Quick and Easy Homemade Candy Recipes

Even those with limited time can make homemade candy. These recipes use the microwave to help you make homemade candies in a matter of minutes. Cooling time varies but the actual prep is very quick. Try the Microwave Layered Chocolate P. Butter Fudge and the Quick and Easy Marshmallow Fudge Candy. They are so good you will want to make them both!

MICROWAVE LAYERED CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE
You can make this fudge in 10 minutes. However, it will need to chill for a couple of hours.

1 cup peanut butter bits
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, divided
1/2 stick butter (4 tbsps)
1 cup semisweet chocolate bits
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Lightly butter or spray an 8-inch square pan. In a small microwave-safe bowl, place the p. butter bits, half the sweetened condensed milk, and 2 tablespoons of the butter. Cover with plastic wrap. In another small micro-wave safe bowl, place chocolate bits, remaining sweetened condensed milk, and 2 tablespoons butter.

Microwave the p. b. bit mixture on high for 3 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir until creamy smooth. Pour into the prepared square pan and spread evenly. Microwave the chocolate mixture on high for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave, stir until creamy and pour over the peanut butter mixture in the pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over the top and press in lightly. Chill at least 2 hours to firm. Cut into 16 squares.

QUICK AND EASY MARSHMALLOW FUDGE CANDY

1 pkg (12-oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chunky peanut butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows

In a microwave safe 2-quart bowl, microwave chocolate chips and peanut butter together on medium setting for 2 to 3 minutes or until the chocolate is melted, stirring after each minute. Fold in the marshmallows and spread the mixture in a buttered 9-inch square pan. Chill until firm. Cut into approximately 24 pieces.

Enjoy!

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Fall in Love With a Fall Wedding Theme

The deep love of a couple for each other may be reflected on how they carry their wedding ceremony. A fall wedding, very popular during the month of September and October, is a perfect wedding theme for couples who are looking forward to a warm and intimate wedding reception. This is a perfect date to spend more time together with family and friends for these months are basically home-coming months.

The Venue

To get you started for your fall wedding preparation, you may consider to think of love story books with fall season setting. Actually, a fall wedding can be casual but elegant with a beautiful old mills or barn yard setting. An apple orchard, vineyard or other place that can create a view of fall foliage can make a great setting option as well. You might also look for an ambiance where it has lots of rich dark wood and warmth to make an intimate atmosphere. You can then include a fireplace to add more sensual accent.

The Decorations

Fall wedding decorations can be a sheath of wheat, corn, hay bales and the like. During this season, good harvest is well known, crops like pumpkins, squash, acorns, cornucopias, gourds and even beautiful flowers like mums and sunflowers. Fall color schemes are rich such as red, orange, brown and yellow. These are the colors that can give rich jewel tones to decorate your wedding venues. You can make your own table centerpieces with handmade flower arrangement of sunflowers or mums placed in containers. And perhaps, squash and pumpkins to add accent on your serving table, bars and gift tables. Or make a jack-o-lanterns with decorative patterns rather than scary ideas, you can use a paper bag luminaria for the same effect. With fall wedding, not only you are getting a beautiful wedding backdrop but also an affordable wedding idea.

The Wedding Cake

Obviously, you can serve any wedding cake during your fall wedding, however adding an autumn-themed touch can make a lot more impressive difference. Consider serving a spiced cake or spice chocolate as well. Another cake option could be a marzipan fruit cake, or might as well serve pumpkin bread or apple; pecan or pumpkin pie instead.

The Favors

Of course, your fall wedding is incomplete without fall wedding favors. One of the popular wedding favors are edible treats like fruit jam, chocolates, candies and mints. An apple tied in a gold ribbon or a maple syrup are perfect as well. If your are crafty enough, you can even make your own caramel fruit recipe to be placed inside a your favor boxes or let your guests take your homemade sweet preserves.

If there no enough time for DIY favors, you can do bulk buying at your local wedding shops and even at online stores. They can offer you amazing favor option including today's very popular custom-made favors. With custom-made favors, you'll be able to incorporate your own design to your fall wedding accessories. Consider making them personalized, it could be a personalized wedding gifts, favors, to reception supplies.

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How To Have Fun on Valentine's Day With Your Family and Friends

Valentine's Day is considered one of my favorite occasions to share with my family and particular friends especially to share with my children. Its baking up those cakes, desserts and cookies and making lovely Valentine Day cards too. I have plenty of ideas to share with you. Valentine's Day is traditionally a day for loved ones to celebrate their love for each other.

However, not everyone is in a relationship each year when Valentine's Day rolls around. This does not mean these people have to spend the day alone at home. Just because you don't have a significant other on Valentine's Day does not mean you can't have a great Valentine's Day. Spending Valentine's Day with a friend can be a wonderful way to spend the day. You and your friend can do all sorts of things to celebrate Valentine's Day and keep both of you from feeling left out on this holiday. Here are some ideas to focus on for spending Valentine's Day with a friend.

Going out to the movies can be a great way for friends to spend Valentine's Day. Going to movies is not one of the most popular activities on Valentine's Day so you will likely not have to worry about long lines or shows being sold out. If couples do choose to go to the movies, they are likely to flock to romantic movies so you and your friend can avoid the crowds by choosing a comedy or a science fiction movie you have been wanting to see.

Another fun way to spend Valentine's Day with a friend is to get dressed up and go bowling. Bowling can be a lot of fun and it is not normally an activity couples tend to favor for Valentine's Day. Try getting dressed up in your old prom attire and head to the local bowling alley. You will not only be having a lot of fun but you will also be making the activity seem more special. You can also try dressing for a specific theme such as the 50s or the 70s for your bowling outing. Go play a game of pool at pool hall or throw darts. Go get your nails done, there are lots of manicure and pedicure shops open in the evening. Go window shopping for a new dress or eat a nice restaurant and enjoy your friendship.

There are a few fun Concepts and Ideas for Children:

Celebrating with children and their friends is so special. They simply love it. We begin cutting out card sized hearts for the cards I usually try to find heart patterns at my local craft store. I purchase glitter and ribbon to make homemade Valentine cards. There are just so much more personal and fun to do. I actually do not care |for purchasing the store, not much creativity. The children actually enjoy pleasure in writing a personal note on the Valentine's Day card.

To ensure the homemade Valentine cards do not get crush or dropped on the ground and in addition to allow them to carry back their Valentine's Day they received from school. We will make a simple tote bag with cut out hearts from construction paper, and you will need some permanent markers, too.

I remind my children to consider others in their class or friends in the neighborhood. When we go to our local dollar store or craft store and we buy pink, white and tulle, wide ribbons and plastic goodies bags with hearts. We place a small amount of candy in the middle of the table. Chocolate candies or heart-shaped candies are good. We place the tulle or plastic bags on the table. We place a few pieces of sweets in the plastic goodie bags and if you have a stapler, fold the top of the goodie bag and you can staple the goodie bag with a piece of ribbon attached and tie the ribbon into a bow. Then, the cut tulle that are in squares place the candy in the center and get the ribbon and assist your children to tie the sides up with ribbon.

Candy molds are at all times enjoyable to melt and make chocolate spoons. Be cautious some schools may not allow you to bring treats as a result they're homemade however you'll be able to possibly share together with your neighbors or take to local church gatherings and if you go to your friend's house. I also enjoy making chocolate cupcakes and whipping up some chocolate fudge icing and heart sprinkles.

My children love to present Valentine's Day treats to their teachers. For his or her teachers we make their very own special candy bags or place the candies in a pickle or mayonnaise jar that has been cleaned out. Remember to remove the labels from the jar. Fill the jars with candy or nuts that was specially chosen for his or her teacher. Cover the lid with a square piece of Valentine tulle or wide pretty pink or red ribbons. We like to print up labels with special Valentine message for the teacher.

The second gift that you can help your children make is cookie on a stick or bouquets. Start by helping your children to bake heart-shaped sugar cookies or chocolate chip cookies. There are a number of different size cookie cutters you can purchase. Before you bake the cookies it would be best to place a wooden dowel into them, place the dowel in the center. Pinch some of the cookie dough to cover the dowel. You can bake these at 350 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. After the cookies cool you can spread the cookies with red or pink icing and permit the icing to set. Buy a piece of floral foam (you can purchase at a craft store and they usually come in to colors white and green) and place the cookies in the bottom of a box or in a plastic container to set your flower cookies in. Arrange your heart cookie flowers to complete this gift together with your children.

Another idea for children teachers is purchase a 4- inch terracotta pot and enhance the container with acrylic paints, glitter glue or self-adhesive foam hearts. The adhesive foam hearts come in all kinds of colors. Fill the pot with valentine day school pencils printed with hearts shapes, chocolate foiled hearts with red and pink paper clips, heart pads and valentine stickers and wrap it up in clear or pink cellophane.

Valentine for the Family

With my family I love to give Valentine presents all day and into the evening. It's so to see their faces with such vibrant smiles. I like to put small boxes of little notes from my heart to each,family member. Quotes: I love you more every single day or you are the best, and you have a good-looking face. I adore you. No candy could ever be sweet as you. You get the idea. Always finish with Happy Valentine's Day affection. It can be a little mushy for some people. So just be mushy and have fun!

On the morning of Valentine's Day morning, I like to place Valentine's homemade cards or little stuff animals like bears or rabbits or even a baby doll for the little girl in your life at the table or my husbands desk before he leaves for work or before the children get up in the morning. You possibly can have every child place their Valentine's Day for their brother or sister on their chair the evening before and so they can't open it till morning.

