Fine Candy And Chocolate

Making candy can be a really fun activity. And the results are so worth the effort. Whether for a special occasion or just for the pleasure of it, turning out your own candy is very rewarding. Here is a great recipe for chocolate candy--my favorite! These delicious Mint Chocolate Truffles are from a recipe I got years ago from a Cooking Light magazine.

MINT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

1/3 cup semisweet mint-chocolate chips

4-oz Neufchatel cheese, softened

16-oz pkg powdered sugar, sifted

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

2 tbsps semisweet mint-chocolate chips

Place the 1/3 cup mint-chocolate chips in a microwave safe medium to large bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until the chips are almost melted. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.

When chocolate is cooled, add the Neufchatel cheese and beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until smooth. Add the powdered sugar to the mixture and beat until well blended. Press the mixture into a 6-inch square on heavy-duty plastic wrap and cover with additional plastic wrap. Chill at least one hour. Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap and cut truffle into 48 squares. Roll each square into a small ball and place on waxed paper. Roll half the balls in the unsweetened cocoa and the other half in the powdered sugar. Place the 2 tablespoons of the mint-chocolate chips into a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag. Microwave on high 1 minute or until the chips are softened. Knead the bag until the chips are smooth. Make a tiny snip in one bottom corner of the bag. Drizzle chocolate over the balls that have been rolled in cocoa. Serve at room temperature.

Note: I got this recipe from Cooking Light in 1999.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's Sweet Treat recipes, visit http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com

For her vintage recipes, go to http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Carol_Wilson

These guys have a super dessert of the month club!

Some people may think that candy is only sold at the candy shop. But that's not the case because you can prepare even tastier candy recipes at home.

Here are 4 candy recipes you can prepare at home:

1. Almond Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

- 1 cup butter

- 1 1/2 cups white sugar

- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar

- 4 eggs

- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract

- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 2 teaspoons baking soda

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 5 cups semisweet chocolate chips

- 2 cups flaked coconut

- 2 cups chopped almonds

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

- Grease cookie sheets.

- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth.

- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.

- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until well blended.

- Finally, stir in the chocolate chips, coconut and almonds.

- Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.

- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.

- Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Almond Coconut Chocolate Cookie Balls

Ingredients:

- 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate

- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

- 3 cups flaked coconut

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 pinch salt

- 1 cup whole almonds

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

- In the top half a double boiler melt the chocolate and condensed milk, stirring frequently.

- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the coconut.

- Stir in the vanilla and salt. Mix well until the coconut is completely coated.

- Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet.

- Press one whole almond into the top of each cookie.

- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes.

- Check at 8 minutes as the bottoms tend to burn easily.

- Remove from oven and cool.

3. Babe Ruth Bars

Ingredients:

- 1 cup peanut butter

- 1 cup white corn syrup

- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

- 1/2 cup white sugar

- 6 cups cornflakes cereal

- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

- 2/3 cup peanuts

Directions:

- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the peanut butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and white sugar.

- Cook stirring occasionally until smooth.

- Remove from heat and quickly mix in the cornflakes, chocolate chips and peanuts until evenly coated.

- Press the entire mixture gently into a buttered 9x13 inch baking dish.

- Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

4. Candy Bar Bars

Ingredients:

- 2/3 cup butter

- 1 cup packed brown sugar

- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

- 1/2 cup light corn syrup

- 4 cups quick cooking oats

- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

- 2/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

- Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan.

- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.

- Mix in the vanilla, corn syrup and oats.

- Pat this dough into the greased pan. Bake for 15-16 minutes (don't over bake).

- Meanwhile, over low heat melt together the chocolate chips and peanut butter.

Allow the cookie base to cool slightly, and then spread the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top.

Cool completely and cut into bars.

You welcome to visit our website: The Delicious Recipes Package and Cheap Meal Ideas Recipes for more delicious recipes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucille_Green

Homemade chocolate recipes provide the chocolate lovers not only with a vast variety of choices for delicious, mouthwatering dessert but also with flexibility to substitute some of the ingredients so they will have an enjoyable eating experience while having a healthy dessert.

Chocolate... healthy?

It's not a secret that chocolate eating is associated with a feeling of guilt - guilt of blowing out weight loss diet or eating unhealthy food.

Well, I have good news. The main ingredient of pure (dark) chocolate, cocoa, actually contains lots of vitamins and minerals.

I don't think I need to convince anybody to eat chocolate but in case you think it is unhealthy addition to your diet here are some details:

- Among other vitamins and minerals cocoa contains B group vitamins, vitamin E and magnesium. Just do a quick search on the Internet to see the major benefits of these nutrients.

- A research in the United States showed that cocoa contains more anti-oxidants than green tea and red wine!

- Cocoa contains L-Tryptophan that improves the mood and hence can help combat cravings for unhealthy food.

- Cocoa butter is widely used as a cosmetics base in natural and "not-so-natural' cosmetics industries because of nourishment it provides for the skin.

In order to see the weight loss benefits of chocolate you need to eat a small piece of dark chocolate daily, no more than 200 g per week.

Unfortunately many ready-made chocolate products are very low on cocoa so they actually do not provide any of the benefits mentioned above. They also contain lots of sugar and need to be avoided if you care about your health and healthy weight.

You need to choose chocolate products that contain over 65% of cocoa in order to see the health benefits of cocoa.

Why to make your own chocolate desserts at home?

1) As I already mentioned, homemade chocolate recipes provide you with flexibility to choose your own ingredients and replace some of "not so healthy" ones with healthier alternatives.

Here is a list of ingredients for one recipe, for example:

Chocolate Ice-Cream

2 ½ quarts of cream

1 ½ pint of milk

1 quart thin cream,

2 cupfuls of sugar,

2 ounces of plain chocolate bar,

2 eggs,

2 heaping tablespoonfuls of flour

To make this dessert healthier use dark chocolate, for example, substitute some of the cream with milk, reduce sugar and add vanilla to improve taste. I never tried it with whole wheat flour but this might work too! Imagine the title "Whole-wheat ice-cream for weight loss and health"!

2) You can make your favorite dessert without any preservatives, colorings or other artificial elements added.

3) You can use your creativity and make exquisite desserts for the entire family that will bring your whole family together to enjoy food prepared with love and care.

4) Making chocolate desserts at home will also fill your house with homey, "cozy" aroma that will make the place you live a real Home.

Homemade Chocolate Recipes page provides lots of information on chocolate including recipes. If you are a real chocolate lover visit http://www.homemadechocolaterecipes.com for over 100 delicious, mouthwatering recipes.

Leanne enjoys researching and writing about different topics that can help others solve problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leanne_M.

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