What to do with all of that left over Halloween Candy!

Turn it into yummy desserts.


Sticky Finger Squares:

If I had to live with the cookbooks of just one chef, it would have to be Rebecca Rather. I'm enthusiastic about every recipe she creates. She used to have a restaurant in a nearby town and I regret having never had the opportunity to visit the restaurant before it closed. She is at the top of my list of great chefs.

Here's an adaptation of her recipe for Sticky Finger Bars.
I haven't changed the integrity of the original recipe. I only re wrote the recipe in my own words and style.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" pan, lined with foil extending over the edges and sprayed with a cooking spray. ( I cut 2 separate pieces of foil for this and layer them in the pan. One piece fits along the length and the other runs the width of the pan.

Crust:

16 TBS (2sticks) Butter, room temperature
1 C granulated Sugar
1 TBS Vanilla
2 C Flour
1/2 C roughly chopped Peanuts
4 - (2.7oz.) Snickers Candy Bars, cut into 1/4" slices

Filling:

3 large Eggs
1 1/4 C granulated Sugar
1/4 C Lyles Golden Syrup ( I buy Golden Syrup at our local British Emporium)
2 TBS Butter, melted
1 TBS Vanilla
A pinch of Salt

Other ingredients:
1 C Creamy Peanut Butter
1 C coarsely chopped Peanuts
3 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate, roughly chopped.

Crust Directions:

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Butter
Sugar
Vanilla
Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Add and beat on Low Speed:
Flour
Peanuts
Beat just until mixed.
Press evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
Remove the pan to a rack to cool for 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Cover the Crust with the Snickers Bars. Leave about 1/4" between each piece.

Filling Directions:

In a large mixing bowl:
Eggs
Sugar
Syrup
Butter
Vanilla
Whisk by hand.
Pour ove the Crust.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.
Remove pan to a rack to cool for 30 minutes.

Spread Peanut Butter evenly over the top of the filling.
Sprinkle with an even layer of Peanuts.

Melt the Chocolate in a Microwave Oven until completely melted and smooth.
Check and stir often.
Drizzle evenly over the Peanuts.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Pull the bars out of the pan using the edges of the foil.
Peel away the foil and transfer the bars to a cutting board.
Cut into squares to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Cowboy Pie:

This recipe is very vague as is the original from Hill Country Chicken in New York City.

I saw a story about the restaurant with a brief description of the pie. It sounded interesting to me.
I tried to find the recipe and was unsuccessful so I wrote to the restaurant and received a response from
Alexis Lenhart.
She gave me a brief description of the preparation of the pie. Apparently there really isn't a "recipe", but here's the suggested ingredients and quantities:

The recipe was inspired by the Restaurant's Founder's childhood memory and his passion for the Texas style home cooking of his mother and grandmother.

1 pre-baked Graham Cracker Crust, Oreo Crust, or Shortbread Crust.
Fill the crust with 2C of your favorite Chocolate Chips, such as Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate , or a combination of any of them. Also 1 C of any alternative chips such as Butterscotch, Toffee, Peanut Butter or Caramel . 1 C of your favorite chopped up Candy Bar.
1 1/2 C Sweetened Coconut Flakes. 1 1/2 C your favorite chopped Nuts.

To bind everything, mix 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk with 1C of Dulce de Leche and a little bit of Sea Salt. Or 2 cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk if you can't find Dulce de Leche.

Mix together all of the ingredients until everything is coated well with the milk and pour into the crust.
Pat down the top of the pie to make it even and fill in any holes.
Tap the Pie Pan to settle the mixture.

Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cool completely before serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



Peanut Butter Cup Cookies:

I just saw these on an episode of The Pioneer Woman. It may not be new to some of you, I've never seen these before.
They are simple, quick and delicious.
I decided to simply re post her recipe.

Refrigerator Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
Miniature Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

• Refrigerator Cookie Dough
• Miniature Chocolate Candies

Preparation Instructions

Slice the cookie dough into 1 to 1 ½ inch slices. Lay the slices on their side and cut them into quarters. Place each quarter into a greased mini-muffin tin. Peel the wrapper from as many pieces of candy as cookies you’re going to make. 

Bake the cookie dough in a 350-degree oven for just a few minutes, about 6 to 8 at the most. You’ll want to take them out just when they start to turn golden.

Almost as soon as you pull the warm cookies from the oven, begin lightly pressing one piece of candy into each cookie. The warmer the cookies, the better. They’ll grab onto the pieces of candy and work their magic, making the candy nice and soft and melty. And ridiculous.

When they’re all done, carefully remove from muffin tins with a spoon and arrange on a nice decorative platter.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


5 Cent Chocolate Candy Bar Pie:

Another of the archived recipes from my Aunt. ( I am definitely going to try this one after I research the size of the candy bars) I haven't checked yet....... I'll add a note if I find out.

Note: Apparently the recipe was well known, there are many variations of the recipe. It looks like the size was 1.5 oz / 43G.
A variation was definitely made with the Almond Bar, I will probably do that

I'm trying to figure out if that 5 cent chocolate candy bar was as simple as a Hershey's candy bar.
It states that you can make it with plain or almond.
It doesn't state the size, maybe there was only one size in those days.

So, here's the recipe:

5 - 5 cent Chocolate Candy Bars, plain or almond
16 - full sized Marshmallows
1/2 C Milk
1 C whipped cream ( about 2/3 of a 1/2 pint bottle of Heavy Cream) I find this amusing!
1/8 tsp salt
1 - 8" shell, either cracker or crum pastry.  )Do you think it was Graham Cracker)?, I don't know!

Melt Candy Bars, Marshmallows and Milk in the top of a double boiler.
Add salt and fold in Whipped Cream.

