Arlene and Patti are joined by friend Nancy as they show off even more “gifts from the kitchen” ideas! For those who like salty snacks, Nancy’s Carolina cheese biscuits are a perfect gift. For those with a sweet tooth, there are melt-in-your-mouth truffles, lemon curd, peanut butter chocolate chip bread, and quick and easy brownies where you give the pan as part of the gift! It’s a great show, filled with thoughtful things you can make for friends and family.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Truffles
If you're a chocolate lover, you can't beat these rich candies.
Ingredients
- 1 package cream cheese, softened (8oz)
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 3 large squares "almond bark" chocolate blocks
- 3 large squares "almond bark" white chocolate
Optional coatings:
- Ground walnuts, cocoa powder, flaked coconut, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- ln a large bowl, beat cheese until smooth. Gradually beat sugar into cheese until well blended.
- In a microwave safe bowl, microwave chocolate chips on high for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Stir melted chocolate morsels into cream cheese mixture until no streaks remain.
- Once firmed up, roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes until hard.
- ln microwaveable bowl, heat chocolate and vanilla almond bark together in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir, heat another 20 seconds more and stir again. Make sure chocolate has completely melted and is smooth. Using a fork, dip each ball into melted chocolate to cover, allowing the excess chocolate to drip off. Roll each ball into coating of your choice, or leave with just chocolate. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet to set. Place in sealed plastic container and refrigerate. Makes about 3 dozen truffles. Enjoy!
“I Love Lemon” Curd
This recipe takes just a few ingredients, but makes a really elegant gift.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- grated zest of 4 lemons
- juice of 2 lemons
- 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Note: It is much easier to zest the lemons before you cut and juice them.
- In the top of a double boiler, combine sugar, yolks, zest and juice of lemons. Whisk until thick and curd covers back of spoon. Remove from heat and whisk butter pieces one piece at a time. Allow to cool just a little.
- Pour curd into jars or containers you desire to give. Cover and refrigerate. When giving as gift, attach a card that says to "Keep Refrigerated," and it will keep chilled for 1 month. It's delicious on toast, English muffins, cookies, and more. Enjoy!
Quick and Easy Gift Brownies
Buy a nice reusable pan to bake these in, then give away the pan full of brownies and a copy of the recipe as a gift!
Ingredients
- 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate bar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chose a new baking to give away with brownies. Grease pan with butter.
- Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwaveable bowl on IIlGH 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Adel flour; mix well. Spread into prepared pan. Sprinkle chocolate morsels and chopped pecans over top of batter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs but no liquid batter.. Do not overbake. Cool in pan on top of wire rack. When completely cooled, wrap pan with plastic wrap and decorate with big red bow and ribbon. Makes 24 squares. Enjoy!
Carolina Cheese Biscuits
These tiny crackers are loaded with real cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/8 tsp Tabasco or chipotle pepper (or to taste)
- 100 pecan halves
Instructions
- In a bowl, blend butter and cheese. Sift together flour and salt, then mix into butter and cheese. Add pepper and blend thoroughly.
- Divide dough in halves. Roll each half in waxed paper until about 1 1/2 inches round. Dough will be sticky, so it can be difficult. Roll should be about 15 long and just a little bit wider in diameter than the pecan halves. Wrap logs in plastic wrap and chill overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. After refrigerating, slice dough thinly, and when it has softened just a little, press a pecan half on top of each of the dough slices. Place on cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully, as they can burn very quickly. Makes about 100. Enjoy!
Banana Peanut Butter Bread
This combines two great flavors into a sweet quickbread.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 bananas, mashed
- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 5-x-9-inch loaf pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs; beat well. Stir in peanut butter, bananas, flour and baking soda until blended. Fold in peanuts and chocolate morsels. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 70 to 80 minutes. If the top of the bread begins to get too dark, cover loosely with foil and continue to bake. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Makes 1 loaf. Enjoy !
- Note: This bread is a terrific gift to give to the mailman, doorman, neighbor, teacher, etc. It could be added to a small basket with a mug and some coffee for a delicious gift! Or even a small jar of homemade jam … yummy!
Transcript
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