OK. OK. OK! for breakfast Heart-Shaped pancakes. Yeah! You can go to the cooking store and get stencils or attempt to do this by hand. I have some metallic cookie cutters which are heart-shaped and you'll pour the batter inside. May sure you use a little cooking spray. They are medium cookie size however making plenty these ahead of time for your loved ones continues to be enjoyable for them to eat I like to add fresh fruit like strawberries or fresh raspberries and blueberries, don't forget whip cream too. In the event you don't want to do that you can make toast and use your heart-shaped cookie cutter and cutout your toast. Make some scrambled eggs with some cheese, sausage or bacon, a spoonful of apple sauce and any other favorite breakfast food for your family.

Lunch time Ideas: How about decorated Valentine's Day brown paper lunch bag or deliver them lunch at school. Of, course this relies what number of children you have. However, it is always a lovely thing to leave a small present for them at the attendance office. Inform the office attendant to have them come to the attendant or main office and make sure put your child's name on it. I like to leave their special sandwich or put their favorite fast food meals in the bag and naturally a valentine note that says I LOVE YOU!

Valentine's Day at the park is at all times is fun, if the weather is good. Packing up a picnic basket for the day is nice time for bonding and play board games. Where I live there is a river and you'll be able to explore nature and have a long walk. For the smaller children they'll play on the playground, and after that they can spend time opening up your picnic basket and revel in!

All of the things above can be exhausting for some mothers. So I suggest a family night to watch movies. A bonding time. Wear your pajamas early and wrap up in a nice big blanket. Build a tent and make up funny stories. Do something that will bring a closeness to your family. Make some popcorn, or kettle corn. Play a card game or board game. You can always go out to see a family movie together. Whatever, it takes to show Valentine Day love. Appreciate one another.

Candle lights for the family I say YES! Just have an elegant dinner at a nice restaurant with candle lights is fun for the children. Just keep an eye on children that can reach the candle. My daughter just loves to talk about it. Where does fire come from? How come fire is hot? But, it great to have our family together on a day of love. But, each and everyday should be love whether its Valentine Day or not. I also suggest having a nice dinner at home. Have the children set the table and order pizza. Ha! If you have time make a beef roast with rosemary/garlic potatoes and with cooked carrots sauteed in butter with fresh squeezed lemon and tablespoon of brown sugar.

Just the two of us (Couples)

Couples with or without children its your time to spend with each other. One thing to remember when searching for a romantic gift is that a truly romantic gift does not have to be complicated. A simple candlelight dinner can be one of the most romantic gifts you can give someone on Valentine's Day. You can either plan on making dinner yourself or ordering dinner in from a favorite restaurant. This is because what you are eating is not nearly as important as the mood you set. Whether you have pizza or filet mignon your dinner can be romantic if you set the table with elegant place settings, light a few candles and play some soft music in the background. Ah! the music, I enjoy Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Etta James for some deep loving with Barry White. All of these small touches will help the evening truly be romantic and you and your partner are bound to have a great Valentine's Day.

An over the top gift such as a hot air balloon ride can be a very romantic Valentine's Day gift. This type of gift is not only very original but it is also very romantic. You and your partner will not likely be alone in the hot air balloon because you will need a staff member present to help guide the balloon and help ensure a smooth flight but once you are up in the air you and your partner will be in awe of the breathtaking sights. A hot air balloon ride is something most people will never do in their lifetime but setting up a ride for you and your partner on Valentine's Day will be a very memorable and romantic gift. Focus your attention on what the one you love's favorite desert is. Chocolate is always special, chocolate bon bons, chocolate ice cream with marshmallows, a slice of chocolate silk pie. Try a fresh strawberry cheesecake with whip cream topping.

.We have a lovely fireplace and my husband lays the blanket down on the floor so we can gaze into each others eyes. We talk about our children and about how we met and how if we would meet each other again, we would do this all over again; and how we love each other very much. One year my husband placed lite candles all over the living room and it was so beautiful. He set the mood with soft romantic music like a light instrumental music or smooth jazz. It was so lovely. Later we watch a romantic movie and opened up a bottle of wine. When the movie was over we had a nice romantic dance, then he turned on some rock music and we danced our heart out. If you do this remember not too loud if the children are sleeping. Just because you are married doesn't mean that you have to be all stiff. Just let your hair down and have fun with your spouse. Then when that is over, what better to end with a sensual oil massage.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day

Fratena Dawson

These were my mom's favorite cookie recipe.

Enjoy this recipe:

Be-My-Valentine Cookies

Total Time: 2 hr 20 min

Prep Time: 2 hr

Cook Time: 20 min

For cookies:

1 cup(s) (unsalted ) butter, softened

3 ounce(s) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup(s) sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon(s) peppermint or vanilla extract

3 cup(s) flour

For Glaze

12 ounce(s) package, 2 cups, semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoon(s) shortening

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, sugar, egg and peppermint or vanilla extract. Using electric mixer, beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Continue beating until well mixed. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 375 F. Roll out half of the dough (keep the remaining dough refrigerated) to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out cookies using a 2-1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets; cool completely on wire rack.

3. Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until just melted and smooth (4 to 6 minutes). Dip half of each heart into the chocolate. Place cookies on lined cookie sheets and refrigerate until chocolate is firm. Store refrigerated in airtight containers, with waxed paper separating layers of cookies.

Have a great Valentine's Day

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Is It potential To Make Your Own Medifast Meals?

I sometimes hear from habitancy who are trying to save money by manufacture meals comparable to Medifast on their own. I'm often asked if it's inherent to make your own diet meals and, if so, how would you do it and what recipes would you use.

Being honest, I know a few habitancy who have tried to do this but have fallen up short. There are a combine of reasons that this task is difficult if not impossible. First, the Medifast meals are extremely high in protein and fiber while being very low in carbohydrates and sugar. Because grocery store foods and ingredients are made much more cheaply, they often just don't compare.

As an example, let's say you were trying to make a shake on your own comparable to a protein bar. The enterprise accomplishes the high protein in the diet shakes in part by using soy and whey protein. These are specialty ingredients that don't come cheap. If you tried to make a lactose or milk based shake, you'd very likely have a shake that was much higher in sugar and carbohydrates. But if you decided to forgo the milk base and, like Medifast, use a high protein base, you would likely end up paying more than you would pay for the diet shakes unless you were buying huge quantities. And in order to have a product similar to the one you'd buy from the company, you'd need to be shooting for 100 fat or less, 11 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and less than 9 grams of sugar.

Another example is the pudding. It too is higher in protein (14 grams) and fiber (4 grams) than any pudding you're likely find in a grocery store and is only 90 calories. Take a gander in your grocery store and see if you can find pudding that's comparable. You may find something somewhat similar in a health food store (although I've never seen one quite as high in terms of protein,) but I'd be willing to bet that it's more expensive.

I'll use the Medifast bars as an additional one example. Most bars that you find in the grocery store are full of sugars and carbohydrates. Some have more sugars than a candy bar. You can find high protein bars at health food stores, but there are often quite high-priced and much higher in calories. The bars only have 2 grams of sugar but 11 grams of protein.

Let's look at the soups and chilis. You're finding at nearby 100 fat but still a whopping of protein, at 14 grams. Many tomato based soups in the store are high in sugar, but the Medifast product only has 1 gram. It's unlikely that you will find something similar at the supermarket and if you tried to make homemade soup, you'd likely need to add protein powder, which again would increase your costs.

And I can't even fantasize finding grocery store soft serve ice cream, brownies, or pancakes that even come close to the nutrition, fiber and protein in the Medifast equivalents, much less any that would weigh in under 110 calories. Yet the chocolate chip pancakes only have 4 grams of sugar while packing in 11 grams of protein. And the brownies and ice cream all have similar in terms of the protein to carb ratio. Besides, how would you begin to make your own ice cream anyway?

I know that cost is always an issue, but if you use coupons, you're commonly finding at nearby (or sometimes less than) per meal. I am just not sure how much better you can do than this cooking for yourself or buying grocery store foods. To acknowledge the inquire posed, I think that you'd have to buy a lot of specialty items and ingredients to make your own comparable meals. And I'm not sure if it would be any cheaper or as effective.

Is It potential To Make Your Own Medifast Meals?

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Chocolate Milkshake method - 4 Chocolicious Chocolate Milkshakes

Smooth, creamy, frothy, these are just a few of the descriptions that run through our heads when we indulge in that all-time favorite freezing confection: the chocolate milkshake. It seems like the rise of the chocolate milkshake came at the same time that drugstores of old began selling soda fountain drinks consisting of a scoop of ice cream with sharp flavors added.

It was inevitable, I guess, that once chocolate syrup was poured over ice cream in a dish, that it would one day wind up in a glass. For the past forty years or so, millions of habitancy have enjoyed a freezing chocolate milkshake as part of a customary fast food meal of hamburger and French fries. Of course, it's just as tasty all by itself, but the fast food restaurants have caught on to our absolute love for the chocolate shake.

What happens if you wake up from a nice nap and perceive a craving for a freezing chocolate milkshake? That's right, you need to make one right then and there. Luckily, there are some great easy-to-make recipes for manufacture a homemade chocolate milkshake that will help to satisfy your thirsty tastebuds.

The three recipes below are all variations of the basic chocolate milkshake. I propose you try them all, since it's hard to pick a favorite.

