Fun and Tasty Easter Projects for Kids: Candy Nests

I have a 3-year-old who loves to cook (sometimes more than she likes to eat) and I could not recommend an easier recipe than this one to make for Easter. It only requires two ingredients (the most child-friendly on the planet: chocolate and cereal) and doesn’t require any baking. And the best part: there’s no icky, sticky, gooey mess to clean up. Honestly, this project yields less mess than coloring Easter eggs. What’s more, the end product is so delicious your kids might have a hard time saving them to show off on Easter Sunday. As I mentioned earlier each … Continue reading →

Easter Candy: Make Your Own Marshmallow Peeps

I feel like somewhat of an ignoramus this morning. I had no idea you could make your own peeps! I have a not so secret confession–I love peeps! I buy a package at every holiday. . .but now that I know I can make my own, this means I can make them all year round. . .in any shape I want. (I am thoroughly excited–can you tell?) So while you’re making your other Easter confections, why not consider trying to make a batch of peeps. I like the idea as an activity to do with kids because it requires using … Continue reading →

Fondue for Valentine’s Day

Who doesn’t love cooking dessert right at their table or fun of dipping stuff in chocolate? My kids think it’s just about the best thing in the world to not only get dessert but then to dip in chocolate to boot. Of course, you may well want to enjoy these treats without the kids! Here are a few recipes for dessert fondue for your Valentine’s Day dinner. While I’m quite partial to toasted angel food cake, you can really dip just about anything your heart desires: long stem strawberries, pound cake, cookies (short bread works particularly well). Chocolate Fondue (The … Continue reading →

Fruit Flavored Fudge

Earlier today I mentioned that I was over Christmas cookies. I have eaten more than my share for the rest of the year and once my daughter and I deliver the rest of the tins we put together for friends and business associates our house will officially be cookie-free. The only problem… it’s now a fudge-filled zone. Blame my neighbor. She just dropped off some fabulous homemade fudge (see recipes below). And not just any delicious chocolate fudge (that would have sufficed), nooooo she had to concoct fudge infused with cherries and eggnog. Oh how I love the holidays. CHOCOLATE … Continue reading →

A “Twist” on Holiday Sweets

I mentioned in another blog that I like making candies at Christmas time. I mostly make fudge, however, believe it or not my most requested recipes have nothing to do with candies but rather with cleverly put together ingredients. I suppose it’s the salty and sweet combination that make my covered pretzels so popular. I do different things every year but thought I’d share a few of my ideas. This year, I am sure to include a new recipe I found from Family Fun magazine as well! Family Fun’s Chocolate Pretzel Bites You will need: waffle shaped pretzels Hershey’s kisses … Continue reading →

Making Your Own Candy Canes

I love making candy at Christmas time. My friends frequently assume that their Christmas tin from me is filled with fudge and homemade bon bons. This is a fairly impressive feat considering the kitchen I have to work with. I don’t even have a double boiler or a candy thermometer. (I use the old fashioned method for testing candy.) But I find it very satisfying to make my own candy canes. This is definitely a recipe to save for AFTER the kids go to bed. It requires testing burning hot candy, working with very warm candy and all sorts of … Continue reading →

Candy Making

For some reason several years ago I started making candies at Christmas time instead of my traditional cakes, cookies and brownies. It’s kind of odd now that I think about it because I don’t have a candy thermometer, or a double boiler, or any other type of equipment one uses to make candy. Nonetheless, I’ve learned to ‘eyeball’ confections such that most of what I make turns out decent enough to give as a gift. Candy making is an art and once you learn the terminology, it’s a lot easier than it might seem. Here is a quick reference list … Continue reading →

Homemade Vanilla Pudding

I promised a pudding recipe and tips on how to make it from scratch and so now I’m delivering! Homemade pudding is very, very cheap to make and it’s one of those basic cooking lessons that all good cooks should have tucked into the back of their repertoire of abilities. Pudding is one dish where you definitely have to use the right equipment. You MUST have a heavy bottomed sauce pan to make pudding. A heavy bottom sauce pan will help the pudding mixture heat evenly, thus preventing scorching and lumpiness. The second thing you need to make pudding is … Continue reading →

Homemade Fudge

My first batch of fudge turned out to have the consistency of a semi melted tootsie roll. That was over ten years ago. Since then, I have learned several new ways to make this delicious treat. Although, it is not a recipe to make if you are dieting. I’m sorry for the temptation. Try one of these recipes to see which one you like the best. Recipe #1: Fudge in a pan You will need: 2 and 1/2 Cups of sugar 1 stick of butter 6 ounce can mlk 6 ounce package chocolate chips 1 cup of chopped pecans 1 … Continue reading →

Ideas For Leftover Halloween Candy

Ding. Ding. Time for round three of trick-or-treating. We happen to live in a state where trick-or-treat times vary from county to county. Our community borders three counties so we had trick-or-treaters visit Saturday, Sunday, and more will come today. Which means I had to stock up on massive amounts of candy. Inevitably we will have leftovers and once I add that to my own daughter’s haul and “extras” from my husband’s office we’re talking serious candy overload. If you find yourself in a similar situation (oh woe is us), you may be looking for something productive to do with … Continue reading →