Fill the Pie Shell and garnish with Slivered Almonds.
Chill thoroughly.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Chocolate Butterfinger Cake:

A friend of mine sent me this recipe. Thanks Lauren. I changed the name.
It sounds like another family gathering, church function cake.
I would make it in a 9"X13" pan.

Prepare your favorite boxed Chocolate Cake recipe as directed in a 9"X13" pan.

You'll also need:
1 (14oz.) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 - jar of Caramel Topping
5 Butter Finger Candy Bars, crushed
1 (8oz.) package of Cream Cheese , softened
1 (12.oz) container of Whipped Topping

Mix Caramel and Sweetened Condensed Milk together.
Poke holes in the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Pour Caramel mixture evenly over the entire cake.
Sprinkle 1/2 of the crushed candy bars evenly over the Caramel.

Chill completely in the refrigerator.

Mix Cream Cheese and Whipped Topping together  with a hand mixer , until smooth.
Spread evenly over entire cooled cake.
Sprinkle with remaining crushed Candy Candy Bars.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Hot Onion Dip and a collection of other dips on my blog

I love Onions in any recipe. I have an entire cookbook dedicated to Onions.
Here's one more great Onion Dip.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
1 - 2 quart casserole dish,  seasoned with a vegetable non stick spray. (I use a Terra Cotta Clay Bram) There's a photograph of it at the end of this page.


Hot Onion Dip:

2 - 8oz. packages of Cream Cheese, room temperature
1 package of Boursin Cheese or Goat Cheese, softened
1 1/2 C Sweet Vidalia Onions, diced.
1/4 C shredded Gruyere Cheese
An assortment of crackers for serving.

In a large Mixing Bowl, and an electric hand mixer.
Blend all ingredients well.
Spoon into the casserole dish.
Bake for 45 minutes.

Serve warm with crackers.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This does not need an introduction. I love dips!

If you haven't made my Tex-Mex Corn Dips, be sure to search them on the blog. They're still our favorite dips to take to an event or to serve to the family. Check out the list at the bottom of this page for all of the dips you can search on the blog.

This dip is very easy and delicious.

Baked Onion Dip:

2 C chopped Vidalia Onions

2 C Mayonnaise

2 C grated Parmesan Cheese or Swiss Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the ingredients together in a medium bowl.

Prepare a 2 quart baking dish with a non stick vegetable spray.

Pour the mixture in the dish and bake for 45 minutes.

The top should be slightly browned.

Serve hot with a variety of crackers, pita chips, bagel chips........ etc!

I posted  other recipes for  Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Dip and another Red Pepper Dip made with fresh Peppers, which I really like.  I'll repost them at the end of this one. This is my favorite Roasted Red Pepper Dip without the addition of Eggplant.
Traditionally I would serve this with Pita Chips or on Toasted Slices of French Baguette Bread. However, I'm eating healthier now so I serve this with fresh vegetables ( Celery, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cauliflower , Cucumber Slices, etc.)

This version is easy to make and packed with spices for a great flavor.

You'll need a Food Processor.

1 - (15oz.) Can of Garbanzo Beans
1 - (4oz.) Jar of Roasted Red Peppers, drained
3 TBS Tahini
1 Garlic Clove, minces
1/2 tsp Chile Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt

Combine all ingredients in a Food Processor.
Pulse until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Refrigerate before serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

I've been looking for a good Roasted Red Pepper Dip.

I haven't had much success finding something that impresses me.

I decided to create my own, based on several that I researched, here's what I came up with.

Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Dip:

3 medium eggplants, cut in half long ways

4 cloves of garlic, sliced

3 TBS olive oil, divided

1 C Roasted Red Peppers, (you can purchase them in a jar)

1 TBS chopped fresh oregano

2 TBS lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Arrange the eggplant, cut side up on a baking sheet pan

Make slits in the eggplant and insert pieces of garlic

Drizzle the eggplant with 2 TBS of olive oil

sprinkle with salt

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour

Remove the eggplant from the oven , cool completely, scoop out the interior and add to a food processor.

Add:

red pepper

oregano

1 TBS olive oil

lemon juice

salt and pepper

Puree until smooth.

Serve with pita chips, toasted baguette slices...... etc!

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Red Pepper Dip:

I'm fascinated with red peppers right now. I've been searching for good dips. Here's one that I like. It's flavorful, it goes together quickly, it has few ingredients and I usually have all of the ingredients on hand except the peppers.

2 red peppers, cut in half and seeded
3/4 C cream cheese, softened.
1 C sour cream
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper


Put the peppers, cut side down in a covered microwavable dish.
Microwave the peppers for 8 - 10 minutes, they should be tender.
Remove them to a bowl of ice water and remove the skin.
Place everything in a food processor and puree until smooth.
Chill completely.

Serve with chips or toasted sliced of baguette bread.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Here's the other dips available on the blog:

Christmas Queso
Baked Artichoke Dip
Vegetable Dip
Artichoke - Spinach Dip
Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Dip
Red Pepper Dip
Queso Fundido (recipe to follow)
Ranch Vegetable Dip
Knorr Spinach Dip
Another Texas Bean - Cheese - Chiles - and Other Stuff Dip
Rosemary Baked Cheese (recipe to follow)
Beer Mustard Dipping Sauce
Tex - Mex Bean Dip (Vegetarian Version)
Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip from Wisconsin Cheese
Fry Sauce

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!


Rosemary Baked Cheese:

This is baked and served with Toasted Baguette Slices, Breadsticks or Chunks of Artisan Bread.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

1 large clove of Garlic, halved
3 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 C Shredded Fontina Cheese
1/2 C Grated Parmesan
2 tsp Fresh Rosemary, chopped
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper

Rub the inside of 2 Mini Cast Iron Servers with the Garlic
Gently mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl

Divide the ingredients evenly between the pans
Place the Pans on a baking sheet
Bake about 8 minutes, until the cheese

Serve warm as a dip with the breads mentioned above.

