Gift Boxes

As usual I agonized over what to get my girls nursery teachers for Christmas.  Some people say give a teacher a small something, others say not to bother, as they are just doing their job.  Well it is a job I couldn't or wouldn't want to do, so I like to show my appreciation,  Here is what the girls (age 4) and I came up with.

First we bought 4 plain plastic food containers.  Then after a trip to Poundstretcher (like a Dollar Store) I came away with some plastic bow ornaments (.99p for two) and some gift tags (.99p for 30).  With the help of my hot glue gun I glued a ribbon ornament onto each box.

Then we made up a list of baked goods to fill the boxes with, and set about making them.

First was peppermint bark (though I think I'll change the name to peppermint rounds).  I melted a 200g bar of dark chocolate and put a heaping teaspoon into each cup in a mini-cupcake tray (silicone is a must or they won't pop out, but you can use mini cupcake papers as well).  Then we let it cool until it was hard.  You can put it in the freezer if you want.  Next I melted a 200g bar of white chocolate with a bit of canola oil (keeps it from clumping) and the girls filled the cups this time.

While I was melting chocolate Isla and Rori had a great time smashing a couple of candy canes to bits.  I recommend a ziplock and rolling pin, however it was still messy.  Then they sprinkled the crushed up candy on top of the melted white chocolate.  We let them cool until they were hard, then popped them out and viola!  Some will go into the tupperware, and the rest are going to be bundled up in plastic wrap for the other staff at the nursery. 

I know, they look messy, right?  But they pop out clean and lovely.  We also made a few in mini-cupcake papers.

After that it was time to make fudge.  Using a recipe I found online I combined 765g of chocolate.  I used 200g milk chocolate and the rest dark chocolate.  To that I added 55g butter and 14oz condensed milk.  I melted everything on the stove and then poured into an 8x8 in pan.  I sprayed the pan with oil, then I lined it with foil and sprayed the foil with oil.  Then I put it in the fridge and crossed my fingers.  I've never made fudge before......

 It tastes great! 

While we were on a roll, we made candy cane reindeer.  A couple of pipe cleaners, some beads, pom-poms, a hot glue gun, and a lot of fun!

The gift boxes are for each of my girls teachers, but I also wanted to make the rest of the staff (there are 10 in total) a little something too.  So we took three of the chocolate peppermints, and wrapped them up in cling wrap, and tied them with a ribbon.  Then we added the reindeer and a gift tag.  I think they are nice, unique, edible, and made by the girls!

The very last thing needed were cookies!  We made two different kinds, cranberry white chocolate chip, and soft ginger snaps.

 I used this recipe White-Chocolate-Macadamia-Cranberry-Dreams
minus the macadamia nuts.

 And this recipe Soft Gingernsnaps

After they were done, we were ready to get the boxes filled and delivered!

Some went on plates (for the neighbours)

Some went in the tupperware

Finished present