How to Make Pretzel M&M's

When I was younger, my mom and I used to bump heads in a major way.  We are VERY much alike and I was an EXTREMELY hardheaded kid.  When we'd get to that point of not really talking, mom would always ask me to help her make pretzel M&M's.  At the time, I had no clue what she was doing but now as an adult I realize that it was a time for us to slow down, do something together, and just talk.  Even if I would go into it begrudgingly, by the end I was little miss chatter bug spilling my heart and mind to my mama.  It worked every time!

Maybe for that very reason, Pretzel M&M's hold a very special place in my heart.  There is something about them that comforts and relaxes me, even on the most hectic of days.  I want to share these with you and maybe you can use them to break down barriers or just have fun with the ones you love. 

(Pretzel M&M's can also be made by yourself...it's just not as fun.)

One of the greatest things about Pretzel M&M's is that you can make them for any holiday!  There are very few holiday's that M&M's don't make a special color combo. 

So, this is what you need:

1. Pretzels

2. M&M's

3. White Chocolate (I use Nestle while chocolate but my mom always used 'baking chocolate'...whatever floats your boat.

Lay your pretzels out on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.  You want them to be flat so make sure there are no overlaps.

You also want to pour your m&m's out next to the cookie sheet so you are ready to go once the chocolate is melted.

Next, prepare the white chocolate.

I use a 1 cup Pyrex measuring cup because the handle makes it easy to hold on to but you can use any microwave save bowl you feel comfortable with.

So, pour your chocolate chips in your cup:

You have to be careful not to burn the chocolate when melting it so just start off with 30 seconds in the microwave.  This is what it looks like afterwards.  Stir.

20 more seconds. stir.

 15 more seconds.  Stir.

Now you are ready to put them together.  Go back to your pretzels and start putting about 1/4 teaspoon of melted chocolate onto each pretzel.  It usually takes me a few to get the hang of how much to use.  If you can resist licking your finger, using your pinkie to push the chocolate off the spoon and spread it makes things a lot easier. 

If you are making these alone, do about 7 or 8 and then go back and put M&M's on the chocolate before it dries.  If you are working with someone, they can just follow behind you.  Make sure to put the M&M's 'M' down.

And this is your final result!

And there you have it!

I hope that you enjoy making and eating these as much as I have.  They really have been a catalyst to many awesome memories.

Make Memories!

Have you heard the new Trace Adkin's song?  If not, take a moment and listen.

When I first heard this song, it brought me to tears.  It reminded me of my childhood and the memories that I have with my family.  Like most children, I remember begging my parents to do everything under the sun KNOWING that it would 'mean' so much!  Well, guess what, I don't remember going to Disney World, I don't remember specifics about snow skiing trips, and I don't remember any of the toys that I had to have.

What I do remember is all of those countless hours my dad spent driving the boat so my brothers and I could tube and water ski at the lake.  I remember singing and dancing in the car with my mom.  I remember my brother and I BELTING out Backstreet Boys and NSYNC on the way to school.  I have so many fond memories of my childhood and very few of them have to do with a whole lot of hoopla.

After hearing this song, it got me thinking about how we are raising our children.  Are we trying to make memories or buy them?  Or are we so wrapped up with our day to day life that we're not even finding time for special moments?

Thankfully, I married a fantastic man who is so eager to share his childhood memories with our kids.  By the time Little P was 15 months, he had already gone on his first overnight camping trip...boys only.  I have LOVED watching him take the kids hiking and camping in the woods behind our house, fishing at the pond down the street, and spending countless hours in the backyard playing basketball and baseball.  He's making memories.

Likewise, during the course of our everyday, its hard for me to remember to make memories and not go from one chore to the next.  Will my kids remember the laundry always being done on time?  No.  Will they remember if their bathroom was always sparking?  Definitely not.  Will they remember that I sang my heart out with them in the car?  Probably. 

By no means am I saying that our daily chores should fall to the wayside, but I am saying that we need to remember that not to get caught up in our brain and forget to see whats in front of us.  So, take a break from the day to day and take the kids into the woods for a hike and a picnic, dress up in a silly costume and have a dance party, or whatever your kids' little heart desires.  After all, they only stay this little for a day.  Tomorrow they will be just a little bit bigger...