Gobble Gobble!

Yummy Turkey Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 pkg. (10 oz.) regular marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal 
• 1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups) 
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 1/3 cups candy corn 
• 2 squares white chocolate almond bark

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. (Microwave directions: in a microwave-safe bowl, heat butter and marshmallows on high for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth).
2. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated. 
3. Coat your hands with non-stick cooking spray or butter. (You may need to reapply cooking spray or butter after roll several balls). Divide warm cereal mixture into 24 portions. Using your hands shape each portion into a  ball. Let cool. 
4. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and oil. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. 
5. Dip each ball into the chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.
6. Decorate with candy corn for feathers and beak. Let cool.
7. Microwave white chocolate bark according to the directions on the package in a small microwave-safe dish. Let cool for about 1 minute. Transfer melted white chocolate to a icing bag with a tip. 
8. Pipe 2 dots onto the turkeys for eyes. Let stand until firm. 
9. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Delicious Raspberry-Cranberry Jello

Here is a recipe I am always requested to make around Thanksgiving. I sometimes find that I am making it more than once. Especially to take to potlucks this time of year. It is quick and easy to make. The best part is it can be made the day before and doesn't need heating so makes for an easy potluck dish!

Ingredients:

• 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) raspberry flavor Jello mix
• 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, in juice
• 1 can (16 oz.) whole cranberry sauce
• 1 large apple, chopped

Directions:

1. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 2 1/2 cups; pour into saucepan. Bring to a boil. Pour over gelatin mixes in a large bowl; stir 2 minutes (until completely dissolved)
2. Stir in pineapple, cranberry sauce, and chopped apple. 
3. refrigerate 2 1/2 hours, until firm, or overnight.

Festive Acorn Treats

Chocolate Candy Kiss Acorn Treats!

I can't take all the credit for these ones as my cousin found them online and shared them on her Facebook page. I thought they were too cute...so I decided to give them a try. I made an entire package for our Thanksgiving celebrations and only 2 came back home with me. They are quick and fun to do!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. Hershey Kisses, unwrapped
• 1 pkg. Nutter Butter bites
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. Melt some of the mini chocolate chips in the microwave (or you can use chocolate almond bark). This is to be used as your "glue". 
2. Dip the flat side of the Hershey's kiss into the melted chocolate and press it together with a Nutter Butter bite.
3. Next, dip the flat side of a mini chocolate chip in the melted chocolate and place it on the top center of the Nutter Butter bite. 
4. Let them cool so the chocolate hardens.

Homemade Gourmet Caramel Apples

Yummy Caramel Apple Gifts!

It has become a tradition for me to make homemade gourmet caramel apples every year for my family and close friends. Each year the amount of caramel apples I make seems to double. It is something I look forward to making the week before Halloween as a yummy fall treat and gift for my loved ones.
Below is the recipe for one of the many types of caramel apples I've made:

Ingredients:

• 5 Apples (I usually pick Red Delicious, but you can use any you like), cleaned and wiped dry
• 1 pkg. caramel squares, unwrapped
• 2 tbsp. milk 
• 1/2 pkg. chocolate almond bark, melted
• 3 squares white chocolate almond bark, melted
• 4 Hershey candy bars, chopped 
• 5 Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors
• 5 cellophane gift bags (I have found them at the Dollar Tree, Walmart and Party America)

 
Directions:

1. Rise and remove any stickers from your apples. Pat dry with a paper towel. Remove stem from the top of the apple. Insert Popsicle stick into the top center of the apple.
2. Melt caramel squares and milk together on the stove top over medium heat - watch your caramels closely so they do not begin to burn. (I prefer to use my electric fondue pot - but I understand that not everyone has one. You need to keep the caramel continuously warm so microwaving it would not work very well unless you are really fast)
3. Dip your apple into the caramel mixture. Let excess caramel drip off.
4. Immediately dip your apple into the chopped Hershey's chocolate bar. Then place onto a chilled cookie tray. 
5. Immediately place cookies into refrigerate to help cool and set the caramel. After about 30 minutes remove. 
6. Melt chocolate almond bark in the microwave according to the pkg. directions. Holding the apple side ways and rotating it drizzle the chocolate over the apple using a spoon.
7. Repeat using the white chocolate bark.
8. Refrigerate again. After about an hour it will be set enough that you can remove from the refrigerator to place in the cellophane gift bag. You can add pretty curling ribbon a note if you desire. 

Note: Other possible toppings I have used: mini M&M's, chopped almonds, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, crushed Oreo cookies, cake sprinkles, and/or chopped Snickers bars.

Spooky Graveyard Treat

Yummy Chocolate Pudding Treat for Halloween

Ingredients:

• 2 pkgs. chocolate pudding mix
• 4 cups milk 
• 2-3 cups Oreo cookies, crushed
• gummy worms
• 7-10 Keebler chocolate filled cookies
• 2 pieces of chocolate almond bark, melted 

Directions:

1. Combine chocolate pudding mix and milk according to the package. Mix for approximately 2 minutes in a medium size bowl. Refrigerate until just before serving.
2. Melt chocolate almond bark in microwave according to pkg. directions. Put melted chocolate into a zip lock baggie or icing bag with tip. Pipe the letters RIP onto several cookies as tombstones. 
3. Just before serving. Put Oreo cookie topping down. Then place cookies sticking up into the "dirt" and place as many gummy worms as you desire around the bowl. 

Note: You can serve in individual cups as well. 

"Pumpkin" Cheese Ball

Here is a fun idea for a party!

"Pumpkin" Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup gold fish crackers, crushed
• 3 olives
• 1 small dill pickle 

Directions:

1. Combine the cream cheese, shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce and chopped green onions with a hand mixer in a medium size bowl. 
2. Chill for 30 minutes.
3. Roll mixture into a ball. Roll in crushed gold fish crackers (can also use crushed Dorito chips). Cut up olives and use as eyes and mouth. Put small dill pickle in the center of the top as a stem. 
4. Enjoy!

Fun Halloween Cookies - Cookie Eyeballs

Cookie Eyeballs

 

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg white chocolate almond bark/baking chocolate, chopped
• 1 box vanilla wafers
• 1 container white frosting
• blue liquid food coloring
• red liquid food coloring
• chocolate chips 

Directions:

1. In a microwave, melt white chocolate according to package; stir until smooth. Dip vanilla wafers in melted chocolate; allow access to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Allow chocolate to harden.
2. For bloodshot eyes, use a toothpick dipped in red food coloring to draw lines from the center of each cookie outward. 
3. Add blue food coloring to white frosting; stir until blended. Using a piping bag or zip lock bag (cutting a small hole on one of the bottom corners) pipe a small dab of blue frosting in the center of the vanilla wafer. 
4. Place a chocolate chip in the center.
5. Set out and enjoy!