Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

My friend Pam did it again. She makes the best treats! I was suprised how easy this was to make and oh so delicious! Enjoy!

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies:
Combine 1 chocolate cake mix with 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening and 2 eggs. Drop by tablespoon onto a baking sheet and bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes (done but soft in the center). Remove from the oven and stick half of a cut large marshmallow sticky side down in the center of each cookie. Put back into the oven for 2 minutes. Remove again, and gently press the marshmallow down. Once cooled, frost. 
Frosting recipe:
Combine 1/2 cup melted butter with 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, 1 lb. powdered sugar, and 1 tsp. vanilla. 
Enjoy!

Rocky Road Fudge (Auntie Gayle's Recipe)

If you like nuts, marshmallows and chocolaty goodness, this fudge is THE VERY BEST.  And I have tried many fudge recipes looking for this taste.  Thanks for sharing Auntie Gayle!

The Hershey Bars are a delicious part of this fudge.

Reaching the 7 min. mark.

You need a strong wooden spoon for stirring!

I used a 9x13 pan...almost over-flowing with fudge.  Will probably use a jelly roll pan next time.  Would still allow for pretty thick pieces. 

A very smooth, rich chocolate taste.  And nutty!  If you don't care for nuts leave them out or substitute something you do like. 

Rocky Road Fudge

5 cups sugar

1 large can evap. milk (NOT sweetened cond. milk)

1 cup butter

2-8 oz Hershey milk chocolates with almond bars

12 oz milk (or semi-sweet) choc. chips

2 tsp. vanilla

2 large marshmallow cream jars

1/2 pound walnuts (chopped)

1/2 pound pecans (chopped) optional

1 large bag marshmallows (frozen-a must)

Grease 9x13 dripper pan or 11x14 jelly roll pan.  (This makes ALOT of fudge)

Butter sides of large heavy saucepan.  Stir constantly first 3 ingredients until sugar is dissolved.  Do not scrape sides of pan.  This is where the sugar crystal form and will make your fudge taste grainy.  Stirring occasionally bring to boil for 7 min.  

Pour into bowl of choc. chips, and candy bars.  Mix until creamy and add vanilla.  Combine nuts and frozen bag of marshmallows and add to chocolate mixture.  Pour into prepared pan(s).  Let set, then cut.

Christmas Gingerbread Cottage Gift

 

I work with some fabulous designing ladies!  I thought it might be nice to give them a little "home decor" gift this Christmas season.

I came across this template online and started to design!  

It was fun!

Trader Joe's is my go-to place for amazing treats.  And these pretzels did not disappoint.  They were included inside the gingerbread cottage.

Once I figured out the assembly of the first cottage, they went together fast.

Love Christmas gifting!

Shortbread Toffee Bars

After weeks of research and testing in Santa's Bakery/Workshop,

 Cookie & Cups gave us our new favorite Christmas Cookie!

This shortbread toffee bar is so decadent and holidayish, and so easy to make.  It's layers of goodness.

Visit Cookie & Cups website for all the how-to-hints for this cookie bar.  It's well worth the time and effort.

Shortbread Toffee Cookie Bars

Ingredients

SHORTBREAD CRUST

• 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour

FILLING

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tbsp butter

TOPPING

• 2 cups milk chocolate chips (Guittard is definitely the best!)
• 1 1/2 cups Toffee Bits

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray.

SHORTBREAD CRUST

1. Beat butter and sugar together until combined, 1-2 minutes.
2. Mix in flour. Mixture will be slightly dry. Press into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.

FILLING

1. In a small saucepan heat sweetened condensed milk and butter together until butter is smooth. Pour over shortbread crust. Bake 12-15 minutes until filling is bubbly and browned. It will almost take on a light caramel appearance. Remove from oven

TOPPING

1. Immediately sprinkle milk chips on top of filling when it comes out of the oven. Place back in oven for 2 minutes until chips are shiny and soft.
2. Carefully spread the chips over the filling with an off-set spatula.
3. Sprinkle with toffee bits, pressing into milk chocolate.
4. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

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Notes

You can place these in the refrigerator to help speed up the cooling process.
I allowed mine to cool at room temperature, though, over night before I sliced and served.

Almond Joy Bars

My friend Jan V. gave me this recipe.  It is so super easy, yet so good.  Very similar to the Magic Bars (easy, right) but with a little more decadent chocolate taste.  The sliced almonds on top offered a toasted, caramel flavor.  I would never have guessed that the crust was made from a cake mix.  It tasted very much like shortbread.  This was a definite crowd pleaser at our last gathering.  

Almond Joy Bars  

1 yellow cake mix

1 stick of melted butter

Slivered almonds

Shredded coconut

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Grease or butter a 9x13 inch pan.  

