Christmas Gifts: Cookie Dough Truffles, Sweet & Spicy Nuts, and Hot Cocoa Mix!

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[ Applause ]

Hello family. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s Christmas season. I know, don’t throw anything at the set. I understand. But you know, the longer you plan ahead the easier it is to deal with the whole holiday season. Planning is a big part of it. And you know, the more you can do at this point, it’s right after Thanksgiving. Come on, it’s the week after. Select your cards, make sure you have enough wrapping paper, do all the things you can, you know, this far in advance. And then whenever you want to mail the cards, then you pop them in the mail, at least you have them done, okay? And make your gift list, do all kinds of things. There’s lots — so much stuff to do ahead of time. And when you’re making a gift list, you might want to include some gifts that are made in the kitchen, which is what our program is about today. We’re giving you a lot of ideas. Some you can make an advance and freeze, some you’re going to make closer to the holiday itself because they just are better the fresher they are. And some you could make and store for months, it wouldn’t matter. But there’s quite a variety and it’s all good and I know you’re going to enjoy it. So give a call to somebody and say, hey, Arlene’s kicking off the holiday season. Look at that table full of goodies. This is just some of the things we’re going to share with you today. You don’t want to miss it. Give them a call and tell them, come on. Watch at home. We’re kicking off Christmas because it’s the season that we celebrate the birth of our Christ. We’ll be right back in just a minute but here’s today’s At Home Hint. Here’s today’s At Home Hint. This is the week to make out your gift list. Begin shopping and accumulating the gifts. Wrap each gift when you bring it home then it won’t be such a chore on Christmas Eve. It really makes the holidays easier. If you’ve got a helpful hint we’d like to hear from you. Send your hint to At Home Hints, Cornerstone TeleVision, Wall, Pennsylvania, 15148-1499. Well, Patty’s already cooking in the microwave. She’s going to do some — what are you making? Tell us what you’re making.

Chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.

Could you say it one more time?

[ Laughter ]

Chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.

You know everybody likes to eat that raw cookie dough. And this is ultimately what’s in them but there’s no eggs or anything that would be spoiling, but that’s going to be awesome. I know you’re melting some chocolate. I’m making sweet and spicy holiday pecans and cashews. This is an incredible, incredible — I’ve made these before. These are awesome. If people like a little tang, a little spice to their, you know, nibbling on their walnuts and stuff or pecans, they’re going to love this. And then we’re going to make a Christmas cocoa mix. It’s a great gift to give. These are all great gifts. I mean, you can’t miss by it. So while she’s mixing up her — go ahead.

It’s just like doing chocolate chip cookies.

[ Mixer whirring ]

Really?

No, yeah, it’s great.

Well, tell us what it is. Butter?

You put a cup of butter in like you did normally for chocolate chip. Three quarter cup of brown sugar.

Brown sugar.

Three quarter cup of regular sugar.

Okay.

A little vanilla.

[ Mixer whirring ]

Little vanilla. You have to cream that really well?

Yeah, cream it up like you would normally do.

Sure.

This is so slick. I really like this recipe.

Now you’re not baking that or anything, right?

No. And I don’t understand but it has baking soda in it. I guess so it has to have taste.

It’s taste. Yeah, you have to have taste.

And it’s just a tiny bit of it.

Okay.

It’s just really slick. Instead of using eggs, you use milk. So it’s creamy.

Oh, yeah, okay. Wow, that’s really —

Yeah, it’s just really a nice —

Nice and easy, huh?

Oh, my goodness, yeah.

And wait till you taste them. The taste is incredible.

Oh, yeah, it’s amazing.

Yeah, incredible.

[ Mixers whirring ]

And I know this is something my kids would go nuts over. Because they all love the chocolate chips. Two and a half cups of flour like you would normally do for a basic, —

Right.

— thing. The salt, baking powder, just like a quarter teaspoon just to get that flavor.

Sure.

All right, we’ve got some mixers going here, and I know it’s a little loud and noisy. So what I’m doing here is an egg white, and a tablespoon of water because you got to make this frothy. Because this is what’s going to cover the nuts. And you have to have this really nice and fluffy. And you have — just have some pecans, just have some cashews, and some sugar, and then some spices to make it savory. And so you want this to get nice and frothy. There we go. All right, we’re done with that. Now all you’re going to do, is you’re going to add your cinnamon, some salt. I’m going to do about a half a teaspoon of this. About like that. And some cumin. And what’s my other? Cayenne pepper, uh-huh.

[ Microwave beeping ]

And we’re going to mix that around.

