Truffled Out

The truffles got dipped..

Couldn't you just . . pop one in your mouth?

It would melt.. YUM.


The penguins have their marching orders...

With a special holiday wish!!

I wish you all lived by me, so I could share!

A TRUFFLE PARADE

You know me... I like to bake. I could probably sit around and bake all day.. in a few years, I might have a hard time getting out the door. . .

ANYWHO.

This year, I came across some amazing recipes.

Recipes for TRUFFLES.

TRUFFLES? I have never made a truffle before, and to be honest, I like a challenge. . .

And it looks pretty easy!

I couldn't resist.

It was like they are calling my name. . .

MAKE ME! MAKE ME!! LINDSEY MAKE ME!!! (Am I taking this too far? Ok.)

I have skipped decorating for Christmas and decided to just start making treats. I mean, that is what is most important anyway. Right? Besides, I will only have like 12 days total to enjoy my decorations.. is it worth it?

Me thinks: Not this year.

Me thinks: EAT CHOCOLATE.

Let me remind you of my other holiday treats.. Like the fab popcorn. . .

or the Almond Roca. . Who doesn't love Almond Roca. . My mouth was sore for weeks. (Good times, good times.)

This year, the first recipe I came across was this one for Oreo Truffles. It was destiny. I am on my way to the store later for some oreos..

Then I saw this recipe on PW. You know I love the PW. And if she says it is good, I most likely will be tryin' it. She posted this: Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt . They are coming back to room temp as we speak.. Wanna see?

See that hole in the middle? That was me forgetting it needed to come back to room temp before rolling into balls. . . that ball however, ended up in my mouth. I ate it, and it was good. :)

The next recipe I saw while prepping for Thanksgiving dinner. I used a few recipes from My Kitchen Cafe.. a foodie blog my sister hooked me on to. She posted these..

Cookie Dough Truffles. You know me and cookie dough, we go waaaaaay back.

Soon, these little morsels will be dipped in milk chocolate... oh my yum.

And then, since I am making all things small and dipped, I thought I would make these. I had some left over cake and added some frosting... canned, yes, which to me is completely sac religious. So far, I am not impressed with the taste.. But they look cute. We will see what they are like in the end. I might be pleasantly surprised. So far, they just look like this. .
These are my truffles, on parade. Check back for the end results.

Last Minute Giving or More Candy Making.. You Decide

Yesterday my kids came home with gifts from their bus driver... THEIR BUS DRIVER! (stinkin' over achiever!) It was then that I realized that I had done NOTHING in preparation for Holiday giving for the last day of school which is... Today. Cool. So, after dinner, I got crackin' on the job at hand. Fortunately, I had a no fail treat that I have done before.

You can check out the recipe here. But what is a recipe without a picture tutorial?

Pop your corn.

Make your candy (remember, it is not rocket science. Just a few ingredients and a candy thermometer.)

Stir your popcorn, almonds and candy in a BIG BOWL.

Spread it on a cookie sheet to dry. (Grease the sheet with butter to avoid sticking)DON'T leave it on the edge of the counter where a crafty 21 month old has learned to climb up and retrieve whatever he darn well pleases. (Look at the intensity in his face!)

Temper some milk chocolate in the micro (remember 40 seconds, then 20 at a time until is is melted. Stir vigorously after each heating. Don't overheat. Remember slow melt.)

Then shake with a spoon over the popcorn.

Now do it with White Chocolate. Same process... Mmmmmmmm Good. Don't be stingy.

Put in a super cute package and DELIVER!! :) JUST IN TIME!

Christie, this is for you.

I thought I would join Stie.. one of my favorite blog reads... by joining her in the effort to make all of you other people in the world just a wee bit... Oh, how does she put it so nicely? Let's just say, add a little more junk to your trunk.. m'kay? I mean, it is the Holiday Season after all. (And if you are anything like my husband or myself, you just added "so, whooped dee doo and fiddle dee dumb" to that last statement)

I made this little treat last year and bottled it for our friends and neighbors. I know I got a few addicts from sharing. I hope you enjoy it as well. I made it again last night, and let me assure you.. it is as good as EVER!!!! Only one problem, if you have some left over, and store it in your refrigerator, you will most CERTAINLY be tempted to sneak to the refrigerator while no one is looking and stick a spoon in it.. just for a little taste. (Think more like the yummiest carmel/butterscotch sauce you have ever TASTED!)

So, without further delay.. I will share with you... BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE... think.. Ice Cream... Think Bananas.. Think a little whip cream, and think HEAVEN. From my lips to your hips baby.. ENJOY!

Trust me, you have the ingredients. Just walk to the kitchen... It comes together in a snap.. just go make it, and enjoy.. Oh, and when you do, be sure to come back and tell me what you thought! :)

Making Candy Like Martha

I have a confession. I have a candy problem. I only have a candy problem during the Holidays. Suddenly, I can't help but make candy. At a very young age, I took an interest in candy making and would make Taffy and Divinity regularly during the holidays. I used to have a few ladies in my old hood [If you girls still even read my blog, I miss you] There were a few of us who would get together during the Holidays just to make candy. I can recall from last year at least one third degree burn and candy splatters that reached the curtain over my sink. GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES.

This year, I will have to candy on my own and so candy I will. I was feeling adventuresome and felt like making a kind of candy I had never made before, so, I asked Peter what his favorite home made candy was to which he informed me... ALMOND ROCA. I coulda guessed. I mean, who doesn't walk by that 5 pound box at Costco and think... oooooooooh.. I could eat that. [Ok, I guess that is just me].

Believe it or not, candy making is FUN! (YES IT IS!) And really not that complicated (NO IT IS NOT!). All you really need is a good candy thermometer, and if you don't have one of those, you can do the water test which my old neighbor Karen can do with total precision.. (truly amazing, I have never seen anything like that and I can't do it). Just buy a candy thermometer, ok?

I had never made Almond Roca before, so I decided to document it for you, and it really was easy! I debated between a recipe from recipezaar.com or Martha Stewart. Martha and I are tight and I have tried many of her recipes from her website and have not been disappointed, so, I decided to stay with the tried and true. She did not disappoint. So, from Martha, to me, to you.. here is how to make Almond Roca.

Toast yourself some raw almonds. 350 degrees for 6-7 minutes.

Put your stuff in a pot and add the candy thermometer. Cook until it reads 300.

(See, I told you it was easy)

Add 1 cup of your chopped Almonds to your candy goo and stir... pour it into a buttered dish. I used a rimmed cookie sheet, but, you could use somethin' else.

Temper your chocolate (no picture) just heat it slow, stirring often in the mircowave... 40 second the first time, less than 20 seconds every time after that. Stir it after each time. Make sure your candy has cooled a bit and spread the chocolate over your candy. Sprinkle one more cup of nuts over the chocolate. If you want to be REALLY fancy, like Martha, you can chocolate both sides.. (her recipe tells you how). Let the chocolate cure in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

If you have buttered your pan, you should be able to lift the roca out of the pan and chop it up. If you have already scored it, it will break along the lines, (do that while it is still warm) if you have not, it will break into random pieces. Store in the refrigerator.

NEXT STEP MOST IMPORTANT: *Lay on your couch, with your airtight container propped on your unborn child and eat Almond Roca until your tongue is raw and you have developed sores all over the inside of your mouth.. Ahhhhhhhhh.. Candy.

*(note feet and body in prone position on said couch)