=> Chocolate Milkshake Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Milkshake

What can you say about a chocolate milkshake that features cherries except, mmmm.

4 scoops vanilla ice cream or freezing yogurt

3/4 cup cold milk

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

3 maraschino cherries, stems removed

Whipped topping & supplementary cherry

Directions

Place ice cream, milk, chocolate syrup and cherries in blender. Blend until smooth. Adornment with whipped topping and cherry.

=> Chocolate Milkshake Recipe: Chocolate Cheesecake Milkshake

This is the most decadent of all four chocolate milkshake recipes. If you are on a diet, please move along; nothing to see here. If you could care less about calories - enjoy!

1/2 oz. Pkg. Cream cheese

2 cups milk

6 scoops chocolate ice cream

Directions

Place cream cheese and 1 cup milk in a blender. Blend until smooth. Place the remaining milk and ice cream in blender, and continue to blend until smooth.

=> Chocolate Milkshake Recipe: Chunky Monkey Milkshake

This is a tasty milkshake that will have you swinging from the trees and manufacture funny noises. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you'll right on feel happy with every sip.

3 scoops vanilla ice cream

2 tablespoons chocolate chips

1/2 banana

1 tablespoon instant coffee

2 tablespoon chocolate syrup

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Blend on medium for 1 minute.

=> Chocolate Milkshake Recipe: Whoppers Malt Milkshake

You remember how much you loved Whoppers candy as a kid. Whoppers are renowned for their chocolate malt flavor. I bet you ate fullness of them while you were at the movie theatre. Here's your chance to enjoy that same malted milkball taste in the form of a milkshake. Guaranteed to temporarily bring you back to some fun childhood memories.

2 - 3 scoops vanilla ice cream or freezing yogurt

1/3 cup cold milk

3 tablespoons chocolate malt syrup

Whipped cream topping

Directions

Place ice cream, milk and chocolate malt syrup in blender. Blend until smooth. Adornment with whipped topping and cherry.

Chocolate Milkshake method - 4 Chocolicious Chocolate Milkshakes

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An Easy Chocolate Fudge Candy Gift for all Occasions

Everyone has habitancy in their lives that they don't know very well, yet during the holidays or other occasions you would like to give them a small gift just to say "I'm mental about you at this time", "Thank You for just being around", "Welcome to the neighborhood" or "Thank You for the job you do".

This might be elderly, lonely habitancy in your neighborhood or church, habitancy you work with, the postman, Ups/Fedex delivery person, paper boy, cleaning personnel in your office, new neighbors, etc.

Because you don't know a lot about these people's likes and dislikes it is often hard to find an reasonable gift for them that they won't just chunk in a drawer and forget about for years to come. I think we all verily struggle with our thoughts trying to come up with small thoughtful gifts that habitancy in this type can appreciate and enjoy.

A amount of years ago I found that homemade Chocolate Fudge Candy was a good explication for this problem. It is something that most anyone can enjoy, no matter their age or sex. It is something they can proudly share with friends or family.

I have had to take into notice whether or not to add nuts. I have found that some elderly habitancy have a qoute chewing the candy with nuts. I just make a batch without nuts for those folks. I normally add marshmallows or cherries to their candy.

Here is a uncomplicated formula that I use:

18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Dash salt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

½ to 1 cup chopped nuts

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Spread evenly into wax
Paper-lined 9x11 pan. Top with nut halves or cherries. Spread them at intervals for the quadrilateral size you would like to have. Chill in refrigerator 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off wax paper and cut into squares.

I normally use Ziploc containers. I line with wax paper, put a layer of Chocolate Fudge squares, then a layer of wax paper, then more fudge squares alternating until my holder is full. I use small packaging for some and medium size ones for others. At Christmas they normally make these in red and green. I get the red and green ones at that time and top them off with a Christmas bow which makes a ready wrapped present ready to hand out.

When production a batch with nuts, I normally use pecans or walnuts. If I have to make some fudge without nuts, I use slight marshmallows, candied cherries or coconut. I have one 96 year old lady that loves coconut and can still chew nuts so she gets a batch with both nuts and coconut.

Some variations are to use White Chocolate Chips or Carmel Chips. I have also mixed in a few Carmel Chips in with the semi-sweet Chocolate Chips.

Even though I do most of my homemade Chocolate Fudge Candy gift giving during the Christmas holiday, I use it for gift giving all year round.

This doesn't take a lot of time, unless you have a lot of habitancy you need gifts for at one time, and it is verily well received by all.

An Easy Chocolate Fudge Candy Gift for all Occasions

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How Can I Get Healthy?

1. Pack as much nutritional punch with the foods you eat

Eat super foods as much as potential on a weekly basis. Examples of super foods are broccoli, spinach, blueberries, wild salmon, natural oats, green tea, walnuts, beans and legumes, pumpkin and squash, sweet potatoes, dark leafy vegetables, avocados, and coconuts.

2. Eliminate or sacrifice empty calories

The biggest culprit is sodas. Eliminate them from your daily living. Even the diet soft drinks which are worse for you than even the regular sodas. Other empty fat contain candy, chips, white bread, fried foods, and most processed packaged foods.

3. sacrifice Sugar

This is connected to empty fat as most foods devoid of cusine are high in sugars. Be enduringly aware of how much sugar you consume daily and take inhibitive measures to sacrifice the amount of sugar your body has to process.

4. Avoid packaged foods

If you do tend to buy some, make sure you read the ingredients in the back. Packaged foods tend to have preservatives, more salt content, higher fat, and less nutrients.

5. Eat healthy fats

Examples contain uncooked extra-virgin olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, and coconuts.

6. Cook and eat at home

Eating out is practically never as healthy as eating at home. Fast food restaurants followed by commercial chains serve food like products that taste good but are completely devoid of nutrition. They are fatty, salty, high in hydrogenated oils, and made to purely ignite your taste buds so you can come back for more. I am not advocating fried foods but even home cooked fried chicken is best than one from Kfc. If you do eat out, pick your restaurants carefully.There will be restaurants in your area that pride in their ingredients and some chefs are focusing on local organic yield to come up with innovative cuisine.

7. Eat less meat

Ok, I'm not saying come to be a vegetarian if that's not your thing. I'm saying plainly reduce. In most American diets, meat is the main dish, reverse that make meat your side dish with a balance of more veggies and some healthy grains. If you are a meat eater, limit your "four Legged" meat to once a week. Eliminate factory commercial animal meat products. Start buying from local small farmers who raise organic pastured animals that are not only free of hormones and antibodies, they are more nutritious. If that is not possible, most grocery market now carry meats without hormones and antibodies.

8. precisely no hydrogenated fats and high fructose corn syrup (Hfcs)

As you begin to read the ingredients in packaging, you will comprehend how many foods precisely contain these two ingredients. Especially, many of the cereals have Hfcs. No excuses, just make a pledge, never to eat whatever with those two ingredients.Another presuppose to buy organic is that organic cereals and other products have best ingredients in them even if it is plain sugar over Hfcs and tend to have less sugar content.

9. Eliminate as much chemicals as potential from your life

This includes, eating organic, using natural personal care products without Sls, fragrance, parabens, and other artificial harmful ingredients. Ask your landscaper not to use round-up for weed killer as you drag that in your home with your feet. Find a non-toxic pesticide company to treat your home. I pick to live with a few spiders that are a problem in our area instead to resorting to harmful pesticide chemicals that worsen the indoor air potential of my home. Stop using commercial harmful cleaning products at home. You can precisely clean your whole home with vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and vodka (yes Vodka, as a disinfectant!). For great homemade cleaning products recipes, see my narrative on natural cleaning products.

10. Exercise

I know you have heard it before millions of time and this has to be on the list or else the list will not be complete. No one is saying that you have to run a marathon to get the benefits of exercise. plainly doing something active with practice in mind 20 minutes 3-4 times a week will get you so many healthy benefits. If you've never exercised in your life, take baby steps (literally speaking)! Start with 10 minutes of walking, get a pedometer and hold yourself accountable to a measurable goal (2,000 steps equals 1 mile). Do something at least 4 times a week. I know there are days when you plainly can't even lift a finger but just walk or run 10 minutes if nothing else. It's the amount of days per week that is most important. For example, it is best to run/walk 2 miles 3 times a week then walk/run 6 miles once a week.

11. Get to know your body

Start going to the doctor for each year checkups especially after the age of 35. Knowledge is power. The more you know about what's going on with you, the more you will be proactive to take inhibitive measures. Know your vital numbers and make sure they are in a healthy range. If they need improvement, you can improve them with lifestyle changes rather than pharmaceutical drugs.

12. Meditate

even for 5 minutes. Don't forget your thinking attitude about life will manifest into your physical attributes and vice versa. Have faith, and you can use other thinking techniques to ensure you are emotionally healthy as well. You may want to look into Emotional free time Techniques (Eft) as a way to help you shed your negative thoughts. Eft is something you can do on your own to help you achieve your goals and to get rid of the subconscious negative thoughts that are hindering you. And just try to be happy and avoid negative thoughts that drag you down.

13. Take care of your teeth.

Floss daily and add 2-5 years to your life. There are a lot of studies that show that dental condition is connected to your total health. Also use a toothpaste that does not contain fluoride (this is a whole new topic on why fluoride is so harmful for your condition which is not in the scope of this article) and sodium laureate sulfate.

