Big Fat Chocolate-Coated Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies with Chocolate Filling ~ Super Easy and Super Scrumptious!

It seems I always crave a bit more chocolate when I have a chocolate-dipped cookie or a chocolate-filled sandwich cookie.  So, I decided that I wanted both...chocolate filled and chocolate dipped! Oatmeal cookies were my cookie of choice, since they are one of my favorite cookies; and, oh man, was that a great choice!  You get this nice crunch along with that satisfying chocolate coating and filling...bingo, perfect and ever so easy!
  
                                              What A Whopper of....

                                              Total Scrumptiousness!

Thanksgiving Waffle Cone Cornucopia Favor Gift or Prop for Place Card Setting

Easy and whimsical, you'll have so much fun with this scrumptious cone as a favor for your guests or as a gift for the host of your Thanksgiving gathering!  Also, everyone would think you are so clever if you elect to use these festive cones as props for your holiday place card settings.

Incredibly versatile, these cute cones can be filled with any number of candies or goodies (of course, ice cream!) and sprinkled with a variety of colored nonpareils for different holidays.

                                                    So Festive...

                                        Just Spilling Holiday Delight!

Dark Chocolate-Coated Peanut Butter Crunchy Bonbons

If it seems that I'm on a bite-sized dessert kick, that's because they make such terrific, well-received food gifts.  After the fall and winter holidays, a slew of our family birthdays begin, with our celebrating most of them in March.

I made these fantastic peanut butter bonbons for my peanut butter-loving son-in-law's recent birthday. Crushed graham crackers provide a delightful surprise crunch to the creamy peanut butter center of these decadent dark chocolate-drenched bonbons.  Chocolate and peanut butter...just meant to be! 

                                                   Call Them...

                                                 Irresistible!

Chocolate-Coated Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Bites ~ Salty, Chocolaty and Crunchy!

Salty, chocolaty and crunchy, with a surprise of creamy peanut butter, these adorable pretzel bites make an terrific party dessert!  I presented as a Valentine gift this year; however, they'd be well received as a gift any time of the year or as a special treat for your family.  Also, they'd make a wonderful project to do with the children.

Drench these scrumptious pretzel bites with dark or milk chocolate (I prefer dark) and, for a special touch, adorn with your choice of a variety of toppings.  Any way you prefer, you'll love how easy these bites are and they'll love devouring them!

                                            Salty, Chocolaty and Crunchy...

                                           They'll Just Love Them!

Luscious Pecan Praline Topping Holiday Gifts

This luscious pecan praline topping is so marvelous, it should be canned and gifted!  Show your friends and family how much you appreciate them...there's nothing like the joy of presenting or receiving homemade gifts!

Tie your gift jars with pretty ribbon along with gift tags explaining care and suggested ways to use.  For several ideas to enjoy this decadent topping, see my original post Luscious Pecan Praline Topping ~ "How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways".  It's so sinfully delicious, my daughter likes to eat it straight from the jar!

                                             Oh, You Shouldn't Have...

                                               Can't Wait To Open!         

Luscious Pecan Praline Topping ~ "How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways"

When I first made the butter pecan glaze for my beloved Fall Harvest Apple Cake, I thought "this is way more than just a glaze"...it's actually pecan praline topping!

I've since enjoyed this fantastic topping on so many different things that I decided (because it is so good and versatile) it should be canned!  As a unique Valentine gift for friends and loved ones, present this wonderful topping in jars tied with pretty ribbons along with tags explaining care and suggested ways to use.

My favorite way to enjoy this decadent topping is to melt a little in the microwave and pour over freshly popped popcorn.  I also love stirring a little into my coffee or hot cocoa...that little surprise crunch from toasted pecan pieces is such a treat! 

Hey, on Valentine's Day (or any day for that matter), wouldn't you just love to awaken to a tray of fluffy French toast doused with a luscious pecan praline topping...I bet your loved one(s) would!

