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Monday, November 26, 2012

Hot Chocolate Bar


It has become a tradition for us to pile in the car, with mugs of hot chocolate napkins full of cookies, and head out to see the holiday lights. The spread has gotten a little more sophisticated over the years but the lights have not changed. We go to Santa's Magical Kingdom and the tackiness has gotten worse if anything. But we still love it, after all it's tradition.


I can not pass up an opportunity to get out my vintage collection of dishes and mugs.

 Candy Cane Cookies



Hot Chocolate Mix- this is the real deal made with nothing but chopped chocolate, milk and cream.




 Chewy Ginger Cookies

 Homemade Marshmallows



Master Hot Chocolate Recipe: Traditional Home Hot Chocolate Master Blend

Friday, November 9, 2012

Paint Party Cake Pops and Cookies


My niece requested cake pops for her paint party so I thought I would attempt paint brush shapes for the first time. I always prefer to use a cookie cutter when I can, for  speed and uniformity. I combined one baked and crumbled cake mix with half of a tub of store made icing in a large bowl. Then pressed it all into a
9 x 13 pan and chilled for about half an hour.
I used a tombstone cookie cutter to cut the cake pop dough. It was a little too big for the job but it was the closest shape I had to a brush bristle.


I did have to reshape the pops to exact size and shape I wanted and then they were chilled again for 15 minutes.


I melted some milk chocolate and dipped the wooden spoons, purchased at Michael's, in the chocolate and pushed about halfway into the pops. Chill again for about 15 minutes.

This package of wooden spoons was $2.99 for 60 at Michael's. I am sure there are other sources available. At the last minute, it was the easiest thing for me to get.

A cell stick or knitting needle works for adding brush lines. The chocolate needs to be just starting to set. (I know these pictures are not in the best order.)
Only a small amount of melting chocolate is needed for the "paint" colors. Microwave in small bowls and dip the chilled cake pops into the color. Use a pastry brush or spoon to put the chocolate where you want it on the cake pop.




The second treat served at the paint party was paint palette cookies. I used a little brown food coloring in the sugar cookie dough to achieve the wood tone. I rolled a texture mat with a wood grain pattern on top before putting the cookies in the oven.

A glace icing was used to get the splattered paint look.

The cookies and cake pops were fun to make. Let me know if you give them a try.