Merry Cherry Fudge

One of the best parts of the season for me is the Christmas baking!  I absolutely love going to the store and stocking up on chocolate chips of every sort, white and chocolate bark, cocoa powder, brown sugar, sprinkles, butter, vanilla extract, ginger, cloves and allspice, oranges...  These are all the classic  flavors of the Christmas season!  

 

Every year I try out a new recipe I've never made before.  I'll scan through my Gooseberry Patch and Southern Living Christmas cookbooks and find one or maybe two new desserts to try!  Several years ago it was the raspberry linzer cookies, a couple years ago was the toffee cracker candy, last year were Martha Washington and the chewy molasses cookies. Yuuum!  Mind you, all of these have seriously become new favorites!  Of course there are still my classic favorites I adore making and eating that stir up familiar memories of childhood.  (Peppermint bark, decorated sugar cookies, and gingerbread boys!)

This year I found a delectable sounding recipe in my favorite Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbook that I've never really noticed before.  The recipe was of a fudge, which I've never made, but with chopped pecans and the cutest ruby red cherries planted in the top of each square!  

Chocolate cherry fudge, what a delicious idea!

As you can see, I whipped up a 2 lb. batch and it was every bit as easy as it looked! (It's not often I can say that.) The cherries in the fudge make them look like they came out of a cute fairy tale chocolate shop, but the flavor, oh the taste... Is heavenly!!!  I'm not a candy maker expert, and I've never made fudge in my life, but this recipe is so easy that it turned out just right.  They are not dry at all, but not gooey either so they're what I would consider to be some of the best fudge I've eaten!  They would be perfect for a festive party or you can place in a pretty tin as a delicious gift.  You can keep them a couple of weeks to munch on with the family over milk or a cup of dark coffee while movie watching and game playing over the weekend.

Chocolate and cherry, my favorite combination of flavors, now in a cute homemade Christmas candy must be why I've fallen in love with them so!  If there is one new recipe I'm truly thrilled to share this holiday season it's this fudge!  

Tis the season for our favorite things!

Merry Cherry Fudge

Gooseberry Patch Christmas Cookbook

36 maraschino cherries with stems, juice reserved

12 oz. pkg. Semi sweet chocolate chips

6 (1 oz.) squares bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped (I used bittersweet chips)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. chopped pecans

Tear two strips of foil and line a 8x8 baking pan crossways (does that make sense?) and then spray with baking spray.  This make the fudge so easy to remove from pan.  Blot cherries and set aside.

Combine chocolates in a double boiler of a large bowl over simmering water.  Heat slowly until melted and very smooth, whisking occasionally.  Remove from heat and stir in sweetened milk, and about one teaspoon of reserved cherry juice.  Stir in pecans.  (I toasted these first in a dry skillet and let cool.)  

Pour out fudge mixture into a pan and smooth out.  *Immediately dot with cherries in neat rows.  Press them down enough for only the tops and their stems will show.  

Cover and chill for 2 hours.  Gently lift the overhang of foil out of the pan and into a cutting board. 

 Using a sharp knife cut the fudge into 36 squares.  

Store in an airtight container in fridge. Makes 2 pounds.

*Note:  I didn't use all the cherries because I know my husband doesn't like to eat them, but that's up to you.  The fudge itself has a nice subtle cherry flavor!

A Hayride Favorite! Sweet & Salty Haystacks

Today is a chilly cloudy day!  It's so Autumn like with my windows open and a candle burning away on the mantle.  I just love this type of day!  Drinking coffee, staying in pjs (for most of the day, yes) and watching a movie with the kids amongst ironing and laundry.

Right now my first pot of chili of the season is simmering away in the Dutch oven, and it smells divine!  

We've been cutting back on excessive desserts, but this particular day seems to be asking for a cozy treat to surprise my family with!  I just remembered an old favorite that's quick to make and never fails to please.

One of my favorite fall time treats, and the only candy I make for this time of year are haystacks!!!  Aww... What a classic easy recipe with flavors of butterscotch, peanuts, and chow mein noodles that somehow evolve into a little mound of goodness!  

I'm not sure exactly why I think if them as an Autumnal goody except I think of butterscotch and caramel this time of year with their rich flavors, and I used to make big batches of haystacks every year for family hayrides. They are perfect to munch on while singing in a hay covered wagon in the country!   I just needed to bring this recipe back and introduce them to our children.

So craving these I decided to whip up a batch using what I had in the cabinets.  I don't keep chow mein noodles on hand, so I though I would dive into my favorite combination of salty and sweet instead. Thus adding buttery crushed ritz crackers and salty (goldfish) pretzels!  

Glorious sweet golden mixture is this, but I really think the salty crackers and pretzels set this apart from the original.  It's the easiest "candy" treat in the world to make, and so within 10 minutes I have a pan of haystack beauties.  Crunchy haystacks waiting to cool by the open window as the chilly air invades my cozy home.  This is truly my kind of day!  Please excuse me while I enjoy one, and you should do the same!

