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Showing posts with label acorn desserts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acorn desserts. Show all posts

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Vanlentine Dream: Perfectly Pink Hot Cocoa . . .


In some parts of the world it is still downright cold outside and in every part of my world Valentine's Day will be here in a couple of short weeks.  And guess what goes perfectly with the most romantic day of the year? That's right....pink!!!

I just can't think of a happier way to spend your weekend than making Valentine cards with your little sweetie and sipping on some of this divine deliciousness . . .

PRETTY IN PINK HOT COCOA

Ingredients:
~ 1 cup white chocolate chips
~ 1 cup heavy cream 
~ 4 c. half and half 
~ vanilla (to taste)
~ red food coloring

Directions:
~ In a large saucepan, melt the white chocolate chips with the heavy cream, stirring until completely smooth. Add the half and half, vanilla, then the food coloring to get your desired color (I used 7-8 drops). Heat through. Serve in mugs, topped with whipped cream or marshmallows!

Recipe Courtesy of Brown Paper Packages

(pictures courtesy of Life is a Party)

And whatever you do, don't forget the homemade marshmallows!  You can find our recipe on how to make a few of your very own here: Juneberry Lane Homemade Marshmallows


Now all you will need is a heart-shaped cookie-cutter and your cup will be overflowing with love.  Or go ahead and add a few of the store bought kind if you are a bit pressed for time . . .  they are awfully cute too:


And head on back over to Juneberry Lane tomorrow for a magical little craft that will delight the little one's in your life:)  See you then!! Photobucket

Monday, December 12, 2011

Snazzy Snowmen Part Two: Melting Magic . . .

Remember all of those darling snowmen creations I sent your way last week?  Well, here are a few more ideas to keep in mind when you are brainstorming for fun holiday treats to make in the weeks ahead.  I saved these for part two since they are of the 'melting' variety:)  Take a look . . .



Snowman S'mores


How-to: 
The eyes, carrot nose, buttons, and twig hands are all made with melted chocolate....
The scarf is a fruit roll up (tip: cut it with a pizza cutter) and of course everything is sitting on a graham cracker and Hershey's bar!


 (Photos & Tutorial courtesy of http://theadventuresofmrsreagan.blogspot.com/2010/12/melting-snowman-smores.html



Defrosty The Snowman


Ingredients:
~ White candy melts (one 14-ounce package makes 16 snowmen)
~ Mini chocolate chips
~ Light cocoa candy melts
~ Rolos
~ Candy corn

DIRECTIONS:


1.) For each snowman, you'll need 6 mini chocolate chips, a light cocoa candy melt, and a Rolo. To make the nose, cut the orange section from a candy corn, then slice it in half lengthwise. Roll the piece between your fingers to form a carrot shape.

2.) To assemble your snowman, melt the white candy in a bowl according to the package instructions, then scoop a rounded tablespoon onto a sheet of wax paper. With the back of a spoon, smear the candy into a puddle. Working quickly, stick on the light cocoa candy melt, add a dot of white melted candy, then place the Rolo on top. Finally, add the candy corn nose and mini chocolate chip eyes and mouth.

(Above photos & Tutorial Courtesy of http://diva-cooking.yumsugar.com/Desfrosty-Snowman-6535456)


Melt-as-you-Go Coconut Snowmen
(courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Our snowman is made of vanilla ice cream rolled in coconut. His eyes, mouth, and buttons are licorice candies, his carrot nose marzipan, and his hat a toasted marshmallow atop a chocolate cookie. To make these snowmen, you will need three ice-cream scoops in varied sizes. Shoestring licorice cut into small pieces can also be used for the buttons, eyes, and mouth.

Ingredients:
~ 2 1/2 pints best-quality vanilla ice cream
~ Two 7-ounce packages coconut
~ Orange food coloring


For The Nose: 
~ 1 tablespoon marzipan (1/4 ounce)


For The Eyes, Mouth, And Buttons:
40 Sen Sen licorice candies


For The Hat:
~ 4 marshmallows
~ 4 chocolate wafers
~ Sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1.) Line a baking pan that fits in your freezer with parchment paper. Scoop the vanilla ice cream, rounding scoops as much as possible, until you have 4 of each size, and place on the prepared baking pan. Place the pan in the freezer to harden for 15 minutes.

2.) Remove the ice cream from the freezer, and roll in coconut. Return to pan, then return the pan to the freezer. Add orange food coloring to marzipan until carrot color is attained. Shape marzipan into small carrot shapes, using a paring knife to make ridges. Remove 1 small scoop of ice cream at a time from the freezer, and make faces using Sen Sen for eyes and mouth and marzipan carrots for the nose. Return to freezer until ready to serve.

3.) Remove middle-size scoops from the freezer one at a time; place Sen Sen in a row down the front to create buttons. Remove remaining scoops from freezer, and stack to create snowmen, pressing slightly to adhere. Return snowmen to freezer.

4.) Make the top hats by roasting marshmallows on skewers over a gas burner. Alternatively, place marshmallows on a baking sheet under the broiler, and cook until browned, rotating every few seconds. Place the toasted marshmallow on the chocolate wafer, and dust with sifted confectioners' sugar. Place the hat on the snowmen just before serving.



Sweet Snowman Shooters
(photos & tutorial courtesy of The Family Kitchen)

Ingredients:
~ 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
~ 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
~ 1 pint of vanilla ice cream
~ 1 Small &  1medium ice cream scoops
~ 8-12 Mini chocolate chips (or peppercorns)
~ 4-6 Small pieces of carrots, cut into tiny spears

1.) In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, place the chocolate squares and microwave them for 35-40 seconds, just enough to soften.  Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the chocolate, then return to the microwave for 50-60 seconds.  Remove and stir until the chocolate is fully melted and a thick hot fudge sauce forms.

2.) Spoon hot fudge sauce into the bottom of 4-5 small shooter glasses.  Using a medium-sized ice cream scoop, scoop some of the vanilla ice cream into a rounded ball and plop it carefully on top of the hot fudge sauce.  Use the small sized scoop to do the same, placing the second scoop on top of the first one to create the snowman’s head.

3.) Gently press the carrot nose & chocolate chip eyes into the snowman’s head.  Return to the freezer and allow to freeze until ready to serve (to ensure your shot glasses don’t freeze & crack, I recommend making these just about 1 hour ahead of time).

And a couple more fun finds . . .



Aren't these all just the cutest things ever?  Now I always thought it would be depressing to create a melting snowman, but when they are as adorable and as melt-in-your-mouth delicious as these little guys, I think that will certainly lift your mood!!  Hope your week is starting out just right!!! Photobucket

Friday, November 18, 2011

Desserts For Fall: The Final Installment - 'Acorn' Donut Holes & 'Corn on the Cob' Cookies

Well, to wrap up our series 'Desserts for Fall', I've decided to go ahead and send you off with not one but two fun & delightful dessert ideas to really make your loved ones thankful next week.  Nothing turns the 'ho-hum' holiday between Halloween and Christmas (or whatever big day you celebrate around the end of the year) like a plate of creatively clever desserts!

First off, check out these fantastic 'Acorn Donut Holes' from Gracious Rain.  The perfect little biteful for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner snack or just something to have in the kitchen for the days leading up to big feast.  And if you happen to have a donut hole maker, than you are halfway there already.  Take a peek.


ACORN DONUT HOLES


Ingredients:
~ Glazed doughnut holes (scroll down for a link to the homemade recipe if you like)
~ Chocolate Sprinkles and/or Crumbled Toffee
~ Pretzel Sticks
~ Nutella Spread (you can use peanut butter or chocolate frosting too:)

Directions:
1.) Spoon out Nutella, sprinkles, toffee crumbles, and pretzel sticks into four separate bowls.


2.) Dip the top 1/3 of the donut hole into the Nutella, then choose either the toffee crumbles or the sprinkles and dip the Nutella covered area of the donut hole into those.


3.) Insert a pretzel stick in the top, center of the donut hole . . . this will be your acorn stem!  Place on a lovely serving tray and there you go!






Why not cut some leaf shapes out of Autumn-hued napkins if you are feeling particularly crafty?




No donut hole maker?  No worries!  Here is a link to our homemade donut hole recipe:

Juneberry Lane DIY Donut Holes

Or go on ahead and make a quick stop at Dunkin' Donuts; I'll never tell:)  And how about these sweet little treats from Totally Cookies . . .


'CORN ON THE COB' COOKIES




Ingredients:

~ 1/2 cup butter
~ 1 cup sugar
~ 1 egg, lightly beaten
~ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
~ 2 cups flour
~ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
~ 1/4 teaspoon salt
~ Vanilla frosting
~ Green stretch candy
~ M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces candies

Directions:

1)      Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2)      Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl.
3)       Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
4)      Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5)      Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.
6)      Divide the dough into 3 parts.
7)      Roll the dough out on a floured surface.
8)      Using a knife cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long.
9)      Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes.
10)    Let the cookies cool then transfer them to a wired rack.
11)   Frost the cookies with the vanilla frosting.
12)   Use scissors to husk from the green stretch candy and press the husks in place.
13)   Fill in the middle with candy kernels.

Loving those two simple recipes, sure to bring smiles to everyone at your Thanksgiving table!  Well, that does it for our 'Desserts for Fall' series.  I can't believe we are almost onto winter already; my how time flies!!  Have a fun weekend, everyone! Photobucket