14. Take whole foods supplements

With our current diet as well as the fact that today's soil is so depleted compared to what our parents or ancestors had, it is vital to take supplements to get the nutrients that you need to sound a healthy diet. Your each year checkup can also communicate some deficiencies based on your lifestyle to understand what deficiencies you are dealing with. And not all supplements are created equal. There are ones that are artificial and others that are whole foods based, you want to focus on the latter. My basic supplement list is Vit D3 (especially in the summer), probiotic, and a multi vitamin.

15. Eat more Fiber

Most of us don't consume enough fiber. Eat steal cut oatmeal over instant oatmeal, brown rice over white rice, whole wheat over white, etc. You should have at least one Bowel movement everyday. If you commonly contact constipation and bloating, increase your fiber and add a probiotic to your supplement list. The extra good bacteria will help you balance your intestines while keep you regular with your Bm.

16. Sleep

we all need it, at least 7 hours ideally 8. Sleep restores your body, your thinking state and helps you cope best with the daily stresses of life. Millions of population are dealing with hormonal issues along with faultless adrenal fatigue. enough sleep truly helps you restore your body in more ways than one.

17. 80 - 20 Rule

I have applied this rule to practically all in my life. We are not perfect, we all have weaknesses. The idea is that if you succeed a healthy lifestyle 80% of the time, you will still reap the condition benefits. And you give yourself a 20% margin to given in to a few life indulgences. Living healthy is a lifestyle and a habit and to know that it's Ok once in a while to eat that cake on a birthday or to have your favorite dessert is part of living while you are not giving up your healthy lifestyle. This 80-20 rule helps me deal with some of the weaknesses I battle myself. I do not eat sweet things but the chocolate lava cake at my favorite restaurant is something I won't hold back on. The idea is that if you sound a healthy lifestyle and occasionally give in to your weaknesses, you will still reap the benefits and you are still ahead of the game. Keep that in mind!

If this list is too overwhelming, start with one thing, and at last concentrate the other suggestions. Even doing one of those above is a huge gift to your total health.

How Can I Get Healthy?

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How to Make Homemade Chocolate

The easiest way to make chocolate is to buy cooking chocolate from your local supermarket, melt it down, and pour it into molds. Cooking chocolate usually comes in four distinct flavours: milk, white, dark, and caramel. You do not, however, have to restrict yourself to these flavours as any store bought chocolate can be melted down and used. Now, we will take a look at the distinct steps used in making your chocolate.

• Break or chop up the chocolate and put it into a bowl; this makes it easier to melt. Next, place the bowl into a microwave oven and put it on high. Other recipe is to place the broken up chocolate into a ceramic or glass bowl, which is then located over a pot of boiling water. The aim is to use the steam to melt the chocolate, so never let the bowl touch the boiling water.
• If the chocolate retains its primary shape - thereby slowing down the melting process - one can stir it, with a wooden spoon, halfway through the process. This will keep it from overcooking. Note: distinct kinds of chocolate melt at distinct rates. White chocolate melts the fastest, while dark chocolate takes twice as long. Cooking chocolate, on the other hand, is the slowest melting chocolate of all three.
• If the melted chocolate is too thin to use for decorating, add glycerine, as this thickens its consistency.
• Once the chocolate is melted, pour it into a mold and leave it to harden. Generally, molds can be brought at your local supermarket; for more variety, you might want to go to a catering supply store. Alternatively, you can make your own molds by using aluminium foil or germ-free non-toxic plastics. If you are on a budget, ice trays can make good mold. You should not, however, use copper as it releases a poisonous residue that can be harmful.
• For variety, one can melt two or three distinct types of chocolate and pour them into the distinct sections of the same mold. For example, if you have a mold of the Easter bunny, you could pour white chocolate into the mold of his head, milk chocolate into his body, and dark chocolate into his legs. Mixing distinct kinds of chocolates into the same mold will give you a unique finding chocolates and a range of tastes. Other idea is to fill the mold practically to the brim with milk chocolate then, while it is still in liquid form, pour white chocolate in a spiral into the same mold, creating a gorgeous whirl effect. The possibilities are endless! Bon appetite!

How to Make Homemade Chocolate

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Gelato Recipes for the Holidays

Here are a incorporate of great gelato recipes that you should check out for the holidays this year. As I said before, I think gelato is going to be America's next food craze and you should introduce your friends and family to gelato this Holiday season. Why give another fruitcake, or bring a pumpkin pie to Thanksgiving dinner.

Everyone will love your homemade gelato and will appreciate that you put in the effort to make it yourself. Gelato makes the excellent low-budget holiday gift. Just put your gelato in a tupperware container, wrap it with a bow and include a card (with the gelato formula of course). I give homemade gelato to all of my friends. Many look forward all year to receiving my gelato. I go the extra mile and use an elegant glass container instead of tupperware. My friends get a heart felt gift, they get to keep and use the container it came in, and they can try to double it because I include the gelato recipes. Lots of my friends have gotten into gelato manufacture after receiving a gift from me.

Try these gelato recipes (from Bon Appetit magazine) this holiday season:

Cinnamon, Chocolate & Toffee Gelato - assuredly excellent with Hot Chocolate!

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

2 cups whole milk, divided

5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 cup chilled heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup coarsely crushed toffee candy (such as Skor, Heath bar, or Almond Roca)

Preparation

Whisk sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt in heavy medium saucepan until blended. Gradually add 1/4 cup milk, whisking until cornstarch is dissolved. Whisk in remaining 1 3/4 cups milk. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and comes to boil, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and cook 1 puny longer, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until melted and smooth.

Transfer gelato base to medium bowl. Mix in cream. Place bowl over large bowl filled with ice and water and cool, stirring often, about 30 minutes.

Process gelato base in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions, adding toffee while last puny of churning. Exchange to container; cover. Freeze at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.

Zagablione Gelato - Try this one with a puny Egg Nog

Ingredients

4 large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup whole milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

6 tablespoons imported dry Marsala

2 tablespoons dark rum

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Whisk yolks and sugar in medium bowl until thick, about 2 minutes. Heat milk and cream in medium saucepan over medium heat until mixture bubbles at edges. Gradually whisk hot milk mixture into yolk mixture; return to saucepan. Stir over medium heat until custard leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across and climatic characteristic registers 170°F, about 6 minutes. Immediately pour custard straight through sieve set over another medium bowl. Stir Marsala, rum, and vanilla into custard. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Process custard in ice cream maker. Exchange gelato to container. Cover and Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)

Please enjoy these remarkable gelato recipes this holiday season.

Gelato Recipes for the Holidays

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Recipes for delicious Homemade Chocolate Candies

Homemade candies are so much fun to make and to share with house and friends. Try these phenomenal candy recipes to please the chocoholics among your house and friends. Or perhaps you are the chocoholic?? Chocolate Covered Nut Cremes, Quick Chocolate Fudge, and Chocolate Orange Fudge are all sure to please even the most picky chocoholic among you!

Chocolate-Covered Nut Creams
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
2 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt
1 cup finely chopped nuts
8 to 9 cups powdered sugar

Coating:
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tbsp butter-flavored shortening

Lightly spray an eight or nine inch quadrilateral pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, blend the sweetened condensed milk, margarine, vanilla citation and salt. Stir in the nuts. Blend in powdered sugar until the mixture is very stiff. Press the mixture into the prepared pan and chill thoroughly. Cut into 64 small squares. Take off the pieces from the pan and set aside on waxed paper.

To make the coating, melt the chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler over very low heat stirring constantly. Take off from the heat when melted. Dip the candy squares into the chocolate mixture to coat. Place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with waxed paper. Let stand until coating is set.

Quick Chocolate Fudge
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup evaporated milk
2 pkgs (8-oz each) semisweet chocolate
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts, optional

Butter an 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan. In a 2-quart saucepan, stir the corn syrup and milk together. Add the chocolate and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted. Take off from the heat. Stir in vanilla and add the sugar. Beat mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in nuts, if desired. Spread fudge in the prepared pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm.

Chocolate Orange Fudge
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
1 pkg (12-oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp grated orange peel
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans

In a 3-quart saucepan consolidate the sugar, water, and orange juice. Cook, over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Using a candy thermometer, cook the mixture, without stirring, until the temperature reaches 234 degrees or the soft ball stage.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate chips until well blended. Stir in the orange peel and the nuts. Spread the candy in a foil-lined baking pan. Chill until set. Turn out of the pan, peel off foil and cut into squares. Keep candy stored in a cool, dry place.

Enjoy!

Recipes for delicious Homemade Chocolate Candies

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gourmand Desserts On A budget

Even with a few straightforward and cheap ingredients you can make a great tasting glutton sweetmeat that will impress and pleasure your house and guests. Mexican cuisine, in particular, is known for its easy but appetizing desserts many of which can be made ahead of time for easy meal planning.

Besides the popular flan, which is a rich tasting custard, empanadas are stuffed pastries that are easy to make and can be filled with tasty ingredients like fresh fruits.

Candies, cakes, cookies, and pies made with Mexican chocolate along with cool, refreshing treats such as homemade sorbets are also exquisite choices when you are on a budget but still want a glutton tasting dessert.

Prickly Pear Sorbet with Lime Tuiles Recipe

What You Need

For the sorbet:

• 3 pounds ripe prickly pears
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup corn syrup

For the lime tuiles:

• 1 large egg white
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• Grated zest from 1 lime
• Parchment paper
• 4 custard cups

How to Make It

To prepare the sorbet, remove the tops and bottoms from the prickly pears. Cut each pear lengthwise then peel off the skin and discard. Coarsely chop the flesh of the pears the puree in a blender or food processor.

