Joy in the Kitchen!

Delectable!   I snagged this recipe from Angie, who got it from Lindsay.  I don't know where Lindsay got it, other than I think her Mom made it when she was growing up.  Where do these fabulous recipes come from anyway?  Several years in a row Angie brought our family a plate of homemade treats at Christmas time.  I loved this fudge so much I finally called her to get the recipe.  I wrote fast while she read the recipe to me over the phone. (a lot of my recipes are like this)  Here's my personal shorthand version: PB Fudge 3 Cu butter 6 C. sugar 1 can evap M 3 C. pb 1 tsp van lg or 2 sm marsh cr. There you have it. :)  Probably not the recipe version I should pass down for generations.  At least now that I'm posting this on my blog, they'll have a translation and better directions.  Once the translations from my scribbles are done, Peanut Butter Fudge is fairly easy to make.  I like to pour it into a large jel...

Happy Birthday to my 10 year old daughter!  At our home, the birthday traditions include choosing your own birthday cake/dessert and the menu for dinner.   Nicole has been wanting a cake like an Almond Joy candy bar.  Coconut, almonds, chocolate.  I've never tried a cake like that but, a few weeks ago we bought a quart jar of Coconut Creme Spread from Costco.  (I was going to post a link to it, but it isn't listed on the Trailblazer Foods/Wall Berry Farm website).  It is a deliciously creamy spread with real coconut.  Not too sweet or thick.  I figured I could do a chocolate cake, split the layers, spread with coconut creme spread and some sort of chocolate for frosting.   I decided on ganache for the chocolate part. I can't give you a "recipe" for the whole thing, but directions if you're interested in trying something similar.  Almond Joy Cake Mix 1 box of devils food cake mix (brand of your choice ...

I just finished up a batch of CRACKer Candy . (also known as Better Than Money Toffee)  Keeley, my newly married daughter, needed the recipe so I thought I'd go ahead and post it here even though you can find it in varying forms everywhere these days.  I found it in a old church cookbook before I was married.  I guess this has been around for a long time. Probably since saltines were invented. Yes, I'm sure at least that long. This stuff is addicting!  My goodness! How can you go wrong with butter, sugar, and chocolate?   My Mom has an old fashioned toffee recipe that is delicious but you have to do just right or it doesn't turn out.  It's rare that this "cheater" sort of toffee fails!  I've often made 3 or 4 batches each year.  Thankfully I only feel compelled to make this at Christmas time or we'd need to widen our doorways. ;) CRACKer Candy Heat oven to 400 degrees . Line a cookie sheet with foil.  I use a jelly...

My husband Dave is the best fudge maker ever. :)  I don't even attempt his fudge recipe.  However, before he started making his delicious cooked fudge, we found this recipe for Cream Cheese Fudge in an old church cookbook.  It has few ingredients and is easy enough for an inexperienced cook to make!  The dough is pliable and can be rolled and cut into shapes if you use a little cooking spray or some powdered sugar on your counter to keep it from sticking.  You could also roll this in balls and then in sprinkles for a different presentation. I think this tastes best after sitting a day or so to mellow but it can be eaten as soon as it cools enough to cut easily. Cream Cheese Fudge 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 3/4 C. powdered cocoa (1 C. if you like a stronger chocolate flavor) 1 tsp. vanilla dash of salt 5 C. powdered sugar 1 C. chopped nuts, optional Mix cocoa and sugar until lumps in cocoa are dissolved.  Cream in cheese, add vanilla and n...