Candy is not just for Christmas - One of my family favorites

Leah here. We have some friends coming over this weekend and I was trying to think of something sweet to serve after dinner. Peanut butter balls popped into my head. 

Super sweet and creamy. A little salty from the peanut butter but sweet from the melted chocolate. I only get them once a year at Christmas. That's when my Memo, my dad's mom, or my aunt make and bring these peanut butter balls. We stuff ourselves with candy because for some reason, many of the recipes only come out at the end of the year. What's up with that? A few years back I asked my Memo for the recipe and she hand wrote it along with a few of my other favorites. So special! 

It starts with peanut butter of course. And then some crushed graham crackers. 

Some finely chopped pecans....you could chop and crush in a food processor but my kiddo was asleep so here I am bashing and chopping the old fashion way.

I few more sweet ingredients. Roll. Dip. And while these never taste exactly the way my Memo and aunt make them, they're still a delicious reminder of happy holiday memories and a recipe I plan to pull out more often.

Oh, you thought I'd give away my grandmother's peanut butter ball recipe!? No way! But here are a few more candy recipes often limited to holidays that I want to try any month of the year. 

photo via Better Homes and Gardens

I love toffee but have never made if for myself. This recipe for Terrific Toffee from Better Homes and Gardens with white and milk chocolate chips looks totally snackable. 

photo via Gimme Some Oven 

Have you ever had birds nests or haystacks? Crunchy chow mein noodles covered in melted butterscotch chips. SOOO good. Again, I've never made them but love to eat them. So glad my mother-in-law makes them for holidays. With just three or four ingredients they could be a quick snack to take to a get together. This recipe from Gimme Some Oven includes mini marshmallows. 

photo via Gingerbread Bagles

Talk about easy! I love how bark-- basically melted chocolate covered in good stuff-- is so versatile. Most families have some version they pass around. Here is an example for using holiday candy (or any candies you like) that Prairie Hive found via Gingerbread Bagles blog. Mmmm.....

So I won't make you give me the recipes, but do you have a family recipe you treasure? What food do you wish came out more often than just the holidays? Ever tried making a famous family recipe?