Strain the pureed pears through a fine strainer or sieve in order to remove any remaining seeds. Add the sugar and corn syrup to the strained pears and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Transfer the chilled combination to an ice cream maker and frost for at least 2 more hours or until frozen.

After the sorbet is roughly frozen, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

To prepare the lime tuiles, beat the egg white with an electric mixer on the highest speed until soft peaks start to form.

Beat in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until the egg white becomes shiny and stiff.

Fold in the melted butter, flour, and lime zest and allow the combination to stand for about 5 minutes or until it thickens just slightly.

Place the oven racks to the center and top third positions. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Place the 4 custard cups upside down on the counter or a flat covering near the stove.

Take 1 tablespoon of the thickened batter at a time and place onto the baking sheets. Use a metal spatula to spread the batter into a circle about 6 inches in diameter toward one end of the baking sheet. Repeat the process so there are 2 circles per baking sheet about 4 inches apart.

Bake the batter for about 7 minutes or until each are completely a golden brown color. Do not underbake the tuiles.

Remove the tuiles from the oven and allow them to cool for about 30 seconds or until they are just cool sufficient to remove from the baking sheets with the metal spatula.

To remove the tuiles, use the spatula to swiftly lift off the baking sheet then drape each one over top of an inverted custard cup. Gently mold the tuiles down onto the cups so they will take the cup's form as they cool down.

If the tuiles are too hard to form down onto the custard cup, replacement them back to the baking sheet and warm in the oven until soft.

Allow the tuiles to stand until completely cooled and crisp so that you can considered remove them from the custard cups.

Place each of the baked tuiles on a sweetmeat plate then fill with a scoop of freezing sorbet and serve.

Serves 4.

gourmand Desserts On A budget

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Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

Is it just me or have the holidays become more and more high-priced over the years? whatever your single brand of holiday celebration (Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus?), this time of year creates a hefty amount of financial stress with the pressure to be buying more and more gifts for all the population in our lives. Sure, the thought of my empty wallet makes me yelp, but I truly think this monetary obsession sidesteps the greater meaning behind these gifts. The holidays should be a time to show our loved ones that we care, not to dazzle them with big, flashy electronics. Instead of exhausting your bank account, why not surprise loves ones with homemade gifts from the heart? Over the years, Recipe4Living has collected a range of great gift recipes, and hand-picked a couple favorites just for you. whether it's homemade soup mix for the cooking-challenged or gorgeous bath salts for the diva, your gift is sure to be touching.

Beauty Gifts

Desert Sands Bath Salts

Creating three colored layers of pretty bath salt, this recipe makes a extraordinary gift.

Ingredients

5 drops yellow food coloring

2 drops red food coloring

4 drops musk fragrant or necessary oil

3 drops Jasmine fragrant or necessary oil

3 C. Epsom salts

1 C. Baking soda

2 tsp. Liquid glycerin (skin moisturizer) (optional)

Directions

Combine baking soda, epsom salt and glycerin until well blended. Add scents stirring until there is no clumps left. It will be a fine powder. Divide the blend evenly into 3 isolate bowls. In the first bowl add 3 drops yellow food coloring, in the second add 3 drops red food coloring and in the third bowl add 2 drops yellow with 1 drop red food coloring. Stir each bowl until the color is well mixed. Allow the air to dry it for a few hours before placing in a bottle. Once dried, layer the colors in an airtight glass jar beginning with red first, then orange then lastly yellow. To use, add 2-3 tsp. Of the blend to running bath water. Soak as desired.

Note: Liquid glycerin used as a skin moisturizer, is a by-product of soap making. Glycerin can be found at condition food stores, some drug stores, or major division shop depending on where you live. It's also facilely available on the internet as well.

Oatmeal Soap Balls

These soothing and exfoliating soap balls also make great gifts.

Ingredients

1 C. Instant Quaker oatmeal

1 bar mild soap, such as Ivory

1/4 C. Water

Food coloring (optional)

Directions

Grate oatmeal or use a mini-processor oatmeal. Put into a bowl. Do the same with the soap. Add the water and blend well. If adding food coloring, add it to the water for even consistency. Shape into balls and put on wax paper to dry. Balls can be put into packaging or wrapped with plastic wrap and tied with raffia. A gift tag can be attached to the raffia.

Other attractiveness Recipes

Oatmeal Soap

Chamomile Lip Balm

Candy Cane Bath Salts

Bath Bags

Lilac Bubble Bath

Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath

Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath Gel

Orange blossom Soap

Gingerbread Bath Salts

Velvet Apple Bubble Bath

Bath Salts

Lotion Sticks

Apricot-Orange Lip Gloss

Gardenia Dusting Powder

Breakfast Anyone?

All-in-One Pancake Mix

Ditch the box and get inspired. This homemade pancake mix keeps in an airtight package so you can make pancakes whenever you want.

Ingredients

2 C. All-purpose flour

2 tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Salt

1/3 C. Dry milk powder

1/3 C. Shortening

1 Tbs. Sugar

2 Tbs. Soy flour

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together flour, soy flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and dry milk. Cut in shortening until blend resembles base cornmeal. To use, portion 1 C. Pancake mix and couple with 1/2 C. Water. This makes a thick pancake. Add more water 1 Tbs. At a time if you prefer a thinner pancake.

Note: With the addition of soy flour you do not need to add an egg.

Drinks

Fruit Extracts/Flavored Vodka

Making your own citrus extracts to use in recipes will give you a much purer fruit flavor. You can do this with lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, or tangerine. Peel the fruit in strips, leaving the pith behind. Place the strips in a jar, and cover them with good-quality vodka. Cover the jar tightly and let it stand at room temperature for two weeks, shaking the jar daily. Discard the peel, replace it with fresh peel, and let it stand for two more weeks. Take off the flavor, and use the flavored vodka in recipes calling for extract. It will keep indefinitely.

Instant Chai Tea Mix

For a great, super-cheap gift idea this holiday season, give this delicious chai tea mix in a decorated jar.

Ingredients

1 C. Pwdr. Dry milk

1 C. Non dairy creamer-dry

1 C. Fr. Vanilla pwdr. Creamer

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 1/2 C. Instant tea

2 tsp. Ginger

2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Cloves

1 tsp. Cardomon

Directions

In a large bowl, couple milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla flavored creamer, sugar and instant tea. Stir in ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. In a blender or food processor, blend 1 C. At a time, until blend is the consistency of fine powder. Store in your popular jar or decorative bottle. To serve: Stir 2 heaping Tbs. Chai tea blend into a mug of hot water.

Makes about 4 C. Mix

Other Drink Mix Recipes

Citrus Spice Tea Mix

Hot Russian Tea Mix

Sugar-Free/Caffeine-Free Hot Spiced Tea Mix

Irish Crème Liqueur

Sugar-Free Cherry Tea Mix

Kahlua

Russian Tea in a Gift Jar

Spicy Winter Tea Mix

Heartwarming Tea Mix

Mocchacino Mix

Kids

Bathtub Finger Paints

Kids of all ages will love taking a bath with these fun paints on hand!

Ingredients

1/3 C. Clear liquid dish soap

1 Tbs. Cornstarch

Food coloring

Directions

Mix liquid soap and cornstarch together in a small bowl until blended. Pour blend in equal amounts into ice cube tray. Add a couple drops food coloring into each compartment and mix.

Note: In case this accidentally gets into eyes flush with water for 5 minutes. If problems persist consult your physician.

Other Kid-Friendly Recipes

Schooldays Cookies

Reindeer Ginger Pops

Candy Roll

Cherry Bubbles

Don't Forget the Pets

Kitty Heaven (Sardines and Rice)

Ingredients

2 flat cans of sardines in oil

2/3 C. Cooked rice

1 Tbs. Cooked chopped liver

1/4 C. Parsley, chopped

Directions

Combine all ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up sardines into bite-sized pieces. Store unused portion in refrigerator, tightly covered.

Yield: 2 servings

Fido's popular Treats

Ingredients

1 C. Uncooked oatmeal

1 C. Boiling water

1/2 C. Margarine

1/2 C. Milk

1 egg, beaten

1 Tbs. Sugar

1-2 tsp. Bouillon granules

3/4 C. Cornmeal

2 1/2-3 C. Whole wheat flour

Directions

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over oatmeal and margarine. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in milk, egg, sugar, bouillon and cornmeal. Add flour, 1 C. At a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead in the final half C. Or more to make a stiff dough. Pat or roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into bone shapes and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 50 minutes.

Sauces and Seasonings

Cranberry Pear Chutney

Cranberry Pear Chutney is a savory and versatile complement to a huge range of dishes and edibles, year-round. It's as good with grilled or roasted chicken, ham or pork, as with cold meat or cheese sandwiches. Make it ahead and keep ready for spur-of-the-moment snacks; or take a jar as a gift for someone.

Ingredients

4 C. Fresh or icy cranberries, picked over, and stemmed

2 1/2 C. Sugar

6 whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks, each about 3 inches long

1 tsp. Salt

4 firm Bosc or Anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 C. Golden raisins

1/3 C. Diced crystallized ginger (see note)

1/2 C. Whole hazelnuts, roasted, skins removed, and halved (see note)

Directions

In a deep 6-qt. Saucepan, couple the cranberries, sugar, 1 1/4 C. Water cloves, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Cook until the cranberries begin to open, about 10 to 12 minutes. Adjust the heat so the blend simmers. Stir in the pears, onion, raisins and ginger. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until thick, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Take off from the heat, stir in the hazelnuts, and allow the blend to cool to room temperature. Discard the cinnamon sticks and cloves if you can find them. Refrigerate in tightly sealed jars for up to 3 months.

