Simple Gifts

A couple of days before I had to fly home to surprise my mama for Christmas, I found out that all of the paralegals (the three other girls to be exact) had given cards to their attorneys for the holidays.  Again, something that I wasn't taught at Princeton-embracing the holiday spirit (I hold the fact that I was forced to cram for exams over Christmas and New Year's Eve completely accountable).  In any event I did not want to be the only girl paralegal who did not do something for her attorneys.  At the same time I wanted to do something more original than a holiday card (not that there is anything wrong with doing a holiday card, but since the other girls had already done the cards it seemed best not to advertise the fact that I had done my holiday gifts last minute on accident).  The solution was simple: my mom's pretzel rods.  The deliciously divine combination of salty pretzels combined with the sugary chewy caramel topped with melted milk chocolate and crunchy toffee bits have always been a winning combination for me in the past, and came through in the clutch for me yet again.  If reading that description makes you think that it can't get any better, well it can.  The recipe is so simple!  All that you need to do is melt down caramel in a microwaveable bowl (which proves to be the greatest nuisance of the whole process because you have to constantly reheat it as it cools and gradually hardens).  Once the caramel melts dip the pretzel rods in the caramel, then roll the caramel topped rod in crushed toffee bits so that the caramel is completely coated.  Set aside to cool until you have finished all the other pretzels.  Next melt the milk chocolate chips (I prefer Ghirardelli) in a plastic bag in the microwave.  Cut one tip of the bag off with scissors and leave over night to dry.  Enjoy!