Bytes decided he was in the mood for Grandma Call’s No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Deep chocolate flavor, textured with oats and coconut, those cookies were a favorite of his. And of Grandma’s thirteen other grandkids who wandered through her kitchen. She always had some goodie tucked away for their visits and this was a frequent flier! When the clink of the cookie jar lid was heard from the kitchen, it was usually a taller grandchild helping themselves and a cousin. Too close to dinnertime and Grandma would peer around the corner into the kitchen and warn the red handed cookie holder that mealtime was imminent. But if timed right, she would pretend she didn’t hear a thing and the pilferer was home free. For one of her birthdays, the family compiled a book of Grandma’s ... [Read More]
chocolate
Fabulous Fudge – 5 minutes, 3 ingredients to make THE Best gift fudge ever!
Fabulous Fudge is so easy to make it's almost embarrassing. This quick and easy recipe came to me literally on a plate. A plate with three kinds of fudge dreams to delight the tastebuds. And, such a sweet friend, she included the basic recipe! Make it once and it will become your signature gift, too. The directions started "Line an 8×8 pan with waxed paper, covering the bottom and up the sides. Do NOT skip this step or you’ll be sorry!!!!" No, she didn't mean armed thugs show up at your door threatening to break your legs. It’s just that the fudge will come out of the pan in messy spoonfuls instead of beautiful, giftable squares. I've started using non-stick aluminum foil instead of the waxed paper. Releases the fudge well and is stronger for lifting out of the pan to the ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Bark
Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Swirl Bark could start a new holiday tradition in your family. Warning: It’s addictive and tends to disappear quickly! You can substitute chocolate chips for either or both of the white or dark chocolate. My preference is to use a candy chocolate (Wilton, CandiQuik, almond bark) since it melts better and is easier to work with, especially the white chocolate. Follow the package directions for melting in the microwave. Use a narrow utensil to create the swirls-- the point of a knife, a chopstick, the handle of wooden spoon – and move slowly to allow the chocolate time to flow. Stop when you have a design you like. When you add the cranberries and pistachios, it helps to press them into the chocolate just slightly. I’ve become a fan of non-stick ... [Read More]
Classic Oreo Truffles
Oreo Truffles can be made from plain chocolate Oreos, golden oreos or a flavored filling Oreo. My favorite is a mint filled Oreo Truffle dipped in chocolate. This was a special request so it is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Oreo dipped in chocolate. Pretty darn good! Be sure to use original Oreos -- not the Double Stuff filling. And yes, any brand you like is okay. (But would you have looked again if the title was Sandwich Cookie Truffles???) If you want to add sprinkles or chopped nuts to the top of the dipped balls, do it while the chocolate is still warm so they will stay in place. The time needed for chilling means you need to plan ahead a bit to make these. I prefer to chill the mixture for about an hour before using a cookie dip to measure out the individual balls. To me it is ... [Read More]
Cherry Mash Bars
Wheel’s mother made these a couple of Christmases in a row. And then cherry chips disappeared from the store shelves. Maybe it was a regional thing. But when I saw the package on the shelf a few weeks ago, I knew it was time for Cherry Mash Bars – Yay!!! You can make Cherry Mash Bars with a layer of chocolate on the bottom AND on the top. To do this, divide the chocolate chips, peanut butter and nuts in half. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips, 1/3 cup peanut butter for 45 seconds in the microwave, add half the chopped nuts. Spread in foil lined pan. When cherry layer is completed, repeat for the second layer of chocolate. OR Alternatively, you can put the entire mixture of chocolate, peanut butter and nuts on top of the cherry layer just by following the instructions in the ... [Read More]
Chewy Chocolate Brownie
I won a red Betty Crocker cookbook once upon a time. I still use it for family favorites today – worn, dog earred and missing more than a few pages from the index and vegetable section. Bytes Big Brother used them for paper airplanes – unfortunately he didn’t grow up to become an aviator. Fortunately I had marked my favorite recipes so I could get along without a full index. Umm – yeah. Moving on -- what we call Chewy Chocolate Brownies was on that list. This brownie recipe is so easy to make you can do it with two toddlers and a cat crawling around your legs after work,while you talk on the phone, catch the flour canister the three year old is trying to pull off the counter and still have a batch of brownies in the oven before the next play date is arranged. The taste will ... [Read More]