1st layer-Mix the cake mix and butter in bowl and then press the mixture as the first layer (press with fork). 

2nd layer-chocolate chips 

3rd layer-shredded coconut. 

4th layer-slivered/sliced almonds. 

Then pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees until light golden brown. Be careful not to overbake. I bake this for about 20 minutes but check the bars often so as not to over brown the bars. Enjoy!! 

White Toasted Almond Bark with Sea Salt

I attended a gathering a couple of weeks ago and was invited to lead a discussion and present a gift display of ideas for INEXPENSIVE CHRISTMAS GIFTS.  One of my talented friends who is known far and wide for her bread making abilities brought this yummy gift to share.  

Dawn often gives warm loaves of bread at Christmas time to her neighbors and friends.  She said she worries about her friends that cannot have gluten or are on low carb diets and decided to come up with a gift that was just for them.  She's always thoughtful like that.   

Well...I think this Almond Bark is good for anyone and everyone, including me!  It's delicious!

The toasted taste of the almonds and the white chocolate, with a hint of sea salt gets my taste buds dancing!  Dawn says this is a quick and easy holiday treat. 

White Toasted Almond Bark with Sea Salt 

Ingredients

1 cup whole raw almonds, skin on

2 10 oz bags of white chocolate chips or 20 oz of any good white chocolate, chopped in pieces 

sea salt, ground fairly fine

Instructions

Set oven to 350F

1. Put the nuts on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Give the pan a shake from time to time, and watch carefully for the last 5 minutes. You want the almonds to get dark roasted, but not burnt. Set the pan aside and let the nuts cool on the pan.
2. Line a baking sheet with a silpat mat, parchment paper, or non stick foil.
3. Put the white chocolate in a glass microwave safe bowl and heat on 50% power for a minute. Keep heating, checking, and stirring until the chocolate is melted. If you are using chips they won't look melted until you stir them.
4. When the chocolate is melted and smooth, add in the almonds and quickly spread out the mixture on the lined baking sheet.
5. Dust the warm chocolate with sea salt, being careful to get it evenly distributed across the bark.
6. Set the pan in the refrigerator to cool until fully set, at least an hour.
7. Break apart the bark into whatever size pieces you choose.
8. Try not to eat it all before you can give some of it away.

Notes

If you have trouble melting chocolate in the microwave, you can always do it in a double boiler. Set a bowl or pan over another pan of gently simmering water and slowly melt the chocolate while stirring.

  

Easter Chocolate Decor?

Yes.  I use chocolate as I decorate for Easter.  Why?  Because I love chocolate and I love the colors of Easter.  And there are so many unique and wonderfully wrapped pieces of Easter chocolate.

For example...I love this Easter tin with a large European chocolate bar inside.  I loved the little bunny family working together to create colored Easter eggs.  (I'm going to remind my teenage children how fun it is to color Easter eggs TOGETHER!)

I've used this tin in my kitchen decor for Easter.

Some of my favorite chocolate eggs are from Hershey's.  The pastel eggs with solid milk chocolate inside look lovely in a clear glass jar, and are also lovely to eat!  Hint...If I put chocolate in a decorative jar I am less likely to eat it.  My kids and their friends...well they feel it an open invitation to partake.  I always keep an extra couple bags on hand to refill.

I found these sweet Easter wrapped chocolate bars at Marshalls (in California).  They came in a package of about 8-10.  I love the bright picture wraps of Easter on each bar.   

I popped them in a old fashioned glass mason jar and made them part of my kitchen counter Easter tray display.

I love chocolate, I love decorating and I especially love being with my b-funny family on Easter. 

Hand Dipped Chocolate Caramel Pretzels

 

Are you in need of a hostess gift for your upcoming Christmas parties?  Maybe a special gift for friends and neighbors? Caitlyn's pretzels are a definite crowd pleaser. 

I would highly recommend Delaware Dipped

These are not your average pretzels.  They are hand dipped in caramel and then an added layer of rich chocolate.

They are delightful!  

And I have to admit...I have enjoyed one or two for breakfast!

Custom orders and shipping available.

Don't delay, order today!

Fruit Pizza Sugar Cookies

This semi-homemade recipe is my go-to for potluck picnics and barbecues.  My secret to not heating up the kitchen...buy unfrosted sugar cookies from your local bakery.  That's where the "semi-homemade" comes in.

Cut up your favorite fruits.

This cream cheese spread is the best!  It's light and not too sweet.  I use it for a lot of recipes, especially this one.

 

Takes less than 30 minutes to create these fabulous morsels of goodness.

It takes even less time to pack the ingredients in separate containers and let your BBQ buddies create their own cookie pizza.

For a little 4th of July flair, order star cookies from the bakery and here ya go!  

Picture from The Baker Mama

Best cream cheese/whipped cream recipe ever!