(The red cast iron dish is 6" long and the grey Calphalon pot is 4.5" across)

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

I experienced Queso Fundido for the first time while on a Scuba Diving trip to Mexico.
It is a traditional Mexican dish often compared to Fondue.
It's baked in a shallow Terra Cotta heat proof baking dish and traditionally served with Corn Tortillas. Texans have adapted the recipe and serve it as a dip with Tortilla Chips.
It can also be topped with Rum, Brandy or Tequila and flambeed. This is how I first had it in Mexico and I recommend it flambeed if serving at a party. The guests will be impressed with the presentation.

I make it vegetarian with Soyrizo, but it's made in Mexico with Chorizo Sausage.

Queso Fundido:

Vegetable Spray
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
6 oz. of Soyrizo or Chorizo Sausage, casing removed
1/4 C finely diced onion
2 cloves of Garlic, minced
1 small can ( 1.25 oz) diced Green Chiles, un-drained
2 C Queso Quesadilla or Oaxaca( Asadero ) Cheese. Not Cheddar! It should be a White Mexican Cheese.
Corn Tortillas or Tortilla Chips

Spray a shallow ( Terra Cotta, if you have one) baking dish with a vegetable spray
Heat oil in a saute pan and cook the sausage until almost crispy, well done
Remove the sausage to a bowl and set aside

Add onion and garlic to the saute pan and cook for 5 minutes
Return the Sausage to the pan with the Onion and Garlic and mix well
Add the Green Chiles and stir.

Place 1/2 of the Cheese in the baking dish and top with 1/2 of the Sausage
Repeat with remaining Cheese and Sausage

Bake at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes
Stir well before serving

Optional to Flambe as directed above.

Serve on 6" Corn Tortillas or dipped with Tortilla Chips.




Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This is the dish that I bake mine in. It's called a Bram.
It's a Terra Cotta, clay baking dish.
I can double the recipe when I make it in this Bram.

Les Macarons! I took a class to learn how to make these amazing French Treats.

Yesterday I took a 3 hour class with our friend Jill, to learn how to make French Macarons. It was so much fun and so educational. I've always wanted to make them myself but I had heard so many stories about how difficult they are. I'd never attempted to make them but we certainly eat plenty of them while traveling in France.
They are colorful and very tasty. The combinations of different flavored cookies and different flavored fillings are endless. I left the class feeling very confident that I can successfully make them at home.

We made three different flavors:

Pumpkin with Salted Caramel Buttercream
Spiced with Apple Cider Buttercream
Hazelnut with Dark Chocolate Ganache.
They were amazing.

I don't think many people really make them so I won't post any recipes on the blog. I just wanted to share the experience with pictures.
They're not in any order. I captioned some of them.
It's all in the technique to produce a nice Macaron.

There was a Hippy in the Classroom today!
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sifting, sifting and more sifting, the first important technique.
Flour was sifted separately. If using Almond Meal, the residue was removed.
 The Confectioner's Sugar was also sifted separately.
All of the ingredients were placed in a bowl together, and in this
picture , they're sifted together for the last time.
It's sifted onto Parchment Paper so it's easy to add to
a bowl, to be folded together with the Meringue. 

The piping bags are filled with the tip on, and the end of the bag was not
cut until the bag was full.

It's all about the technique to get them piped perfectly onto the parchment circles.

The chef demonstrating the technique of piping the batter,

This is our tray!
We were very pleased with the results.

The batter was weighed so we could share it equally with the other
team in the class.

This was our second tray. We each piped half of them on the sheet pan.
I believe these are the Spiced Macarons.

This is our tray of the Hazelnut Macarons.

Preparing the Dark Chocolate Ganache filling for the Hazelnut Macarons.

Brandy was added to the Ganache.

Salted Caramel for the Buttercream filling in the Pumpkin Macarons.

This is our tray of Pumpkin with Salted Caramel Buttercream filling.
We thought they look pretty good!

This is the food coloring added to the Hazelnut Meringue.

The technique for getting the cookie batter to the perfect consistency.

Getting ready to fold the Flour and the Meringue together for the cookie batter.

The batter ingredients have to be weighed properly.

After they're baked and cooled a bit, we refrigerated them.
This makes them easier to release from the Parchment Paper.
This photograph shows the technique of releasing them by
pulling the paper away from the cookie, rather than trying to pull
the cookie from the paper.
It worked!


I realize that this may seem overwhelming, but the class was so interesting.
I knew that if I ever wanted to make really nice Macarons, I would have to take a class.
Our chef was very talented and patient.
We all felt that we sucessfully accomplished what we came to learn.

Sticky Finger Squares

Sticky Finger Squares:

If I had to live with the cookbooks of just one chef, it would have to be Rebecca Rather. I'm enthusiastic about every recipe she creates. She used to have a restaurant in a nearby town and I regret having never had the opportunity to visit the restaurant before it closed. She is at the top of my list of great chefs.

Here's an adaptation of her recipe for Sticky Finger Bars.
I haven't changed the integrity of the original recipe. I only re wrote the recipe in my own words and style.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" pan, lined with foil extending over the edges and sprayed with a cooking spray. ( I cut 2 separate pieces of foil for this and layer them in the pan. One piece fits along the length and the other runs the width of the pan.

Crust:

8 TBS (2sticks) Butter, room temperature
1 C granulated Sugar
1 TBS Vanilla
2 C Flour
1/2 C roughly chopped Peanuts
4 - (2.7oz.) Snickers Candy Bars, cut into 1/4" slices

Filling:

3 large Eggs
1 1/4 C granulated Sugar
1/4 C Lyles Golden Syrup ( I buy Golden Syrup at our local British Emporium)
2 TBS Butter, melted
1 TBS Vanilla
A pinch of Salt

Other ingredients:
1 C Creamy Peanut Butter
1 C coarsely chopped Peanuts
3 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate, roughly chopped.

Crust Directions:

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Butter
Sugar
Vanilla
Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Add and beat on Low Speed:
Flour
Peanuts
Beat just until mixed.
Press evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
Remove the pan to a rack to cool for 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Cover the Crust with the Snickers Bars. Leave about 1/4" between each piece.

Filling Directions:

In a large mixing bowl:
Eggs
Sugar
Syrup
Butter
Vanilla
Whisk by hand.
Pour ove the Crust.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.
Remove pan to a rack to cool for 30 minutes.

Spread Peanut Butter evenly over the top of the filling.
Sprinkle with an even layer of Peanuts.

Melt the Chocolate in a Microwave Oven until completely melted and smooth.
Check and stir often.
Drizzle evenly over the Peanuts.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Pull the bars out of the pan using the edges of the foil.
Peel away the foil and transfer the bars to a cutting board.
Cut into squares to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Chocolate and Sea Salt covered Cashews

I have so many variations of sweet, savory and spicy nut recipes. You can search additional recipes on the blog. I hesitated to post this one because it seems too simple and too obvious. However, I realize that not everyone cooks and bakes and if I can help them with an easy delicious recipe then I'll post them. This is one of those recipes.
During the holidays, I make a lot of chocolate covered, sea salted, sweet, herbed and spice coated nuts.
You can also use Hazelnuts, Pecans or Almonds.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees if you're roasting the Cashews yourself.
1 - Sheet Pan lined with foil.
1 - Double Boiler or a microwave safe bowl.

2 C Roasted Cashews, you can either buy them roasted or roast them yourself. (see note at the end for roasted)
8 ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate
1 tsp Sea Salt

In a double boiler:
Chocolate.
Heat and stir until melted. (you can also heat the chocolate in a microwave if you don't have a double boiler) You can create your own by placing a heat proof glass bowl over a simmering saucepan of water.
Add the Cashews and stir to coat well.
Spread them out on the Sheet Pan, in a single layer.
Immediately sprinkle the Cashews with Sea Salt.
Refrigerate until chocolate is hardened.
Break up the Cashews and transfer to a serving bowl.


Roasted Cashews:
Spread the Cashews in a single layer on a foil lined sheet pan.
Roast for 5 - 7 minutes.
Shake the pan half way through.
Remove the pan, transfer the Cashews to a bowl to cool completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

I reposted this recipe from a blog that I follow called Chin Deep. It would have been time consuming to re write it. I also wanted to post the picture of the finished product. I've seen this recipe made in a 9" X 13" dish, but I liked this one because of it's presentation for the holidays.

cranberry orange poinsettia coffee cake

by Melissa • December 10, 2013

for the coffee cake:

2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 package active dry yeast

2/3 cup whole milk

2 Tablespoons real butter

1 large egg

1 Tablespoon orange zest

for the filling:

3 Tablespoons melted butter

2 cups fresh cranberries, halved

1/3 cup raspberry, cherry or strawberry jam

1/3 cup sugar

juice of one orange

for the icing/garnish:

1 cup powdered sugar

6 teaspoons Captain Morgan's Original Spiced Rum

zest of one orange, divided

frosted cranberries

a fresh, green herb sprig

In a large bowl, combine one cup of the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, salt and yeast. Mix well. In a saucepan, heat the 2/3 cup whole milk and butter until warm (120 degrees F.) Add milk mixture, egg, and the orange zest to the flour mixture. Blend on low until moistened, and then beat for 3 minutes on medium speed. Fold the rest of the flour by hand.

On a floured surface, knead until dough is smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes.) Place dough in a buttered bowl, cover with buttered plastic wrap and allow to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Grease a large round cookie sheet or pizza pan. Punch down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle. Brush with the melted butter. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the filling ingredients until evenly combined, and spread this mixture evenly over the dough.

Starting on a 12-inch side, roll up the dough as tightly as possible. Press edges together to seal so it doesn’t pop open. Cut into 12 slices, saving the 2 end pieces for the center of the “poinsettia.” Arrange the remaining slices in a circle on the greased pan, leaving a 2 to 3 inch space for the center. Form the end pieces into little dough balls and place the balls in the center. Cover cake with buttered plastic wrap, set it in a warm place, and allow to rise and additional 40 minutes.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover dough after it has risen the designated amount of time. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow cake to completely cool before glazing and garnishing.

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, spiced rum, and half of the orange zest. Transfer to a squirt bottle, and drizzle all over completely cooled cake. Place some frosted cranberries in the center, sprinkle some extra orange zest over the whole cake, and garnish with a pretty green herb sprig for a lovely contrast to the red cranberries.

Holiday Eggnog Bars

I happen to love anything that has Eggnog in it. I even love Eggnog! I out it in my coffee , I make homemade Eggnog and I love any holiday recipe made with it.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" baking pan, lined with foil extending over all 4 sides.
Spray the foil with Non Stick Cooking Spray

Holiday Eggnog Bars

1 - 17 1/2 oz. package of Sugar Cookie Mix (not prepared dough)
2 TBS Flour
8 TBS Butter, cold and cubed.
1/2 C Chopped Macadamia Nuts
5 Egg Yolks
1 - 14 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (not Evaporated Milk)
1/2 C Eggnog
1 TBS Rum
1 tsp Vanilla
Confectioner's Sugar for dusting.
1/4 tsp Nutmeg + additional for garnish

Crust
In large mixing bowl:
Cookie Mix
Flour
Whisk well.

Add:
Butter, a small amount at a time.
Use a Pastry Blender or 2 forks to cut in the Butter until it has the texture of fine crumbs.
Fold in half of the Nuts.
Press the dough into the pan to create a crust.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and set aside.

Filling
In a medium bowl:
Egg Yolks
Milk
Eggnog
Rum
Vanilla
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Whisk well.
Pour over the hot crust.
Bake an additional 15 - 20 minutes.
Remove the pan to a rack and cool for 30 minutes.
Cover with foil and refrigerate for 1 hour.

When completely cooled, use the foil to release the uncut bars onto a cutting surface.
Cut into squares.
Lightly sprinkle each square with Confectioner's Sugar and Nutmeg.

Enjoy!
Peaceful Holidays!

Pumpkin Gingersnap Truffles and Pumpkin Cheese Cream Truffles

Love Pumpkin? Can't make a Pie? Here's a great dessert to serve during the Holidays.

Pumpkin Gingersnap Truffles and Pumpkin Cheese Cream Truffles

Pumpkin Gingersnap Truffles:

1 1/4 C Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/3 tsp Vanilla
1/2 C Heavy Cream
3/4 C roughly chopped Gingersnaps (10 cookies)
1/3 C finely  crushed Gingersnap Cookies for rolling the cookies.

In a medium bowl:
Chocolate Chips
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Vanilla
Mix well.
Set aside

In a microwave safe bowl:
Heavy Cream
Heat for 1 minute.
Pour over the Chocolate Mixture.
Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
Whisk well.
Fold in roughly chopped Gingersnaps.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

In a small mixing bowl:
Finely crushed Gingersnaps.
Using a 1 1/2" cookie scoop, shape the truffles and roll in the crushed Gingersnaps.
Place them on a Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper and refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours.
Store refrigerated in a covered container.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles:

1/2 C White Chocolate Chips
2 C White Chocolate Almond Bark (4 - 5 squares)
1/3 C Gingerbread Cookie Crumbs + more for garnish
1/4 C Graham Cracker Crumbs + more for garnish
1/4 C canned Pumpkin Puree
1 TBS Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 tsp Orange Zest
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
A pinch of Salt
2 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

Melt 1/2 C White Chips in a microwave
Stir often
Transfer to a large bowl.

Add Gingersnap Crumbs, Pumpkin, Graham Cracker Crumbs, Sugar,
Zest, Cinnamon, Salt and Cream Cheese , beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

Transfer to a shallow bowl, cover and chill until solid enough to roll into a truffle, about 2 hours.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Melt remaining 2 C of almond bark and transfer to a small bowl.

Using a 1 1/2"  cookie scoop form the truffles, roll in your hands and drop into the chocolate.

Gently spoon the chocolate to coat the truffles.

Using a spoon or a  fork to lift the truffles out of the chocolate, shake off excess and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Sprinkle the tops with extra gingerbread cookie and graham cracker crumbs.

Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Shredded Hash Brown Casserole

Here's the great iconic, all American Hash Brown Casserole recipe.
What a classic recipe for any family gathering, church supper, brunch, block party, etc, etc, etc.!
Probably every home in America has this recipe, but I wanted it to be part of the archives of The Hippy in the Kitchen when I'm long gone.
We double the recipe because it's so good and there never seems to be enough.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Casserole Dish, buttered.

2 - pounds of Frozen Shredded Hash Browns, thawed
8 TBS Butter, melted
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 pint of Sour Cream
1/2 C chopped Onion
2 C grated Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
2 C Cornflakes

In a large mixing bowl:
Combine Hash Browns
Soup
Sour Cream
Onion
Cheese
Salt
Pepper
Mix well.
Spoon into the Casserole Dish.

In a medium saucepan on medium high heat:
Cornflakes
Butter
Mix well.
Saute for 2 minutes.
Sprinkle over the Potatoes.
Cover the pan with foil.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Remove Foil and continue baking for 15 minutes until Corn Flakes are Golden Brown.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Vintage Recipes, from the 1940's and 1950's

I recently attended the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale in Kansas. My wife and zI go every year. One of my favorite booths is the Cookbooks and Recipes. I have a large collection from the sale. There are handwritten recipe books that have been handed down through generations, cookbooks from Churches, cookbooks from Products and Retailers, from magazines and the list goes on and on.
My recent acquisition was a collection of recipes taken from a Kitchen Magazine and the pages were all torn out of the magazine and gathered together in a plastic bag. The magazine is in black & white and the pages are newsprint. Some of the pages were fragile. I have edited the collection 3 times, discarding recipes that were not appealing to me. Some of them had ingredients that are no longer available today and directions that were very vague. There were over 100 pages and here are some of my favorites recipes after editing them.
I will re post them exactly as they are written, without changes and without adapting them as well as I can. Some of the ingredients will have to be adapted if they no longer exist.
I'll continue adding them as I have time. Keep checking this post for more!


Apple Goodies / 1943

3 C sliced apples
1 C sugar
1 1/2 TBS flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 C rolled oats
3/4 C flour
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C butter, melted

Mix flour, sugar and salt with apples and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Place in a buttered baking dish. Sift the 3/4 C flour with the baking powder and soda.
Mix the butter, brown sugar and rolled oats, combine with flour mixture.
Spread over apple mixture. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30 - 40 minutes longer or until the apples are tender.
Serve with whipped cream.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Pineapple Muffins / 1949

2 C flour
1 C whole milk
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 C drained crushed pineapple
2 TBS butter, melted

N\Beat eggs and sugar. Sift baking powder and salt with flour and add to eggs and sugar alternately with milk.
Add melted butter and pineapple.
Bake in a well buttered muffin tin at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Apricot Bars / 1950

1 C Flour
1 C Dried Apricots
3/4 C chopped Almonds
1 tsp Baking Powder
3 Eggs, separated
1 C Granulated Sugar
1/8 tsp Salt

In a large enough bowl to accommodate the Apricots, cover them with water and soak at least 3 hours.
Drain and Chop into small pieces.

In a large bowl:
Egg Yolks
Sugar
Whisk well.

In a small bowl:
Sift Flour, Baking Powder and Salt together.
Add to Egg mixture.

Add:
Apricots
Almonds
Stir by hand.

In a mediu bowl, beat the Egg Whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold into the Apricot mixture, by hand.

Pour into a 9" X 13" baking dish that's been well buttered.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Remove from oven to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Cut into squares.
Dust individual bars with Confectioner's Sugar as you serve them.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Old Fashioned Pound Cake / 1955

1 pound of Butter (2 C)
1 pound of sifted Cake Flour (4 1/2 C)
10 Eggs, separated
1 pound of Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

In a large bowl with a hand mixer:
Butter
Sugar
Vanilla
Beat until fluffy.

In a separate bowl, beat Eggs Yolks until thick.
Add to Butter / Sugar bowl

In a separate bowl, beat Egg Whites until stiff peaks.
Fold into the the mixture by hand.
Fold in Flour , by hand.
Beat with a mixer , vigorously for 15 minutes.

Prepare 2 Loaf Pans by Heavily buttering them.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Note:
You can make it the original way as described, however, I would make it all in a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment to update the preparation . I would also line the Loaf Pans on the bottom with a piece of Parchment Paper and butter it.
I use my Pan Release Mix ( equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil , Flour). I start with 1 C of each and mix it well in a jar, refrigerate it until I need it. I always have it available for all of my baking needs.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Vegetable Pie

As a Vegetarian, I found this recipe to be very appealing.
It's adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
1 - 9" Pie Pan, sprayed with a non stick vegetable spray or brushed with Vegetable Oil.

1 C chopped Broccoli
1 C chopped Cauliflower
1/4 C chopped fresh Baby Spinach Leaves
1/3 C diced Onion
1/3 C diced Green or Red Bell Pepper (or combination of both)
1 C shredded Cheese (your choice)
1/2 C Original Bisquick Mix
1 C Whole Milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
2 Large Eggs, beaten


In a saucepan on medium heat:
1 " Water
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cover and heat until boiling.
Cook 5 minutes, until tender.
Drain.

In a mixing bowl:
Broccoli / Cauliflower
Spinach
Onion
Bell Pepper
Cheese
Mix well
Spoon into the Pie Plate.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Bisquick
Milk
Salt Pepper
Eggs
Whisk well.
Spoon over the vegetables.
Bake 35 - 45 minutes. A knife in the center should come out clean.
Remove from the oven to a rack and cool 5 minutes.
Serve warm.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Pumpkin Cake Bites baked in a Mini Muffin Tin

These are a simple Pumpkin dessert. I researched many recipes for these mini pumpkin bites before I chose this one to post. Many recipes call for a batter made from scratch. This one is equally good and much easier to make. These are great to take to a Fall event when your'e asked to bring a dessert. Kids love them too, they're like Doughnut Holes!

Pumpkin Cake Bites

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - Mini Muffin Tin, sprayed with a non stick cooking spray.

A Bowl with Cinnamon / Sugar mixture.
Here are some suggested quantities:
It just depends on how much you like Cinnamon.
3/4 C Sugar / 2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 C Sugar / 1 TBS  Cinnamon (I use this ratio)
1/4 C Sugar / 1 TBS Cinnamon

They can also be dusted with Confectioner's Sugar.
I do a combination of both.


1 - 15.25 oz. box of Spice Cake Mix ( I only bake with Duncan Hines Cake Mixes)
1 - 15 oz. can of Pure Pumpkin Puree
2 TBS Butter, melted in a microwavable bowl.

In a large mixing bowl:
Cake Mix (straight from the box)
Pumpkin
Mix well by hand with a Blending Fork.
Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes

Use a 1 1/4" cookie scoop to form the Bites
Dip each one in Butter.
Drop them into the Muffin Tin.
Bake for 10 minutes.

Remove the pan to a rack and cool for 5 minutes.
Place a Rack over a Sheet Pan.
Transfer the Bites to the rack.
Roll each one in  Cinnamon / Sugar or Confectioner's Sugar.

Transfer to a serving platter.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

As the title suggests, these cookies are traditionally made for a Mexican Wedding. However, they are traditionally served at other functions as well.
Here in the States, we make them during the Christmas Holidays.
There are certain things that I prefer when it comes to a Wedding Cookie recipe. I like the two grades of chopped nuts, I prefer Pecans over Walnuts, the addition of Cinnamon in the Confectioner's Sugar for rolling the cookies and I don't roll the cookies in the sugar when they are still warm. It tends to melt the sugar. I also dust the cookies twice.
With all of that explanation, here's my take on Mexican Wedding Cookies. I've put together the best things I like about them into my recipe.

Mexican Wedding Cookies:

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper.

2 C Pecans
2 C Flour 1/2 tsp Salt
16 TBS Butter (2sticks), softened to room temperature.
1/3 C Confectioner's Sugar + 1 1/2 C, divided.
1 tsp Vanilla
1/8 tsp Cinnamon

In a Food Processor:
Roughly chop the Pecans.
Remove 1 C and set aside.
Process the remaining Pecans into a fine powder, the texture of Cornmeal. (don't over process, but the textures need to be different from each other)

In a large bowl:
Flour
Salt
All of the Pecans
Whisk well.
Set aside.

In a Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment:
Butter
1/3 C of the Confectioner's Sugar
Beat for 3 minutes, until light and creamy.
Stir in Vanilla, by hand.
Slowly add the Flour & Pecan mixture.
Beat on low, just to combine.
Remove dough and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Use a 1 1/2: cookie scoop and drop cookies 2" apart on the Sheet Pan.
Don't handle the dough at this step.
Bake 15 - 18 minutes.

Remove the pan to a rack and cool 5 minutes.
Transfer the cookies to the rack and cool completely.

Put 1 1/2 C of the Confectioner's Sugar in a bowl with the Cinnamon.
Whisk well.
Roll the cooled cookies in the mixture.
Shake off the excess, place them on the rack again.
When all are coated, dust them again.
Store them in a single layer with waxed paper between each layer.
Keep covered at room temperature.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix and Chickpea Tikka Masala, Sleepy Indian Coffee, Indian Tomato Chutney

We were in England during the Christmas Holiday in 2012. We visited the German Christmas Market in Birmingham, London and Windsor.
We ate some amazing Indian food in Birmingham. I tried to get some of the recipes but they wouldn't share them.

This Chickpea recipe has Garam Masala Spice in it so I'll start with my homemade recipe for it. You can store it in a jar for other recipes.

Homemade Garam Masala Spice Mix:

2 TBS Coriander Seeds
1 TBS Cumin Seeds
1 TBS Cardamom Seeds
1 TBS Whole Black Peppercorns
1 tsp Fennel Seeds
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Whole Cloves
2 small dried Red Serrano Chile Peppers, seeds discarded
2 TBS Turmeric
1 tsp Cinnamon

In a skillet on medium low heat: I like to make mine on my cast iron skillet.
Coriander
Cumin
Cardamom
Peppercorns
Fennel
Mustard
Cloves
Chiles
Toast for 2 minutes, stirring often.
Remove from heat to cool slightly.
Transfer to a spice grinder and process to a fine powder.
Add:
Turmeric
Cinnamon
Process to incorporate.
Store in a covered jar.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



Chickpea Tikka Masala:

1 TBS Olive Oil
1/2 of a medium Onion, diced
1 TBS Garam Masala Spice Mix
1 TBS Tomato Paste
2 tsp Grated Fresh Ginger
2 - 15oz. cans of Chickpeas, rinsed and drained.
1 - 28oz. can of crushed Tomatoes
1/2 C Greek Yogurt, I only use Fage.
1/4 C fresh chopped Cilantro

In a large skillet on medium heat:
Heat Oil.
Add:
Onion for 5 minutes.
Add:
Garam Masala Spices
Tomato Paste
Ginger
Chile Peppers
Salt to taste.

Stir in Chickpeas and Tomatoes.
Bring to a boil
Reduce heat to medium low.
Simmer 15 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in Yogurt and Cilantro.

Serve plain or over steamed Rice.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Indian Sleepy Coffee:

Here's a unique concept. This coffee actually helps you get a good night's rest.
This recipe makes 4 servings.

4 tsp Ground Coffee
2 C Water
1 3/4 C Whole Milk
A Pinch of Nutmeg
2 - 1" pieces of Cinnamon Stick
2 Green Cardamom Pods, slightly crushed.
1 oz. Kahlua Coffee Liquor
4 tsp Sugar

In a large saucepan on medium heat:
Bring all ingredients to a boil, stirring often.
Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Strain and serve hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Indian Tomato Chutney.
Serve with Pita Chips

1 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
10 Curry Leaves
2 tsp fresh chopped Ginger
1 green Chile, diced
7 C Chopped Tomatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 tsp Coriander
1/2 tsp Cumin
Salt to taste
1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

In a saucepan on medium heat:
Oil, heat
Add:
Mustard Seeds
Curry Leaves
Ginger
Chile
Heat for 2 minutes.

Add:
Tomatoes , cook 5 minutes more.

Add:
Coriander
Turmeric
Cumin
Cook an additional 5 minutes.

Add:
Sugar
Vinegar
Salt to taste.
Cook an additional 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and cool completely.
Transfer to a covered dish and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve with Pita Chips.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Citrus Beet Salad

This is an incredible recipe. We are members at one of the most prestigious Art Museums in the country, The Kimball. We're fortunate to live in the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex and be able to visit it often.
We went to the opening of Faces of Impressionism, Portraits from the Musee D 'Orsay in Paris, France. It's also one of our favorite Museums. It's our favorite museum in Paris.
We had lunch in the museum cafe yesterday and fell in love with this simple beet salad. When I looked a the Kimball Cookbook in the museum gift shop, I saw the recipe. When I was paying for the book, I told the sales associate that I was paying $30 for a salad recipe. I discovered that there are hundreds of amazing recipes in the book. I decided to post some of them, starting with the Citrus Beet Salad.

Salad:
1  - 16 oz. jar of Sliced Pickled Beets, drained
1 C thinly sliced Carrots
1/4 C thinly sliced Red Onions
1/2 C Dried Cranberries
1 C Orange sections or 1 can Mandarin Oranges, drained.
2 TBS chopped fresh Parsley

Dressing:
3 TBS Red Wine Vinegar
3 TBS Orange Marmalade
1/4 tsp Allspice
1/4 tsp Coriander
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp dried Ginger
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground Black Pepper
1 TBS Vegetable Oil

In a large mixing bowl:
Beets
Carrots
Onions
Cranberries
Orange Segments
Parsley
Stir to combine.
Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl:
Vinegar
Marmalade
Allspice
Coriander
Cinnamon
Ginger
Vanilla
Salt
Black Pepper
Oil
Whisk well.

Pour dressing over the salad and toss well.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

No Bake Peanut Butter, Biscoff Cereal Cookies and other Biscoff recipes

There are many recipes available for this Cereal Cookie. Here's just an example.
If you're not familiar with Biscoff Spread, it's a European Cookie Spread. I have other Biscoff recipes on the Blog. I'll re post them at the end of this recipe. It's an incredible taste. There are so many uses for it. Try it!

No Bake Peanut Butter, Biscoff Cereal Cookies.

1 C Rice Krispies
1 C Cheerios  ( Regular, Honey Nut, Banana Nut, Multi Grain Peanut Butter, Frosted or Fruity would be fun for the Holidays) Your choice!
1 pound of White Chocolate, broken up into pieces.
1/4 C Creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 C Biscoff Spread

1 - Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper.

