In the kitchen with Katie: Reindeer noses

Before Christmas, I wanted to leave you with one of our most favorite Christmas recipes. It's so delish. Because it combines the sweet of chocolate. With the salty of pretzels. This is the recipe I contemplated for my cookie swap. Until I read the rules of no child helpers. And this is the perfect recipe for child helpers. For the whole family to be helpers. Because it's not only delish. It is super easy.

Here are our ingredients. You can really play with this a lot. And use all kinds of kisses. We used peanut butter kisses. Plain kisses. Caramel kisses. Hugs. And we added rolos, too.

The first order of business is to get the wrappers off all that candy. And hope. And pray. And cross your fingers. That you get back the amount of candy that you expect. You might need to buy extras. Plus a few more. Because sometimes your helpers work with the rule of "one for the bowl. One for me. One more for me. One for the bowl..."

And you might need to put lots of people to work. Like your mom who is indignent that you took her picture when she had her glasses on. And no make up.

Or your brother. Who just thought he was coming over to spend some quality time with his mom. He had no idea that he'd be put to work.

And children. Have to put them to work. And their little friends, too.

Lay out your pretzels on a cookie sheet. We used tiny twists and waffle pretzels.

And then add your candies.Bake at about 200º for 4-6 minutes. You just want the candies soft. Not melted. Just remember if you are using white chocolate. It melts much faster than the darker chocolate. And if you are using peanut butter kisses - they melt even faster than the white chocolate.

As soon as they come out of the oven. You can press in pecans. Or peanut m&ms. Or plain m&ms. Or whatever strikes your fancy.

After you have pressed the candy into the candy. Wait. Was that clear? Clear as mud I'm sure. Anyway. After the candy has been pressed. Into the candy. Put the sheet into the fridge or freezer to help the candy set. Maybe for about 20 minutes. Longer is fine. But you will need that pan for your next batch.

At Christmas time we call these Reindeer noses. At Easter, get some pastel m&ms and call them bunny noses. At Halloween, use the seasonal colors and call them Frankenstein's bolts.

But whatever the season. Whatever the shades. These are delish. And easy. And gone far too quickly!

So...what about you? Do you cook with your kids? Do they have a favorite thing to help with? To eat? Or what about when you were a kid? Did you like to help in the kitchen or cook? Did you have a favorite thing to make?

PS - Did you enter to win? This week's prize is dinner and a movie. Oh, and a DVD of "Love Actually."