                                           "How Do I Love Thee...

                                        Let Me Count The Ways"

Sweet and Salty Crack(er) Brittle!

I've adapted this recipe from Trisha Yearwood's Sweet and Saltines, as seen on The Food Network recently.  She said she referred to it as her "crack" because it's so addictive and, believe me, she's right!  Her recipe called for 8 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate for the topping; but she did say you can't have too much chocolate...of course, I chose to use the whole bag!

I experimented with different flavors of chocolate toppings for this brittle,  and I discovered I actually liked them all!  I also tried some finely chopped pecans on top (which I sprinkled on the milk chocolate version).  My favorite flavor of chocolate is generally dark; however, on this brittle, white chocolate may be my favorite!  My daughter liked all the options of chocolate toppings too, and her favorites were the white chocolate and the milk chocolate...she also liked the nuts on top!  I think when I repeat this brittle, it will be hard to choose which flavor of topping to use, so I may just make it with all the chocolate versions again.  I like variety anyway, plus the different colors create a great presentation and spark conversation!

This is a very easy recipe; however, because it moves so quickly, my biggest tip would be to have everything organized and ready to go before you start!  Also, this recipe requires you to work with a hot, molten mixture; so if you make it with children (Trisha made it with her teenage nephews), be sure the children are age appropriate and you all work with care!

      I Just Can't Decide...

                                       Guess I'll Have One Of Each!

Ingredients

• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• approx. 40, unbroken, saltine crackers w/sea salt
• 1 c. (2 sticks) butter w/salt
• 1 c. light brown sugar (packed)
• Select one bag from these chocolate topping options: 12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips, 11.5 oz. bag milk chocolate chips, 10 oz. bag dark chocolate chips or 12 oz. bag white chocolate chips
• 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans (optional)

                                

Directions

1. Line a 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" jelly roll pan with aluminum foil (make sure it comes well up the sides of the pan for easier release of the brittle) and spray with the butter-flavored cooking spray.
2. Preheat the oven to 425º.
3. Arrange the saltine crackers, salty side up, in a single layer on the pan.  (The crackers you use may have a slightly elongated side--place the elongated side vertically and you'll get more crackers on the pan.)
4. In a non-stick medium skillet, using a whisk (protect your hand w/a pot holder), stir and melt the butter and brown sugar together over medium heat.  Increase the temperature a little and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, whisking constantly.  Reduce the heat back to medium and boil the toffee for 5 minutes, still stirring constantly.
5. Put the pan of crackers on the stove top (this will help keep the toffee warm for easier spreading)--immediately remove the hot, molten mixture from the heat and, using care, evenly pour over the crackers.  Using a silicone spatula, quickly finish spreading the toffee, as evenly as possible, over the crackers. (If the toffee hardens before you reach all the corners, it will be easier to spread a little more when you take the crackers out of the oven.)
6. Place the pan in the oven and bake the coated crackers for 2 to 4 minutes, or just until bubbly, watching carefully (mine became bubbly each time after 3 1/2 minutes).
7. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and lay back on the stove top (this will help keep the brittle warm to melt the chocolate easier).
8. Pour a bag of chocolate chips of your choice, from the above flavors, equally over the crackers.  When the chocolate chips melt a little, spread as evenly as possible with a silicone spatula.
9. Sprinkle with the finely chopped pecans (optional).
10. Remove the pan from the stove top and cool the brittle a little; then place in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until it is completely cold.  Break the sheet of brittle into pieces (the sizes and shapes will vary).  Store in an airtight container.  

(This brittle would make a wonderful take-along treat, and it would also make great gifts...present in decorative tin cans or cellophane bags tied with pretty ribbons...I need to remind you again around the holidays, huh?)

Surprise dad with this sweet and salty crack(er) brittle for Father's Day...be careful though, he'll enjoy it so much, it might become his new sin of choice!

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