Joan’s Country Kitchen

Cooking, Entertaining and Home Improvement Blog

Archive for the ‘Candy’ Category

Candy Recipe - Terrific Peanut Brittle

Feb-9-2010 By Joan

My husband loves peanut brittle so I decided to make this recipe for him at Christmas. This peanut

Christmas Peanut Brittle

Christmas Peanut Brittle

brittle is easy to make and also makes a terrific gift from the kitchen.

Peanut Brittle Recipe


Ingredients for peanut brittle

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 cup peanuts
2 tbs butter, softened
1 tsp baking soda

Directions for Cooking

Grease a large cookie sheet and then set it aside for later.

Using a heavy saucepan, bring sugar, corn syrup, salt and water to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

Add peanuts to mixture and stir in.

Continue cooking, stirring frequently until candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a hard ball forms when a little brittle is dropped into very cold water.

Remove peanut brittle from heat and immediately stir in butter or margarine and baking soda.

Pour candy onto greased cookie sheet at once.

Using 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14×12 inches and allow to cool.

Gifts from the Kitchen

Gifts from the Kitchen

Break hard candy into pieces.

More Gifts from the Kitchen

Posted in: Candy, Desserts, Gifts from Your Kitchen, gift ideas
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Make Gifts from the Kitchen This Holiday Season

Nov-11-2009 By Joan

his holiday season, many are looking for money saving ideas. One easy way to save money on gift giving is

caramel corn makes a great gift from your kitchen

caramel corn makes a great gift from your kitchen

to make your own gifts in the kitchen. Homemade holiday treats are a wonderful way to say how much you care to everybody on your gift list. They’ll appreciate the gift even more, knowing you made it yourself.

Here are some holiday recipes that will make tasty gifts this year. Make several of these delicious recipes and create cute gift baskets for friends and relatives. There’s something here for everybody!

Add Candy to the Homemade Gift Basket






Breads for Homemade Food Gifts




Holiday Cookies


Other Gifts from the Kitchen









Cookbooks make wonderful gifts for the cook in your life.

Visit our cool Cookbook Store

Posted in: Bread Recipes, Cake recipes, Candy, Cookbooks, Cooking Resources, Country Holiday Recipes, Desserts, Gifts from Your Kitchen, Holiday Ideas, Saving Money
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Make Homemade Chocolate for Valentine’s Day

Jan-29-2009 By Joan

Does giving your someone special a homemade chocolate Valentine sound like a unique idea?

Valentine's Day Treat for pancakes or ice cream.

Valentine's Day Treat

Having a Valentine’s party and need party favor ideas? Here are some fun ways to use homemade chocolates for Valentine’s Day.

Nothing says “I love you” like some homemade chocolates on Valentine’s Day. The cost of store bought candy and flowers always goes up around February 14 so making homemade chocolate is a way to say “I love you!” and save money too.

Plus your Valentine will appreciate the special effort you went to to creat a homemade gift just for them.

When you need a special homemade Valentine treat you can:

  • Make homemade chocolates using some “naughty” chocolate molds for a little bit of fun.
  • Plan a sensual, decadent dessert by cutting up some fresh strawberries and and making an exotic, spicy chocolate dipping sauce. Scroll down for a couple of delicious chocolate and fudge sauce recipes.
  • Make your Valentine a dozen chocolate rose lollipops instead of giving a dozen roses.
  • Use Valentine themed cookie cutters to cut out special heart shaped chocolate bars and fudge pieces.
  • Make homemade chocolates that your child can bring to school and share with classmates instead of buying expensive valentines.
  • Surprise your sweetie by making cute heart-shaped pancakes and homemade chocolate sauce for breakfast - Yummmmm!
  • Make special hot chocolate mixes as gifts for friends and family or your child’s teacher.
  • Try an exotic chocolate sauce recipe and serve it warm over cold vanilla ice cream.
  • Are you or your friends single? Have an anti-Valentine’s Day party and make some dark chocolate broken heart candies.
  • Make homemade chocolate gift bags for everyone in the office.
  • Use Valentine’s Day molds to create chocolate Cupids and then decorate them with candy coloring. Pass them out to friends and relatives on Valentine’s Day.
  • Make a box of homemade chocolates for your partner and top each one with rose petal.

Try this delicious homemade chocolate sauce recipe to use on those pancakes or ice cream:

Easy Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe

Watkins Baking Cocoa

Watkins Baking Cocoa


Ingredients

1 c cocoa powder
1 1/2 c sugar
1 dash salt
1 1/2 c water
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Combine ingredients in medium saucepan and stir until well blended.

Stirring continuously, let chocolate sauce boil vigorously for 2 to 5 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken.

Remove from stove and allow to cool a little before serving over pancakes or ice cream for Valentine’s Day.

Store unused chocolate sauce in the frig.

Try these additional tasty ingredients if you’d like:

Rich Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 c granulated sugar
1/3 c packed dark brown sugar
3 tbs butter
1/2 c heavy whipping cream

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, blend cocoa powder with sugar.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat, being careful not to scorch. Add cream and mix well, stirring constantly.

Keep stirring for about 3 minutes or until bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Stir in sugar and cocoa mixture.

Keep cooking, stirring constantly. Cook about 1-2 minutes more, making sure cocoa and sugar are blended in and dissolved.

Posted in: Candy, Country Holiday Recipes, Desserts, Gifts from Your Kitchen
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Easy Holiday Candied Walnut Recipe

Dec-8-2008 By Joan

I make this great candied walnut recipe as a gift at Christmas time. It makes a great holiday nut treat for the candy dish. Walnuts have the added advantage of being very good for you too!

Ingredients

1 c white sugar
2 tbs brown sugar
1/2 c water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
2 cups walnut halves

Place all ingredients except walnuts in a medium pan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

Put cold water in a cup and drip syrup into water. Once soft ball has formed in the water, the syrup is done.

Remove syrup from heat and stir in walnuts.

Lay out on wax paper to dry, separating walnuts from each other. Store candied walnuts in a container with a lid once they are dry.

Posted in: Candy, Country Holiday Recipes, Gifts from Your Kitchen
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