Tag Archives: chocolate

Simple Sweet Treats to Take to Holiday Parties

The following festive treats are guaranteed to spread holiday cheer at your next party. Gather your children and let them help out with these simple recipes. The Festive Fudgy Fruit Pizza is kid-friendly and you can let your youngsters help choose their favorite fruits and place the “pizza toppings” on the cookie crust. And what child (or adult) doesn’t like Jell-O? The following recipe for Creamy Cream Cheese Christmas Gelatin Dessert is sure to score raves from family members of all ages. FESTIVE FUDGY FRUIT PIZZA Ingredients: 1/2 cup margarine 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided 1/2 … Continue reading →

Making Holiday Fudge and Other Chocolate Christmas Treats

You can’t go an entire holiday season without indulging in a little (or a lot) of fudge, right? (I’ll let my hips answer that one.) Actually, for years I lived a fudge-free life (save for the occasional slip up at a holiday party). But, then I found the simplest fudge recipe known to man. It makes creating fabulous fudge so easy it’s dangerous for people like me who have little will power when it comes to sweet treats. Add in my Super Simple Brownie recipe and the holidays are just a 10-pound accident waiting to happen. HOLIDAY FUDGE Ingredients: 12 … Continue reading →

Christmas Cookie Bars

Last year I volunteered to bake Christmas goodies for troops stationed overseas. Each home cook was given two recipes to contribute to a larger care package for military crews who would not be home for the holidays. At first I was surprised that I was given recipes instead of being allowed to make my own homemade treats. But, I later found out that some of the care packages were going to soldiers with specific food allergies (peanuts, mint, etc.). The other reason I was given the following recipes for cookie bars is that apparently they travel well. Since these recipes … Continue reading →

How to Have a Choco-licious Christmas

Have you ever experienced the decadence of a chocolate molten lava cake? The devilishly good treat is comprised of a miniature cake with a hidden warm chocolate center that oozes out like lava from a volcano when pierced with a fork. It is sinfully delicious and now I’ve discovered a way to replicate the magic in a cookie. While I can’t take credit for creating the recipe (I got it from a holiday cookie swap), I can definitely attest to its phenomenal taste and ease of preparation. Ditto for another holiday classic that I traditionally prepare this time of year—-Chunky … Continue reading →

How to Make Homemade Peppermint Bark and Other Sweet Holiday Treats

If you are looking for an affordable edible gift to present to friends and family members this holiday season I highly recommend Peppermint Bark. Interestingly, I didn’t get my first taste of this delicious holiday treat until I was in my 20s. I was anchoring a local morning TV news show and a local chef came into the station to demo the recipe for a Christmas cooking segment. One bite and I was hooked. Chocolate and mint… who can resist that combination? What’s more, the recipe is fantastically simple to make. The other edible gift I like to pass out … Continue reading →

Kids in the Kitchen: How to Make Cute Chocolate Christmas Mice

“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” Mice and Christmas… it’s a combination most home cooks would rather not have to deal with. Unless, of course, you are making these adorable Chocolate Christmas Mice. This particular recipe is an ideal project for young children since it doesn’t include hot ovens, sharp utensils or boiling liquids. Rather, you will be using store-bought items and letting your kids use their imaginations to create cute little edible mice. Once you’re done making your tiny treats store them in an airtight container. … Continue reading →

Have Yourself a Minty Little Christmas

Chocolate and mint seem to go hand-in-hand, especially during the holiday season. After all, who can say no to a chocolate covered peppermint stick or a multi-layer mint-filled chocolate brownie? The following minty desserts are ideal to serve to holiday guests on a cold December day. Simply pair them with a mug of hot chocolate and the winter blues will melt away in an instant. MINT CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI Ingredients: 3/4 butter, softened 3/4 cups sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons peppermint extract 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup crushed peppermint candy Ingredients … Continue reading →

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes for Kids

After preparing a huge Thanksgiving meal you might not be motivated to get back into the kitchen to begin the monumental task of Christmas cookie baking just yet. However, as we all know, time flies and before you know it we’re halfway through the month and Christmas is knocking at our door. I haven’t fired up the oven just yet, but I have begun collecting recipes that I plan to make during my annual cookie baking marathon. This year (like last) I plan to devote an entire day baking with my young daughter. Last year we made sugar cookies, which … Continue reading →

How to Have a Chocolate Covered Christmas

If you cooked a Thanksgiving feast fit for an army of guests, then you probably aren’t looking forward to going back into the kitchen any time soon. Unfortunately, your break probably won’t be very long given that Christmas is right around the corner. To kick off the FOOD blog’s “Countdown to Christmas” series I’m highlighting an ingredient that most people can’t resist indulging in during the holiday season—chocolate. Personally, there’s no better incentive to get me back in the kitchen than whipping up delectable coca-filled treats. If you are working on your holiday menu, consider the following fabulously rich chocolate … Continue reading →

Make Crunchy Chocolate Turkeys with Your Kids this Thanksgiving

If you are going to take the time to make one edible craft this Thanksgiving, this should be it. My daughter made these adorable Chocolate Turkeys in cooking class last week and gobbled it up before I could go parental paparazzi on her and snap a few keepers. That’s just one of the reasons we are headed back into the kitchen this week to whip up a few more. The body of these cute little turkeys is made from Chocolate Rice Krispies cereal and the rest of the ingredients can be found in your pantry. This is one of the … Continue reading →