Cinnamon Walnut Crackles
makes 2 dozen cookies
2 cups walnut halves
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered Sugar for dusting (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grind walnuts in a food processor until very finely ground.
Add egg, powdered sugar, nutmeg and vanilla.
Process until thoroughly blended.
Let mix stand for about 2 minutes. It will firm up some.
Using a tablespoon, place rounded balls of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 13-15 minutes or until light golden brown.
Remove from oven and let stand on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Cookies will appear puffed, but will flatten upon standing.
Remove to cookie rack cool thoroughly.
Sprinkle tops of cookies with powdered sugar.
Easy-Peasy Chocolate & Peanut Butter fudge
Peanut butter fudge:
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Butter
1 lb Powdered sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1. Microvave the butter and peanut butter together in a microwave-safe bowl for two minutes.
2. Stir
3. Microwave for two more minutes.
4. Add the vanilla and sugar and stir to combine.
5. Spread in a greased 9×13 pan and refrigerate
Chocolate fudge:
3 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Melt chocolate and sweetened condensed milk together in a double boiler until smooth.
2. Stir in the vanilla.
3. spread over the top of the cooled peanut butter fudge.
Both the peanut butter and chocolate portions of this recipe are great alone. Sometimes I substitute Almond, Orange, or Peppermint extract when making the chocolate to eat by itself. This recipe is also great for making with my kids!
Chocolate Cream Pots
Submitted by Roxanne Nassan
Mix together well:
1-1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup dry cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Filling:
Combine
8oz softened cream cheese
1 large egg
1/3 cup sugar
pinch salt
Add 4 oz. chocolate chips
Fill muffin liners about 1/3 full with chocolate batter,
then put 1-2 tsp. cream cheese mixture atop each.
Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.
Makes about 18 small cakes.
Chocolate Truffles
BITECLUB: These were super simple to make. I let mine sit overnight in
the fridge and warm up for about 1/2 hour the next morning on the
counter. I used Bailey’s Irish Cream (since it was all I had on hand).
Here are some fun ideas for things other than cocoa to roll them in:
– Crushed potato chips
– Hot cocoa mix (I used a fancy gingerbread one someone gave me)
– Bacon (okay, okay, don’t say it)
Submitted by Wojamo
Below is the truffle recipe I was telling you about. I just wrap up 4-8 in cellophane tied with Xmas ribbon and voila! Inexpensive, decadent, home-made gift. If I want to be “fancy”, I’ll wrap a small piece of cardboard in Xmas wrapping paper before wrapping the whole thing with cellophane and tying with ribbon. The Grand Marnier is the most expensive part, but you only need 2 Tablespoons- so you could just buy one of those $3 “single serving” bottles. Other options that I’ve experimented with are Kahlua and Creme de Menthe. Also good.
Chocolate Truffles:
1 lb. semisweet chocolate (chips)
3/4 cup whipping cream
4 T. Unsalted Butter, very soft
2 T. Liqueur of your choice ( I use Gran Marnier)
Cocoa ( Hersey’s)
Chop Chocolate coarsely (skip if using chips) and melt in double boiler over simmering water. Stir until smooth then remove from heat. In a saucepan bring cream JUST to a boil; small bubbles will just appear around the edge of the pan. Don’t bring it to a full rolling boil. Remove from heat IMMEDIATELY. Add melted chocolate to warmed cream and stir until well mixed. Gradually stir in softened butter by the Tablespoon. When all ingredients are thoroughly combined, add Liqueur.
Pour into a jelly roll pan (any cookie pan with sides will do) and chill until firm enough to mold (approx 2 hours). When set, use a small melon baller to scoop out a small ball of chocolate. Working quickly form into a roughly formed ball. Roll in cocoa and set in mini paper cup. Refrigerate to set. Store finished Truffles in the refrigerator but, bring to room temperature to serve.
Note: This can be a very messy process, so have a wet towel near by to wipe your fingers. If the chocolate becomes too runny, pop it back into the refrigerator again until the right consistency.
Super Burger, Cucina Paradiso
An opening and a re-opening:
– Penngrove’s dining scene continues to boom with the addition of The Original Superburger which opened last night. If the name sounds familiar, it’s a sibling to Santa Rosa’s popular Original Superburger on Fourth Street. The menu’s the same. Hours are 11-8 M-Sat, 11-3 Sunday. A spy who was on the scene last night said the restaurant sold out of burgers within a couple hours of opening. Penngrovers must be hungry! 10070 Main, #A (where the Mexican restaurant used to be), Penngrove.