[ Door locking, Microwave beeping ]

And then we’re going to add some sugar, because that’s the sweet part of it. And we mix it some more. And then because that gets all incorporated. Now we’re going to add two cups of cashews. And two cups of pecans.

That looks yummy.

Yeah, and you want a piece of parchment paper on your baking sheet, that’s really important. Because this —

— keeps it from sticking.

Well the cleanup on this would be horrendous if you didn’t use it. So what are you doing over there girlfriend?

I’m just making little cookie dough balls.

Okay, what size are they?

About an inch.

About an inch? That’s all?

Yeah, about an inch. And you can get about —

And then what do you do with them?

You can get about six dozen out of here.

Oh, that’s good.

Yeah, yeah, that makes a nice — and then you stick it in the fridge to chill it.

Fridge or freezer?

Or freezer.

Oh, freezer.

Put them in the freezer, chill them for about a half hour.

Okay.

And then you dip them in chocolate.

And that’s it?

And then you could streusel them with a colored —

Colored chocolate or something? Oh that’s nice.

Just to make them look pretty.

Okay.

Real simple.

Well, here we go. I’m putting my — the nuts that have been totally covered with that. Look how sticky it is because the sugar makes it sticky like that. But you want to get all of that out of there and make sure that’s all over the nuts because that’s what’s going to make the coating so good. And all you want to do — get rid of this so I don’t dump it somewhere. Is just in a single layer. Just spread it out single layer. This goes into a 250 degree oven for 40 minutes. Then you bring them out and you stir them really, really well. And then you lower the temperature to 200 and at 200, then you let them go for about 25 minutes. They’ll be sticky when you take them out to stir them because they’ll be sticking to this parchment. And that’s that. There we go. Patty, could I ask you to do me a favor?

Sure.

Would you pop those in the oven for me?

Of course I will.

Good girl. And I’ll get started on this other — we have a huge bowl because there’s a lot going into this. I’m just going to move this out of the way. And I don’t know about you but we really like cocoa mixes because if you have to make cocoa from scratch, it’s a pain in the neck. But if you can just throw it in, boil some water and have a good cup of cocoa, that’s delicious. And this is a great gift because you can use any kind of container to put it in. So we’re going to add — stay with me here. This is a lot. It makes a lot. Okay, this right here is powdered milk, 12 cups. Now you don’t have to make as big a batch if you don’t want to. But 12 cups makes a nice lot of gifts. It really does. And then we have Nestlé’s chocolate. A pound of that. We have Cremora for the coffee creamer. That’s about a cup and a half, that goes in.

[ Dishes clattering ]

And then we have powdered sugar. And you can, if you like it’s sweet, put a whole cup. If you don’t like it so sweet, put a half a cup. We’ll go about three fourths. How will that be? And then you’re just going to start to mix it, just like this and you want to combine it well. What are we doing Patty?

Melting more chocolate.

You’re melting the chocolate to do —

I’m melting chocolate to —

Oh, okay, to dip them in, okay. Very good.

Because I already had some balls that I had saved.

Oh, yeah, when you made it before, yeah. Now they had to freeze how long?

About a half hour.

Half hour, that’s not bad.

No.

Just till they get firm so that when you hit them with the chocolate, they don’t melt everywhere.

Exactly.

Okay, good.

Otherwise that would be a ooey, gooey mess.

Sure it would. Now when you make these containers and you put this hot chocolate in, you want to make sure you put a little label on there so people know how much you should put in a cup. And you really are going to just do it — it’s like three or four tablespoons to a cup of boiling water. But if you like it more, if you like less, adjust it to what your preference is. I’ll tell you what, I’ve gotten this kind of thing at Christmas and I’m telling you we’ve used it, enjoyed it. And this you can do way ahead of time. This is not going to spoil. There’s nothing in this to spoil. It’s all dry. So now would you freeze those once you’ve made them, Patty? Or would you make those closer to Christmas?

I would — I could make the balls ahead of time and freeze them and then dip them closer to Christmas.

Oh so you leave them in the freezer. And then when it got close to Christmas, you just bring them out?

You dip them. Yeah, why not?

Okay.

That would save how much time, you know?

Sure.

Okay, I think we’re about there with this. Now, to make this easier, you want to get some nice containers. Like this is a great — this would be a great size. And what you do — get my little thingy here. This I just — was irregular funnel and I just cut it out for a bigger hole. Get your scoop and then you just start loading it in. You know, the kids could do this. This’d be a great thing for them to make for grandma and grandpa, Aunt Minnie and Uncle Tom or whoever.

