S'mores Clusters

More s'mores!

That rhymed.

Now don't confuse these with these tasty S'mores Bites. They're different, though both addictive.

These are so good, so easy, and so quick. 

3 ingredients.

No cooking required, you just gotta melt the chocolate in the microwave. 

Mix in some mini marshmallows and graham cracker pieces and voila!!

S'mores Clusters
adapted from Hershey's 

• 6 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars, broken into pieces
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 graham crackers, broken until pieces

Place candy pieces in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 and a 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until chocolate is melted when mixture is stirred.

Stir in marshmallows and graham cracker pieces until well coated. Drop by spoonfuls into miniature paper muffin cups. Cover; refrigerate until firm.

Printable Recipe







You've got yourself the perfect little treat to take to parties, gift for the holidays, snack on during the game... eat them however you'd like, just eat them!

I'm participating in Brenda's 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge. Check out my past posts!

I'm also participating in Roxana's Chocolate Candy Desserts Party! 


Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

S'mores Bites

I missed the first week of The 12 Weeks of Christmas. Boo to that. It's ok though, I've still got 11 weeks to go! 

 















































Don't lie, you've thought about Christmas. Maybe even counted down the days and weeks. Well it's time to start the countdown with baking! Which means 11 mores weeks of gaining weight eating delicious treats. I'm all for it.

Have you guys started to think about what you want for Christmas? Have you started buying presents? I'm really weird and start trying to buy things for PJ in like September or October as to not save it all for the last paycheck before Christmas! I only get paid every two weeks and with all the people I buy gifts for, I like to start buying some things here and there along the way. Last week I stocked up on some clothes for PJ. I like to go all out for him. Probably a little too over the top, but we don't have kids yet and so... well.. he's like my kid in that sense :)

So... head start on buying presents? Why not a head start on baking Christmas goodies?!!? That way you don't have to leave your Christmas baking all to the last minute, and you can even freeze some and whip them out later like, Bam, I made all these holiday treats!

So let's talk about s'mores. You love them as much as I do, right? They remind me of summer and camping trips and bon fires and perfect weather. But let's be honest, is there really a time when s'mores is not appropriate? Nope. That'd just be crazy. Yes, s'mores are also perfect for holiday baking!

Like these little guys. Little bite-sized s'more bites. Just bake up some mini graham cracker crusts in some mini muffin-pans, add some Hershey's chocolate inside and melt, top with a marshmallow and let melt a bit, cool, and top with melted chocolate. How can one bite be so satisfying? They're best served warm so the chocolate and marshmallow are melty and gooey, but they're delicious served at room temperature too.

 
S'mores Bites
adapted from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 4 (1.55 oz-each) Hershey milk chocolate candy bars, divided
• 12 large marshmallows
  

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter into a bowl. Evenly divide crumb mixture into each cup of a 24 cup mini muffin pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. 

Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Break the rectangles in half. Remove pan from oven; place 2 rectangle halves into each cup.

Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using scissors dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven for 3 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Cool on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before carefully removing cups from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Break remaining candy bars in small pieces and place in a small bowl. Microwave on high 1 to 1 and a 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow into the melted chocolate. Turn top-side up and let stand until set.

Recipe Note: Store the cups in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Freezing is not recommended.

Printable Recipe

 

Wanna join along in the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge? Contact Brenda who hosts it every year.

I'm also participating in Roxana's Chocolate Candy Desserts Party!


Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Acorn Treats {Week 7 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

Week 7 baby.

I am LOVING this 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge. As always, I'd like to thank Brenda for hosting this incredible series!

This week I was short on time so needed something quick and easy.

Like, no-cooking-quick-and-easy.

I found a recipe that seemed like the perfect solution. No cooking? Check. Adorable? Check. Tasty? Check.

It's these Acorn Treats.



















See, I told you they were adorable.


















Acorn Treats
ever-so-slightly adapted from Taste of Home  

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 48 Hershey kisses
• 48 Nutter Butter Bites
• 48 mini semisweet chocolate chips

In a microwave, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Spread the flat side of each kiss with a small amount of melted chocolate; immediately attach each to a cookie. Place a tiny dollop of melted chocolate on the top of the acorn and immediately attach a mini chocolate chip to make a stem. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container.

