Crock Pot Candy - My new obsession!

I have a few masochistic tendencies when it comes to making candy.  So I decided to ramble around the internet and see if there was an easier way of doing things.

On my travels I found a recipe for Double Chocolate Nut Clusters and thought it would be a great idea for an upcoming party I was attending.  I didn't have a slow cooker but I figure a crock pot is pretty much the same thing.  I also doubled the recipe. I'm always afraid I won't have enough to go around.

I gathered my supplies:

1 pound white chocolate almond bark, broken into small pieces
½ pound chocolate almond bark, broken into small pieces
2 ounces German’s baking chocolate
¾ cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups (16 ounces) dry roasted peanuts, lightly salted
1 cups (8 ounces) whole roasted almonds
½ teaspoon almond flavoring
(Just keep in mind I doubled all these ingredients)

Then I followed the instructions:

Nothing was mentioned about covering the chocolate.  My crock pot always produces a lot of condensation ... so erring on the side of caution I did not use the cover.  We all know how chocolate does not like water.

• Turn slow cooker on high, and add the first six ingredients.  
• Cook for 45 minutes (don't peek or stir).
• Reduce heat to low and cook one hour, stirring until all chocolate is melted. 
• When chocolate is melted, stir in almond flavoring.
• Spoon into miniature muffin liners and allow to cool. 
• Store in an airtight container 

Since I doubled the recipe I let it go an hour before stirring. At that point it was just starting to melt.  I let it go about another hour and this was the result after stirring: 

After spooning into the mini muffin cups:

My version and size cups yielded about 100 pieces of candy.

A word of caution ... don't put these in the refrigerator to cool.  Let them cool at room temperature.  I thought I would be smart and speed things up since I was running out of table room, and stuck the first 20 cups worth in the fridge on a cookie sheet.  Well, they did harden right up ... and they also "bloomed".  Needless to say, that batch stayed home and we are enjoying them.  They taste fine ... they just don't look as pretty.

The candy was a big hit at the party. Everyone seemed to like it quite a bit.

I think the possibilities are endless with this.  I want to try this again with just almonds.  One of my friends also suggested a version with just cashews.  I'm also thinking peanuts and raisins would be awesome as well.

Give it a try and enjoy!!

My Very Own Crazy Cookie Concoction

After my many hours on Pinterest and seeing so many cookies made from 2 ingredients or from a cake mix and a few other ingredients, I decided to try my own hand at whipping something up.  After all my kitchen usually has a can of this and a box of that.

As I looked around I saw oatmeal, chunky cranberry sauce and a spice cake mix.  So the old brain started churning and I came up with a little recipe.

I'm calling them Spicy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies.

Ingredients:

3 cups raw oatmeal
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
1 box Betty Crocker Spice Cake
1/4 cup Sesame oil (I added this type for a bit of nutty flavor) veg. oil would be fine too
1 egg
Spray oil - to prevent sticking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix together the oatmeal and cranberry sauce
add cake mix and egg and oil
Stir until combined.  Mix will be thick ... use your muscles :)

It will seem like the mixture is too dry but keep stirring - it will come together shortly.

Spray cookie sheet even if it's not stick for safety sake.

Spoon cookies onto cookie sheet. They can be placed fairly close.  They don't spread out very much.

Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes.  Check after 15 depending on your oven.  Cookies will be soft to the touch and look golden brown on the bottom when the edge is lifted.  I used a toothpick to be sure they were done in the center.  I got them off the sheet and on to a plate as soon as I took them out of the oven.

They were quite tasty and not overly sweet.  I am pretty happy with how they turned out. 

This recipe yielded 40 cookies.  That will vary depending on how big  or small you make them.  I used a rounded tablespoon full of batter.

Life keeps getting in the way of posting....

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long!  Life sure has been busy.... but, that's a good thing!  I'm still here!

I just had my yearly scans and all is well.  I don't have to check in with the Doc quite so often now.  I am loving that ... only 4 blood tests a year now! Yay me! LOL It's hard to believe it's been almost 3 years.

Now that winter is almost over I need to get this little blog back up to date.  I should have made it a  New Year resolution ... but, we all know how that goes ;)

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas with the family as always. The decorations were beautiful.  My sister and her hubby did a wonderful job of making it a very festive holiday.

Even one of the "boys" enjoyed the decorations

My sister had a few different themed trees through out the house.  It was pretty spectacular.

The Red Tree

The White Tree

The Teal Tree

The Mantle close up

The Mantle

Some one very anxious to get things underway

The Capone - Vickery Wedding

A day I didn't think I would ever see finally arrived.  My brother got married!!!

He and the Diva herself, Miss Mary had a beautiful ceremony and reception at Hearth at the Wayside in Greenfield.  It was really quite an event.

We decorated the night before and made scores of goodies and items for the big day.

I made the muffs and faux fur shawls as well as the big Christmas stocking for cards. 

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Vickery!!! 

The Provident Woman is having a give-a-way!!!

That's right you heard it here ... The Provident Woman is having a give-a-way. 

Click on the link and head on over to her blog if you are a fan and want to enter to win.

Irish Soda Bread ~ According to Kittie

Here is the recipe for the bread. I altered it because I never have buttermilk and it's hard to find out here in the woods. I also doubled this recipe so we could have two loaves.  It will be nice for breakfast in the morning.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cup buttermilk ***

(***My substitution - 1 cup plain yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup milk with 1 tsp vinegar)

Preheat oven to 350

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients and mix together

Make a well in the bowl and add yogurt mixture ... at this point you can use a large spoon but I just used my hand in a "claw" formation slowly pulling the dry ingredients to the middle. Do this until the dough just comes together.

You might need another tablespoon or so of milk depending on the weather .. it might not be moist enough. It needs to be sticky ... but not so sticky its really hard to handle

Shape into a round and place on the baking sheet and cut an X on the top with a sharp knife. 

Bake for 45 minutes until dark golden. A skewer or sharp knife will come out clean - let cool before slicing ... and best served shortly after baking. I put mine in about an hour before dinner was done. 

It's really easy and tastes great :o)

Bon Appetite!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Another St. Patty's Day has come and gone and a lovely meal was had.  I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself.

A close up on the main attraction.

... and here is my Irish Soda Bread. It turned out so good.

Even though I am Irish every day ... today just makes me really Irish.

Bean & Barley Salad

This is my sister Jessica's favorite salad so I decided to make it today so it would be ready for her when she gets home from work.  

It's a refreshing light salad with a nice little punch of flavor. 

Ingredients:

1 can Chick Peas/Garbanzo beans
1 can Cannellini beans or White Beans
1 cup flat leaf Parsley
2 Tbs Rosemary
1 med Onion 
2 stalks Celery
1 small or 1/2 large Cucumber
4 Tbs Lemon juice
1/3 cup Olive Oil
1 cup cooked Barley
1 tsp Salt

Directions:

Drain and rinse beans
Chop Parsley and Rosemary
Dice Onion and Celery
Peel, seed and dice Cucumber
Mix in large bowl and add Lemon juice, Olive Oil, Barley and Salt

Best if left to sit in the fridge for a couple hours before serving. 

 

Enjoy!!

New Year 2011

It's a New Year and a new me ... with new hair..... Finally

It's starting to show really well now.  I might actually have to get a trim shortly to keep it growing even.

I have to say I am getting used to it though.  It's very easy to take care of ... wash, brush and go.  Can't get easier than that.