Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

In the 1800’s, kitchens were busy with bread and soups and such. No one had cookies or brownies or popsicles. How shocked are you to think that they did have fudge though!

Like many other good culinary inventions, fudge way an accident. While stories tend to be inconsistent, the basic tale claims that fudge was created from a failed batch of caramels. Thank goodness someone wasn’t making the caramels correctly or else we may still have no fudge today!

In the old days, fudge was called “Divinity” because it tasted “simply divine”. It wasn’t until the 1900’s that Divinity took on a new look—the look of white chocolate fudge… my favorite!

Now-a-days we can enjoy many different flavors of fudge, from chocolate, to mint, to fruit-filled—you’re only limited by your imagination! Enjoy this tasty (and easy) peanut butter fudge recipe for a new twist on an old favorite.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 stick margarine
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1) Mix sugar, milk, margarine and salt in a saucepan. Boil, stirring frequently, until it forms a soft ball in cold water.

2) Remove from stove and add peanut butter and vanilla. Beat until creamy and pour into buttered 9×9 pan. Let cool before cutting.

*If you want chocolate peanut butter fudge, add 1 heaping teaspoons of cocoa to the top four ingredient before cooking.

Yum-o. I love peanut butter and this delicious fudge recipe is a great way to enjoy one of my favorite flavors. Although I do love peanut butter I also love chocolate (as I’m sure you know!) To turn this fudge recipe into chocolate peanut butter fudge, add one teaspoon of cocoa to the other ingredients. It’s a great way to sweeten up any day… peanut butter fudge!

Oreo Dirt Cake Recipe

“Look! There are worms in my cake!”

On any other occasion, this really wouldn’t be taken as a compliment, but with this tasty dirt cake… it’s just the opposite.

This recipe for Oreo dirt cake is so easy and perfect for the kids. In fact, they can even help out because this cake is completely no bake! Read more

How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

It’s a food with elegance, yet simplicity; its chocolate covered strawberries. Chocolate covered strawberries are a great way to make a statement without breaking the bank or the clock!

You can really experiment a lot with chocolate covered strawberries.

Try changing up the type of chocolate, maybe rolling it in nuts or drawing things like little tuxedos on the berries.

Let’s go ahead and get started because these chocolate covered strawberries are going to be delicious!

Ingredients:

• 2 pt. strawberries
• 1 lg. bag semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1/4 c. Crisco (lard not oil)

Directions:

1) Wash and dry strawberries. Melt chocolate and Crisco in double boiler. Dip strawberries in hot chocolate and put on tray covered with wax paper or Saran Wrap. Refrigerate until chocolate is hard.
Assuming all parties are of age, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of brandy, cognac or other liquor. This gives a little zest to your classic chocolate covered strawberries.

For help with dipping try my 3-step method.

1. Pick
After washing the berry, gather the stem and leaves in a three-finger grasp.

2. Dip
Dip the strawberry straight into the chocolate and then roll it around, still holding the stem.

3. Twist
Remove the strawberry from the chocolate and give it a whip-twist. This is what I call the move where as your lifting the strawberry out, flick your wrist a little bit as your twist the strawberry so that the stem is on the bottom and you’re holding it upwards. The twist cuts off any chance of a chocolate drop and gives your strawberry a little flair.

Of course this is just my method. Trying different dipping methods will give different looks. Some people like the strawberry tuxedo too. This is done simple by dipping the berry in white chocolate (for a dark chocolate suit) first.

Let this harden and then angle the berry to about a 30 degree angle when you dip the dark chocolate on both sides, depending on how wide you want the lapels to be. Pipe some dark chocolate on later, after the chocolate has hardened to add the bowtie. It’s such a cute way to dress up an everyday food. Enjoy a batch of chocolate covered strawberries for yourself!

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

Those bananas are on their last leg. You’ve watched them sit on your kitchen counter… changing colors from a sunny yellow to a dingy brown. There’s even that little squishy part on the bottom. We’ve all lived this nightmare.

Would you believe me if I said you could do something with those mushy brown bananas? No… not garden fertilizer. Some of the best (and moist) banana bread I’ve ever made was from the brownest banana in the bundle! It may sound strange… gross… or even unsafe to eat those rotting bananas, but they are safe (and tasty in bread).

