Peanut Butter Balls & Christmas

And so it begins.  Blair walked in the door last night laden with holiday food prepared by co-workers.  Hallelujah!  I live for the holiday cookies that get sent our way.  One woman who's worked with Blair for years makes especially delicious fare. This year she sent home with Blair a big tin of decorated sugar cookies, chocolate cookies and--my favorite--chocolate covered peanut butter balls.  Saint that she is, she even used crunchy peanut butter and a dash of coconut in them.  I had 3 for breakfast this morning.

The story of the peanut butter balls is amusing.  Last year, the Christmas tin from her didn't include them.

"What the hell?" I asked Blair, prying open the tin.  "Where are my peanut butter balls?"

"Maybe she just didn't have time this year," he said.

"Fire her," I said.  "No, wait.  Threaten to fire her unless she makes us some peanut butter balls."

"I will do no such thing," he said.  "You're insane.  Just eat a sugar cookie and shut up."

I grumbled, but let it go.  Until around Thanksgiving of this year when this co-worker invited us to a bonfire at her home.  We arrived and I didn't even bother with the small talk before pouncing.

"So what's the deal with the peanut butter balls?" I asked.  "Can I be expecting them this year or what?"  Blair went eight  shades of red but hey, I was on a mission.  She makes really, really tasty peanut butter balls.  So needless to say, I am an extremely happy camper this year.

We also received some excellent peanut brittle and a box of chocolate truffles.  And our new next door neighbors dropped by last night with a gift bag containing the most gorgeous apples dipped in milk chocolate, drizzled with white chocolate, with walnuts attached.  They were almost too pretty to eat. (Almost.  Mmmmm.  Tasty!)

I expect to be on a massive sugar high now until the end of the month and will feel no guilt at all.  It would be rude not to eat the lovely food people prepared for us.  Happy sugary holidays to all.