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.

Healthy Halloween treats?

October 29, 2007 | Posted by Lorena as Gift Ideas, Sweets, Tid Bits & News at 9:49 am | (1) Comment »

halloween candy
No, we’re not suggesting that you give out carrots to the trick-or-treaters. But if you’d rather not contribute to the nationwide sugar rush, you can distribute delicious (and nutritious!) Halloween treats:

fruit boxes (they need a drink anyway)
dark chocolate (contains antioxidants!)
raisins (zero fat, and the perfect energy snack)
mixed nuts
popcorn (great for the Halloween movie festival)

You won’t be the most popular woman in the neighborhood, but at least your conscience (or your calorie counters) are clear.

Beer Basket for Father’s Day Gift this Year

June 14, 2007 | Posted by Allison as Gift Ideas at 12:00 pm | Comments »

So, Father’s Day is this coming Sunday & what have you gotten your favorite papa? Nothing yet, right? Well, I have come to save your day with this very tempting Around the World Beer Basket.

With a fantastic collection of 12 beers from around the world, including Guiness from Ireland, Red Stripe from Jamaica & Stella from Belgium, you can give your dad a taste of everything! Cost, $120.

Breakfast In Bed Gift Idea for Mother’s Day

May 9, 2007 | Posted by Allison as Gift Ideas at 12:00 pm | Comments »

Show your mom how much you love & adore her this Mother’s Day with this handsome Breakfast In Bed gift basket from Wine Country Gift Baskets.

This lovely basket featured an old-fashioned pancake & waffle mix,gourmet apple maple breakfast syrup, Ghirardelli white mocha hot coffee drink mix, apricot preserves, coffee, Canterbury cuisine tea & scone mix, gourmet honey, Ceylon tea as well as some delicious caramel cookies.

Sounds like a winner to me!

Use Brownie Bundt Pan for Halloween & Fall Pumpkins

October 2, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Gift Ideas, Holiday Fun at 12:00 pm | (1) Comment »

Holidays are a great excuse to get in the kitchen & make all kinds of creative sweets. With this Brownie Bundt Pan from Williams-Sonoma I thought we could do just about anything with it.

For Fourth of July, bake some cupcakes in the pan & decorate with red, white & blue frosting. Prepare miniature pumpkin cakes by putting one on top of the other for Halloween or Thanksgiving. And just add holiday pudding to make your special year-end festivities really sparkle.

A wonderful gift for anyone in the family, or just go ahead & keep it for yourself- I won’t tell!