Christmas Candy

My theme for this week is homemade gifts from the kitchen.

Economic times are getting rougher by the year for many of us . . . 

are you giving more homemade gifts than ever?

The following is a list of awesome sweet treats that you can whip up
and delight anyone on your holiday gift-giving list.

I have a craving for some peanut brittle . . .

2 Minute Microwave Fudge
5 Minute Fudge
7 Layer Bars
Aaron's Buttery Cashew Brittle
Almond Bark
Amanda's Peppermint Creams
Ann's Cream Nut Candy
Bavarian Inn Peanut Bars
Beth's Delicious Fudge
Brownie Fudge Dessert
Buckeyes
Buckeyes
Butter Toffee
Candied Yams
Candy Bar Brownies
Candy Cane Brittle
Candy Cane Fudge
Caramel Krispie Treats
Caramels
Carmel Corn
Carol's Christmas Treats
Chocolate Almond Bars
Chocolate Balls
Chocolate Billionaires
Chocolate Chow Mein Candy
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Chocolate Covered Nuts
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Nut Caramels
Chocolate Popcorn
Chocolate Silk Bon Bons
Chocolate Truffels
Christmas Candied Walnuts
Christmas Crackle Candy
Christmas Mice
Chunky Mallow Candy
Cinnamon Hard Candy
Cinnamon Popcorn
Cranberry Nut Fudge
Cream Cheese Candy
Creamy Chocolate Truffles
Creamy Microwave Pralines (Texas Stye)
Crispy peanutbutter balls
Dark Chocolate Fudge
Deborahe's Holiday Chocolates
Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies
Dish of Dirt
Divinty
Dorothy's Peanut Butter/Butterscotch Noodle Cookie
Dreamcicle Fudge
Easy Candy
Easy Divinity
Easy Divinity Easy Divinity Candy
Easy Fudge
Easy Granola Candy
Easy Microwave Carmel
Easy Microwave Fudge
Easy Pecan Logs
English Toffee
English Toffee
English Toffee Bars
Fabulous Fudge
Fake Brittle
Fantasy Fudge
Festive Chocolate Truffles
Five Minute Fudge
Fool-Proof Fudge
Frosted Pecans
Fudge
Fudge
Fudge Brownies
Fudge for One
Fudge Puddles
Georgia Nuggets
Grandma Donna's Nummies
Grandma F's Delicious Fudge
Grandmother's Holiday Fudge
Hard Candy
Hard Tack Candy
Hazelnut Fantasy Fudge
Ho-Ho Hash
Holly Confection
Honey Comb
J & D's Peanut Butter Balls
Jeanne's Tiger Butter
Jen's Chocolate Meringues
J's Cream Fudge
Kim's Famous Cashew Brittle
Magic Marshmallow Fudge
Mama's Fudge
Maple Rum Balls
Margie's Best Candy
Martha Washington Candy
Martha Washington Mounds
Marzipan
Melting Moments
Melting Moments
Memaw's Reese's
Meme's Best Ever Peanut Butter Fudge
Meringues
Micky's Mints
Microwave Peanutbutter fudge
Microwave Pralines
Milk Fudge
Milky Way Bars
Million Dollar Fudge
Mimi's Famous Fudge
Mocha Truffles
Mom's Mints
Mr. Monroe's Famous Fudge
Mrs. Eisenhower's Fudge
Never Fail Fudge
Never Fail Fudge
No Bake Rum Balls
No Cook Peanut Butter Fudge
No Fail Fudge
Novia Scotia Treats
Nut Mallow Goodies
Nutty North Pole Fudge
Orange Balls
Orange Glazed Pecans
Out Of This World Fudge
Oven Carmel Corn
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle (Microwave)
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Bars-An Elve's Favorite Treat
Peanut Butter Candy
Peanut Butter Candy
Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Fruit Squares
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Snowballs
Peanut Clusters (mircrowavable)
Peanut Krispies
Peanut Patties
Pecan Candy
Pecan Kisses
Penuche
Penut Butter Buckeyes
Peppermint Bonbons
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Wands
Popcorn Cake
Popcorn Cake
Potato Candy
Potato Candy
Potato Candy
Potato Candy
Praline Kisses
Pralines
Pralines
Puppy Chow
Puppy Chow
Puppy Chow
Puppy Chow (for Humans)
Quick and Easy Mini Marshmallow Sandwiches
Quick and E-Z Fudge
Raspberry Fudge Balls
Reindeer Chow
Reindeer Chow
Reindeer Chow
Reindeer Chow
Reindeer Droppings
Reindeer Food
Reindeer Food
Rocky Road
Rocky Road
Rocky Road Bark
Rudolph's Favorite Pecans
Rum Balls
Salt Water Taffy
Sea Foam Candy
Skor Fudge
Snowballs
Snowballs
Snowballs
Snowballs
Snowy Day Brownies
Snowy Divinity
Snowy Pretzels
Spiced Pumpkin Fudge
Stained Glass Candy
Sugared Nuts
Super Peanut Clusters
Treacel Fudge
Triple Layer Bars
TripleLayer Chocolate Bars
Truffles
Truffles
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight
Turtles
Uncle Ferd's Butter Crisp Cracker Candy
Uncle Jack Hallwood's Peanut Butter Fudge
Very Easy Fudge
White Christmas
Willy Wonka Bars
Winter Strawberries

Chocolate Fudge

Food gifts are the best . . . I love to give them as well as receive them . . . especially sweets. Fudge is one of the perfect gifts to give anyone. The methods of packing and gift wrapping are endless . . . just about everyone loves fudge . . . it is one of those universal gifts . . .

