Hot Chocolate on a Stick

I LOVE hot chocolate and was instantly intrigued when I saw these over at Lark's Country Heart (Lots of delicious thing over there. It's a great blog!).  What a brilliant and cute gift! They turned out darling and were really pretty easy to make.  I used them for handouts for a lesson and most of them did not make it into milk..the girls ate them on the way out the door!!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

From Lark's Country Heart

1/2 C. Heavy Cream

1 (14oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk

3 C. Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips *(You can mix this up too, 2 C. semi./1C. Milk )*

1 (4 oz.) Bar of Unsweetened Chocolate

Optional: 1 Tablespoon flavoring (use any flavor you like)

Dash of Cinnamon

In a medium size sauce pan mix together the cream and condensed milk.

Stirring often until it begins to "steam". (DO NOT BOIL)

Remove from heat and add all the chocolate, stir just enough to cover the chocolate.

Set it aside for 10-15 minutes. While you are waiting lightly spray your 9x5 loaf pans with cooking spray(makes 2 pans). After the time is up you will then return it to the heat on low/med whisking it until all pieces of the chocolate are melted. Stir in your flavoring and cinnamon.

Pour 1/2 the mixture in each pan. Spread evenly and smooth the top.

Here is the "hard" part....now you have to let it set up for at least 6 hrs.

Or just do what I did and make this up before going to bed and let it set overnight.

Remove it from the pan and cut into 1 inch pieces.  6 x 3 (18 pieces per/pan).

Before I cut mine I dipped the tops of marshmallows in some melted chocolate and then dipped it in crushed candy canes.   Let chocolate set up.  Then push your sticks into the marshmallows.

Then push the stick into each piece of the chocolate mixture.

Now simply package them up and attach a tag telling them to add their Hot Chocolate in a stick to 6-8 oz. warm milk and stir until dissolved. 

Here's the copy of my tags if you want to use them. 

Right click and save to Word or something similar.

Loved this recipe! The only thing I am going to try on the next batch is use 2 cups milk chocolate chips and 1 semi sweet or maybe even all 3 milk chocolate.  I used vanilla flavoring, but the choices are endless.  Mint, orange, raspberry..etc.

Enjoy this fun and delicious recipe!
Check out Lark's Homemade Peppemint Marshmallows! Amazing!!

Thanks Lark!!

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Caramel Apple Dip

This is one AMAZING recipe!  Be prepared for lots of hard work, ingredients and effort... Ok not really, but it will look like it.  It is simple and delicious.  So simple I was intrigued and made it just to see if it really would work. 

Caramel Apple Dip

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (as many as you can fit in the pot or how many you want.)

Remove labels from the cans and place the cans in a big pot. 

Cover them in water and boil for 3 hours.  Make sure it keeps boiling and you will have to keep adding water. 

It is cool because it actually looks like you canned the caramel sauce!!

After opening add 1 teaspoon vanilla and stir to combine.   Refrigerate after opening.

Simple and delicious!!

Linked to:

Fat Camp Friday

Full Plate Thursday

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Simple Gift Ideas: Italian Meal to Go!!

Just one more quick thought on Gift Ideas from the kitchen.  Make up a batch or two) of Gail's Italian Spaghetti Sauce. Pour into jars or bags. 

Add some French Bread and a box of spaghetti or other pasta.

Wrap in a cute kitchen towel.

The recipient could freeze the bread and sauce for later if they wanted!! 

Voila!  A present I would love to get.

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Tried it Out Thursday: Simple Gift Ideas From the Kitchen

I should really title this post" Tried and True Thursday" for these simple gifts have been given and then asked for in the years after. 

*A Frozen Meal: One year I prepared some Pizza Pasta, put them in foil dishes, double wrapped and froze them.  I put the directions on the top and included the recipe.

*White Chocolate Popcorn & Caramel Popcorn Puffs: Last year I put these in separate cute Christmas bags tied with a ribbon.  (Watch out they are both ADDICTING!!)

*The top most requested gift from the kitchen I have given is.......Home Made Salsa with a bag of chips.

Here are two recipes that I have used: Salsa Supreme which is canned and Mi Casa Salsa which is more of a fresh version that can be made year round.

*Also check out Fairy Wands, Holiday Bark and other great gift ideas over at Ma What's for Dinner. (She is a genius!!)

*This year I have got something good planned, but is being kept secret until they are delivered!!

Just a couple more ideas!!

Hope you enjoy!

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Easy Gifts: Bacon Dip Mix

BACON, BACON, BACON... My family could eat bacon for every meal.   So this dip recipe is so perfect, delicious and makes for a cute gift.  One year I made it up and put it in a bag with a cute label and then added a small dip dish to the package. Oh course I saved a mix for myself.  Oh YUM!!
Bacon Dip Mix
4 Tablespoons bacon bits
2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
2 Tablespoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
Combine all ingredients together and stir until well blended.  Seal in a zip lock bag or air tight container.
Attach the directions to the bag:

Bacon Dip

1 package Bacon Dip Mix

2 cups sour cream

Combine the dip mix with the sour cream and stir until well blended. 

 Cover and refrigerate for atleast 1 hour before serving.



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Easy Gifts: Friendship Tea

For many year it was a tradition for my cousin and I to create neighbor gifts together.  A tradition that I miss, since moving away.  Two heads are so much more creative than one.  Friendship Tea was actually one of the most popular things we gave away.  It is something that after I give it, I always get calls wanting the recipe.  It holds special memories for me because it is my Grandma's recipe and I remember her making it for us to enjoy. It is so enjoyable on a cold day!! Double (or more) the recipe divide it among containers (I found containers at the dollar store).  Put a cute label on them and your gift is ready!!

Friendship Tea
2 cups powdered orange drink mix
1/3 cup sweetened lemonade mix ( or 1- 3 oz. package)
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Combine ingredients and store in a airtight container.   Add 2-3 teaspoons to 1 cup hot water. 
Makes 3 1/2 cups of mix.

Linked to:

Tuesdays at the Table

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

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