Makes about 2 qts.

Other Sauce and Seasoning Recipes

Safari Sauce

Kiwi Relish

Herb Honey

Caesar Salad Dressing Mix

Memmie's Chili Sauce

Green & Red Pepper Jelly

Herb Vegetable Dip Mix

Casserole Sauce Mix

Tabil Spice Mix

Sweets

Coconut Brownie Mix in a Jar

Give this walnut and coconut brownie mix to man with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients

1/3 C. Chopped walnuts

1/2 C. Chocolate chips

1/3 C. Flaked coconut

2/3 C. Brown sugar, packed

3/4 C. Sugar

1/3 C. Baking cocoa

1-1/2 C. All-purpose flour

Directions to Attach to Mix

Add brownie mix to 2 eggs, 2/3 C. Oil and 1 tsp. Vanilla extract. Blend well. Spread in greased 8X8 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until town tests done.

Makes one dozen.

Candy Cane White Fudge

A festive fudge for the holidays and a great way to use up all those leftover candy canes!
Ingredients

12 oz. White chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 14 oz. Can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 C. Coarsely chopped peppermint candies

Directions

Butter an 8-inch square baking pan; line lowest and sides with foil allowing foil to increase over sides of pan by about 1 inch. Butter foil. Over medium-high heat in top of double-boiler or heatproof bowl set over pot of hot water couple white chocolate and condensed milk. Cook, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth, 5 minutes. Pour blend into pan; sprinkle candy over top. Using knife lightly swirl candy into chocolate mixture. Refrigerate until firm, about 6 hours or overnight. Cut into 1 inch squares, brilliant shapes or rectangles. Store in refrigerator.

Yield: 64 pieces

Other Sweets Recipes

Caramel Popcorn Kit in a Jar

Jingle Balls

Dark Chocolate Praline

Peppermint Chocolate Fudge

Snowman Soup

Cranberry Nut Fudge

Fool Proof Fudge

Premier White Almond Bark

Nature's Candy

Holiday Sugar Cookies

Soup

French store Soup Mix in a Jar

The layers in this bean-rich soup in a jar give it a pretty presentation for a gift and a tasty result.

Ingredients

1 lb. Dried navy beans

1 lb. Dried pinto beans

1 lb. Dried Great Northern beans

1 lb. Split peas

1 lb. Yellow split peas

1 lb. Dried black-eyed peas

1 lb. Lentils

1 lb. Dried baby lima beans

1 lb. Dried lima beans

1 lb. Dried soybeans

1 lb. Pearl barley

1 lb. Dried red beans

Directions

In a very large container, couple navy beans, pinto beans, great Northern beans, split peas, yellow split peas, black-eyed peas, lentils, baby limas, limas, soybeans, barley & red beans; mix well. Divide evenly into 14 lidded jars. Attach a card to each jar with the following recipe:

French store Soup

Ingredients

2 qts. Water

1 ham hock

1 1/4 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Ground pepper

1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

Soak 2 C. French store Bean Mix in water to cover, 8 hours or overnight. In a large soup pot, bring 2 qts. Water & ham hock to a boil. Sell out heat and simmer 20 minutes. Take off ham hock. Stir in soaked beans, salt, pepper, diced tomatoes & green chilies, onion & garlic. Bring to a boil again, skimming foam off the top. Sell out heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until beans are tender.

Potato Soup Mix

Give this instant soup mix to friends and family who are uncomfortable with cooking!

Ingredients

1-3/4 C. Instant mashed potatoes

1-1/2 C. Dry milk

2 Tbs. Instant chicken bullion

2 tsp. Dried minced onion

1 tsp. Dried parsley

1/4 tsp. Ground white pepper

1/4 tsp. Dried thyme

1/8 tsp. Turmeric

1-1/2 tsp. Seasoning salt

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Place in 1 qt. Canning jars to store.

Instructions to attach to jar:
To serve: Place 1/2 C. Mix in soup bowl and add 1 C. Boiling water. Stir until smooth.

Makes 6 servings.

Other Soup Recipes

Arizona Bean Soup Mix in a Jar

Turkey Noodle Soup Mix in a Jar

Mushroom Barley Soup Mix

Texas Two-Step Soup Mix in a Jar

Condensed Cream of Soup Mix

Other

For the Whole Family- Why not originate a family cookbook, one for each member of the family? This sentimental treasure creates a extraordinary keepsake to be passed down for generations. Check out how to do it here: originate a family Cookbook at Recipe4Living.com.

For the Lovers of the Great Outdoors- satisfaction the nature lovers in your family will all natural alternatives to ward off bug bites and save their garden.

Insect Repellent Sachet

Ingredients

4 parts tansy 4 parts patchouli

2 parts lavender

1/2 of 1 part powdered Orris Root

Directions

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Fill cloth bags made from remnants. Tie off with a bow.

Animal Repellent

The smell of this home made repellent will keep animals away from your outdoor garden.

Ingredients

1 Tbs. Cayenne pepper

1 Tbs. Garlic powder

1 qt. Water

1/4 tsp. Liquid detergent

Directions
Mix well. Spray on all organery plants. Note: Do not use around your pets .

Weed Killer

The vinegar is what kills the weeds, but the dish soap holds the vinegar in place so it stays on the plant instead of running off. This works great on grass or weeds in sidewalk or driveway cracks, too. Best time to spray is in the middle of the day when the sun is hottest.

Ingredients

1 C. Of vinegar

1/2 C. Of regular dish soap (not dishwasher detergent)

Fill the rest of the bottle up with water.

Directions

Use a funnel to place the following ingredients in a medium spray bottle practically the size of a quart, but it doesn't have to be exact. Shake well before each use. Spray blend directly on the weed itself; if weed is out in the yard, be specific not to spray
the grass!

Copyright © 2006 Ampere Media Llc

Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

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Recipes and Fun Activities For Easter

It's that time of year again when daffodils will soon be in bloom, trees will be budding, and a lot of folks will be anxious to get out and work in their flower beds. It's called spring! And with spring comes the Easter bunny. An thoughprovoking and fun time for both kids and parents.

My all-time popular Easter candy were those marshmallow peeps. Every spring (to this day), I indulge in a container or two. I love them so.

There are lots of fun activities for kids on this extra spring holiday. Go beyond egg decorating and help your little ones decorate cute things for the house. Maybe some homemade crayola pictures to display in the windows or perhaps generate an Easter tree. Egg relays are a lot of fun as well. You know the game with the egg and the spoon where teams are paired up and the winners are the ones who carries the eggs from point A to point B? This game can be mixed with children and parents for even more fun!

Cookie decorating can be a fun action too. Bake the cookies ahead of time and make them in all shapes. Egg shaped, bunny shaped, or anyone you wish. Make sure you have abundance of pastel food coloring for the frosting along with lots of sprinkles. Other cool idea...have your kids help you put in order the Easter meal. Put a special, homemade apron on them and they will feel like a real chef. It's pretty much tradition to put in order a ham for the meal. But what can you make as side dishes and desserts?

Let's explore a incorporate of ideas...

Easter Cupcakes

Ingredients

(for basic cake recipe-about 12 cupcakes)

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs milk
2 large eggs
12 Easter-themed cupcake liners
frosting
food coloring
sprinkles
cupcake or muffin pan
small chocolate bunnies

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. With a wooden spoon, mix the butter and sugar together until smooth, ( about 2 min). Add the eggs and milk and stir thoroughly.

Gently fold in the flour and mix until fully blended. Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake liners. Place the pan of cupcakes on a shelf just above the center for 15 minutes.

After cooled, frost the cupcakes in the color of your choice. The kids will have fun decorating the cupcakes with the sprinkles and the chocolate bunnies.

Family's popular Potato Salad

Ingredients

2 lb small red potatoes, unpeeled
6 eggs
3 celery stalks
1/4 cup finely diced red onion

For Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 green onion, along with the tender green tops, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Boil the potatoes and eggs. I all the time put them in the fridge overnight to forestall the potato salad from turning out mushy. Peel the potatoes and the eggs and cut into small chunks and toss them into a large bowl. Add the celery and red onion and toss briefly to mix. Set aside.

For Dressing: In a small bowl and using a fork, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard seeds, green onion, parsley, dry mustard, salt and pepper, mixing well. Pour the dressing over the potato and egg composition and mix well.

For best flavor, cover and chill for up to 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle the parsley over the top and serve.

Extra house Activity

With today's global economic conditions...there are many children and families in need. Why not make up some extra baskets that you can donate? This is something that kids can help with as well. You will be putting smiles on many faces. Share the joy of giving this Easter.

Recipes and Fun Activities For Easter

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method For Raw Chocolate Bars

Since 1842, when Cadbury's of England created the first chocolate bar, millions of people have had a love affair with chocolate. It's estimated that the median American eats 4.5 kilos per year and the median Swiss eats 9.5!

Of policy the history of chocolate stretches back to aged Olmec and Aztec civilizations where it was considered to be a "Food of the Gods."

I personally was never a big fan of chocolate, at least not until I started experiencing pure raw cacao. I think the suspect is that general chocolate has authentically been cooked to death. To make a typical chocolate bar, cacao beans are crushed, fermented and then roasted at 150 C (300 F) for 1 - 2 hours. After that, they are tempered with boiling water for 20-30 minutes.