When I quit working and suddenly had to adjust to being a one-income family, store bought gifts were the first thing to go . . . especially the past extravagance of Christmas. I was blessed with the ability to create cool and unique items that everyone in the family loved to receive. Handmade gifts are so appreciated by most people because they are special and made with lots of love. Teenagers into designer names are the exception . . . but I made them realize that setting the trends and being unique was more cool than being like the sheep who follow everyone else.

This is the only fudge recipe I use . . . CHOCOLATE . . . it is the only one I need . . . it is that good and relatively easy.  Even in my working days, we had a tradition of taking vacation days around the Christmas holiday, we baked and cooked non-stop in preparation for our annual Christmas party and made lots of food gifts for our guests to take home. I remember one year spending two days just making batches of fudge, one at a time . . . those were the good ole days for me! 





Makes 100 1-inch pieces


12 ounces German sweet chocolate, broken

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate morsels

7 ounces marshmallow creme

4 1/2 cups sugar

13 ounces evaporated milk

2 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups broken walnuts






Place chocolate bars, morsels and marshmallow creme in a bowl.

Combine sugar, milk, butter and salt in a heavy 3 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil on high, stirring constantly. When the mixture boils, lower heat to medium and set a timer for 6 minutes. Keep mixture boiling steadily and stir constantly during this time to prevent scorching.

At the end of 6 minutes, pour boiling syrup over chocolate and marshmallow creme. Beat until chocolate is melted and well blended. Beat in the vanilla and nuts.

Pour into a lightly buttered 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Let cool at room temperature for 24 hours. Cut into 1 inch squares and pack in airtight containers.







I have no idea where this recipe came from, but I have used it year after year since I was out on my own.

Fantasy Fudge

This is the original, older version of the Fantasy Fudge recipe from the back of the Kraft Marshmallow Creme jar.  Kraft has changed the original recipe, but I found it in my stockpile of old labels, newspaper clippings and old magazines.



Ingredients:


3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tablespoon vanilla




Directions:


Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.


Makes 3 pounds.

Deviled Eggs

Today is National Deviled Egg Day!

To celebrate the day, I have posted recipes  with variations and a  link for many more deviled egg recipes from the "Deviled Egg Gourmet"

Always keep your deviled eggs well-chilled, taking additional precautions in the summer months. Not a good idea to eat deviled eggs left out of the refrigerator for more than an hour or so, especially during hot weather.


Adapt the recipes to suit your lifestyle . . . use light mayonnaise to help cut down on the calories from fat to accommodate low cholesterol and low fat diet plans (with 50% less fat than regular mayonnaise). My choice is Hellman’s . . . regular mayonnaise will produce a creamier result.



Deviled Egg Recipe #1


Ingredients


12 large eggs, hard cooked, peeled, carefully sliced half
½ cup Mayonnaise
¼ cup Sour cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Prepared white horseradish
8 ounces Bacon, cooked crisp, drained, crumbled fine
4 Scallions, chopped fine




Directions


Put egg yolks into a small bowl and mash them with the back of a spoon.


Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard and horseradish. When yolk mixture is smooth, stir in bacon and scallions. Taste for seasoning. Using two spoons, stuff egg whites with the yolk mixture.


Source: Foodista






Deviled Egg Recipe #2


Ingredients


6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise
¼ cup Light Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing
½ teaspoon dry ground mustard
½ teaspoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Paprika for garnish




Directions


Remove the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard powder, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white shells with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.


Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day before serving.


Source: DeviledEggs.com . . . this website has lots of deviled egg recipes!






My Deviled Egg recipe


I don't measure!


Remove the egg yolks to a small bowl and mash with a form. Add mayonnaise, a bit of sour cream (optional) and a splash of pickle juice until desired texture and taste is achieved. 


Spice with a little salt and a dash of cayenne pepper to taste . . . use black pepper if you don't like spicy hot. Finely cut pickles and add to the mixture. 


Fill the egg whites with the mixture, sprinkle with paprika or cayenne pepper and garnish with a pickle slice cut in half.

Garlic Dill Potatoes

Potatoes are tossed  in a garlic dill butter before serving in this  awesome side dish

Ingredients

8 medium red potatoes, cubed

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place the potatoes in a steamer basket, 

and set in a pan over an inch of boiling water.

Cover, and steam for about 10 minutes, 

until potatoes are tender but not mushy.

In a small bowl, stir together the 

butter, dill, garlic, and salt.

Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl, 

and pour the seasoned butter over them.

Toss gently until they are well-coated.

