Search Results for: blog chocolate mint bars

A Very Chocolate Christmas

Just because the CDC issued a warning not to allow kids to consume raw cookie dough, doesn’t mean you should put the kibosh on holiday baking with your little ones. My 7-year-old loves to help out in the kitchen, especially this time of year when she can fine-tune her cookie-creating skills. In addition to fostering your child’s creative side, baking also allows kids to sharpen their math skills. By giving them the chance to assist you in the kitchen, youngsters also get schooled in time management, teamwork, and depending on how well the recipe turns out, you will likely see … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Chocolate Treats for Love Day

Valentine’s Day is almost here and if you haven’t been to the store to pick out that special something for your sweetie, you might want to reconsider. I just got back from the mall, and frankly, I wouldn’t go back if you paid me money. I say spare yourself the drama and headache of battling pre-Valentine’s Day crowds and head to the kitchen to whip up these simple, sweet homemade treats: CHOCOLATE MOCHA CAKE Ingredients: 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup strong freshly brewed coffee 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons water … Continue reading →

Cinnamon and Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Are they cinnamon buns or cookies? That’s what I wondered when I first saw the lovely array of Christmas treats my preschooler’s cooking class presented to parents at their holiday party the other day. Don’t get me wrong; they were lovely looking goodies, but at first glance I wasn’t quite sure what I was biting into. Turns out the cinnamon spirals laced with ooey-gooey vanilla icing were in fact cookies. And darn good ones at that. If you have cinnamon lovers in your home, these Cinnamon Bun Cookies won’t last long. They are that good. Another one of my favorite … Continue reading →

How to Make Lollipop Cookies and Gourmet Chocolate Truffles

Everything tastes better on a stick, right? That’s what state fair food vendors maintain anyway. Now you can bring the joy of snacking on a stick to your holiday party with this fun recipe for Chocolate Lollipop Cookies. Don’t let the name intimidate you, this recipe is very simple to make. What’s more, kids go crazy for these festive holiday cookies. The second recipe for Gourmet Chocolate Truffles is not as elaborate as it sounds. The chocolate treats that are mega-popular this time of year have the look and taste of a gourmet goodie, but the preparation is nowhere near … 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 →

Mint Chocolate Treats for Valentine’s Day

You can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day without chocolate, right? (Well, I suppose you could if diamonds were given as a substitute.) In my home nothing says love like minty treats fresh from the oven… or the freezer (my daughter loves mint chocolate Drumsticks). My 91-year-old grandmother is the reigning queen of mint in our family and the following recipe is one of her favorites. Unfortunately, my beloved grandma is very sick and this will likely be her last Valentine’s Day with us. Contrastingly, my 3-year-old just discovered the joys of mint at an ice cream social we attended last summer, so … Continue reading →

Flavored Hot Chocolate Fun

Our family loves hot chocolate. We like to get a little fancy with it and have fun coming up with different flavor combinations. Hot chocolate is hard to mess up. It’s a great way to have kids do some creative cooking. I have a selection of coffee syrups. Our favorite flavors are vanilla, caramel, peppermint, and raspberry. Here are some of our favorite combinations. I also like to mix a mug with ½ coffee and ½ flavored hot chocolate. Not only is it fewer calories, but it tastes like a fancy coffee store treat. Peppermint: Add either a splash of … Continue reading →

Minty Brownies—Just in Time for St. Patrick’s Day!

If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll likely agree with me when I say that brownies are delicious, no matter what you do or don’t add to them. Some of my favorite additions include chocolate chips, caramel, peanut butter, and walnuts. But that isn’t to say I’m not also a fan of traditional, no-frills brownies. They’re all delicious in my book. I came across this recipe today and am thrilled to share it with you. For this recipe you will need: 1 ounce semisweet chocolate 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar 2 tablespoons creme de menthe 1/2 … Continue reading →

Eating Healthy Snacks

If there is one thing that can quickly demolish your efforts at a fit lifestyle it is snacking. Okay, maybe that’s only true for me. For a long time I had no problem getting in enough exercise on a daily basis. I cut down portion sizes at mealtime, introduced healthier items into my meals and cut out the sugary iced tea that I was drinking on a daily basis. But I was still in a battle with snacking. In between all of that good stuff was munching on Doritos, dipping Oreo cookies into a cold glass of milk and enjoying … Continue reading →