Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Winter Wonderland Brings Chocolate Ambitions



We woke up Tuesday morning to our first real snowfall of the season. School wasn't canceled, but I kept Sean home since he is still running at the nose quite a bit.



With a little help from Miss E and my trusty sling, I got to work on some Christmas baking and candy making.



Thanks to a recipe from Carey at Dream Big, I had a new treat to send to the boys' teachers, Chocolate Zucchini Bread! Yumm-o! I also made Haystack Cookies (hey, this is Kansas, ya know) and the ever-popular Peppermint Patties. I found these cute Christmas Tree shaped plates (only $7!) to give to the teachers, too. I included our Christmas card and photo and they are ready to go tomorrow.

Haystack Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butterscotch chips or chocolate or peanut butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup peanuts
2 cups chow mein noodles

Directions:
Into 2 quart dish microwave at 50% power. Melt the chips and peanut butter (3-5 minutes). Stir in peanuts and chow mein noodles. Drop on wax paper. Put in refrigerator for faster set or let sit overnight on counter.

Makes 12 cookies

Peppermint Patties

1 pound confectioner's sugar
3 tablespoons butter (softened)
2-3 teaspoons peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening

In a bowl, combine first four ingredients. Add milk & mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Chill for 20 mins. Flatten with a glass to 1/4 inch thickness, then chill 30 more mins. In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate and shortening together. Dip patties (use 2 forks) in chocolate, then lay on clean wax paper to harden. I keep them on cookie sheets in the fridge to set up until ready to eat or give. A single batch yields about 30 patties.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

3/4 cup margarine
2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup chocolate chips

Beat margarine at medium speed until creamy, add sugar, beat well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Combine zucchini, milk, and vanilla. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients and add to margarine mixture alternately with zucchini mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

350 degrees, 50 minutes for a full size loaf, 45 for mini-loafs (shorter time if you make muffins.)

4 comments:

My name is Sarah said...

yummy.

JennyH said...

I can't believe school was not cancelled Tuesday. Granted we live a couple hours away but we had a lot of snow. Max's bus was 45 minutes late. School starts at 8:30 and the bus didn't get here till 9. Even the highways were snow covered during the afternoon.

The goodies look great! You know one thing about having a child in school with special needs means you have lots of people to give to. I bought for 8 different people at school this year. It's crazy sometimes.

Melissa @ Banana Migraine said...

Wow- that all looks so good!!

Anonymous said...

Yummo!!

this is a new favorite munchable...
14 oz bag of caramels melted with 1/4 c of water

Pour over 6 cups of chex type cereal and 2 c. nuts.

Bake on cookie sheet at 250 for 10 minutes. Stir to coat well and then another 10 minutes in oven.

Let cool and break into chunks.

If you feel froggy drizzle with chocolate and enjoy :)