Source:  AllRecipes

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies

Ingredients

1 large roll Pillsbury premixed chocolate chip cookie mix (refrigerator section)
2 (8 oz.) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Mix cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with mixer until softened.


Cut cookie mix in half and put 1/2 back in freezer.


Slice dough in 1/4 inch slices and place on bottom of a 9 x 11 inch baking dish.


Blend to cover bottom.


Place cream cheese mix on top of cookie mix.


Take remaining dough and slice in 1/4 inch slices. Place on top of cream cheese mix, leaving spaces between the dough.


Bake 40 minutes.


Cut into 48 brownies when completely cooled.


Refrigerate.



Source:  Foodista

Apple-Raspberry Turnovers

Yield: 6 turnovers
Cost per serving: $.50


Ingredients


1 medium apple, peeled, cored and diced
2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 1 17.5-oz. package), thawed
1 large egg, lightly beaten




Preparation


Position a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Combine apples, jam and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a separate small bowl.


On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut pastry into 6 4-inch squares with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.


Spoon some apple mixture into center of each square, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush borders with beaten egg. Fold each square into a triangle and press edges with tines of a fork to seal (be sure to seal tightly). Using a sharp paring knife, cut 2 small steam vents in top of each turnover. Sprinkle each turnover with cinnamon sugar. Place turnovers on lined baking sheet.


Bake until golden and puffed, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.




My variation

This already fast and easy recipe can be even easier by using pie filling and other goodies . . . how about cherry pie filling with cream cheese?  


The variations are endless and inexpensive . . .





Source: All You, OCTOBER 2008

Canning tomatoes

If you grow your own tomatoes, canning  is the perfect way to preserve your surplus.  Here is an excellent instructional video:

In addition to this video, 

here are some links on 

canning tomatoes:

Information on canning and many tomato recipes

Articles on canning tomatoes

Canning 101 from Paula Deen

Savor the Season: Your Guide to Canning Tomatoes

Check out my website page

 on growing tomatoes

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; 
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Caramel Popcorn

This is one of those snacks that

I have attempted to make with

awful results.  

I'll be giving this a try . . .
however, it is a huge recipe, 

so I will be cutting it way back.

Ingredients

12 quarts plain popped popcorn

1 pound peanuts

2 cups butter, cubed

2 pounds brown sugar

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup molasses

Directions

Place popcorn in two large bowls.
Stir 1/2 pound nuts into each bowl.

In a Dutch oven, combine the remaining ingredients.
 Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Pour half of syrup over each bowl of popcorn and stir to coat.

Transfer coated popcorn into a large roasting pan. 

Bake at 250° for 1 hour. 

Remove from the oven and break apart while warm. 

Cool. Store in airtight containers. 

Yield: 48 servings ( 1 cup per serving).

Nutrition Facts: 

1 serving (1 cup) equals 267 calories, 15 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 

20 mg cholesterol, 189 mg sodium, 32 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Caramel Corn published in Taste of Home February/March 1994, p64

Photo by: Taste of Home

Apple Cobbler Oatmeal

Image source:  Food Network website

Oatmeal is one of my favorite meals.  Over the years, I have experimented with the basic oatmeal recipe by adding various ingredients such as nuts, raisins . . . my favorite is substituting flavored coffee creamer for milk (Amaretto flavor is awesome).

Can't wait to try out this oatmeal recipe!

Ingredients


1 cup water
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
Pinch salt
1 apple, cored and diced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon crushed walnuts
1/4 cup fat free milk
dash of cinnamon

Directions:

Cook oatmeal on the stove top according to instructions (with a pinch of salt, if desired). Stir frequently as it boils. Add diced apple about halfway through cooking. Remove from stove and stir in brown sugar, walnuts, milk, and cinnamon.

This recipe is for 1 Serving

Source:  The Food Network website




Janel Ovrut, MS RD LDN, loves experimenting with vegetarian and vegan cooking. Read her food blog,Eat Well with Janel, and follow her on Twitter @DietitianJanel. Catch up on her previous posts here.

Skillet Rosemary Chicken

Chicken . . . so versatile . . . yet the question always remains . . .

What to do with chicken that is new and appealing?

It is during these "bored of food" times that I have found some of my favorite recipes. Looks like this time my search for new recipes has a real winner.

The compliment of rosemary with chicken has always produced delicious results with my roast chicken that I stuff with rosemary, lemons, onion and garlic. The simplicity of cooking these simple ingredients in a skillet sounds like a great idea to use with the bagged frozen chicken tenderloins (skinless and boneless) that I love to use since they require no cleaning and I don't like chicken skin.

My spin on this recipe will be to make it stir-fry style,

with the chicken tenderloins cut into bite sized pieces,

served over white rice.

By the way, my favorite source of finding new recipes is the Food Network Website!

Ingredients

3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large

Kosher salt

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves

1 clove garlic, smashed

Pinch of red pepper flakes

Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)

10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.

Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.

Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

Per serving: Calories 413; Fat 23 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 87 mg; Sodium 1,055 mg; Carbohydrate 19 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 32 g

Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

Source: Food Network Website