted caramels, 3 pounds of dark chocolate bark and 10 pounds of candied nuts. It takes all day and we only stop when the balls are chilling to have lunch. Then after its all done we celebrate with a glass of wine before we start counting up everything and dividing them up between us so we can box them up for gifts.

 My co- workers love when I have candy day because they always know I will be bringing in all the rejects. Those are the ones that didn’t turn out so pretty but taste just as good😉

It’s hard work but we enjoy the time together. We don’t get together as often as we’d like but are glad we continue to do this each year. It may change over time to something a little healthier but it’s more about the tradition of spending a day together and having fun!