My mom and I have been baking banana bread using this recipe for as long as I can remember. It makes a great holiday gift because you can buy those disposable foil loaf pans. They’re inexpensive and you can easily wrap up your loaves in some festive cellophane wrap (tied with a ribbon) for an extra touch.

It’s a cheap way to say happy holidays… or if it’s not a holiday season, it’s just a good way to remind someone that you’re thinking of them. My neighbors, especially, love these loaves!

Yield: 16 servings (note: the mini foil loaves will only have 8 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups mashed banana (about 3 bananas)
• ½ cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Non-stick cooking spray

Directions:

1) Preheat over to 350 degrees .Combine flour, baking soda and salt and blend with a whisk. Set aside.

2) Place sugar and butter in a large bowl and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about one minute).

3) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt and vanilla and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed just until moist.

4) Spoon batter into an 8 ½ x 4 ½ -inch loaf pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until wooden pick inserted comes out clean.

5) Cool 10 minutes in pan or on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Enjoy!

I especially love this bread right out of the oven and a glass of milk! For fun variations to this delicious recipe try adding a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips or a cup of your favorite nut (I like pecans in this recipe.)

You can make the bread plain as well. To distinguish the loaves, sprinkle a little bit of your “special ingredient” on top of the loaves, like the chocolate chips or the pecans. Yum! I think you too will find that this moist banana bread recipe is completely worth the wait for the brown bananas!

No Bake Cereal Bar Recipe

No bake recipes are perfect for any occasion. The best part about them is that they don’t need an over so they’re great for hot summers.

In addition, kids love helping with this fun recipe… and it’s safe too! No bake recipes are even known for their ability to cut down on energy costs!

This no bake cereal bar recipe is the perfect snack for any occasion. I remember that one day when I made this recipe for a day at the park with some friends.

This snack didn’t melt, didn’t turn sticky, and when all was said and done… there were NO leftovers! These no-bake cereal bars were a huge hit!

Yield: 15 bars

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Cheerios
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 2 cups M&M’s
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1) In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil. Cook and stir just until sugar is dissolved.

2) Remove from the heat; stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Cool. Cut into 3-in. squares.

Yum! This recipe is perfect and it’s a great blend of many kids’ favorite snacks! I really love it… with any luck, you may love it too! It’s a great no-bake cereal bar recipe– one in a million!

No-Bake Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

They’re crispy, they’re sweet, they’re delicious, and they don’t even require an oven! They’re no-bake cookies… or something of the sort.

I especially love this recipe because (obviously) it’s so easy! There are four easy ingredients that I usually have in my house so no matter the day, these no-bake butter balls are on the way!

For children especially, this recipe is so much fun to make. Usually, baking is only semi-hands-on for kids (partially) because of the dangers associated with ovens or stoves. With this delicious no-bake peanut butter ball recipe, they can help with the whole process!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (Use reduced fat for less calories.)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-3 cups of crispy rice cereal

Directions:
1) Combine the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Stir in enough cereal to make balls.

2) Place the balls on waxed paper and chill. Enjoy!

As a little hint, when rolling the balls (after step one) try wetting your hands a little bit. This makes it easier to roll the balls into a ball, without it sticking to your hands too much. Once you get these tasty balls all rolled all you have to do is chill and wait!

Once you take a bite, be sure to share because everyone will be wondering how you came across this great no-bake peanut butter ball recipe!

White Chocolate Fudge Recipe

One of my favorite desserts is one which is many times overlooked—the ever beloved fudge. Chocolate fudge is a dense, yet delicious dessert. Originally it was produced with dark or milk chocolate. This recipe is a tantalizing twist on classic chocolate fudge; a white chocolate fudge recipe.

Along with my other fudge recipe, a milk chocolate fudge recipe, this fudge is extremely heart healthy. Nuts like almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts or pecans are great ways to keep your heart healthy.

While, yes, fudge is typically a splurge, who’s to say that it can’t be good for you too? No one! It doesn’t usually take much fudge to satisfy a sweet tooth, so this white chocolate fudge recipe is a great dessert for pretty much any occasion. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 12 ounces white chocolate, melted
• 1 1/2 cup pecans (or walnuts or macadamia nuts)

Directions:

1) Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large mixing bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended.

