When a mom or parent hears “it’s all good; boys will be boys,” there’s usually a caveat involving some questionable action or activity. However, those are literally sweet words to Renee Morgan, whose boys have been sharing a holiday tradition with her for many years. All grown-up, her children join Renee in a seasonal experience she and friend Dawn Wanamaker started in 1984, making batches of delicious chocolates and peanut butter sweets.
Back in the day, Renee and Dawn happily settled on simply cooking up and eating batches of Martha Washington and peanut butter balls. To quote Renee, “We made them and ate them.” Through the years it’s become a family labor of love that’s evolved into trays and trays of peanut butter fudge, white chocolate fudge, chocolate fudge, pretzel candy bites, chocolate Christmas crack, peanut butter Christmas crack, peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate and peanut butter. The list goes on with peanut butter cracker cookies, the original favorite Martha Washington balls dipped in white chocolate and deep chocolate, haystacks, macaroons, peanut butter oatmeal cookies, chocolate oatmeal cookies, Oreo balls and Reindeer Poop.
Just reading the list sounds like the menu at a candy shop only found in a resort town such as Gatlinburg or the sweet shop on Walt Disney World's Main Street. Perusing the trays of candy begs the question, how long and how many folks did it take to get to the finished product? With all hands-on deck, Renee says a good working weekend of two full days will get the job done.
As it turns out, the Standard’s own sports editor Jeffery Simmons has a skill set that not only includes providing all the sports news fit to print, and the ability to jack a softball over the fence and into a rock pile across Fairgrounds Road, but also the ability to turn out some outstanding holiday delicacies. Sharing the family memories with Dawn and Renee have been friends such as Nick Tilton who took hold of the reins during the late 2000s. In the last decade Morgan’s kids have stepped up. “Jeff was the first one to take a big interest. He started helping probably 8 to 10 years ago, not long after he came home from college. He keeps us organized. Step daughter Laura Herman started about five years ago and she’s really taken over all the dipping. Adam came in the last two years and he did the majority of the rolling this year,” Renee said.
Now with all that yummy candy rolling off the stove and pouring out of crock pots, hubby and retired city police officer John Morgan determined his investigative skills were best used tasting and sampling the scrumptious treats. Until John figured out Renee could use a handy Kitchen Aid mixer, he had the hard job of doing all the stirring. She’s pretty sure that precipitated the mixer purchase, and she’s grateful.
Renee says the Martha Washington balls are still her favorite. She says, “I always have a special batch for myself dipped in white chocolate. We’ll do some in dark chocolate to give away.’
Son, Adam Simmons, said, “My favorite thing about getting together would be how much we laugh during the process. We’re telling old stories and making new ones. Favorite item – that would be Oreo balls; hands down.”
Laura incorporated the services of her husband, John, to help this year and her kids, Braden and Rayla Herman, have served as helpers in the past. She says, “I enjoy the laughter, making memories and the laughing and teasing when one of us screws something up. I love making the traditional candy, but also love when we try something different. I hope this is a tradition we can keep doing for many more years.” She adds, “My personal favorite are the Oreo balls.”
Jeffery said, “I don’t really remember what got me involved, maybe it was that I was so good at eating the candy that I just wanted to get to it quicker. I always enjoy getting some quality time with my family around Christmas. Mom’s the center of it all – she started this before I was born and I know nothing would delight her more than if we continue this forever.”
Jeffery’s favorite item: “Anything with peanut butter in it. Peanut butter balls dipped in peanut butter. Peanut butter crackers dipped in peanut butter or chocolate. Peanut butter fudge; it’s all great.”
When he can take a break from his Mud Bums business, son Brett Simmons trades his chef’s apron for a candy-making pot, and takes his place at a kitchen prep station. What began as two friends sharing some fun and camaraderie almost 40 years ago has become a family experience of love and joy between a mother and her children. And to that end, Renee Morgan is just fine thinking boys will be boys.