In a large mixing bowl:
Rice Krispies
Cheerios
Stir to combine well.

In a large Pyrex Measuring Cup:
Chocolate
Heat in the microwave until melted, stirring occasionally.
Add:
Peanut Butter
Biscoff
Mix well by hand.

Pour over the cereal and stir to coat well.
Use a 1 1/2" Cookie Scoop and drop them onto the Sheet Pan.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes - 1 hour.

Store refrigerated in a covered container.
Remove just prior to serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



 A couple of years ago I discovered Biscoff Cookies and then Biscoff Spread. I've created an original bar recipe for a cookie contest that I enter every Holiday Season.
I recently saw this recipe and I wanted to share it on the blog. If you haven't tried Biscoff products, I highly recommend them.

Here's the recipe for the Chocolate Pie:

1 1/2 C finely crushed Biscoff Cookies
6 TBS butter, room temperature
2 C dark chocolate chipe
1 C heavy cream
1/4 tsp salt
Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings for garnish

In  a mixing bowl;
Cookie Crumbs
Butter
Press into a 9" Pie Pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

In a saucepan over medium heat::
Chocolate
Cream
Salt
Whisk until smooth and completely melted.
Pour into the crust and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Slice and serve topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Once I discovered Biscoff, I became intrigued with a variety of recipes using it. Here's my original recipe that I created based on another popular bar recipe that I make.

Tex - Mex Brittle Bars:

1 1/2 sticks (12 TBS) butter, melted
2 C crushed Corn Chips
1 1/2 C confectioners' sugar
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper 
1 1/4 C  Biscoff Spread, divided

1 1/2 C Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 C Chopped Pecans
Sea Salt for Garnish

Directions
In a medium bowl:

Melted butter,

Corn Chips,

Confectioners' Sugar

1 C of Biscoff Spread

Stir together until well combined.

Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9"X13" baking dish.

Combine Chocolate Chips and the remaining 1/4 C Biscoff Spread in a microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the Chocolate and Biscoff Spread are melted and smooth; two intervals should be enough.

Mix to blend.

Spread evenly over the Corn Chip layer.

Sprinkle the top with Sea Salt and Pecans.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting into squares.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Here's an earlier post from my blog:

Biscoff Biscuits, or Cookies as the Americans call them, were created in Belgium in 1932.

They're a crunchy caramelized flavored cookie.

Biscoff Spread is Europe's alternative to America's Peanut Butter.

It is completely Vegan and does not contain nuts of any kind.

It does contain Wheat and Soy.

The Spread was created in Belgium in 2007 by the same company that makes the cookie.

The Spread was created as an entry in a recipe contest for a Belgian Television Station along with 2000 other entries.

It was one of the finalists.

It's available in Creamy and Crunchy.

The Biscuits and the Spread are available in the United States.

Here's the Recipe for Biscoff Truffles:

1/2 C Semi Sweet Chocolate Chops

1/2 C Biscoff Spread

20 Biscoff Biscuits , crushed in a Food Processor and divided ( save 2 TBS aside)

1/2 C Powdered Sugar

Microwave the Chocolate Chips in a glass bowl for up to 1 minute.

Stirring occasionally until completely melted.

Stir in the Biscoff Spread until well combined.

Set aside the 2 TBS of crushed Biscuits and mix the remainder into the Chocolate mixture.

Make sure it's well combined.

Refrigerate the mixture for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. ( Do not chill the mixture for more than 10 minutes)

Spoon heaping teaspoons of the mixture into mounds on sheets of waxed paper. ( if the mixture seems to be too wet, add some of the 2 TBS of crushed Biscuits that you set aside earlier)

Let these sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes to air dry.

Place Powdered Sugar in a bowl.

Pick up each mound of the mixture and shape into a ball or roughly shaped truffle.

Place them one at a time in the Sugar using 2 forks to toss them until completely coated.

Place in individual paper or foil candy cups

Store at room temperature.

Makes about 2 dozen Truffles

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Biscoff Biscuits, or Cookies as the Americans call them, were created in Belgium in 1932.
They're a crunchy caramelized flavored cookie.

Biscoff Spread is Europe's alternative to America's Peanut Butter.
It is completely Vegan and does not contain nuts of any kind.
It does contain Wheat and Soy.

The Spread was created in Belgium in 2007 by the same company that makes the cookie.
The Spread was created as an entry in a recipe contest for a Belgian Television Station along with 2000 other entries.
It was one of the finalists.
It's available in Creamy and Crunchy.

The Biscuits and the Spread are available in the United States.

Here's the Recipe for Biscoff Truffles:

1/2 C Semi Sweet Chocolate Chops
1/2 C Biscoff Spread
20 Biscoff Biscuits , crushed in a Food Processor and divided ( save 2 TBS aside)
1/2 C Powdered Sugar

Microwave the Chocolate Chips in a glass bowl for up to 1 minute.
Stirring occasionally until completely melted.

Stir in the Biscoff Spread until well combined.

Set aside the 2 TBS of crushed Biscuits and mix the remainder into the Chocolate mixture.
Make sure it's well combined.

Refrigerate the mixture for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. ( Do not chill the mixture for more than 10 minutes)

Spoon heaping teaspoons of the mixture into mounds on sheets of waxed paper. ( if the mixture seems to be too wet, add some of the 2 TBS of crushed Biscuits that you set aside earlier)

Let these sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes to air dry.

Place Powdered Sugar in a bowl.

Pick up each mound of the mixture and shape into a ball or roughly shaped truffle.
Place them one at a time in the Sugar using 2 forks to toss them until completely coated.

Place in individual paper or foil candy cups
Store at room temperature.

Makes about 2 dozen Truffles

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!