Printable Recipe




















Check out the other treats in the blog hop below:

Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Graham Cracker S'mores Candy {Week 6 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

We're halfway through the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats challenge. That means Christmas isn't too far away! 

 














 I'm kinda on a s'mores kick lately. I made some S'mores Fudge.

Then I used my leftover graham crackers to make some Graham Cracker Candy.

Now I'm back with something similar. 

But not.

It's Graham Cracker S'MORES Candy this time 'round.



















I used more than 12 graham crackers so didn't put an exact amount in the recipe. It did take 12 whole graham crackers, plus I added in smaller pieces to completely cover the bottom of the pan. I left out the chocolate chips because, well, when I was in the middle of making this I noticed I didn't have them. When do I not have chocolate chips in the house?!? Insane, I know. But include them if you like. I don't think it necessarily needs them.

It still tasted like s'mores heaven. 

 
















Graham Cracker S'mores Candy
slightly adapted from Bakergirl

• Graham crackers (12+)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 cups mini marshmallows
• 4 Hershey bars, broken into pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends, and spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers up on the foil evenly and cover the bottom of the pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.

Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle mini marshmallows and chocolate bar pieces over the graham crackers. Return pan to oven for another 3-5 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up. 

Cool completely. Lift from pan using foil edges. Cut into bars to serve.

Printable Recipe

Check out all of the other treats in the linky below!

 
Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Graham Cracker Candy {Week 5 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

Hi there.

Here's to Week 5 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats, hosted by Brenda at Meal Planning Magic. I missed last week because I thought I had until the end of the day Saturday, but when I came to link up that evening, the linky was closed :( 

So I just pushed this post back to week 5. 

I had some graham crackers to use up after making that S'mores Fudge a couple weeks ago. So this recipe made perfect sense to make. 

I didn't use almonds, but pecans instead cuz that's what I had on hand. I only used half a cup because didn't wanna go into nut overload. I also didn't slice them... I chopped them up in the food processor. Next time I would just slice them though so they are more visible in the photo!

Graham Cracker Candy

slightly adapted from Korean American Mommy

• 1 Cup Salted Butter plus 3 additional tablespoons of butter
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar 
• 1/2 Cup Sliced Pecans 
• Graham Crackers

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil so that it hangs over the edges of the pan and spray with nonstick baking spray. Arrange graham crackers to fit the entire baking sheet.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter on medium-high heat and add the brown sugar. Stir and bring to a boil. Continue stirring until the sugar dissolves and the consistency turns into caramel.

Lower the heat to medium-low, stir in sliced pecans, and cook for a minute stirring constantly. Turn off heat and evenly spread the mixture onto the graham crackers. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before breaking apart.

Store in an air tight container.

Printable Recipe 

This stuff is so good. Kinda reminds me of some crack that I love, minus the saltiness from the Saltines. I did manage to take some over to my brother. But I ate all of the rest.

All of it.

Linking up here.

Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

S'mores Fudge {Week 3 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats!}

Hello hello! 

Here's to Week 3 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats, hosted by Brenda at Meal Planning Magic. Please join us. You've got 9 weeks left!

 

So I made some more fudge. 

S'mores fudge, in fact.

 

What a genius idea! 

Only, I mixed the marshmallows in way too much, that they became incorporated into the chocolate and you can't even see them in the photos. But Baking Bites photos is amazing - in focus and you can see those marshmallows and graham crackers so crisply!

 

So next time I make it I'll only fold the marshmallows in gently and not overmix. 

S'mores Fudge

slightly adapted from Baking Bites

• 18 oz semisweet or milk chocolate (or 3 cups chocolate chips), chopped
• 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 2 cups chopped graham crackers

Line a 9-inch square cake pan with lightly greased aluminum foil.

In a double boiler or large pot, combine chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter and vanilla extract. Cook, stirring frequently, until very smooth. Stir constantly to prevent scorching, if cooking in a pot.

Fold mini marshmallows and graham cracker pieces into the chocolate mixture with a spatula. Do not overmix. Pour into prepared pan and press into an even layer.

Allow fudge to set at room temperature for 4-6 hours. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

Printable Recipe

 



I am really loving this series. It brings me joy to search and search for the perfect treats to make. I have a whole list of possibilities!

Check out what treats other bloggers made in the blog hop below:

Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Pumpkin Spice Fudge {Week 2 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats}

It starts now, folks.

It is officially the start of Christmas baking. Only 12 weeks until Christmas! Ok ok, so that's still 3 months away. But you know it will be here before you know it, don't ya? The last couple of years I have been good about getting PJ some Christmas gifts early so that it doesn't all come down to a single paycheck come Christmas time. I need to get on that again.

So since there are ONLY 12 weeks until Christmas and I know you can't wait to start baking (I kid, I kid), why don't you join along in this fun challenge called The 12 Weeks of Christmas? 



Hiya! 

I had a post all set up for the first week of The 12 Weeks of Christmas (hosted by the lovely Brenda) last week, but fell ill and was too sick to link up all weekend or publish the post! Boo to that. Now here I am pushing my week 1 post back to week 2. I hate that I won't have 12 official weeks of treats, but that's ok. We all will survive.

The question is, how have you been surviving without this?

Pumpkin Spice Fudge.

Not the prettiest fudge I've ever made. But very tasty. It was very rich and sweet and I loved the pumpkin flavor.

Pumpkin Spice Fudge
ever-so-slightly adapted from Aunt Peg's Recipe Box

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 (12 oz) pkg white chocolate chips
• 1 (7 oz) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans or macadamia nuts (optional - I did not use)

Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Combine the first 6 ingredients in a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugars dissolve, then continue cooking until the mixture begins to boil, stirring constantly.  Boil until a candy thermometer reaches the the soft-ball stage (234 ~ 243 degrees). This may take about 30 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the white chips until they are all melted and mixture is smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan, and cool to room temperature. Cut into squares. Store refrigerated in an air tight container. 
 
Printable Recipe
  

I wonder if I could cut back on some of the sugar. I couldn't eat too much at once because it was so sweet! A little goes a long way.

Note, I also used a 9x9 inch loaf pan instead of a 9x 13 inch dish. I don't think I would have had enough mixture to fill the dish or I would have really flat fudge!

I can't wait til Christmas. Wait, yes I can. But this fudge can't! So make it now! And join in The 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats fun. 

 

Peace, and bacon grease!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Saltine Toffee aka Christmas Crack.... 2 Ways {Week 11 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies and Sweets!}

Ho, Ho, Ho.... Merry Christmas!!!

I spent the day with my loved ones, as I hope all of you did, so I've scheduled this post for you today. 

I've got some crack for you :)

Not the illegal crack that can kill you. But this totally legal Christmas crack that could also probably kill you if you eat it too much. But before it does it will make you oh so happy.

"Christmas crack" for you on Christmas. My gift to all of you!

This stuff really is like crack. Actually I can't say that. I've never tried crack before and never plan to. But this stuff is addictive. I was wanting to save some to gift in little goodie bags for mine and PJ's coworkers, and both of our families. But I think I'll have to make another batch because we've been snacking on it nonstop! I plan on taking a little of this batch to my future mama-in-law to try, as well as one of PJ's coworkers. They both are always so supportive of my blog so of course I like to share my successes with them. Also I took some to my family's house today for Christmas to see what they thought about it and they all really liked it, especially my brother. He kept making "mmm" noises and making those faces that you make when something tastes almost too good to be true. I'll have to whip up some more for small gifts to others.

There are two ways to make your Christmas crack:

1. with milk chocolate Heath toffee bits

-OR-

2. with chocolate and chopped nuts

Both are delicious, but I like the toffee one best. Something about the intense sweetness of the heath bits mixed with the saltiness of the crackers. Man oh man. The chocolate and nuts ones are delicious as well but not as sweet in my opinion. Dare I suggest using the toffee bits, chocolate, and nuts? Double dog dare. I'd eat a plate of either kind as my last "meal" on earth if I had the option. It's that good, people.


Which is probably a bad thing. For my health, anyways. I want it so bad, but it can't be healthy for me, I realize. Man, this really is starting to sound like a straight-up addiction! Tina's right, I'm hooked.

Saltine Toffee (aka Christmas Crack) - 2 Ways

ever so slightly adapted from Mommy's Kitchen

• 1 and 1/2 sleeves saltine crackers*
• 1 and 1/4 cups butter
• 1 and 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 6 oz milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 4 oz Heath milk chocolate toffee bits

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Lay crackers out on sheet in one layer. In a medium saucepan, add the butter and brown sugar together, stir often and bring to a full rolling boil. After it comes to a full rolling boil, boil the mixture for 3 minutes.

Pour the "caramel" mixture over the saltine layer and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle half of the crackers with chocolate chips and wait until they are almost melted and then spread the chocolate evenly all over the saltines. Sprinkle the chopped pecans all over the top of the chocolate as evenly as possible. Sprinkle the milk chocolate toffee bits evenly over the remaining saltine crackers. Refrigerate for two hours and then break it up into pieces and store in an air tight container.

*Note: My saltine crackers box had tiny packs of crackers within it, so I didn't really use 1 and 1/2 sleeves. Just make sure to completely cover the baking sheet with a single layer of crackers.

Printable Recipe

I just love the mix of salty and sweet. Each bite is like a foodgasm in my mouth.

Just this once, it's ok to be an addict. I won't judge you, I'm right there with you. We'll get through this together....

I'm linking this up to Week 11 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies and Sweets. Thanks for hosting, Brenda. I hope all of you will check out the other goodies in the blog hop below:



Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Oreo Truffles {Week 10 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies and Sweets!}

Ok, ok I know it's not really week 10 of The 12 Weeks of Christmas challenge. It's actually Christmas eve!! 

Merry Christmas eve, everybody. I'm so excited, like a little kid. I love opening presents and watching my loved ones open theirs. I can't wait to start a family of our own and make traditions with our little ones, like leaving out milk and cookies for Santa, and recording them opening their gifts every year.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. No babies yet.


But I do have these babies! Oreo truffles. I'm sure you've seen them around blogland before. I just knew I had to make them and add them to my Christmas cookie collection.

Oreo Truffles
ever so slightly adapted from Chef n Training 

• 1 package Berry Burst Ice Cream Oreos
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• white chocolate chips, for dipping

Chop oreos up finely in a food processor. Save some of the finely crushed oreos for garnish later and set aside.

With your hands, mash the softened cream cheese and crushed oreos in a large bowl until well combined.

Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on a wax covered cookie sheet. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to allow to harden.

Once balls have hardened, melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl according to directions.

Pull the oreo truffles out of the freezer and dip into the chocolate. Garnish with reserved oreo crumbs before the chocolate sets. Refrigerate and enjoy.

*Note: You can use regular oreos, or double stuffed oreos, if you don't think you'd like the berry-flavored oreos. Also, you can use up to 8 oz of cream cheese, depending what consistency you want the truffle to be. I think I ended up using a 12 oz package of white chocolate chips for melting. I also used a deep cup with tall sides to make dipping the balls into the chocolate easier. I used a toothpick to dip them in, but often times they kept getting stuck in the melted chocolate. Maybe it would work to use a fork to roll and coat the balls evenly in the chocolate, instead. With practice, I'll learn the perfect technique hopefully and keep you guys posted. 

Printable Recipe



You've gotta add these to your holiday baking treat list. The recipe is simple enough and definitely a keeper. Not gonna lie though, I do have problems making them look as pretty as some... that dang white chocolate can be tricky to work with... for me at least. But some of my truffles turned out better than others (I just don't photograph those ones), and with practice I bet I can make them even prettier. They sure did taste great!

I'm off to open a Christmas eve present with my love. Maybe I'll have a cup of egg nog, too.

As always, I want to thank Brenda for hosting and putting up with my lateness. Be sure to check out the other holiday treats in the blog hop below:



Peace, and bacon grease!

 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad