Vanilla Dipped Pretzels a la Halloween...

I tried really hard to buy the popcorn balls like Jessica Brady told me to do.  She told me that they were at Walmart and that would be easy and perfect since it was last minute.  She is usually right - mostly always right.  Then she found pictures on the internet that she emailed to me and I got too excited - cute white paper cups with perfect ghosts drawn on them, filled with orange popcorn.  Then there were the vanilla dipped pretzels with ghost eyes and mouths painted on with chocolate... I was right back to where I started, wanting to do something "big."  (Notice how often the words "big" and "excited" appear in my life?  Those are the two words that get me in the most trouble.)

Here is what you need:

1 package (block) of vanilla candy coating
1 bag of unbroken (mostly) pretzel rods
Multiple colors of sprinkles - I think purple, lime green and black are the best
cellophane bags
matching curling ribbon

Here is what you do - oh how easy peasy:
Dump some of your sprinkles into a nice long, thick pile (for lack of a better word) on a narrow platter or plate, set aside.  Open bag of pretzels, set aside.  Roughly chop the vanilla blocks of candy coating - chop about 1/2 to 3/4 of the package.  Throw into a large glass bowl and microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval.  It might take 2 or 3 minutes of this. 

Begin dipping 1 pretzel rod at a time into the melted candy coating, covering 3/4 of the rod. 

Let excess drip off - if you dip into the sprinkles and the coating is too thick, it will fall off in a clump.  Not good.  So, let the excess drip off for a minute or so, humming to yourself as you wait. 

Then roll into the sprinkles. 

Lay on parchment or tin foil to let harden.  Aren't they pretty? 

After they've hardened for about 30 minutes, place each one into a cellophane bag.

Tie with matching curling ribbon.  Be sure to make enough for the teachers... the best way to an 'A' is a happy, well-fed teacher!