2006-Dec-18 - Easy Last Minute Gift......

AN EASY GIFT TO PUT IN GIFT BASKETS
Chocolate Spoons


Ingredients
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

In a microwave safe bowl, melt semisweet chocolate pieces
in microwave for 2 to 3 minutes and stir until smooth. Dip
spoons into chocolate. Place the spoons onto wax paper
and refrigerate until chocolate hardens. Melt milk chocolate
pieces in microwave for 2 to 3 minutes and stir until smooth.
Place chocolate into plastic bag and cut off a corner. Drizzle
the melted chocolate over spoons. Refrigerate until chocolate
hardens. Wrap each spoon separately and store in a cool
dry place

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2006-Dec-18 - Herbed Vinegars

Herbed Vinegar

2 cup white vinegar
1 cup fresh herbs: basil, mint, dill, rosemary, chives or oregano (choose one)

Decide which herb you'd like to flavor your vinegar. Place the vinegar in a glass jar or bottle. Add herbs, seal and let steep for 2-4 weeks. The longer you let it steep, the stronger the vinegar. Remove herbs and put in 2 or 3 sprigs of the herb for decoration. Seal bottle with cork and then pour melted paraffin around the top and tie with a ribbon for gift giving. Makes 2 cups.

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2006-Dec-18 - Cowboy Cookie Mix in a Jar......

Cowboy Cookie Mix:

1-1/3 cups quick cooking oats
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup (6 ounce) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
Additional ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour oats into a wide-mouth 1-quart jar or glass container
with a tight fitting lid. Combine the flour, baking powder,
baking soda and salt; place on top of oats. Layer with the
pecans, chocolate chips, brown sugar and sugar, packing
each layer tightly (to pack I use a skinny plastic glass with
cellophane on it) but do not mix. Cover and store in a cool
dry place for up to 6 months. (if there is space left at the
top-- there should not be much--you can use cellophane to
crunch up and put on top. I used the colored cellophane for
the holidays.)

To prepare cookies: Pour cookie mix into a large mixing bowl;
stir to combine ingredients. Beat in the butter, egg, and vanilla.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place
2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees
for 11 to 13 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen

NOTE: Decorate jars with raffia, I punch hole in directions and
put raffia through it and tie to Jar or container. Decorative jars
and bottles that many products are sold in can be reused for
this and also come in handy in the kitchen after it's empty.

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2006-Dec-12 - Alabama Chocolate-Pecan Jumbo Christmas Fudge Pie

Alabama Chocolate-Pecan Jumbo Christmas Fudge Pie
Christmas With Southern Living 2003

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet
chocolate morsels, melted
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Garnishes: vanilla ice cream, fudge topping

Combine chocolate crumbs and 1/3 cup melted butter,
mixing well. Press into bottom and up sides of ungreased
9" pie plate. Bake at 350° F. for 6 to 8 minutes. Beat 1/2
cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until
creamy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add
eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the
melted chocolate and next 4 ingredients. Pour the filling
into prepared crust. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes; cool
completely on a wire rack. Garnish, if desired. Yield: 1
(9") pie.

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2006-Dec-12 - Pecan Logs

EASY PECAN LOGS

Makes 8 rolls

Ingredients:
2 cups Marshmallow Crème
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring
1 (14 ounce) package caramels
2 tablespoons heavy cream
chopped pecans

Combine Marshmallow Crème, confectioners' sugar,
vanilla, and butter flavoring. Knead until all sugar is
thoroughly blended. Shape into 8 rolls. Wrap each
in plastic and freeze. Melt caramels and heavy cream
in the top of a double boiler. Dip frozen candy rolls in
melted caramel and roll in chopped pecans. Store
covered in a cool, dry place.

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