When you add processed sugar, milk products, preservatives, synthetic colors, chemical flavors and more to this lifeless chocolate substance it's no wonder that some people produce allergies to chocolate. Interestingly, though, I've seen that most people with chocolate allergies, do not have a similar reaction with raw cacao.

Raw cacao has many nutritional benefits and is generally considered one of the most complete foods on the planet.

Since experiencing the effects of raw cacao for myself, I find myself using it often. I usually add a few whole beans to my smoothies, I use cacao in salad dressings and sauces, and sometimes I just snack a few beans with a bit of agave or honey.

But, thanks to my partner Gabrielle's love of chocolate, I get most of my raw cacao in the form of great tasting raw chocolate bars.

I'm happy to share her basic formula with you here.

To make this formula you need a polisher or a mortar and pestle

Ingredients for straightforward chocolate:

1/2 C whole peeled cacao beans, ground
1/8 C coconut oil
1/8 C melted cacao butter (use coconut oil if not available)
1/4 C raw honey or raw agave syrup

Optional ingredients:

1/4 cup raisins
1 T almonds, finely chopped
1 drop orange, lemon, clove, lavender or other requisite oil
Cinnamon to taste
Celtic sea salt to taste

Preparation:

Grind cacao until it is very fine. The cacao will have a consistency like raw almond butter and will stick to the sides of the grinder. Mix ground cacao with coconut oil or cacao butter in grinder. take off compound and add honey and other ingredients. Stir well with a fork. The compound should be able to be poured. If not, add more coconut oil. Pour into ice cube trays or other forms and ice for 45 minutes. Serve immediately after removing from the freezer.

A Few engaging Facts About Cacao and Chocolate

The word 'Chocolate' comes from the Aztec word, "cacahuatl" or "xocolatl." This means 'bitter water'.

Raw Cacao was regarded as an aphrodisiac by Aztecs.

In 1624 Johan Franciscus Rauch an Austrian professor, tried to ban chocolate from monasteries and urged monks not to drink chocolate as he said it "inflamed passions."

Cacao contains antioxidants which may help preclude cancer and heart disease.

Cacao brings instant ease and acts as a mild anti-depressant by increasing our serotonin and endorphin levels.

Cacao contains theobromine, which is a mild relative of caffeine and magnesium. This chemical is found in some tranquilisers. Because coffee also contains caffeine, it both picks you up and calms you down.

Cacao beans were so requisite in aged Mexico that the Maya and subsequent Aztec and Toltec civilizations used them as a means of currency to pay for commodities and taxes.

The French Leader Napoleon insisted that wine, from the Burgundy vineyard called Chambertin, as well as chocolate be available during military campaigns.

During the Second World War, the U.S. Government commissioned Milton Hershey to generate a candy bar to be included in soldier's rations. The candy bar chosen was the predominant Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar.

Every Russian and American space trip has included chocolate bars.

method For Raw Chocolate Bars

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The Eating Season

The Eating Season is upon us! We've put away the swimsuits, and pulled on our sweat suits. The flag is down, and weeeee're off! If we're ready and have a game plan, we'll survive.

Why do thoughts of food consume us?

My mom (a diabetic) called me the first week of November with Big News! We just Had to come see her treasure. She'd happened upon a woman at her grocery store with her grocery cart stacked so high with grocery bags, she could not see above her cart to navigate to the check out counter. Not one to resist a bargain, mom inquired, "what is it"? The woman pointed and indicated the leftover Halloween candy, "five dollars a bag, as much as it will hold". Mom bragged that her bag was so heavy, the handles broke! Now, I am the legal guardian of the loot, manufacture sure my kids don't overdose on chocolate. Not to mention myself.

Each year nearby this time, I get what I call my nesting urge. I pull out and dust off my cookbooks and witness them for yummy, warm, cozy comfort food. I started a tradition as a newlywed, of rating the new recipes, manufacture a note or suggestion, and the date. My husband, not wanting to offend his bride, would say all was great. Suffering through one particularly inedible meal, I told him to be honest, or you may have to eat this once a week for the rest of your life. Once the kids came along I would ask each person to rate the new recipe and to give me a one word description. My cookbook variety is a treasure of dates and memories, with the kid's descriptions, phonetically spelled when they were young, such as "dee-wish-us".

Every year my mom says she can't do Thanksgiving dinner anymore. And, each year she says, "I already bought the turkey, of course I'm cooking!" I'll bring the green bean casserole; my sister will bring her homemade pumpkin pies. We will all agree that this was the best year ever! We'll stuff ourselves, and laugh about whatever and nothing at all. Mom will say this is the last time, and we will appreciate that at 80 something she in case,granted a lovely family palpate for us.

The baking begins in earnest the day after Thanksgiving. Holiday parties and gatherings, cookie exchanges... On an on it goes until the big bash for New Years Eve! Whew! Time to begin thinking about swimsuit weather...

The Eating Season

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My incommunicable Peanut Butter Chocolate Candy formula

When faced with selecting gifts for co-workers, distant house members, or citizen whom you do not know very well, you can not go wrong with the gift of candy. While it is easy to plump a nice container and fill it with hard candy, I prefer to use my secret peanut butter chocolate candy recipe.

Making chocolate candy with a touch of peanut butter is not difficult. The first step is selecting candy molds. Candy molds come in traditional shapes, such as circles and squares, but come in all types of fancy shapes as well. You can find wedding themes, holiday themes, and even cartoon characters. Next, you'll want to purchase chocolate. You can use chocolate chips, or buy chocolate that is specially made for candy making. Now for my secret: add in some peanut butter chips to the chocolate before melting. How many chips you should use depends on how much peanut butter flavor you wish to add. Chocolate melts at a relatively low temperature, which is why it melts in your hand, so you will need to be very truthful while melting it. Do not allow it to heat too quickly, or it will burn.

Next, you'll want to determined fill the molds. This can be done with a spoon, or even with a squeeze bottle. You'll want to tap the molds against a hard covering after they are filled to get out any air bubbles which may have formed as well as to insure the chocolate peanut butter mix is level. If you'd like, you can add lollipop sticks at this point.

After all the molds are filled, you'll need to place them in the freezer to cool. Make sure the molds are located flat in the freezer or the candy will not form correctly. Small pieces do not take long to set. They should be done in about five minutes and most regular size pieces will be done in about ten minutes. It is fine to leave it the molds in the freezer longer than this, so it is best to err on the side of caution. You want to make sure the chocolate is set before removing it.

To remove the candy from the molds, all you need to do is turn the mold upside down and tap it moderately on a hard surface. The candy should then fall right out. If a piece sticks, you can moderately tap the covering of the mold where the candy is located, and this should dislodge it.

All that is left to do is to place the chocolate into containers and you have a exquisite gift, or some yummy candy to enjoy yourself.

My incommunicable Peanut Butter Chocolate Candy formula

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Chocolate Candy manufacture Ideas

A gift is a show of affection first of all and its price has no matter. The only thing that matters is that it gives a satisfaction to the recipient. We gift gifts some times a year for dissimilar occasions either it is Christmas, birthday or any other event. And the choice of the allowable gift could be a real question as tastes differ, but for sure it is not a good idea to gift something useless. However, there is a solution to this question - you can gift chocolate candy made gift.

In fact, today there are a lot of dissimilar chocolate candy production ideas for your gift. It could be a bunch of chocolate candies or it could be chocolate candies poured in varied forms. Today there are a lot of dissimilar associates that are able to fulfill any of your wildest dreams in chocolate form.

For example, bunch of chocolate candies could be presented for any event. While creating a bunch not just chocolate candies of your choice are used, but as well natural and synthetic flowers, cloth and ribbons come in handy. You can indeed gift such bunch of chocolate flowers to your beloved, newly married, to children or to your parents.

If it comes your child's birthday, you can gift him or her a cake poured from a chocolate that is designed specially for your child. Today it could be done in indeed any form. As well such cake could be a great surprise not only for a child, but as well for any man with sweet tooth. Today you can order such cake in indeed dissimilar forms - it could be in the form of a car for a boy or it could be a sweet portrait of a recipient as well as a sweet bust.

In fact, there are a lot of dissimilar chocolate candy production ideas that could be realized in a great gift for your favorite ones. All you need to have is a fantasy.

Chocolate Candy manufacture Ideas

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Homemade Chocolate

It is easy to make impressive and yummy homemade chocolates for house and friends at Easter or anytime. You can purchase Easter chocolate molds at most specialty or reduction market and a wide variety of chocolate at your local supermarket. With a bit of time and patience you will soon be turning out gorgeous homemade chocolates.

Types of Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla. It is stronger and richer than milk or white chocolate and is ordinarily the adored choice for cooking.

Milk chocolate contains the same ingredients as dark chocolate but has added milk solids. It is sweeter, creamier, softer in texture and less intense than dark chocolate.

White chocolate doesn't include cocoa solids, only cocoa butter blended with sugar, milk solids and flavourings, such as vanilla. It is rich, creamy and sweeter than milk chocolate.

Eating chocolate - dark, milk and white - can be used for cooking. Dark varieties include bitter, semi-sweet and sweet. Bitter chocolate has up to 80% cocoa liquor and butter with a minimal estimate of sugar. Sweet chocolate has a higher proportion of sugar and vanilla to cocoa butter.

Good-quality cooking chocolate can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. It is similar in taste to eating chocolate, but a small estimate of cocoa butter has been supplanted with vegetable fat to make it easier to melt, able to set without tempering. Economy than general eating chocolate.