2) Gradually add chocolate; mix well. Stir in nuts. Spread in greased 8 inch square pan. Chill several hours. NOTE: you can also use 3/4 cup nuts and 3/4 cup dried apricots or other dried fruit.

Some of my favorite things to add into this delicious white chocolate fudge recipe include, mini chocolate chips, M&Ms, a variety of nuts, or dried fruit. For holidays, you can try swirling in some food coloring, like red and green for Christmas or blue for Hanukah! This white chocolate fudge recipe is a great way to make any occasion a special one so have fun with it!

One…Two… Chocolate Fondue

Ready, set, fondue! This chocolate fondue recipe is so easy, if you blink, you just might miss it. The ingredients are basic, it tastes delicious—in fact, you don’t even need a fondue pot to make it! It doesn’t get much more basic than that! Let’s get started!

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces good quality semi-sweet chocolate
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Amaretto liqueur (optional)
• Bite sized pieces of fruit or cake
  

Directions:

1) Combine the chocolate and heavy cream in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.

2) Stirring constantly, cook for about two minutes, or until melted and smooth. Add the vanilla and liqueur. Serve with the fruit and cake.

Yum! This chocolate fondue recipe is so delicious! My best friend and I have a little pink fondue pot and when we hang out, at nights we’ll break out the fondue pot, this recipe, and a chick flick! It’s so much fun.

Also, there are many different options to serve this recipe with. We especially like bananas, strawberries, pineapple, and mandarin oranges.

Pound cake is good too just so long as it doesn’t get crumby and break into pieces and fall into the chocolate.

For a special treat, try dipping tiny pieces of cheesecake into the fondue. We don’t do cheesecake too often, but when we do it’s so good! Try this recipe for yourself… make a night of it. It’s a great addition to any “girl’s night in” or “at-home date night”. Enjoy this fantastic chocolate fondue recipe… make seconds if necessary!

Homemade Ice Cream Drumsticks

What an idea! I love those yummy ice cream drumsticks from the Ice Cream Man, but who would have ever guessed that they could be made at home!

In some instances, I’d say that half the fun of drumsticks is racing against the clock.

You hear the ice cream truck roll into your neighborhood and you frantically scramble to gather some change.

Fumbling it between your fingers, you rocket outside towards the ice cream man just as he’s returning the last bit of change to his final customer. You made it… this time.

What if you didn’t have to rush so much? I found this delicious drumstick recipe which is so easy! I made them last weekend and they weren’t the real thing… but they were just as good! Plus with this fun recipe, you’re only limited by your imagination.

Want strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla? Do it. Want Oreos on the side instead of nuts?Okay, you’re the boss.

Make the exact drumstick you want and you too will soon be stuck on this customizable summer sweet! Enjoy your very own ice cream drumstick today!

Come on… check out the recipe right here!

Easy American Apple Pie Recipe

You know what they say… as American as apple pie. Well, this recipe sure is that and a whole lot more. This apple pie recipe is incredibly easy and results in such a delicious little pie! In this recipe, there is one thing I should probably point out before we get started.

The recipe uses a premade pie crust. I know, I know… some say it’s cheating, but that is my baking weaknesses. I never said I was a professional chef and so for whatever reason, I have a horribly hard time keeping homemade crusts from getting dry and crumbly.

Even if I do manage to make then taste good, they’re always lopsided, not covering the whole pie, or excessively covering the pie—so much that it’s too thin to even be a crust in some places.

I love making things from scratch, but I just have to draw the line at pie crusts. For me, this lovely premade crust tastes fabulous! If you’re completely opposed, feel free to use the filling recipe in your own favorite pie crust recipe! Good luck!

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 box (15 oz) refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box (I like Pillsbury)
• 6 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples (6 medium)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom.

2. In large bowl, gently mix filling ingredients; spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust. Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge, pressing edges together to seal; flute. Cut slits or shapes in several places in top crust.

3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Cover edge of crust with 2- to 3-inch wide strips of foil after first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.

4. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.

Yum! See, the premade crust tastes delicious! It’s as American as apple pie and it’s as tasty as… well anything! Enjoy your very own homemade easy apple pie… right now!

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