Anybody back x-mas gifts??

[Marilyn. 340]

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

1 Package of Baker's Semi Sweet Baking Chocolate (Red Box)

1/2 cup peanut butter your preference

1 tub 8 oz Cool Whip or other brand topping thawed

1/4 cup of powered sugar

Microwave chocolate in a large microwave safe bowl HIGH 2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stiring after 1 minute and once again after you have completely melted the chocolate.

Stir in peanut butter and mix well. Cool to room temperature and then gently stir in the whipped topping. Refrigerate for one hour.

Scoop cooled mixture with a melon baller or teaspoon and shape into 1 inch balls. Roll them in the sugar mixture. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

Makes 3 dozen or 12 servings if you allot 3 per person.

You can also add this or mix the outside covering to crushed pecans, coconut, crushed cookies or powdered cocoa. Very elegant looking when serving or giving as gifts.

I made those for Thanksgiving... they were pretty good... they taste really good if you freeze them and eat them frozen

[Marilyn. 340]

I am making a lot of unbaked Christmas goodies this year... Just not in the mood to do my usual Christmas baking this year... Usually I start in October or November....

here is another recipe I want to try...

Krispee Caramallows

60 to 65 caramel candies

1/2 cup margarine

1 can Eagle brand sweetened milk

50 to 60 large marshmallows

Rice Krispies

Melt together, caramels, margarine and sweetened milk in top of a double boiler. Stir constantly until smooth. Put toothpicks into marshmallows and dip bottoms and sides into the caramel mixture. Roll in the Rice Krispies and then let cool on waxed paper.

[Marilyn. 340]

Snickerdoodles

1 cup butter

1/2 cups white sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1. Cream butter and then add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add vanilla and beat well.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Add gradually to the creamed mixture and beat until dough is blended.

3. Topping: Combine 3 tablespoons white sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

4. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in topping and set on greased cookie sheets.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until top is golden and wrinkled.

[JaJo 1]

Amaretto Biscotti

1 Kg almonds powdered

400g of sugar

5 whole eggs

lemon zest

100 g of crystal sugar

In a bowl mix the almonds, sugar, lemon zest and then add the eggs, one at the time. Kned the dough well, make little balls (aprox 1 in diameter) and roll them on crystal sugar.

Take it to the oven in a greased pan (or use a baking sheet), low heat, for aprox 20 minutes.

Some things I found out:

You can divide the recipe in 5 (the original recipe makes a lot of biscotti)

You can substitute the almonds for any nut you like(cashewnuts ones are amazing). To turn any of those into a powder I use the blender.

I usually don't add the zest or roll them on crystal sugar and they come out just fine.

[MaryandMian 1]

Maryiln you are going to have me in the kitchen trying out all these recipes.

[Marilyn. 340]

Maryiln you are going to have me in the kitchen trying out all these recipes.

I have to wait to start my Christmas baking until after the next payday..... then I am going to be baking up a storm...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is it just me that thought that this was an early after Christmas thread?

"Anybody back x-mas gifts??"

[CarolineM 0]

I know, i'm slow.

Those peanut butter, choco truffles sound divine!!

[Marilyn. 340]

I know, i'm slow.

Those peanut butter, choco truffles sound divine!!

they are good but extremely messy to make I had to wash my hands a couple of times... it does help to roll them into balls first and then roll them in whatever toppings you decide to use....

[MaryandMian 1]

I know, i'm slow.

Those peanut butter, choco truffles sound divine!!

they are good but extremely messy to make I had to wash my hands a couple of times... it does help to roll them into balls first and then roll them in whatever toppings you decide to use....

Mariyln I use plastic gloves you get at Walmart in the medical supplies department one box lasts forever and I use them when messy things like this to keep a pair in the bathroom for scrubbing as well and they are cheap and disposable.

[Carlawarla 1]

If you don't have time, nor want the mess of baking for your co-workers or friends, you might want to look at doing some other type of "food gifts", either prepared, or almost prepared.

One year I went to the Dollar Store and bought beautiful Christmas jars and made coffee mixes (mocha, cappicinno)

One year I made hot sauces, and put them in a basket with a dipping bowl

One year I made up dried ingredients, put a recipe on the bag, and gave it with a gift (a cookie sheet, wooden spoons, oven mitts)

If you google "food gifts from the kitchen" you might find some good sites as well!

Carla

[Marilyn. 340]

I know, i'm slow.

Those peanut butter, choco truffles sound divine!!

they are good but extremely messy to make I had to wash my hands a couple of times... it does help to roll them into balls first and then roll them in whatever toppings you decide to use....

Mariyln I use plastic gloves you get at Walmart in the medical supplies department one box lasts forever and I use them when messy things like this to keep a pair in the bathroom for scrubbing as well and they are cheap and disposable.

cool that is a good idea.... hubby works for a medical supply company and he sometimes brings me home some of those gloves but I ran out a long time ago and he hasn't brought home any more since ... might have to bug him again....

[JaJo 1]

Grissini

2 1/4 tea cups of flour

100 g butter

1/2 tea cup milk

1/2 tea spoon salt

1 table spoon baking powder

anis seed to taste

1 egg yolk

butter and flour to grease the pan

1. In a bowl mix the flour, butter, milk, salt and baking powder. Place the dough in a surface sprinkled with flour and kned it until it becomes smooth. Wrap it in plastic film and take it to the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

2. Pre-heat the oven at 180ºC (medium heat). Grease two big cookie sheets and sprinkle them with flour.

3. Open the dough into a rectangle 20 cm long. The width isn't important as you'll cut strips that will be 20 x 0.5 cm. Sprinkle anis seeds and press them into the dough. Using a kitchen brush, spread some egg yolk over the dough.

4. Cut strips 20 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. Twist each one so they look like screws.

5. Place them in the cookies sheets, leaving some space between them. Take them to the oven for about 15 minutes or until they are golden.

[ceriserose 1]

My Mom made these every year at Christmas. I do too in memory of her. (Plus it's super easy and really good.)

Graham Coconut Chip Bars

1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 1/3 cups unsweetened medium flake coconut

1 package (6 oz) chocolate chips

1 can sweetenend condensed milk

dash salt

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F.

Grease an 8x8 square pan.

Mix all the ingredients together and put mixture into pan.

Bake for 25 minutes. Once cooled, cut into squares. Yields ~30 pieces (very rich, I always give out small amounts).

They can be eaten warm but are so much better when cold.

[Jenn! 918]

Gingerbread Men!