Turtle Fondue

• 2 12-oz. bags of milk chocolate chips
• 1 bag of Kraft caramels, unwrapped
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1⁄4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (about five minutes in a small skillet on medium heat, stirring constantly)
• Various fruits for dipping (strawberries, apples, bananas, grapes, and cherries)
• Other items for dipping (angel food cake, pound cake, or marshmallows)

Place milk chocolate chips, caramels and whipping cream in a fondue pot and melt ingredients together. Stir constantly, so it will not burn. The items may also be melted in a saucepan and then transferred to a Crockpot to be kept warm. Once ingredients are melted, sprinkle toasted pecans over the top. Place chocolate mixture in a small dish to dip favorite fruit or other items. Enjoy! 12-15 servings.

—Ann Goode, from the MOPS cookbook, Fruit: Fresh, Fun, Fabulous.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

• One bag pretzel rods (about 30 to a bag)
• One bag chocolate chips, any variety (11 or 12 ounces)
• Waxed paper

1. Fill a deep saucepan three-quarters of the way with hot water and bring to boil. Then remove from heat.
2. Fill a “dishwasher safe,” tall, narrow drinking glass with chocolate chips. 
3. Cover top of glass with foil and place in hot water. 
4. After ten minutes, stir with a butter knife until smooth. Chocolate should now be ready to use. If lumps remain, let it sit for a few more minutes and stir again.

Mother & Child Craft
Valentine Puzzles

• Large piece of cardboard or poster board, cut into a heart shape
• Scissors
• Markers or paint and brushes

1. Create a Valentine’s message or picture on one side of the cardboard.
2. Flip the cardboard over.
3. Design a puzzle pattern.
4. Cut out the pattern.
5. See if you can put the puzzle back together.
6. Put the puzzle pieces in a box.
7. Decorate the box using rubber stamps, stickers or ribbon.

_{*From MomSense magazine, January/February 2005.}