Sweet & Salty Haystacks

1 c. Butterscotch chips

1/2 c. Peanut butter

Melt these together in a double boiler or carefully in intervals in the microwave.

1/2 c. Peanuts

1 c. Crushed ritz crackers (1/2 a sleeve)

1 c. Pretzels (I had goldfish:)

Stir these three ingredients into the melted butterscotch and peanut butter mixture.  

Spoon out onto wax paper and allow to cool and set until firm...  Wait if you can!

Savor the moment of the perfect first bite!

Salty Toffee Cracker Candy

 

I'm a little busy Christmas bee around the house this week as we prepare for our annual Cookies & Cocoa Party! 

 

 

I've been doing relentless list making, grocery shopping, cleaning, organizing, decorating, furniture rearranging, baking and more baking this week, but it's been a joy!!! 

 

 

I'm here at home in my element with the Christmas music resounding throughout  house.

 

 

I have a play list with an mix of favorites from the croons of Micheal Buble, Bing, and Perry Como to the modern classics by Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mariah Carey.  These tunes are chock full of festive memories to me!!!

 

 

I just want to point out to you a few of the Christmas touches I have around the living room... 

 

 This sweet Advent calender in the picture above is one of my favorite things!   It was given to us by my parents a few years ago for Christmas.  It has the picturesque look of a house in Rothenburg Germany, and just a peek through the "windows" makes you feel as though you're seeing into a fairytale. 

 

I know one day our children will come to love it, too!

 

 

I'm thrilled to use this heirloom quilt as our tree skirt!  It's special to us because Mr. Cozy's late Great-Grandmother made it many years ago!  It's these homespun things that bring a sense of love of family into our home during the holiday season!

 

 

I had to take a few minutes to share with you this recipe for addicting toffee cracker candy!!!  Mom has made this during Christmas, and I literally couldn't stop eating the stuff....it was a problem! ;)

 

This is the easiest candy you'll ever make, and it only requires 4 ingredients!  F-o-u-r!  Friends, you're only a few minutes away from making one of the best holiday treats you've had!  A quick and easy "toffee" is poured over plain saltine crackers and sprinkled with coarsely chopped pecans to get cozy for just a few minutes in the oven.  When taken out, it becomes this slightly salty and sweet, crunchy, flaky, break apart candy that's you can munch on all season long! 

 

 

 

 

 Salty Toffee Cracker Candy

 

4 oz. Saltine crackers, about 1 sleeve

1 c. (2 sticks) Butter

1 c. Brown Sugar

3/4 c. Pecans, coarsely chopped

 

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

 

Line a parchment paper covered cookie sheet with the crackers.

 

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.  Immediately pour over crackers and spread out evenly. (This mixture thickens fast!) Evenly sprinkle pecans all over.

 

Bake for 5-6 minutes.  Let sit for 5 minutes. Remove the parchment paper with crackers to help cool faster.  (You will be tempted to eat right away!)  Cool and break into squares.  Store in an airtight container or even better, give away as a Christmas blessing!

 

I actually used an additional 1/2 sleeve for the toffee mixture and 1 c. pecans.  It's so good, be prepared to make a double batch!

 

 

Back to kitchen "work" I go!...

 

 

 I'm joining friends at:

 

 



Irresistable Peanut Butter-Graham Cracker Balls

 

This weekend Mr. Cozy and I invited some new friends that he works with over for a relaxing evening of homemade dessert and coffee. It was a small casual gathering, and we had a great time!  I love getting to know people over a bit of sugar and coffee.  One bite at a time!  

 

I had to serve a little bit of savory, too.  Enter the cheese and cracker plate!  Smoked cheddar, Havarti with dill, crackers and apple slices.  (The cheese was amazing!)  I think sometimes it's nice to have a bit of salty to accompany the sweet.

 

I captured a few snapshots of the kitchen just before everybody arrived.  The water pitcher and cheese and crackers were out in the living area, and all the desserts were together in the kitchen with the coffee. 

 

The afternoon sun rays were beautiful streaming through the kitchen window!

 

I love my cafe lights!  They're staying up until we put a new light fixture in the kitchen.  We haven't found the right one yet, but that's okay since these lights are so much fun!  I like some whimsy in my kitchen!

 

We still have a few updates to do in the kitchen.  In the meantime, I'm loving my butter yellow walls and the cottage feel a cozy galley-style kitchen provides!

 

 As you all know, this was a perfect time for me to try out a couple of new recipes. Everyone agreed they were delicious!!!  I made homemade peanut butter & graham cracker balls--rolling some in crushed salted peanuts--dark chocolate covered Fleur de sel caramels, and unbelievably delicious mud hen bars!  The bars will be featured very soon at Inspired By Family magazine!

 

The peanut butter-graham cracker balls are scrumptious!  The graham cracker crumbs give these a nice texture that's different than the usual buck-eyes. (Don't get me wrong I love those, too!) This treat fun and so easy to make!  I have a feeling this recipe is going to pop back into my kitchen at Christmas-time!  They would be a lovely gift to package up in some cute Chinese take out containers and give to family and friends! 

 

I have a couple left over right now in the fridge.  Hmmm.  If you'll excuse me, the smooth dark chocolate covered peanut butteriness is calling my name....

 

Hope you'll try these delicious treats out soon!

 

Peanut Butter-Graham Cracker Balls

Adapted from: Baby Gizmo Blog

 

1 c. Peanut Butter

 

1 1/2 c. Graham Cracker Crumbs, finely ground

 

1 1/4 c. baking chocolate, chopped

(I used equal parts semi-sweet and bittersweet.

Here it really helps to have a baking/melting chocolate versus chocolate chips.)

 

Optional: 3/4 c. chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips, Heath toffee bits

(Used to roll the balls in.  I'd love to try the toffee bits, but my favorite were the ones simply dipped in chocolate.)

 

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Take your graham crackers and grind in a blender or food processor until you get 1 1/2 cups.  Add graham cracker crumbs to the peanut butter.

 

Mix it up well.  You want the mixture dry enough to make balls.  Here, I decided to add a heaping Tbsp. of powdered sugar.  The original recipe doesn't call for this, and you can do whatever you want.

 

Form 24 even sized balls with your hands and place on an aluminum foil or parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Freeze for 30 minutes.

 

 

Melt half the chocolate in a double boiler until just melted.  (I used a glass bowl sitting over simmering water.)  Once melted, add the rest of the chocolate and stir until melted and glossy.  The more you stir, the glossier it becomes. 

 

 Place toppings in smaller separate bowls.

 

Using a toothpick, dip the balls in the chocolate and allow for some of the excess chocolate to drip off.  Proceed to roll them in the topping or place them back on an aluminum foil or wax paper lined baking sheet. 

 

Refrigerate until firm.  Keep in the fridge in a tightly sealed container.  Will keep for several days.

 

 

 

I'm joining friends at:

 

 

 

 

 



Amazing Chocolate Praline Bark & Christmas Decor

I'm pretty excited to share with you with a recipe I just made last night!  It's soooo good!  Buttery like toffee, sugary like pralines and rich with chocolate....it's delicious and so easy to make!

I've made versions that are very similar to this --thanks to Shareen!-- but I just kind of winged this recipe with what I had and it turned out scrumptious! 

I was trying to make something to give to my husband to take to work today for his fellow med students.  I wanted to use ingredients that I had on hand, because it was a very cold, rainy night last night and I really didn't want to get back out to the grocery. I was just fine in my snuggly home that I do not take for granted!

 I wanted to make something that I don't usually make, but something incredible! 

This chocolate praline bark really fit the bill!   We were both surprised at how addicting these little things are.

I must say though, I made all of them to only eat 2 tiny pieces!  It was very bittersweet to give all of these yummies away, although I do LOVE baking for other!  Especially at Christmas-time!  

It's a time for giving.

These little goodies would be perfect gifts to package up!  Simple and easy with everyday ingredients.  You can really add whatever candy you want on top, but whatever you do you must use the pecans!  We both agreed that they not only make the house smell unbelievably cozy while baking, but they really make this candy over the top!!

I hope this chocolate praline bark gives you a new idea to add to your baking-palooza  this holiday season!

(Enjoyed my fire this morning, and isn't this little gingerbread tea pot adorable!?  I love him:)

Christmas-Time Chocolate Praline Bark

 1 sleeve graham crackers

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed well

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 c. pecans, roughly chopped

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

2 squares chocolate "bark"/candy coating, chopped

1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.  Spray with cooking spray.

Lay out the graham crackers right next to each other on the sheet pan.

In a saucepan, melt butter and sugar together and bring it to a boil for 2 minutes.  Take off the heat; add vanilla.

Pour mixture over the graham crackers.  Spread with spoon if you need to reach all the corners.

Sprinkle pecans evenly all over the top and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt chopped chocolate bark carefully. (I did it in the microwave).  I melted in 30 second intervals, stirring in between to avoid burning.  When bark is melted, add chocolate chips.  Stir until melted and heat a few more second in microwave if you need to.  Please remember chocolate burn easily.

(I did add a tiny smidgen of corn syrup here to give the chocolate a gloss. Optional.)

When the praline bark comes out of the oven, wait a few minutes, then sprinkle white chocolate chips all over and drizzle with melted chocolate.

Refrigerate to harden up faster.  Will only take about 30 minutes.

Break your yummy candy into shards to resemble bark.  Store tightly and enjoy!

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I wanted to share with you a bit more of my Christmas decor! I decorate my home to my taste...something that's cozy-classic with a bit of whimsy!

He's my very favorite little birdie!  Gotta love the hat!

I got these stockings last year at an antique&gift shop.  I thought they were cute!

The basket is for our Christmas cards we receive.