Chocolate-frosted marshmallows/fruit on a stick

Your kids will enjoy helping with this recipe - and they'll be more than happy to eat the product of their labors afterwards. This is a great item for a kids' Christmas party, as well.

Ingredients:

15-20 large marshmallows
6 oz. semisweet chocolate
red and green sugars
waxed paper
toothpicks
cookie sheet or platter

Preparation:

Place a piece of waxed paper on cookie sheet or platter. Stick a toothpick into each marshmallow.

Heat the chocolate in a double boiler (or a smaller saucepan placed inside a larger saucepan of water if you don't have a double boiler) until melted. Take each marshmallow by the stick and dip in chocolate. Then pass it off to a kid who will then thoroughly roll it in red or green sugar.

Put the marshmallows on the cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for about 4 hours.

Sliced bananas or other fruit of your choice may be substituted for the marshmallows.

Chocolate Christmas Punch

A non-alcohol punch great for the kids - but an adult might want to add a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream in their cup--

Chocolate Punch

INGREDIENTS:

• (4) 1-oz. sq semisweet chocolate

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 cups hot water

• 2 qts. milk

• 1-1/2 t. vanilla extract

• 1 qt. vanilla ice cream

• 1 qt. club soda

• 1/2 pint heavy cream, whipped

• Ground cinnamon

PREPARATION:

In a large saucepan combine chocolate and sugar with the hot water. Bring to a boil, stirring for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and add milk. Beat in vanilla with a rotary egg beater or whisker. Remove from heat.

Chill, then pour into a punch bowl over the ice cream, and add the club soda.

Top with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon.

Yield: 12 servings.