Or even for teacher presents.

Teacher presents would be great.

They’d be great teacher presents.

You could even put on the little instructions made by Sally or Joe or whoever it is.

Right.

And I think that the teacher would appreciate that and the kids will be so proud.

Plus how many apples can you get?

I’m telling you.

Yeah, how many ornaments and how many — you know that —

Exactly.

— you can use.

Now you don’t want to fill it clear to the top because — especially if you have a cork. Now we need a little bit more in there. Okay? Voila, one gift prepared. Don’t you love it? And that — again, you’re going to put a tag on there, put a nice little decoration around it. That’s as simple as that. You can use canning jars, you can use all size canning jars. These are great. These you can get at the dollar store. Pressure here, pull it out. It’s got a nice grip at the top. This is great. Easy to do. You know what? While Patty’s dipping and I’m spooning, we’re taking a break and we’ll be right back in just a minute with more gifts from the kitchen. All right, I just stirred the nuts, turned the temperature down to 200 degrees. They’ll go about 20, 25 more minutes, and then they will be so good. You bring them out, let them cool, you break them apart and you put them in your containers. However you want to serve them. Patty, you have your — she did all — they’re so good those truffles, I’m telling you, you’re going to love them. But now what are you getting at?

I’m getting ready to start the breads and —

Okay, we’re making three breads in a box. That’s a gift of breads. It’s great. Little mini breads, but what a nice variety.

Right, and the first one is cranberry nut bread.

Okay.

So and it’s so easy to throw — oh, my goodness, it’s wonderful to throw together.

Now while she’s starting that, what I have here is a package of almond bark. That white almond bark that you get, that white chocolate. And I’ve taken a can of the Eagle Brand milk, and you melt it. Careful, really low heat, because if you don’t you’ll be in a mess. This is called gumdrop fudge. We do it in the white. And if you can’t get the small little gumdrops, you get the big ones and I just cut them like this. This is a cup and a half. And this is this simple. All you do, is you melt your white chocolate, and you drop your gumdrops right into the chocolate. Now you just want to make them all red and green for Christmas. That’d be beautiful. But look at the color here. I think the kids would love this. And look how easy it is. And to that you’re going to add a little bit of vanilla to just to perk up that flavor. You can do it in a microwave, but you want to be careful. Watch. But if you do it on a stove on a very, very, very low heat. This white chocolate will seize up quickly and wad into a ball and get dry and you can’t do it. You can’t use it, it’s over. So you want to mix this really well. And you have a nine inch square cake pan or dish like I have here. And I lined it with foil. Because that way when this sets up in the refrigerator, you’re going to bring this out and be able to take it right out of here so you can cut it, which is a good deal. So we’re just going to spoon this out. Pour it right in there. Just like that. Yes, siree. That’s our gumdrop fudge. I’m telling you that little taste of gum drop. If you liked the spicy ones, you could use that. I personally don’t care for the spices. So I always get the regular. And it’s so simple. And that’s it. You just put it in your fridge. When it sets up, you cut it. Put in your containers, whenever you want to give somebody something you know, just put in a little container. Or if you’re going to keep it for your family for the holidays, it’s made and it’s done. That simple, that easy. And what I’d want to do here is just smooth it out so you have a nice — look already it’s — how nice that’s coming. Firming up. You don’t want to dilly dally with this because this stuff will set up quickly. And when you cut it, do you see all these little pieces of the — you know the little gumdrops, you can let that sit out for a little while if you want to. All right, so that’s our gumdrop fudge. You okay over there? Let’s see what you made.

Yeah, I got the cranberry nut bread already put together and done.

All right.

It takes no time to do.

Great.

And I’m just pouring it in here and you use cranberry sauce. Whole berry cranberry sauce.

Oh, look how nice the color of that is.

Oh, yeah.

That’s different.

And it bakes up really nice and light.

So we’re making cranberry. I’m going to make some gingerbread. Basic, quick, Bisquick gingerbread.

And this had Bisquick in it too. And I’ll tell you what, it comes together so —

That baking mix is nice.

— nice.

I really like it. I really like it. And these little loaf pans, you can buy them, you can keep that, give them individual gifts. Or like we’re going to show you at the end how we did the three breads in a package. Mine is for gingerbread. In case you’ve been seeing me do this a lot, because I have allergies. Sorry about that. But just one of those things. I think it’s allergic to the studio, but it’ll be all right. Okay, so what we’re going to do, I’m going to beat two eggs —

[ Cracking eggs ]

— like that. How long do they bake for, Patty?

Only about — this one bakes for about 25, 30 minutes because they’re so small.

Because they are small, yeah.

So it only bakes for a few minutes.

Which is nice, because you get them in there and out fast.

Heck yeah.

Okay?

Especially if you have those little pans, you can bake a bunch at one time.

You could. And you know that’s what I do with my banana breads at Christmas time. I make a bunch AT one time and I wrap them —

Throw them in the freezer.

Put them in the freezer. Yep, you’re ready to go. Okay, I have some milk and some eggs, and I’m beating that up. And then I’m going to add my Bisquick right here. That goes in next. Some ginger, your spices all going to go in here. Ginger, cloves and cinnamon.

And I’ll tell you what, that smells so good baking.

Baking, yeah.

With all these spices, my goodness.

No, it feels like fall, you know?

Mm-hmm.

Just that fall smell. Okay?

[ Mixer whirring ]

Just every time you do something you want to mix it up. Now these all bake at 350, right?

Except for the banana bread bakes at 325, but everything else bakes at 350.

Okay.

[ Mixers whirring ]

Okay. Well the bananas smell good.

Don’t they smell good? I love them.

And I do too. One of my favorites.

Yeah, mine too.

Okay, and then we’re going to add the melted — this is melted shortening, and molasses, which is really going to give gingerbread that flavor. Yes, yes, yes. And you know if you didn’t like molasses, you could use — I’m sorry if you didn’t like gingerbread, if you’re not a fan, you don’t have to use that, use something else. You know, make a different kind of a bread. Maybe you want an orange bread, or a lemon bread of some kind. It’s really up to you what flavors that you want to make the breads of. Okay? And then we’re going to mix this really well. You always want to be sure that you butter your pans really, really well so you can get the breads out of the pans. That’s important.

[ Mixers whirring ]

I just like how quick these come together.

Yes. That’s like no time at all.

Mm-hmm, nope.

[ Mixer whirring ]

You can make a pumpkin bread. I mean there’s a lot of stuff you can do.

Oh, yeah. But I’ve never made such easy —

Easy quick bread.

Oh my goodness, never. And they’re delicious.

They are. They really are.

You think something this easy can’t be good. Then it is.

Oh, yes it can be, huh?

It is. It’s delicious.

Okay, you know what we’re panning up our breads. When we come back we’re going to show you all the things we made today with gifts from the kitchen. And here’s how you can get all the recipes for everything you’ve seen plus a whole lot more. All right, look at this table. I’m asking you, is this not a table full of gift ideas? Just look at this. Everything we made today, and we packaged it so you get some ideas of how — that you could give it as a gift. I think it’s beautiful, Patty.

I do too. It’s gorgeous.

Glorious.

Okay, chocolate chip cookie dough truffles, right here. Are they beautiful? Actually, this tin right here is full of them. You get — it makes a lot. Like 60 I think you said?

Yeah.

Lots there. Okay. Sweet and spicy holiday pecans and cashews. We have them in all different varieties. In fact we took this cute little mug, Christmas mug, packaged up the nuts in little bags like this. That’s a nice little gift, a quick gift if you need it for a teacher or somebody, there it is, okay? And there’s all different ways of packaging. We have a big tall cylinder here, that’s full of them. There’s all different kinds. There’s a cute little can there. There’s all different ways you can package nuts. Okay? Next is our gumdrop fudge. That baby’s right there.

That’s so fresh.

Look at that.

I love that.

Don’t you love it?

Oh my goodness.

And we also — let’s see, there’s one of these. Here it is right here. We also put in that kind of a decanter so that you could give that as a gift. Then we have Christmas cocoa mix and that’s a variety of ways. And that’s in this one. Look at this bad boy, we decided to give a big family full of Christmas — not for a whole big family. And there’s all different ways. Again, you can put that in a mug, you can put in a cylinder like this, all different ways of doing it. And then we have our three breads and I love this idea. This has three breads. Patty hand me that box there on the corner.

This one?

Yeah. This is our three breads packaged in this box. Look at that. Tell me that would not be a welcome gift. That’s cranberry bread, banana bread, and gingerbread. All great ideas. I hope that maybe you’ve got some ideas, because that’s what we want to do. Thanks, Patty.

Thank you.

Thank you for joining us. Be sure to join us the next time because it won’t be the same without you. We’ll see you then for number two Christmas show here At Home.

Furnishings provided by Levin Furniture featuring Lane’s Country Living collection. Food provided by Jordan Banana Company, wholesalers of fresh fruit and vegetables in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania.

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