Archive for ‘Thanksgiving’

November 20th, 2012

Cranberry Orange Pecan Bark

A lot of times I am asked, “What is the difference between CandiQuik and almond bark, candy melts, wafers, etc.?”.

Well, a lot! Truly. Candiquik is naturally flavored with all natural ingredients for one. Dos, Candiquik uses very fine sugar particles – this will come out in the taste. It will not give you that grainy texture, if you know what I’m talking about. Candiquik also uses more milk products & more cocoas – which also becomes very apparent in the taste. It tastes good…not like wax or something similar.  It also comes packaged in this nice little tray; simply remove the overwrap and melt. Forget cleaning melted chocolate out of a bowl!

*Okay, I’m done*.

If you like cranberries and orange, you will love this recipe – if you can even call it that.

It’s so easy to pull together and can literally be made in 15 minutes…that’s including prep time!

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November 5th, 2012

Teepee Cake Bites

Tipi, tepee, or teepee?

According to Wiki, they’re all correct. I prefer the latter.

Anyways, a while back I received a package from My Little Cupcake.

You may remember when I showed off one of the four molds with these Cupcake Cake Pops!?

The verdict? Love.

Just think of all the possibilities with this cone mold alone!

Not to mention all their other varieties…plus, rumor has it they have a snowman mold!! I want!

image source: My Little Cupcake

You can find more information on where to purchase the molds through their website, here!

The nice thing about these…well, a couple things.

One – the cake ball mixture doesn’t stick. (Assuming you’re using cake, you could also use crushed oreos + cream cheese! Or fudge!? You get the point.)

Two – uniform cake balls – same size/shape, every time!

Trust me…this is a huge help.

 

Teepee Cake Bites

you will need:

Basic Cake Ball Recipe

1 My Little Cupcake Cone Mold (purchase here)

2 (16 oz) packages Vanilla CandiQuik Coating

2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter

To decorate:

assorted sprinkles (triangles, leaves, etc.)

Americolor Gourmet Writers  (can be purchased on Amazon.com)

Long grain rice (I used wild rice)

 

Tips for using mold:

Grab a healthy handful of cake ball mixture and roughly form it into a nice big blob. This creates a smooth surface when being used with the mold.

You want to stuff the mold plum full so that you get a nice evenly shaped cake bite.

Then squeeeeeze shut. You want to squeeze hard and completely shut so that all of the excess cake mixture is forced out of the mold. This ensures you aren’t left with a “rim” of excess cake around the cake pop.

To decorate the teepees I used wild rice, triangle-shaped sprinkles, fall-colored leaves, and star shaped sprinkles. I added more detail with the edible markers. The only brand that I have found to write on candy coating has been Americolor’s Gourmet writers. I purchased mine on Amazon.com.

I pinched a tiny amount of cake off the top, forming a slightly flat top, making it easier to press the wild rice on later.

After you’ve melted the Vanilla Candiquik, stir in a tablespoon or so of creamy peanut butter. This gives it that light tan color.

To dip the teepees…I poured my CandiQuik in a deep cup. A classy red solo cup works, too.

Insert a toothpick (about halfway) into the top of the teepee. Quickly immerge in the CandiQuik and pull straight out, letting the excess coating drip off; place on wax or parchment paper to set.

Press rice onto the top of the cake bites.

Immediately decorate with assorted sprinkles. If the coating dries before you get all your sprinkles on (this totally happened to me), simply use a toothpick and a dab of CandiQuik to attach any remaining sprinkles.

Once the coating has completely set, use the edible markers to add more designs.

Have fun with these!

 

 

 

Linked to the following parties: Inside Bru Crew Life, Crazy for Crust, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Sundae Scoop Party, Printabelle

December 20th, 2011

Ginger Cookie Truffles

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I love this recipe for several reasons.

1. I have about 9 billion things to do before the holidays and this was the easiest yet.

2. No baking required (I’ve done enough of that!)

3. Easy on the wallet

4. Scrumptious

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December 2nd, 2011

Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars

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I am begging you to make these.

You’re simply missing out if you don’t.

These were heavenly. Decadent. Outstanding.

I stumbled across them on Recipe Girl’s blog…

This is what happened after I read her post:

I bee-lined it to Target for cream cheese and eggs.

Don’t you hate when you have almost all the ingredients to a recipe!? That’s how I end up at the store, daily.

They are basically a blondie bar topped with an amazing white chocolate cream cheese (with a hint of orange zest) frosting.

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November 4th, 2011

Gobble, Gobble! Turkey Cake Pops!

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I didn’t mean to tease you all.

Who would’ve thought these little guys would be so popular!!?

Ok, ok, so as soon as I made them and looked at their googly little eyes, big beak and candy corn tail – I knew.

They just have so much personality!

Each one of them. Whether they have a cute face or stink face.

So I couldn’t help but share the photo with you on Facebook before I actually had the directions written up.

But here ya go -

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November 24th, 2010

No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Some things are just too good to be true.

Like when your family pranks you by buying you a fake lottery ticket that you just won “$10,000+” with. That’s just mean.

Or when…you watch chic flicks and wonder why the man in your life, your husband, future boyfriend, etc -  can’t be like that.

Or have you ever got super excited for that front row parking spot, pull up thinking “yessss” -  just to find there’s one of those cars that kinda resemble a go-kart parked there?!

How about those infomercials? Miracle diets? Or “Earn $3000/week from home”!!! WOw!

I’ve got good news for you: this one’s not going to let you down folks!

No Bake. No Measure. No kidding.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients:

  • 1 pkg vanilla candiquik
  • 2 (8oz) cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 (8oz) container whipped topping (thawed)
  • 1 packet Pumpkin Spice (or plain pumpkin) jello pudding mix
  • 1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust (or homemade graham cracker crust recipe – below)

Directions:

  • Melt Vanilla Candiquik according to directions on package.
  • Pour Candiquik in a large bowl over the pumpkin flavored gelatin powder and softened cream cheese blocks; blend until smooth.
  • Fold in whipped topping, and blend until well mixed.
  • Spread cheesecake mixture in pie crust and top with whipped cream (and a little sprinkle of nutmeg if you’re feelin’ fancy).

 

* You can also make this recipe into 8 mini cheesecakes, tarts, or individual ramekin pies – whatever you wish to call them. Just look for the cute, small, round graham cracker crusts!

Graham Cracker Crust Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4  cup sugar
6 Tablespoons butter
(optional: 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon)
Preheat oven to 375°F.  Mix all ingredients until well blended.
Press firmly onto bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool completely before filling.

Ohh, and one last thing – check out these cuties (thanksgiving donut pops) from Brooke at Cheeky Kitchen!

November 17th, 2010

Chocolate Pilgrim Hats

 

Thanksgiving is….

One week from tomorrow.

The fourth Thursday of every November.

Traditionally, it has been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

A day where most of us eat wayy too much turkey.

Then blame our lethargicness on the tryptophan.

I decided that the cute little turkeys from last week’s post were just not enough to bring to your Thanksgiving dinner for chocolate…

and we all know that I’m not going to coat a real turkey in CANDIQUIK – or wait?! Am I?!

Should I?!

I don’t think you’re ready for that, so instead let’s make Pilgrim Hats.

Easy and delicious…make it a craft day for you and the kids around, if not – I know you can handle it alone.

add this to your shopping list:

  1. 1 bag large marshmallows
  2. 1 package chocolate CANDIQUIK
  3. round cookies (I used fudge stripes)
  4. yellow cake writing icing

Directions:

  1. Melt CANDIQUIK for 60 seconds in microwave, stir thoroughly, heat for an additional 15 seconds (or as needed).
  2. With tongs (or a toothpick, etc), dip marshmallow completely in Candiquik and place on top of cookie (fudge coated side)
  3. Once dry, carefully draw on (with yellow icing writer) the hat buckle.

That was easy enough, right?! And cute.

Enjoy.

And as always, thank you for visiting!

 

November 9th, 2010

Chocolate Turkey Cookies

 

So I was thinking. Yeah, I know. Stop with the blonde jokes.

Aaand?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Most of you are planning out your shopping list, if you haven’t already.

Me – not so much.

I’m dreading the day I have to host a full Thanksgiving.

Until then, I think I’ll keep my small living quarters.

I can however, deal with making all the cute treats everyone will be talking about!

One of them? Turkeys. Chocolate ones. Vanilla ones.

Who wants real turkey anyways? Chocolate turkeys are way better. Or ham…that works too.

INGREDIENTS:

1 package chocolate and/or vanilla CandiQuik

1 package (24) shortbread/sugar (round) cookies (bodies)

1 package candy corn (feathers and beaks)

small assorted candies (or cake writing icing) (eyes)

Large Marshmallows – optional (bodies)

Whole pecans – optional (feet)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt Candiquik according to package directions

2. Dip the top of each cookie in Candiquik and place on wax paper to dry.

3. Before Candiquik is completely set, arrange candy corn and small candies on cookie to form the turkey’s tail, beak, and eyes (see photos)

4. (Optional turkey #2) Dip marshmallow in Candiquik and place in the center of the cookie as the turkeys face and place beak and eyes on the marshmallow before completely dry.

5. (Optional turkey #3) Dip top of cookie in Candiquik and arrange candy corn to form the turkey’s tail feathers. Let dry. Dip marshmallow in Candiquik and attach to the round cookie – attach eyes and beak with assorted candies and candy corn.

*If using icing writer to draw on eyes, let the Candiquik dry completely and then carefully draw on the eyes.