If you are a fan of chocolate - beware. This is one of my easiest and most dangerous recipes. Once you start making these you wont be able to stop. Give them to your friends, you will score major brownie points. Ingredients * 8 Mars bars (or caramel, nougat chocolate bars) * 100g butter * 75g rice crispies Method Cut the chocolate bars into small pieces with a knife and transfer to a large pan with the butter. melt over a low heat for a few minutes stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the rice crispies making sure they are evenly coated with the chocolate mixture. Transfer to a small oven tray or dish, lined with double thickness cling film or plastic wrap. Push down with a metal spoon and level the surface. Transfer to the fridge to cool for at least 1 hour. Turn out the crackle cake and cut into squares. The crackle cake will keep in an airtight container for 3 or 4 days. Best eaten chilled from the fridge!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
12 Care Packages to Show You Care
Care packages are practical, thoughtful yet inexpensive gifts. Sending care packages to your loved ones let you show them how much you care, and that they have not been forgotten. Hence, care packages can be great morale and esteem boosters. They are often sent to college students, campers, young adults away from home, soldiers deployed overseas, or anyone you care about. This article provides care package ideas for your different gifting needs.
1. Military Packages:
For soldiers deployed to Iraq or other locations, you can send a gift package filled with American favorite snacks, including pretzels, Planters nuts, M & M's, jelly beans, chocolate chip cookies, Oreo cookies, candies and Smiley face stress ball to reduce stress. To boost your soldier's morale when things get tough, you can send a package which has a book with over 100 pages of uplifting stories, quotations and bible verses to accompany these treats. This book will deliver your message of faith, hope and love to the special trooper in your life. To reduce boredom and stress, You can send your special trooper a gift box that contains a word search book, crossword puzzle book, deck of cards, wooden puzzle brain teaser game, Tootsie Rolls, camouflage hacky sack, camouflage bandanna, granola bars, Smiley face stress ball, juicy fruit gum, blank note cards with envelopes, Planters nuts, Chex mix, Oreo cookies, cheese-filled pretzel nuggets. Your trooper will be thrilled to receive these gifts of fun and good taste.
2. College Student Gift:
College students, especially freshmen, often go through a transitional period to adjust to their new environment away from home. To help your college student to adjust, you can send a care package with a mini laundry carrier filled with household items, including laundry bag, Woolite softener, Tide stain sticks, room air freshener, Listerine mini mouth wash, and hand sanitizer. It also comes with delicious treats, including grandmas cookies, NutriGrain bars,granola bars, chocolate chip cookies, crackers, pretzel twists, Cracker Jacks, Rice Krispy treats, This gift will help them with their household chores and lift their spirit with the treats. In addition, College students often study through the night to prepare for final exams. You can get them on the right track with their study by sending them a study snacks package. It is a great esteem booster to receive a heartfelt box of goodies and treats. This gift also contains index cards and highlighters to help them take note of the key points in their study.
3. Kids Packages:
When kids are away from home in camps, you may want to send them a kids activity package to brighten their day. This fun-filled gift box includes snack mix, gummi candies, Suduko puzzle book, riddle and puzzle activity book, Twizzlers red vines licorice, glow sticks, Pringles chips, Ritz bits cheese filled crackers, Cracker Jacks, fruit punch drink mixes, Nestle crunch chocolate bar, Reese's peanut butter cups, kids card game (like crazy 8's), Squishy Smiley face stress ball, Squishy putty, and more. This gift box is also a great birthday or get well gift for kids.
4. Birthday Care Package:
For the birthday of your special trooper, college student, or kid. You can deliver a pleasant surprise with a fabulous birthday care package. This gift includes jelly Belly beans, fudge brownies, a teddy bear, crunchy caramel corn, birthday candles, cream center chocolates, and Happy Birthday horn and noise maker. This gift will deliver your sincere birthday wishes even when you cannot be there to celebrate with your loved one.
5. Get Well Care Package:
When your loved one is under the weather, or going through tough time, you can send a get well care package to make them feel better. A popular gift box is packed with green tea, Sunkist fruit gels, get well Gummi aides, fig Newton cookies, granola bars, Ritz peanut butter crackers, and word search puzzle book. The Hang in There plush monkey in the package will sure to bring a smile, and the healthy treats will brighten anyone's day.
6. Spa Package:
This lovely gift is for the lady in your life, and consists of a mini chenille bear, floral bar soap and other bath accessories, floral potpourri, and a pillar candle in a white gloss gift box with pink and purple tissue paper, all tied up with a pink satin ribbon. This gift is great for female soldiers, mother, daughter, wife, sister or friend.
7. Game Time Care Package:
Filled with great family fun and lots of delicious treats, this gift makes a great get well gift, family fun night, thank you or just because gift for everyone on your list. The red gift box contains Cracker Jacks, buttery microwave popcorn, pretzels, Oreo cookies, mini Chips Ahoy cookies, Reese's, M & M's, peanut M & M's, Planters peanuts, Skittles, Tootsie Rools box, Yahtzee, checkers, hand held travel size activity game, Uno. This unique and fun-filled gift set will make anyone's day.