– Cucina Paradiso, a longtime favorite Petaluma Italian eatery has moved to their new location at 114 Petaluma Blvd. North. Insiders tell BiteClub that they closed the Eagle Shopping Center location after Thursday night’s dinner and carried all their chairs and tables over the bridge to the redone Moreda’s Sporting Goods. Says my source, “They have retrofitted it out splendidly. We stopped in to congratulate
them last night and you’d have thought the place had been open for
months!” Congrats.
Peanut Butter Bon Bons
Submitted by Teena Hardee
MIX TOGETHER:
2 LB BAG OF CONFECTIONER’S SUGAR
2 STICKS OF BUTTER (SOFTENED)
3 CUPS OF PEANUT BUTTER
BLEND UNTIL SOFT. IF TOO DRY YOU MAY ADD A LITTLE MILK TO MIXTURE.
ROLL INTO BALLS AND PUT IN FREEZER WHILE YOU MAKE THE CHOCOLATE COATING.
CHOCOLATE COATING IS TWO BAGS OF SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS. PLACE IN MICROWAVE UNTIL MELTED.
REMOVE BALLS FROM FREEZER AND DIP INTO CHOCOLATE. PLACE ON WAX PAPER TO SET.
TASTE A LOT LIKE REESES PEANUT BUTTER CUPS – ONLY BETTER CAUSE THEY’RE MADE WITH LOVE :o)
Petite Cheesecakes
Submitted by Teena Hardee
You will need:
1 – 2 cans Cherry Pie Filling and or Blueberry Pie Filling (whatever you like on top of your cheesecake)
Blend together well till light and fluffy:
Two 8oz pkgs. Cream Cheese -softened
¾ Cup Sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Place a mini vanilla wafer into tassy cup holder (mini cupcake holders). Fill remainder of cup with about 1 Tablespoon of cream cheese mixture. Bake for 15 minutes in 350 degree oven till firm center.
After they cool, place two cherries or a few blueberries on top and serve.
Great for parties because they are easy to eat and require no utensils – just pop it in your mouth and enjoy :o)
Eau de Flame Broiled?
Of all the things a man can smell like, is a Whopper all that bad?
Just in time for the holidays, Burger King has release “Flame”, a body spray for men (or burger-loving women) with just a hint of flame-broiled goodness. And it will only set you back a value-menu priced $4.
According to the website, firemeetsdesire.com, “The WHOPPER sandwich is America’s favorite burger. FLAME by BK captures the essence of that love and gives it to you. Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.” Mmmmmmm.
Though the mind boggles at anyone wanting to smell like a hamburger (hey, you can get the same effect just sitting in a BK for a few hours), early reports say it’s not quite as nasty as it sounds. A hint of cinnamon, a little smoky. Totally Meatastic, assuming your partner’s not a vegetarian.
You’re the king, baby.
Want it? Fill someone’s stocking with scent: http://www.rickyshalloween.com/flame_0153_body_spray_p/flame.htm
Soft Molasses Cookie recipe
Editor’s Note: These were amazing little cookies that packed a spice-punch. I rolled them in the large sugar crystals to make them glisten. I also used the “Full-flavored” molasses to really give it the strongest flavor.
Soft Molasses Cookie Recipe
Submitted by Jennifer D
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Cream together shortening and brown sugar.
Stir in egg and molasses and mix well.
Fold in dry ingredients and stir.
Cover and chill till firm (1-2 hours).
Preheat oven to 350°.
Roll dough into small balls and roll in white sugar.
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes.
Leave on sheet one minute until set.
Remove to wire racks and cool completely.
Cake cookies
Submitted by Rosalind Sandler
1 Duncan Hines moist yellow cake mix
1/2 C oil
2 large eggs
Mix until blended
Add: fruit, candy, nuts, whatever and mix
Drop on parchment cover cookie sheets by rounded teaspoon
Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.
(I used golden and dark raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots and
walnuts pieces. I plumped up the fruit in a bowl with 3T water in the
microwave for 2 minutes and let it sit covered for 1/2 hour before
adding)
The cookies are pretty and very tasty and way too easy!