Compound chocolate is sold in blocks or buttons and can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. The cocoa butter has been supplanted with vegetable fat or oil, making it easier to melt and to set at room climatic characteristic without tempering. It lacks the flavour and texture of other chocolates, but is exquisite for kids' cooking.

Melting Chocolate

Chocolate can be melted in some distinct ways together with on the stove, in the microwave or in the oven.

Stove Top - put chocolate in a clean, dry, heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure no water or steam enters the bowl of chocolate, or it the chocolate could seize. Stir enduringly over medium to low heat until the chocolate has melted.

Microwave - put chocolate in a clean, dry, microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 1 slight on medium/high then stir. Cook for other 30 seconds then stir again, continue until chocolate has all melted.

Stove - preheat oven to 160 C. Put chocolate in a clean, dry, heatproof bowl. Turn oven off then place the bowl in the oven for 10 minutes minutes. Remove and stir, then place back in oven if required for some minutes, Remove and stir again.

Tips for Melting Chocolate

* Break chocolate into even sizes pieces before melting.

* Use a metal spoon to stir chocolate; wooden and plastic spoons withhold moisture that can cause the chocolate to seize.

* all the time use a metal, glass or ceramic bowl to melt chocolate.

Making Homemade Chocolates

1. Melt your chocolate, (see above), then stir completely to Remove all lumps.

2. Pour melted chocolate into the moulds until they are filled to the top.

3. Tap the moulds with your fingertips to Remove air bubbles from chocolate.

4. Let chocolates set, until hard.

5. After your chocolates have completely set and hardened, thought about pop them out of the mold.

6. Use a butter knife to trim off any excess chocolate nearby the edges.

Tips for using Chocolate Moulds

* Never wash your chocolate molds with soapy water. The soapy water will Remove the shine of the mold, making it difficult to get the chocolate off. Just wash in hot water.

* all the time dry your molds thought about after washing. Water spots can also cause spots where the chocolate won't release unmistakably from the mould.

* If your molds are sticking, very lightly coat them with a thin layer of vegetable oil.

* If you make a mistake, or if extra chocolate dribbles in the wrong places - don't touch it while it's still wet. Place the chocolates in the fridge or freezer to harden, then you can unmistakably just pick off the parts you don't want there.

How to Store Chocolate

Chocolate should be wrapped in alfoil and placed in an airtight container. Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not store in the refrigerator.

Unopened chocolate has a shelf life of 12 months and opened chocolate, properly wrapped and stored has a shelf life of 3 months. (However it would never last this long at my house!)

Chocolate Terms

Seize - Chocolate will seize up when small amounts of liquid mix with it, it becomes a thick grainy mass that cannot be remelted or used.

Chocolate Bloom - White spots that appear on chocolate, caused by the chocolate being heated and cooled too quickly. This can also occur when chocolate is refrigerated, it does not affect the capability and can still be eaten.

Tempering - A technique used to stabilize chocolate with a high cocoa butter content through a melting and cooling process so the chocolate will set firm and shiny at room temperature.

Homemade Chocolate

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America's Top 5 Chocolate Candy Brands

Often referred to as the sweetest satisfaction of mankind, Chocolate candy is one of the top sellers in America after a long time before enjoying it. Chocolate was discovered by Mayans of the Yucatán Peninsula, in México about 2,600 years ago or so, as evidence found in ruins suggest.

When the Aztecs arrived to the Valley of Mexico, the term chocolate was coined, derived from its Náhuatl name. However, chocolate was only prepared as a beverage or chewed as cacao bean. In this period of history, the World's Finest Chocolates were totally out of scope.

Chocolate candy was taken to Europa by the hand of conqueror Hernán Cortés, who introduced it to Spain in the 16th century. It was not until the next century when it got back to New England, after the first British settlements overseas, although it is possible that American Native tribes knew how to get ready chocolate beverage.

The following centuries saw the increase of candy manufacturers introducing some of the finest brands, such as Hershey chocolate, Ghirardelli chocolate, Nestle chocolate and Lindt Chocolates, just to name a few.

It was while the 19th century when the World's Finest Chocolates would be manufactured following a period of industrialization. The Switzerland chocolate company Lindt & Sprüngli was founded in 1845, producer of the world-famous Lindt Chocolates.

Later Nestlé, other Switzerland Company, joined to the speculation manufacturing sweeteners in 1866, but Nestle chocolate candy and other food products began to be distributed in all of Europe and America colse to the turn of the century.

As chocolate candy became more popular and thorough worldwide, more companies were established, and many others disappeared shortly after. In the United States, the pioneer was Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, founded in 1852. Ghirardelli chocolate was the first American brand.

Milton S. Hershey founded the Hershey Chocolate company after visiting the Columbian Exposition. Hershey sold his previous Lancaster Caramel Company, but retained the possession to yield American chocolate products. Hershey chocolate was just the starting of one of the most prosperous company in the United States.

Along with Lindt Chocolates, Nestle chocolate, Ghirardelli chocolate, and Hershey chocolate, Mars is the other brand of chocolate candy sharing the top five as producer of some of the World's Finest Chocolates.

The American company Mars Incorporated was founded by Frank C. In 1920 which specialized in a chocolate candy bar with caramel, internationally known as the Mars Bar, and his son and wife industrialized the famed chocolates M&M's.

Different brands from different origins, the top chocolate candy brands are manufactured in America, beloved by consumers for about one hundred years, and ahead of other chocolate products distributed or produced in the United States, a nation that exports today the World's Finest Chocolates all over the world.

America's Top 5 Chocolate Candy Brands

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Temper Yourself - Homemade Chocolate Candy for Valentines Day!

Homemade chocolate candy for Valentines Day is even more thoughtful and extra than the waxy, store bought heart shaped box. Creating your own treats is easy, quick and fun. It's something the children love to do, and adults come to be children when working with chocolate.

It's not as easy as just melting chocolate. To make your own candies or chocolate coated sweets, the chocolate must return to its hard, crunchy state at room temperature.

Have you ever melted chocolate to disastrous results? Most people have. A poor melting course will return rough, grainy chocolate or soupy brown liquid that never returns to its normal state.

Chocolate must be melted in a very definite way called tempering. Tempering chocolate correctly assures that it will be hard like a candy bar, or stick to items like a chocolate covered pretzel. Homemade chocolate candy for Valentines day Must be done this way.

From a science and chemical standpoint, chocolate is a very complicated item. When heated, the crystalline buildings of the chocolate changes. When cooled, the buildings changes again. Tempering chocolate means melting it to a strict temperature, then slowly cooling it back to room temperature without damage to the chemical buildings of the chocolate. Otherwise, it will never recover.

The white spots you see on your candy bar are called bloom. When your chocolate has been left in a warm moist place, then cooled, you'll see those white spots. This is called bloom. Blooming chocolate is not ruined, and tastes the same, but the buildings of the candy has taken on moisture, production it visually unappealing. It's not dangerous, just ugly.

Chocolate can also get moldy, as the water content will allow fungus to grow. Expired bags of chocolate chips left in your refrigerator will grow the blue/green mold very quickly. Chocolate can go rancid when their fats hydrolyze, taking on moisture.

Chocolate can burn. The milk solids in milk chocolate will begin to break down and burn at 130F (54C) and start to look grainy as if person has added sand. You can never mend this mistake.

Thank goodness that chocolate melts as unmistakably as it does. The fact that your mouth is 98F (36C) is what makes candy for Valentines Day so perfect. Chocolate will melt at 90F (32C), and the warm moist environment of your palate allows maximum enjoyment of this complicated treat.

However, to correctly temper chocolate so that it melts and returns to its former state at room temperature, the chocolate must be melted to a strict 110F (43C). This is the optimum temperature to relax the crystal buildings of the chocolate without destroying it.

All your homemade chocolate should begin with chips or pieces of chocolate that are the same size to allow for consistent melting. It's easiest to operate the temperature over a duplicate boiler using an instant read digital thermometer.

A duplicate boiler uses softly simmering water in a sauce pan with a metal bowl fitted inside that is at least twice the size of the pan below. Hot moisture or steam that escapes from the sauce pan cannot fold its way onto the chocolate if the bowl is much larger. Moisture in chocolate will cause it to seize and turn to mud.

Melt any determination of chocolate to 110F (43C), and keep an added 1/3 of that determination aside to seed the homemade chocolate later. If you use 1 cup of chips to melt, have an additional one 1/3 cup to seed. If you use 30 grams of chocolate, have 10 grams to seed.

Once the chocolate reaches the target temperature, quickly add the seed chocolate and stir until all is melted to a smooth, shiny consistency.

The former whole of melted chocolate will take on the crystalline characteristics of the room temperature seed chocolate added to it. It will give the melted chocolate something to aspire to, to come to be like its brother in the former state.

This correctly tempered chocolate can now be used to make shapes, pour into molds, dip marshmallows or pretzels into, or top cupcakes and petit-fours. You'll have to work quickly, because the goal of this homemade chocolate is to come to be stiff at room temperature again.

If the chocolate that you're using for candy for Valentines day starts to stiffen before you're closed working, just return it to the duplicate boiler for 10 to 20 seconds to raise the temperature softly.

Tempering chocolate is a easy task that can be quickly mastered and used to express your love, have fun with your children, or just give yourself a deserved snack.

Temper Yourself - Homemade Chocolate Candy for Valentines Day!

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