Homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups {Recipe}
Most of us like candy, right? However, because we don't buy candy I get to make it. And because I get to make it then I make MY faves. I haven't made any candy treats in a long time, so in order for visions of treats and candy to be dancing in the boy's heads I knew I needed to get to work. Homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups--YUM.
The recipe for these is so easy, so easy in fact it could be a crime to pass it about. A sweet crime though. Enjoy.
Homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
This recipe is of my own creation, based on an adaptation of this recipe, and this recipe.
Yield: 35 Peanut Butter Cups
15 oz. of Semi Sweet Chocolate
3/4 C. Peanut Butter (I like crunchy, but smooth would work fine)
1 Graham Crackers Ground into little crumbs
1 Pinches of Salt (or more to taste)
3 oz. White Chocolate
35 Mini Baking Cups
There are pictures for many of these steps below the recipe. Scroll down to clarify, I wrote this and it could be confusing. Please let me know if you have any questions or issues with the recipe, however I followed it yesterday and they turned out perfectly.
1.) Slowly melt the Semi Sweet Chocolate in a microwave safe bowl- heating for 30 seconds at a time and then stirring. Chocolate will scorch very quickly, so be sure to keep an eye on it.
2.)In the meantime boil a tea pot of water, this will be used to keep the chocolate soft a little longer, I think it helps- but you can choose not to do this step if you don't want to. (See picture below- I set the melted ingredients in a 9 by 13 inch pyrex filled with boiling water)
3.) In another microwave safe bowl combine the White Chocolate and the Peanut Butter. Place in microwave and melt and stir at the same intervals as the previous chocolate. Once the White chocolate is melted and the Peanut Butter combined add the Salt and Graham Cracker crumbs. Mix until combined.
4.) Place the Mini Baking Cups onto a cookie sheet. Layer equal amounts in each cup: Semi-Sweet Chocolate, then Peanut Butter Filling, then top off with another layer of melted Semi-Sweet Chocolate.
5.) Lick your fingers and place in the fridge for about 45 min. or until hardened. I put mine out in the garage because it is pretty cold out there right now. If you need them done quicker you could place them in the freezer for 15 min and then take them out and let them warm up a tad before serving.
6.) Store in an airtight container, preferably in a cooler place. It is best to store them in the fridge. The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups will keep for about 2 weeks. ENJOY!!
Do you have a favourite candy you make? Share the recipe with me, either through email or in the comments section.
A Handmade Christmas of Years Gone By
I am currently awaiting the arrival of something very fun, and no it is not the baby. I have been saving up for a really nice sewing machine and within the next couple of days a sweet lady all dressed in blue will bring it to my door. I am like a little child waiting for the mail way before it is time, and stairing at the mail lady with my face pressed up against the window waiting to see what she has for me. I just can't wait.
When that arrives I will have several projects to share. I have already pre-cut the fabric and very soon I'll get to sew it together. One item which I hope to get done, a set of burlap stockings. Also sweet little pocket handwarmers! I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, here are some more handmade gift ideas. Click on the links above each picture to head to the blog post about that item:
There are the Felt True Love Ornaments which are very sweet on the tree, or on a wreath or wherever.
An Easy Stained Glass Craft for Kids- Grandparents LOVE this!!
Bath Salts Soak Recipe, another very easy and quick gift.
Knit Old School Washcloths/Dishrags that everyone will love. This is a great first knitting project.
Make Crocheted Coffee Sleeves- these are a huge hit, especially paired with a reusable coffee/tea cup.
A Handmade Christmas: I will keep posting ideas for a non-tacky handmade christmas. This is the first so far, I am a little slower this year as my babybelly is making me tired. I will still try and get quite a few ideas up before Christmas that you can make for family and friends I will re-post from the years gone by as well.
Previous Ideas from my Handmade Christmas Craft Series: Pretty Dress Book Page Origami Ornament * Jesse Tree Advent Ornaments *Kid Friendly Stained Glass Craft * Homemade Heat Pack or Cold Compress (Rice Socks)* Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern * Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life * True Love Heart Ornaments * Bath Salts Soak Recipe* Coffee or Tea Sleeve Patterns * Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe *
Above all, enjoy this season- and remember what it really is all about: the Birth of Christ.
Homemade Heat Pack and Cold Compress Instructions
Make your very own slice of heaven in a sock. Oh yeah, I promise that this simple and inexpensive hot/cold sock filled with rice and a couple drops of essential oil is your ticket to a better life. They are great for back aches, stomach cramps, leg tightness, leg pain, or just a relaxation enhancer.
They are especially good for pregnant ladies, because back aches are a biggie- so be sure to make these for all of those peeps in your life that find themselves expecting. I got these at my first baby shower from a friend and it was the one thing that fit me during the whole pregnancy, that I looked forward to more and could use after the baby too! I can't say enough, try it.
Instructions for Homemade Rice Sock Heat pack or Cold Compress:
What you need:
*One pair of (I recommend two so you have a back up when your husband steals yours!) thick men's socks. Just regular tube socks will do, they should be sport or working man thickness though. The bigger the better.
*Rice as needed to fill the socks half full. Get the cheapest you can find.
*Flannel or other fabric to cover your men's sized rice socks.
*Funnel (optional but recommended).
*Essential Oils to your choosing (optional but recommended).
How to work it:
1.) Roll down the top of one of your socks, stick the funnel in and dump cups of rice into the sock until it is full until the half way point.
2.) Add drops of essential oil to the rice inside your sock (picture below). I added vanilla, about 10 drops- but whatever you like to smell would work. Also herbs would work as well, some lavender leaves and flowers or whatever.
3.) Cut fabric, I like flannel because it is warm already to the touch and soft but you could use cotton or fleece. Remember it will need to be washed and it will be microwaved along with the rice sock as well. The size of your sock will mean you need a bigger or shorter fabric slice. I cut mine at 6 inches wide and 18 long. I had the fabric folded so I wouldn't have to sew the bottom of the cover, but I am lazy so it doesn't really matter if you do it that way, it is only about 5 inches to sew.
4.) Sew the top hem first, before you do the sides or bottom. Then turn fabric wrong side out or right sides facing each other and sew up the two long sides and the bottom. Right the fabric and you are done. DONE! Slide (more like wiggle) your rice sock in and you are ready to head to the micro!
That would be right, it means that now you can enjoy. Start up your kettle, grab a good book or a stack of magazines and settle in for a good relaxing time.
Heating and Cooling Instructions:
Heating: As sizes will vary, you'll need to figure out how long your sock needs to be heated in the microwave. It will depend on how big it is and how much rice is in it, and how hot you want it, but mine takes 3-4 minutes- as it has quite a bit of rice in it. I recommend heating one at a time if you have two, it just kind of works better that way. Wash the cover when needed.
Cooling: If you want this for a cold compress- put it in the freezer and let it get cold. Simple right? I would go with at least an hour- but that just depends on how cold you want it.
Live it up, and share with a friend!!
Re-posted from original post here at dreadlockgirl.com: Homemade Heat Pack and Cold Compress, on 28th of January 2010 . I will be making another couple of these at least this season for my back and any friends or family who may need an update. You should too, the fam loves them. Enjoy!
A Handmade Christmas: I will keep posting ideas for a non-tacky handmade christmas. This is the first so far, I am a little slower this year as my babybelly is making me tired. I will still try and get quite a few ideas up before Christmas that you can make for family and friends I will re-post from the years gone by as well.
Previous Ideas from my Handmade Christmas Craft Series: Pretty Dress Book Page Origami Ornament * Jesse Tree Advent Ornaments *Kid Friendly Stained Glass Craft * Homemade Heat Pack or Cold Compress (Rice Socks)* Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern * Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life * True Love Heart Ornaments * Bath Salts Soak Recipe* Coffee or Tea Sleeve Patterns * Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe *
Above all, enjoy this season- and remember what it really is all about: the Birth of Christ.
Pretty Dress Book Page Origami Ornament
New ornaments are always fun to get, and to give. This is the perfect ornament for a bookie, so think of the bookies in your life and make them one. I saw these and had to share the process of making them here. The little dresses are so very sweet and remind me of an old fashioned christmas, where Christmas wasn't all about glitter and gifts, I like that. I love that you can see the type on the book page that it is made from, it gives the ornament the perfect hint of character. Plus you are re-using something that would otherwise just be recycled, right?
I had an old copy of Jane Eyre, I love the book and loved this copy to death. The binding is compeletely craked, and the pages are falling out. I recently saw another copy at a second hand store and bought it. I knew I didn't want to just get rid of my well-loved copy so it just sat on the shelf along with the new one. When I saw this little project though, it really seemed like the perfect use for my treasured book.
Making this origami paper dress is very simple, here is a video of the paper folding process. In the beginning there are some animate kids talking- just keep watching, you are in the right place and the folding will start right after that.
To get the page of a book to the right square shape you will need to fold it diagonaly until it meets and the folded part will look like a triangle. There will be a top strip, cut off that extra and it will form a square when you open it. Most origami starts from a square piece of paper, so you may know how to do this already.
There you have it, now with a needle just pierce through the two flaps on the back pulling a thread through as you do. Then cut the tread to desired length and knot to close the circle. Now you are ready to decorate with a sash or bow or just leave it plain. It looks good however you choose to make it. This ornament is PERFECT for the typical ornament exchanges that are held throughout this season.
I made this first pretty dress origami ornament for a friend who just found out she is having a baby girl. Since then I have made several more because they are just so cute. I have decided it doesn't matter if you have a girl or not, dresses on the tree are always acceptable!
I found the inspiration to do this ornament from a Pinterest picture, from this blog.
A Handmade Christmas: I will keep posting ideas for a non-tacky handmade christmas. This is the first so far, I am a little slower this year as my babybelly is making me tired. I will still try and get quite a few ideas up before Christmas that you can make for family and friends I will re-post from the years gone by as well.
Previous Ideas from my Handmade Christmas Craft Series: Pretty Dress Book Page Origami Ornament * Jesse Tree Advent Ornaments *Kid Friendly Stained Glass Craft * Homemade Heat Pack or Cold Compress (Rice Socks)* Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern * Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life * True Love Heart Ornaments * Bath Salts Soak Recipe* Coffee or Tea Sleeve Patterns * Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe *
Above all, enjoy this season- and remember what it really is all about: the Birth of Christ.
How To Make Your Very Own Wool Dreads
Wanna be a dreadlock girl/guy too?
Each dreadlock only takes about 15 minutes!!
These can be added to dreads as I show in the video, or to attach them to un-dreaded hair you can make a loop with one end of the dread, and then bind it with some yarn or twine. Slide that loop up a proportionate section of your hair and then you can either braid it in up at the very top so it will stay or use another hair tie or twine to tie it into place. You can use this method of attaching your wool dread to a natural hair dread as well if you want it to be longer.
Make them for yourself or as a gift for your teens, college girls- sure to please, who wouldn't want a dreadlock!?!
I am headed off to make more wool roving dreads they are too easy!
Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be glad to try and answer them for you.
Spain’s Quesada Recipe
This is what I would call Spanish "cheesecake", but it is so very different that I hesitate to even mention that to you. It is more dense, browned top, not as sugary-sweet, with an amazing texture and I think about two thousand times better than what you probably know as cheesecake. For me it is one of those comfort foods that if you know is in the fridge you will want to go back to it and take little slivers off here and there hoping no one will notice so that you won't have to share! I usually double the recipe and jut put it in a larger skillet to back and add about 10 minutes. If I don't double it I end up being way too protective of it. Not good.
I baked mine in a cast iron skillet, but you don't have to, I've made it in a baking dish and it turned out just as good. If you do have cast iron though, I think you'll enjoy the convenience of using it for this recipe.
Quesada Recipe
(from The Taste of Spain by Camillia Jessel)
500 ml or 18 fl. oz Cups Milk (2+1/4 cups)
1 Cinnamon Stick
Peel of 1 Lemon
Butter
300 g (11 oz) Sugar (1+1/3 cups approx.)
150 g (5 oz) Flour, sieved with a pinch of salt (1+1/4 cups approx)
150 g (5 oz) Natural Plain Yogurt (1+1/4 cups)
2 Eggs
Powdered Cinnamon
Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick and lemon peel. When it boils remove from heat and keep.
Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease an appropriately sized tin, ceramic or cast iron mould generously with butter and put it in the oven. The sides should be about 2 inches (5 cm.) height as the quesada rises slightly.
Beat the sugar and flour with the yogurt and eggs in a bowl. Beat in the strained milk little by little. Pour the mixture into the hot mould, sprinkle with powdered cinnamon and bake for 45 minutes.
Strawberry Fields Don’t Last Forever
I guess even the Beatles can be wrong. Strawberries have a very short season only lasting about 2 weeks as far as good pickin' goes. This year with the cooler weather it was drawn out quite a bit longer! I have never picked strawberries the way that I did a couple days back, they were all ripe and I would stay in one spot and just pick and pick...so we ended up with 20 pounds of berries.
To deal with the bounty I snapped up 8 envelops of instant pectin (or sent The Husband to the store for them actually) and started instantly to wash, de-stem, and mash. The recipe is on the back of the pectin, and I don't use anything other than Instant Fruit Pectin (like in this picture) anymore.
Why do I love freezer jam so much better ? because of the lower sugar and MUCH fresher taste. This recipe calls for 4 cups of fruit and 1+1/2 cups of sugar per package, not the 5 cups of fruit to 4 cups of sugar or whatever the atrocity is of canned jam. No comparison on taste either since these berries aren't cooked and boiled- and it is quicker too- so if you have the freezer space you really don't have any reason not to try it, it is as easy as mixing three ingredients together and then putting them in containers.
I love that color, that bright red is beautiful. There is just something about good strawberries.I just bought an amazing food dehydrator at a second hand store and next year I will certainly pick double the berries next year and dry half of them. Stay posted for some dehydrating adventures.
But for now talk to me! Do you have any memories of jam making? What kind of berries do you like best for jam?
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