8. Snack Care Packages:
Snacks are popular gift packages. A popular snacks package includes fruit flavored candies, Cheez Its crackers, peanut butter cups, pretzel twists, M & Ms, Planters peanuts, Cracker Jacks, Hershey chocolate bar, Crunch & Munch, butter microwave popcorn, Rice Krispies treats, Kit Kat chocolate bar, licorice vines. This American favorite snack package is a great gift for any occasion.
9. Chocolate Care Package:
You can stop the cravings of your chocolate lover with a popular chocolate gift that includes Nutty caramel clusters, coconut cream chocolates, peanut butter cream chocolate, double chocolate truffles, chocolate chewy brownies, almond Rocca, chocolate covered almonds, chocolate cover popcorn with nuts, and Rocky Road popcorn.
10. Thank You Care Package:
You can deliver your message of gratitude clearly to your recipient with a thank you gift package. A "Thanks A Million" message is imprinted on the decorative gift box, ribbon, and caramel corn box. The attractive gift box also contains delicious tasty treats, including cream caramels, chocolate cream filled water cookies, spicy almonds, cheddar cheese pretzel sticks, Ghirardelli chocolate squares, gourmet coffee, shortbread cookies, and vanilla cream filled water cookies. This gift can be sent as a business gift, or a thank you gift to friends and loved ones.
11. Movie Care Package:
You can give your recipient a fun filled evening at home with a movies care package. This gift box contains traditional movie time favorites, classic cokes and comes with or without a Blockbuster gift card.
12. Dog Care Package:that
A fantastic way to spoil the dog in your life or their owner is to send a fun and imaginative dog gift box that comes with toys and treats. It contains doggie shampoo, ball, chew toy, washing mitt or brush, and plaster dog print kit.
In summary, a practical and thoughtful way to show you care is to send a care package. There are care packages designed specifically for soldiers, college students, kids, and dogs. There are also special care packages for just about any occasion, including birthday, get well, game time, thank you. Send a care package to your loved ones and make their day, and without causing a hole in your budget.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Easy Valentine Treats to Take to School
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, considering making some easy Valentine's snacks that the little ones can bring to school? Whether you are preparing them for your own child's lunch or as a special treat for the class, here are some snacks that are easy to transport and easy for the little ones to devour once they dig in!
Marshmallow-Popcorn Hearts are a simple alternative to popcorn balls. With this recipe, you can skip the Karo syrup and just melt some marshmallows instead! This quick and easy recipe works just like Rice Krispie bars, only with popcorn instead!
Here's what you need to get started:
o 10 cups popped popcorn
o 3 tablespoons margarine or butter
o 1 10-ounce package regular marshmallows
o Red food coloring
o Red colored sugar
Directions
o Put the popped corn (minus the unpopped kernels) into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan and keep it warm in your 300 degree oven.
o Melt the butter/margarine and marshmallows in a large kettle or in the microwave. (Microwave: 1 ½ to 2 minutes, stirring once) Stir the mixture until it is smooth, no lumps, and then add the red food coloring.
o Stir in the popped popcorn- about half at a time.
o Wait 10 minutes or so until it is cool enough to handle.
o Grease individual heart shaped pans with butter.
o Press the popcorn mixture into the greased pans.
o Cool the popcorn hearts. Remove from pans. Sprinkle each with red colored sugar.
o Wrap each individually in plastic wrap- pink or red finishes it off nicely.
o Makes 9 hearts.
This one is a little messy, but for an extra-special treat, exceptions can be made to almost any rule. Take along a pre-packaged wet napkin in a zippered plastic bag to assist in quick clean-up.
Candy Apple or Caramel Apple Valentines
1 bag of caramels
1 pack of craft sticks (like popsicle sticks)
1 bag of apples or your choice
wax paper
cake decorating tool
Flavored icing
Melt the caramels or hard candy according to the package directions. Insert a craft stick into one end of each apple. Dip the apple into the melted caramel, covering it completely. Lift the apple and let it drip for a few seconds and then set it on the wax paper until completely set- about two hours) Use your cake decorating tool (or a plastic bag with a hole in the corner and a decorating tip) to write a nice message on each apple. Wrap in plastic wrap and secure the wrap at the top of the apple with a rubber band, leaving the stick exposed as a handle.
Finally, you can mix up these peppermint stars from a quick meringue batter. They make a tasty little treat that travels well in a lunch.
Peppermint Stars
Makes: 45 cookies
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 15 minutes
Ingredients
o 2 egg whites
o 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
o 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
o 1/2 cup sugar
o 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
o Red food coloring (optional)
Directions
1. Place egg whites in a medium mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Line two large cookie sheets with brown paper or foil; set aside.
3. Add vanilla and cream of tartar to egg whites. Beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form (tips stand straight) and sugar dissolves. Quickly beat in peppermint extract. Tint pink with several drops of red food coloring, if desired.
4. Using a pastry tube with a large star decorating tip, pipe cookies onto prepared cookie sheets (form cookies about 1-1/2 inches in diameter). Bake in a 300 degree F oven for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and let cookies dry in oven with door closed about 30 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets. Cover and store in a dry place. Makes 45 cookies.
Your kids will be delighted when you take the time to make these special Valentine's Day snacks for their lunches. After all, special surprises from those who loves us most are what Valentine's Day is all about!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |