Valentine’s School Party

February 6, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as From the Heart, Gift Ideas, Cookie Recipes at 12:41 am | (2) Comments »

Many schools throw Valentine’s parties — and who bakes the cookies? Mom, of course! Here is a simple recipe for iced cookies. Use your cookie cutter to make any shape you want… but include a few hearts to commemorate the day! Your child can also write his friends’ names in frosting for a personalized touch.

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

What’s Next

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond and vanilla extracts, and egg yolk. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour until well blended. Chill the dough for 8 hours, or overnight. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/3 at a time to 1/8 inch thickness, refrigerating remaining dough until ready to use. Cut into desired shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Leave cookies plain for frosting, or brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with candy sprinkles or colored sugar.

Bake for 7 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light and golden brown. Cool cookies completely before frosting.

Valentine’s Fondue Set

January 31, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as From the Heart, Gift Ideas at 12:53 pm | (1) Comment »

Planning a romantic dinner for two this Valentine’s? End the meal with a fondue — and this adorable Chantal heart-shaped set. Its non-porous glaze won’t react with flavors, and it’s dishwasher safe.

Included in Set:
2 cup ceramic pot
Stailess steel forks
Tealight candle
2 heart plates

Chips in a Jar

January 30, 2008 | Posted by Lorena as From the Heart, Gift Ideas, Cookie Recipes at 9:53 am | (2) Comments »

Here’s a nice Valentine’s Gift for a teacher, friend, or a neighbor: a Chocolate Chip Cookie Jar.
The mix makes four dozen cookies.

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix the salt and baking soda in with the flour, then layer the ingredients into the jar. Secure lid and tie on a raffia or ribbon bow.Punch a hole in a card with the following mixing and baking directions and secure using raffia or ribbon:

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift dry ingredients through a colander to separate the chocolate chips from other ingredients. Beat 1 cup of unsalted butter or margarine in a medium bowl. Beat sifted ingredients into butter until blended. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg with 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix beaten egg mixture into butter mixture until blended. Stir in
chocolate chips. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned.

Candy Canes

December 10, 2007 | Posted by Allison as From the Heart, Gift Ideas, Candies & Truffles Recipe, Recipe at 1:05 pm | (1) Comment »

What’s Christmas without candy canes? Make a batch the traditional way with a family recipe that’s been handed down from generation to generation. A wonderful and inexpensive gift for carolers, co-workers, neighbors or teachers since it costs just a dollar to make a dozen.

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
red food coloring

Instructions
Cook sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar to a very hard ball stage (use candy thermometer: 250 to 265 degrees F.). Remove from heat and add peppermint. Divide into two parts and add red coloring to one part and mix well. Pull pieces of each part to form ropes and twist red around the white to make candy canes.

How We Can Help: A Menu for Hope III

December 12, 2006 | Posted by Allison as From the Heart at 1:00 pm | (1) Comment »

It’s the time of year for giving from the heart & that’s just what Menu for Hope means.  This is the time that we set aside the rushing-about holiday gift list & concentrate on something a little more serious.  It’s time of year to help the United Nations World Food Program.

Food bloggers everywhere are trying to make their voices hear this year, to be able to make a difference in the worldwide food crisis.  Last year, those folks located in California, met over at Chez Pim’s place to hand out raffle tickets & hold a festive Menu for Hope event.  But this year, the whole thing has grown up.  If you’re in CA, head on over to Becks & Posh to see what they’re getting themselves into this year, or read about that Pim has up their sleeve.  If you’re not in CA, check out these other links & make sure to give from the heart this year to a Menu for Hope.

US West Coast: Becks and Posh
US East Coast: The Amateur Gourmet
US (the rest): Kalyn’s Kitchen
Canada: Cardamom Addict
Europe and UK: Davidlebovitz.com
Latin America: The Cooking Diva
Asia Pacific/Australia/New Zealand: Grab Your Fork

Eat well & Give often!

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