Making Buckeyes

This morning I adhered to a very important part of my training schedule: the rest day. Lately, I've been happily running and/or weight lifting 5 days in a row, only to wake up on that 6th day and feel like I'd been run over by a train.

Working out 5 days in a row takes me two days to recover. And while I enjoy going 5 days straight, I do NOT like going two days without getting my sweat on! The solution? Strategically placed rest days here and there. It's important to listen to your body, afterall.

Since I have no run to report on, I thought I'd share a Christmas tradition with you all- buckeyes!

Buckeyes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Every Christmas, my Grandmother would mail us a goodie box full of candy, cookies, and gifts. My favorite item in her box were her buckeyes. When I got to Ohio State and was told their mascot was a buckeye, I thought to myself, "why would a school chose a candy as a mascot?" I had no idea that buckeyes were actually (poisonous) nuts. I just thought they were candy my grandmother made each year!

Ingredients (yields 6 dozen)

1 1/2 sticks margarine, room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 pound powdered sugar
8 oz milk chocolate chips
1/5 bar paraffin wax (can be found in baking isle)


Instructions

• Mix margarine, peanut butter, and powdered sugar in large bowl until a thick "dough" forms. Roll into firm balls. If they break apart easily, add more peanut butter. If the 'dough' is too sticky, add more powdered sugar.
• Melt chocolate chips and paraffin wax shavings in a double-boiler until melted and blended.
  
• Using a toothpick, dip each ball into the melted chocolate, covering it about halfway.
• Place each buckeye on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
• Refrigerate buckeyes for 30 minutes.

Tips: You can make these without using paraffin wax, but the chocolate wont be as shiny. You can also make your own 'double boiler' by placing a small saucepan inside a larger one filled with a few inches of water.

Also, giving an empty jar of peanut butter to a dog leads to hours upon hours of entertainment. Both for you and the dog. Unfortunately, the peanut butter jar doesn't fair as well.

What's your favorite holiday treat?