Recipe: Easy Truffles

(Servings: 64)
Ingredients:
8 oz Semi-sweet chocolate
1/3 c Milk
1/3 c Unsalted butter
2 ea Egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/4 t Vanilla extract
1 x Unsweetened cocoa


In saucepan, melt chocolate with milk and butter over low heat,
stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir 1/4 cup hot mixture into
egg yolks, the whisk yolks into chocolate mixture in saucepan. Add
vanilla; beat well. Pour into small bowl; cover and refrigerate until
firm. (You can store in refrigerator for up to 2 days at this point.)
Form teaspoonfuls into balls; roll in cocoa and shake off excess.
Makes 1 pound (about 2 dozen). About 75 calories each.
For gift-giving: use a glass jar with lid or candy dish covered with
plastic wrap. Store covered in refrigerator for 3 weeks and in freezer
for up to 2 months.

Recipe: White Chocolate Apricot-Hazelnut Truffles

(makes 28 truffles)
Ingredients:
1 1/4 C hazelnuts (aka filberts)
1/4 C finely chopped dried apricots
24 ounces imported white chocolate
6 Tbl heavy cream


On a baking sheet, spread out 1 1/4 C hazelnuts. Bake at 350 F for 10
minutes, or until nuts are light brown and the dark skins are cracked.
Remove as much of the skins as possible by rubbing nuts in a terry-
cloth towel. Finely chop nuts in a food processor.
In a 1-quart glass container, combine 12 ounces imported white
chocolate, cut up and 6 Tbl heavy cream.
[Note: I used the Nestle white chocolate chips that are available in
my local supermarket. It worked well, but I am sure it would be better
if you use a good import instead.]
Microwave mixture on MEDIUM (70% power), 3 to 4 minutes, stirring
twice, until chocolate is melted and smooth. [You can do this step in a
double-boiler if you don't have a microwave.]

Stir into melted chocolate 3/4 C of the chopped nuts and 1/4 C finely
chopped dried apricots.
Cover the mixture and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or until mixture is firm
enough to hold its shape. (If mixture gets too hard, let stand at room
temperature for 30 minutes or so, until firm but soft enough to shape.)
Form 28 smooth 1 1/4-inch diameter balls, either by using a 1 1/4-
inch automatic-release ice cream scoop, or by rolling 1 Tbl of the
mixture between your (clean!) hands.
Place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1
hour or longer.

Recipe: Rum Balls

1 3/4 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs 1 cup ground pecans 1 cup
confectioners sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 3 tablespoons light
corn syrup 1/4 cup light rum 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar (for dipping)

Makes About 2 1/2 Dozen
Mix all ingredients, except for 1/3 cup confectioners sugar. Roll into
one inch balls. Roll balls in remaining confectioners sugar to coat.

Recipe: Quick & Easy Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge

12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips 12 oz. peanut butter 14 oz.
sweetened condensed milk

Makes approximately 42 pieces
In a 1-1/2 quart microwave-proof bowl, melt chocolate and peanut
butter on high power for 3 minutes. Stir well. Add milk and stir until
well blended. Pour mixture into 8x8 dish lined with waxed paper.
Refrigerate to chill.

Recipe: Marshmallow Puffs

36 large marshmallows 1-1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 C
chunky peanut butter 2 T butter or margarine

Makes 3 dozen
Line a 9-in. square pan with foil and butter the foil. Arrange
marshmallows in pan. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt
chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Pour over the
marshmallows. Chill completely. Cut between marshmallows

Recipe: Peppermint Patties

1 lb. confectioners' sugar 3 T butter or margarine, softened 2 to 3 tsp.
peppermint extract 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 C evaporated milk 2 C
(12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips 2 T shortening

Makes about 5 dozen In a bowl, combine first four ingredients. Add
milk and mix well. Roll into 1-in balls and place on a waxed paper-lined
cookie sheet. Chill for 20 minutes. Flatten with a glass to 1/4". Chill for
30 minutes. In a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate
chips and shortening. Dip patties and place on waxed paper to harden.

Recipe: Triple Chocolate Fudge

3 1/3 C sugar 1 C butter 1 C packed dark brown sugar 1 can (12 oz)
evaporated milk 32 large marshmallows, halved 2 cups (12 oz)
semisweet chocolate chips 2 milk chocolate candy bars (7 oz each),
broken 2 squares (1 oz each) semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 1
tsp. vanilla extract 2 C chopped pecans

Makes about 5 1/2 pounds
In a large saucepan, combine first four ingredients. Cook and stir over
medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for
5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in
marshmallows until melted. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Add
chocolate bars and baking chocolate and stir until melted. Fold in
vanilla and pecans. Pour into a greased 15" x 10" x 1" baking pan.
Chill until firm. Cut into squares.