Cookie Dough Fudge

Okay, I absolutely love this recipe! Who doesn't love cookie dough? Especially cookie dough that doesn't have any egg in it. And who doesn't love fudge? Two amazing American favorites married into one is one of the best creations I have ever seen grace the planet. Seriously, give it a try.

Cookie Dough Fudge

For the cookie dough:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp half and half

For the fudge:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup half and half
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Line and 8x8 baking dish with tin foil. Allow tin foil to overlap the sides by an inch. Spray with cooking oil.

For the cookie dough, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, salt and half & half. Stir in the flour until well blended. Set aside.

For the fudge, combine the brown sugar, salt, butter and half & half in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and slowly stir in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. When mixture is smooth add the vanilla.

Add the cookie dough to the fudge base and stir to combine. Mix in the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Chill until set (about 3 hours). Enjoy!

You can find this recipe here: http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2013/02/12/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-fudge/

Jell-O Popcorn

This popcorn is so easy to make and super yummy! You can change up the flavors to match any holiday or occasion. I used it for my Halloween visiting teaching treat. 

Jell-O Popcorn

• 12 cups popped popcorn
• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 (3 oz.) package cherry or other flavored gelatin

Heat oven to 300ºF. Line large shallow roasting pan with heavy foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Butter foil. Place popped popcorn onto foil. Make sure kernels have been removed.

 Combine sweetened condensed milk and dry gelatin in medium saucepan. Heat and stir over low heat until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly, 4 to 5 minutes. (for easy clean up soak in hot water immediately)

Pour mixture over popcorn. Stir gently to coat using a long-handled wooden spoon. Bake 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Carefully turn out onto large piece of lightly buttered foil. Cool. Break into pieces or clusters.

Recipe from http://amomnotapro.blogspot.com/2011/09/easy-and-yummy-candied-popcorn.html

Fudgy Buttercups (Healthy Style)

Oh praise the heavens! A recipe that is healthy yet tastes fattening! If you like creamy peanut butter cups then you'll love these. They are super addicting but you don't feel bad eating them because they are healthy! It satisfies the sweet tooth dieter.

Fudgy Buttercups

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup high quality cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
• 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt coconut oil.  Blend all ingredients together in a food processor or blender.  Pour into paper-lined muffin tin cups or silicon muffin cups and fill half-inch full.  Makes 10. Chill for 2 hours or freeze for 10 minutes.  When firm, remove.  Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator

Strawberry Carrots

These are so fun for Easter and they taste wonderful!

Strawberry Carrots

• 1 pkg of Almond bark (AKA candy coating)
• orange food coloring
• 2 pkg fresh large strawberries

Rinse strawberries. Melt almond bark in microwave according to directions on microwave. Stir in food coloring. Coat strawberries in coating all the way up to the green leafy part. Set on a platter or wax paper until coating is solid. Enjoy!

Lime Syrup (Candied Limes)

This is so easy and you can do it with lemons and oranges as well! I love it on pancakes or drizzled over ice cream and cheesecake!

Lime Syrup (Candied Limes)

• 2 limes, sliced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• green food coloring 

Bring water and sugar to a boil - add limes and about 4 drops of food coloring. Boil for 10-15 minutes until limes appear translucent. Remove limes. Allow to cool. Syrup thickens in the refrigerator.

Place limes on paper towel and allow to cool. You can roll them is sugar if you'd like, after they have cooled. Enjoy!

Frozen Sour Patch Grapes

Oh these are divine! They are the perfect after snack on a warm day. It's a great way to get your kids to eat fruit and they are so good, they can't just eat one. If you love Sour Patch Kids and you love Popsicles, you'll love these!

Frozen Sour Patch Grapes

• 1 bag of green grapes
• 1 pkg watermellon flavored Jell-O

Rinse grapes and place in a strainer. Pour Jell-O mix into medium sized bowl. Place grapes in bowl and coat with Jell-O mix evenly. Place on a platter and freeze for 4 hours. Enjoy!

Corn Pop Confetti Cups

This is such a fun snack idea for sports games or birthday parties. You can change up the colors for any holiday. Recces Pieces for Halloween, pastel M&Ms for Easter. Pink or blue M&Ms for baby showers and red and green M&Ms for Christmas. Try blue and yellow for Blue and Gold boy scouts banquets.

I created these for a fundraiser concession stand. They sold for $.50 a cup and were a hit! Because they are cereal and come in a cup with a spoon I can only imagine how much kids would love to pour milk in it and eat it as a cereal. Enjoy!



Corn Pop Confetti Cups

• 1 1/3 c. sugar
• ½ c. karo syrup
• 1 1/4 c. butter (not margarine)
• Bag of Corn Pops Cereal (use Barrel O’ Fun brand to get the large size shown above)
  
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, karo syrup and butter together in a pan and cook over low heat to the softball stage. The softball stage is when you take a spoon full and drop it into cold water. If it instantly forms a soft ball then it has reached the softball stage. Add baking soda and vanilla & stir constantly, will be fluffy & frothy. Place corn 1/2 of corn pops in a large bowl or pan. Pour 1/2 mixture over 1/2 of corn pops, then pour onto waxed paper to cool, repeat.

After corn pops have cooled sprinkle M&Ms or candy onto corn pops. Scoop into plastic cups and place in cellophane bags. Tie ribbon around the tops and tape a spoon on the side. Enjoy!