The Best Brownies ever!!

Are you ready to make the best brownies you have ever tasted??  They are so easy- and oh so good.  Let me tell you how to take these 4 ingredients.......

And turn them into this!!!  The greatest thing to hit your taste buds in a very long time.  I made them for Father's Day dessert and they were a hit.  The best thing is they are so easy- you don't even need a recipe.  Just make your favorite brownies- then as soon as you take them out of the oven, sprinkle some mini peanut butter cups on top & press them into the brownies a little bit. Then sprinkle some chopped nuts on top of that & then add some mini marshmallows on top. Put the pan back into the oven for about 5 minutes- just long enough to melt the marshmallows-- take them out of the oven and sprinkle Reeses Pieces on top- press them into the marshmallows a little to make them stick.  And that's it...oh my are you in for a SWEET treat!!!

Valentine Chocolate Dipping

Today I have some easy, quick, yummy treats for you to make for Valentines Day.  Actually you can change these up- using different colors and they will be perfect for a lot of different holidays! 

 

The first ones are chocolate dipped sugar wafer cookies. Keebler has a new cookie out, I bought some last week and decided to try making some.... the keebler ones are yellow sugar wafer cookies dipped in milk chocolate- and yes the little boys & I decided they are one of our favorites!!!    To make them, just take your sugar wafer cookie- (you can buy them at most grocery stores) and dip them into chocolate, I used pink cookies for Valentines Day- so I only dipped 1/2 of them and let the pink show too.  Then put some sprinkles on top! 

                                              The next ones are chocolate dipped fortune cookies. I bought my cookies at the dollar store.  Dip 1/2 of the cookie into white chocolate, add sprinkles & drizzle with pink candy melts.  Easy, and the little boys had fun making them.  

Let them dry, and put them on a platter and....... you have a perfect Valentine's Day Treat!!!

Valentines Suckers

HELLO!!!  I know it has been farrrrrr too long since I have posted!!  My how life can keep us busy!  I really wanted to post some things, but there just hasn't been time.  I had 2 of my Grandsons for almost a week- 24/7 so- need I say more?  I had forgotten how much time it takes to be the Mom & the Dad and the Grandma!!  So to all of you Moms and Dads out there... I think you are GREAT!!! Enjoy those little ones while they are little, far too soon they grow up!  And oh how you will miss those good ol' days!  Anyway while I had the boys, we had a few play days--  we made valentine suckers for their teachers one day.. they are made out of candy canes. I'm sure you have seen these around, they aren't new, we've made them a few years now- but they are so fun to do. 

First unwrap the candy canes.  We used the mini ones- then set them up on some parchment paper to form a heat, like this. I did some without the sticks.

Then melt some candy melts- I use a disposable frosting bag to heat it in - in the microwave.  Squeeze the melted chocolate into  the hearts to hold them together, and sprinkle with some sprinkles.

Here the boys are putting their sprinkles on, if you want to make them into suckers insert the sticks before filling them with the melted chocolate. Let them set and cool- they will harden in just a few minutes.

now you can bag them up .......

and tie them with some twine or ribbon and you have the cutest little heart treats you have ever seen.  I like to put a couple of them on a plate of Valentine cookies to give away to friends & neighbors.  They are a fun, simple, quick treat to make. The kids will LOVE helping!! 

Dehyrated Apples with a twist!!

One of my Families FAVORITE snacks over the Holidays were these dehydrated Apples......  My friend Anita brought some for us at our annual Friend party this year, they were AMAZING!!!  As a matter of fact she is amazing--  here is how she made them.

 Peel, core & slice your apples- I love to use my handy dandy apple slicer/peeler/corer from pampered chief. It does everything all at once with the twist of a handle.  Then simply dip each slice into your favorite jell-o flavor and put in your food dehydrator- and you will LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!  And besides tasting wonderful- look how festive they are too!! ~Karen    

Cinnamon Spiced Pecans

I have a "Clique" of friends - and we get together once a month for dinner. We started our monthly get togethers YEARS ago when my kids were in elementary school, they were all teachers at the school, and I was the PTA Pres. Over the years we have seen each other through the happiest & hardest of times.  Oh how I LOVE these wonderful friends!!!  They are truly the salt of the earth type people, whom I adore!!  We all took a vote this last year & allowed another person to enter the "clique"  Haha  And she is a wonderful cook.  Lastnight she brought us some lovely spiced nuts! 

of course we all wanted to know how to make them, and she was kind enough to give me the recipe... so that is what I am sharing with you today!!  They sound really easy- and I can tell you they are delish!  So cook some up for your Christmas Parties-- they will be a hit!!!   Thanks Shirley!!!

click on the recipe to enlarge it, and as always if you want the file- leave me a message with your email address & I will send it to you!   ~Karen 

Chocolate covered orange slices....

I have found a new treat!! Of course it's chocolate covered...  They're these sugared orange slices.  

I have never been a big fan of them plain- like this..... 

But take them and dip them into chocolate and oh my.... they become my new FAVORITE treat!!  Try them and I'll bet you will have a new favorite too!
I wanted to package them up cute & post a picture for you but.... yep- I ate them all before that could happen. :)

                                                                                                                                         ~Karen

Peppermint Magic

It's that time of year... for Peppermint Magic!!  I love Peppermint, so every December when those candycanes start showing up in the stores- I put them in my food processor and crush them up into this   "Peppermint Magic"

put it into a jar and add it to all kinds of things... hot cocoa, chocolate dipped pretzels, caramel apples, cookies, frosting, cakes- whipping cream is my FAVORITE!!  It's easy and oh so yummy.  Here's the recipe for the Peppermint Magic Cream... we love this in our Hot Cocoa all winter long! ENJOY!!

Peppermint Chex-Mix

Hi!! It's been a few days since you've heard from me, I wish I could say it's because I've been away on a SUNNY WARM island!!  But it's just been a busy, crazy week... I want to be done with all my Christmas shopping by the 30th of November- and I'm almost there-  

 A few posts ago I showed you some pictures from our Christmas Party last year, and this was one of the things I said I would share the "how to's" on.  It's our favorite!  Peppermint Chex-mix... so here you go, it's very easy and oh so good!  

I like to embellish it a bit for presentation, so in the recipe when you add the last 1/2 of the peppermint- I also add some red & green sprinkles too. Then when you put it in your serving dish- put a few red & green gum drops & round peppermints on top... and you have a great little treat that says ENJOY!!

Dipped Pretzel Rods

I've been dipping pretzel rods for our Halloween party this week.  So I thought I would show you how to do them.  I love to work with Peters Caramel-- it comes in a big block, and is so soft & yummy.  So first I cut a piece off and put it in the microvave for about 8 seconds. Then I roll it out flat



once it is rolled out, take a pizza cutter and cut thin slices of caramel



starting at the top of the pretzel -wrap the strip of caramel around, you don't need a very long piece.  I like to do it this way instead of melting the caramel because you end up with a thicker amount of caramel on the pretzel

next melt some chocolate-- I like to use a tall cup- dip the pretzel into the chocolate & coat it well

add some cute sprinkles, and lay it on some parchment paper to dry

you can do all kinds of  different things- I like to use both white & milk chocolate .... and it's always fun to drizzle some colored chocolate on them too.  Trust me they taste delish!! 

Cute Halloween tags

I haven't posted for a few days, but I haven't been just sitting on the couch...eating bon-bons!! LOL

Jamie posted some CUTE Halloween Tags she made..... so I thought I would use them!!

You can't get enough caramel apples this time of year!! They are one of our favorites!!

I had a Boutique last week-end and made caramel apples... wrapped them up and attached one of our  Halloween Tags!!

there are a couple of different ones to choose from... they turned out darling. If you haven't printed out any yet...you still have time!!   So there ya go, now you know what I have been eating... but hey, I figure they are better than bon-bon's!!  :) 

Can you say Popcorn & Pears?

We made some Halloween candy coated popcorn today.... love the colors!!

Mix them all together and--

bag it up-- tie them with a bow & you have a FUN and Yummy treat!

Chocolate dipped some asian pears too.....

I think I just found a new LOVE!!!  These were so good!!  Yes it was a good day!!!

Peanuts & Candycorn

Today I have one of my favorite fall snacks to share with you-- the best part is... there's no cooking involved!  All you need are salted peanuts and a bag of candycorn.....

just mix them together in a bowl- grab a handful & pop into your mouth, and you will think you have just bit into a salted nut roll. 

Beware.. it can be addictive!!  So yummy.... enjoy!!

S'mores on a stick

Here's another way to make S'mores!!!  Put them on a stick... these are really easy to do, we made them for Christmas last year too.

All you  need are Graham crackers- the flat marshmallows, sticks, chocolate and some sprinkles.
Break your graham cracker in 1/2 so you have 4 squares on each half. Place a flat marshmallow in between the two graham crackers- cook in the microwave a few seconds to melt the marshmallow, it will hold the stick better.  Insert a stick, the flat ones like popsicle sticks work better. Let them set-up a little before dipping them.  Take each one and dip into melted chocolate, lay on parchment paper & sprinkle with decorating sprinkles.  When dry wrap in clear bags & tie with a cute ribbon!! 

Bite Size S'mores

We have had the sick bug going around our whole family the last few days, so last night the two oldest Grandsons ( the only well ones in their family) spent the night at Grandma's -- and we decided to sleep out on the deck.  So Grandpa drug the mattress out and all 4 of us slept out under the stars!  It was a fun night-- but what is a sleep over without a TREAT?  I had seen these made at cookingclassy.blogspot.com and thought I would try them. I did a different version than she did-- Much easier than cutting the crackers into circles... and they taste just as good. 

I had the flat square marshmallows- so I just broke the graham crackers apart into squares place them on a cookie sheet, and put one of the marshmallows on each one.  You have to strech them a little to make them fit perfect. Then we put Hersheys kisses, and miniture candy bars on top.  Put them in the oven on broil until the marshmallows start to turn a golden brown.  Then watch them dissapear.  

Chocolate covered Raspberries

Well, here is another post about FOOD!!!  I am starting to wonder if we should change the name of our blog to They are HUNGRY!!!  LOL  It seems like I am always talking about food- or eating, or baking... YES I do love food-- and I am learning that  it doesn't love me as much as it used to-- or at least: gone are the days when I could eat it today & not worry about wearing it tomorrow! haha  But hey as long as I can still fit into my clothes I'm alright--

We have been getting a lot of Raspberries from our garden, so here's what I whipped up the other night for a midnight snack



First wash your Raspberries & put 3-4 of them in your MINI muffin tin.
you can do this with fresh Blueberries too!

 

then melt some chocolate and put it in a disposable pastry bag- (like I showed you in the dipped strawberries tutorial)
and drizzle the chocolate onto the Raspberries-- no need to be careful--

set them in the fridge for 2-3 minutes to harden the chocolate and you have a WONDERFUL treat.  Put them inside these cute paper liners to serve -- who could resist??   Not me, I ate almost ALL of them.  I took 2  to my husband and he loved them too... then he came in the kitchen 1/2 hr. later and wondered who ate all of them.  I confessed it was me- but I felt so guilty that I said "a muffin pan only makes 12"  What I didn't tell him is you use a MINI pan which holds 24!!!!  So he had 2 I had 22 - Yep just as it should be!!  :)   

Cookie Hamburgers

A few years ago I made some cupcakes for a family reunion and put a mini hamburger on top.  I helped the little boys make some a couple of years ago & found these pictures, so I thought I would share how to make them. familyfun.com is where I found them- they have a lot of ideas for cupcakes.

First you need for each hamburger- 2 Vanilla wafers, 1 grasshopper chocolate cookie, sesame seeds, green tinted coconut, red & yellow frosting- or chocolate.

 you can't really see the bottom vanilla wafer in this picture- but put one vanilla waffer(Bun) down & place the grasshopper cookie (hamburger pattie) on top. Add some green tinted coconut ( do this by placing some coconut in a baggie add a few drops of food color & shake) on the pattie- I also let the little boys roll out a green gum drop flat and used it for a pickle, then either use red & yellow frosting (ketchup- mustard) or melt some red & yellow chocolate melts-- drizzle the colors on the hamburger & brush the top of the other vanilla waffer with water & sprinkle with sesame seeds.  Put them together & you've got a cute little cookie hamburger.

          FUN to make and fun to eat!!  Just ask these 3 little boys.

Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Cones

I made these chocolate dipped cones for our play day, and said I would show you how to make them... so here we go!  I used the mini cones, but you can do the same with regular size cones.

First scoop vanilla ice cream into each cone.  I used my mini cookie scoop so that it make a perfect round top.  Then place the filled cones into the freezer and freeze for a few hours, or overnight. 

 then after they are really frozen, melt some chocolate & dip each cone into the chocolate, coating it well. Put nuts or sprinkles on before it dries, it will harden fast because the ice cream is cold.

 after the chocolate is hardened, roll each ice cream cone in a strip of tin foil ......

 and wrap them tight- place them back into the freezer until you are ready to serve them.

 When you are ready to eat them, unwrap and ENJOY!!!!

Chocolate Covered Popcorn

I LOVE chocolate covered popcorn--- this is a fast, easy and delightful way to make it.  We do this for weddings all the time & everyone wants to know how to do it-- my family loves it, so I try to only make it when we are having a party (which seems like every week)  because then I know I won't eat it all!!

You only need 2 ingredients- and some colored chocolate to drizzle with- First pop 3 bags of butter flavor microwave popcorn, then melt one package of almond bark according to the package directions.

You can pop your own popcorn in the air popper- or in a brown paper sack in the microwave like I've posted before.  But it tastes so much better with butter and all those x-tra calories!!

then sort all the un-popped kernals out and pour the popcorn in a bowl- add the melted almond bark on top and stir well, making sure that you coat it really good.- Pour the mixture onto your kitchen counter and spread out in a thin layer.  You can add sprinkles or small pieces of candy if you want and then drizzle it with colored chocolate.  I used purple & blue because this is the kind I made for our Father's Day Dinner. 

let it cool and then break into smaller pieces, put it in a bowl and watch it dissapear!  It is so yummy good, I promise you can't eat just a handful!.     ENJOY!!!!

Make your own microwave popcorn

My tip today is something I have done since my boys were very young-- they are now 25, 29 & 31.  So I've been doing it a long time, but I thought I would share it just in case some you didn't know you can make your own microwave popcorn--- and  it's really easy.  When the boys got married Amy & Jamie their wife's had never seen it done before-- so if you haven't either, let me show you how.

  

First you need a plain brown paper sack-- the kind you put a lunch in works great. And a 1/2 cup of raw popcorn-- open the sack so that it will stand up, and pour the popcorn into the sack.  Fold the top down on the sack and put the sack in the microwave standing up straight.  Cook for 2 minutes- just like you do the store bought packages.    

after it has popped, you can eat it plain- or add any topping you like.  You can buy these shaker top flavorings at the store, I think I found mine at Bed Bath & Beyond.   Or just use butter & salt, cinnamon & sugar or a cheese powder. There are lots of different ways you can flavor it-- and I promise you won't be able to tell the difference between this & the store bought packages.  It's a lot cheaper too- so that is always a plus!!