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Gifts from the Kitchen: Chocolates and Sweet Treats
By Brenda Hyde
Everyone loves homemade gifts from the kitchen.
I make trays of cookies and chocolates to send
to the work place, plus I wrap or box candy to
put in gift boxes and give to teachers, family
and friends. The following recipes are easy,
but will please everyone on your gift list! The
spreads are especially neat to package
and include in a basket of dainty cookies and
teas.
Quick Chocolate Mints
Ingredients:
2 ( 10 oz.) packages mint semisweet chocolate chips
1 ( 14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Using a glass bowl, combine chips and sweetened
condensed milk. Microwave on High for 1 and 1/2 minutes
and stir well. Heat another 1 to 1 and 1/2 minutes more or
until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted when stirred.
Stir in vanilla. Turn into a buttered 8 inch square pan.
Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until firm. Cut into 25 squares.
Store, tightly covered, in refrigerator.
Vanilla Buttercreams
Ingredients:
2 lbs. confectioners' sugar
1/4 lb. butter, softened
1 ( 8 oz. ) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Chocolate chips, or chocolate wafers (for molded candy)
Cream butter and cheese, slowly add sugar and vanilla
and mix well. Pinch off small pieces and form into a
round shape and refrigerate overnight. Melt your chocolate
carefully in a double boiler. Dip in melted chocolate.
Store in refrigerator but serve at room temperature.
Fannie Farmer's 1931 Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups light cream
4 squares chocolate
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Melt butter in a pan 8 x 8-inch, add sugar, cream and
chocolate, stir gently until chocolate melts. Boil without
stirring to 238 degrees or until mixture forms a soft ball
when dropped into cold water. Remove from heat, let stand
until cool and add flavoring. Beat with a wooden spoon. Pour
3/4-inch thick into a buttered pan and mark in squares.
Christmas Toffee
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup granulated sugar
3 plain chocolate bars, broken
Spread nuts on a greased 13x11 cookie sheet. In
saucepan combine margarine and sugar, melt and
bring to a boil. Stirring constantly boil until mixture
turns a golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Watch
carefully! Pour toffee mixture over nuts. Place
chocolate pieces over hot toffee and spread with a
knife. Place in cool place. When hard, break into
pieces. Note: You can use chocolate chips in place
of bars.
Chewy Chocolates
Ingredients:
1/2 pound soft caramels
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup pecan halves
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Heat caramels with cream in saucepan over very low
heat, stirring constantly. Cool 10 minutes. Set pecans
on lightly buttered baking sheets in clusters of 3. Spoon
caramel mixture over nuts, leaving outer ends of nuts
showing. Let stand to set, about 30 minutes. Spread
melted chocolate over caramel mixture. Makes 2 dozen.
Baked Caramel Corn
Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 quarts popped popcorn
Melt butter, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup
and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove
from heat; stir in soda and vanilla. Gradually
pour over popped corn, mixing well. Turn
into two large shallow baking or roasting pans.
Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every
15 minutes. Remove from oven, cool. Break
apart and store in tightly-covered container.
Makes about 5 1/2 quarts or 20 cups.
Peanut Butter Spread
Ingredients:
1 jar peanut butter (16 ounces)
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts
Combine all items in a microwave safe
container, blending well. Microwave
on high for 1 minute and gently stir to
swirl mix. Do not overcook, the chocolate
will soften when stirred. Spoon into gift
container. Jelly jars would work well. Makes
about 3 cups spread.
Chocolate Butter
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened; cut into pieces
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
Stir butter and chocolate together by hand.
Transfer to covered container, refrigerate or
freeze until ready to use. Serve with cookies, biscuits,
pound cake, croissants, muffins or waffles.
About The Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. Stop by and visit her garden blog, Garden of Grace & Whimsy, and her photography blog, A Dance of Words & Photos.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
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Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing