Flashback Friday - Gotta-Have Christmas Candies

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY! 

These treats will add so much 'sweetness' to your holidays...

SWOON!  Some have told me these are the BEST caramels they've ever eaten. 
No candy thermometer needed!!! Go for it! 

Fabulous (Chocolate Covered) or Sea Salt Caramels

Believe it...4 ingredients & only 45 seconds in the microwave?  Gotta try it to believe how awesome this fudge is! 

Nutter Butter Fudge (Microwave)

A favorite from my mom's recipe file...it keeps for days until you're ready to slice it...

Church Window Candy

This delicious recipe has a strong caramel flavor..crunchy cereal and

chewy dates...Irresistible!! 

Date Balls

The first time I ever ate this delectable candy, it was gifted to me and I
knew I HAD to have the recipe.  Simple and only 6 ingredients!  And it 
makes A LOT!

Copycat Almond Roca (or Toffee)

Flashback Friday - Gotta have Christmas Candies!

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY!

Can't have the holidays without some candies!

Hope these add some sweetness to this busy time of year...

You'll be SO glad you tried them. 

SWOON!  Some have told me these are the BEST caramels they've ever eaten. 

No candy thermometer needed!!! Go for it!  Salt the tops if desired. 

Best Ever Caramels

Melt chocolate...stir in nuts and marshmallows...drop onto waxed paper..roll..make ahead. Only 5 ingredients.  LUSCIOUS! One of my mom's favorites...

Church Window Candy

Gotta try it to believe it.  Less than 1 minute in the microwave...add a few crushed Nutter Butters for crunch...and you're all set.  Can you say AH.MA.ZING?? 

1 - Minute Nutter Butter Fudge

These simple no bake candies are addicting!

They remind me of my mom...caramel-y!! 

Date Balls

Flashback Friday - Awesome Apple Recipes

WELCOME TO FLASHBACK FRIDAY!

Hope you're enjoying fall and will dive into these wonderful apple dishes! 

My 'go to' recipe when I have apples that need to be eaten.

Faithful. Popular. Easy. Delicious.

I've even made it in the microwave!

Simple Apple Crisp

Absolutely worth your time to make. Once you get all your ingredients set up,

the process doesn't take long.  Such a special fall treat! 

Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Stuffed Biscuits

A mouth-watering treat...a 'healthier' choice..your family will love these. 

Baked Honey-Date Apples (Microwave or Oven)

Even those who think they don't like butterscotch...have gone wild over this amazing flavor combo. Moist and so flavorful. 

Butterscotch Apple Cake

Orange Slice Fruitcake

I know...so many people do NOT care for fruitcake.

I'm in that same boat with you...if you're thinking the fruitcakes with all the dried fruit...very dry, etc. etc. 

No nasty dried fruit in this one!

This is a fruitcake you're sure to LOVE!

It has candy orange slices and lots of nuts, dates and coconut, so it not only is moist and sweet, it has crunch and is so flavorful. 

It's AH.MA.ZING! 

And it tastes better the longer it sets....and freezes so nicely. 

(hover over image to pin)

I made this cake a long time ago, then lost the recipe....and after talking with a friend about this recipe, she had it and gladly wrote it out for me. I wanted to be sure I add it to my blog so I can keep it forever. 

It bakes for 1-1/2 to 2 hours at 300, then it soaks in an orange juice glaze. 

I cut the orange slices with scissors for ease. 

It freezes great, so you can have it when company is coming over.

It does take a little while to thaw, but you could always cut the bundt cake

into 1/2 or 1/4's and then freeze. 

I cut it into smaller pieces to serve, just because it's heavy and rich..

and SOO FLAVORFUL!!!  I love the crunch of all the nuts! 

Do hope you'll give this one a try. Absolutely Mouth-Watering!

ORANGE SLICE FRUITCAKE 

1 c. butter (or margarine), room temperature

2 c. sugar

(I used 1-1/2)

4 eggs

3-1/2 c. self-rising flour**(see tip below) 

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 lb. orange candy slices

(wet clean scissors, cut candy into small pieces...

keep a glass of warm water nearby to dip scissors in...shaking off

excess water before cutting candies) 

2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

1 (7 ozs) pkg. dates, chopped

1 c. flaked coconut

Glaze: 

1 c. orange juice

2 c. powdered sugar

(I revised this glaze - using 1/2 c. pineapple juice and 1 c. powdered sugar!
The above recipe makes the cake very sweet) 

Preheat oven to 300*.  Grease and flour a large bundt pan; set aside.

In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended well.  Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition.  Blend in flour and buttermilk until smooth. Fold in orange slices, nuts, dates and coconut.  (Mixture will be very thick). Pour into prepared pan. Bake 1-1/2 to 2 hours, testing after 1-1/2 hours. Remove cake from oven when toothpick placed in the middle comes out clean. 

In small bowl, combine orange (or pineapple) juice and powdered sugar; pour over hot cake while still in the pan.  Cool cake in pan for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Turn out onto cake plate.  Cool completely. 

Cake has more flavor after being frozen for about a week. Wrap airtight in foil or in a seal-able container. Thawing takes some time, so plan ahead. 

**To make your own self-rising flour:

add 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt to a 

1 c. all purpose flour.  Now you're ready to bake!

Linked to Weekend Potluck
                  Meal Plan Monday

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Date Nut Bread Dessert

My hubby's bestest buddy, Dennis, is not much of a sweet eater.  I always giggle when I watch him eat a meal...he'll eat dessert, if it isn't too sweet, but he'll save something salty to eat afterwards as he doesn't want that sweet flavor left in his mouth.

WHAT?  I'm just the opposite...I love that long lasting sweet flavor...

Anyway - Dennis and his dear wife Becky live in FL much of the year (always thrilled for the time we get with them when we go to FL during the winter months) and then they love to travel a few months out of the year.

A few years ago, we met up with them Amish Country...Shipshewana, Indiana,
....just over an hour from our home here in Ohio.  We went to dinner at a Mennonite/Amish restaurant with a food buffet.

Dennis tasted a dessert there and was so pleased with it.  I asked
the waitress if she could tell me what it was...guess what...

It was broken up date nut bread, mixed with Cool Whip!

I re-created this recipe and decided to name it after Dennis...

so I give you...Dennis's Favorite DATE NUT BREAD DESSERT...
found on page 107 in my second cookbook...
Love at First Bite
(on sale for only $10 plus S & H)

DATE NUT BREAD DESSERT 

Bread: 2-1/2 c. chopped dates
1/4 c. butter
1 - 2 tsp. instant coffee 
1 c. boiling water
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 - 2 tsp. molasses
1 egg
1-1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. EACH baking soda, baking powder, salt
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
1 (12 ozs) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed 

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 1 - 9" loaf pan.  In medium bowl, combine dates and butter. Add coffee to boiling water and pour over dates and butter. Let stand until cool. 

When dates have cooled, stir mixture to break up any clumps.  Mix in brown sugar, molasses and egg; combine well. 

In large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into date mixture and mix just until blended.  Pour into prepared pan.

Bake about 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  When bread has completely cooled, break up into a large bowl (by hand) and stir in thawed whipped topping.  Refrigerate at least an hour before serving. 

Linked to Full Plate Thursday
           Weekend Potluck


You may also enjoy these tasty quick breads...

German Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Glazed Coconut Bread

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Date Balls

This is one of the easiest, and most addicting candies I make during the year.

They're caramel-y, chewy balls of deliciousness that are irresistible.

This simple 6 ingredient recipe is a terrific addition to any holiday tray. I got the recipe from an dear friend many years ago. (Thanks Betty!)

Deliver a tinful to your neighbors...they will love you forever. 

Your friends and family will ask for M-M-More please!

DATE BALLS 

1-1/4 sticks (10 Tb.) butter

1 c. white sugar

(I like to use half xylitol/half sugar)

1 (8 ozs.) pkg. dates, chopped

(not pre-packaged chopped dates)

3/4 c. chopped nuts (we like pecans)

2 c. rice krispies cereal

powdered sugar or coconut flakes 

In skillet over medium heat, combine butter, sugar and dates; cook until thick like jam (it will all come together), stirring often, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in nuts and cereal. Allow to cool until you're able to handle them, then roll into walnut-sized balls and

drop them into a bowl of powdered sugar or coconut flakes. 

LAND O'GOSHEN!  These are mighty fine treats! 

Linked to Weekend Potluck
Candy Plan Monday

 

Baked Honey-Date Apples (Microwave or Oven)

WOW these are yummy!

I found this recipe in our local newspaper.  The 'title' of the article read...

"A baked stuffed apple that is healthy, fast, festive, and tasty!

HOW COULD ANYONE RESIST??? 

I get very excited about yummy apple recipes this time of year!!

I changed up the method of making them, as the recipe called for coring an apple, then scooping out more of the apple from the middle to fill with the yummy filling.

I decided to cut the apples in half and core them. So since the original recipe called for 6 apples, I only used 5. 

I also used the microwave instead of the oven for a quick treat. 

I do love eating baked apples while they're still warm. 

If you like the looks of a whole apple, by all means, core it, leaving the bottom in tact, and then scrape out some of the apple in the middle to make room for filling. 

This filling is fabulous!  And sticky too - so you can pack it in. 

A wonderful way to enjoy some tasty apples this beautiful fall season!

BAKED HONEY-DATE APPLES

5 baking apples, such as Fuji or Gala

(Galas are my favorite apples and I had just found a 3# bag on sale!!)

1/2 c. pecans (or walnuts), toasted and chopped** see TIP below

3/4 c. chopped dates

zest of 1 orange

(this made the filling sooo tasty, but it can be omitted)

2 Tb. honey 

(I used agave nectar)

1 Tb. chopped fresh mint, optional 

1 Tb. water

Preheat the oven to 350*...(unless you are going to microwave them.)

Lightly spray 10" X 8" (or whatever size works best for your size of apples) baking pan, with cooking spray. 

Slice apples in half; core, then remove a little more apple. (A melon baller works nicely). 

In medium bowl, combine nuts, dates, orange zest, honey and mint.  With a spoon, mixture together until combined. 

Spoon some of the mixture into the cavity of each apple, packing it in the center.  Add water to the dish before cooking...it will help steam them nicely and make a little 'juice' to spoon over the apples. 

Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes.  But it will depend on how large your apples are, and what kind they are too.  You may have to bake larger ones a while longer.  Test apple with tip of a sharp knife; when apples are tender, they're done. 

I microwaved them on high for just about 10 minutes - with the cover of the pan sitting cockeyed (I don't know what else to call it...just leave openings around the corners of the pan...or cover - not completely - with a sheet of waxed paper). 

They are really really good!  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

TIP: to toast nuts, I place them in a microwavable bowl and zap for 45 seconds, stir, then for another 45 seconds.  After the 3rd 45 second interval and when you smell the fragrance of the nuts, you'll know they're toasted. 

Linked to
   GBP Roundup - Apples
Weekend Potluck  

Simple Date Balls

Date balls always make me think of my precious mama. 

They are deliciously sweet just like she was too.

The last time I made them, it was for a bake sale.

They are quick & easy to make.  I think they have a 'caramel-y' flavor to them, and I LOVE caramel. 

Love dates too!

The photo above is of the cooked mixture, then the balls being rolled in powdered sugar..

DATE BALLS

1/2 c. margarine or butter

(I use 6 Tb.)

3/4 c. white sugar

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. dates, chopped

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. pecans, finely chopped

2-1/2 c. rice krispies cereal, slightly crushed

flaked coconut or powdered sugar

In a skillet, melt butter; cool a few minutes. Add sugar, then egg, salt and dates. Cook 6 - 8 minutes over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; add vanilla, nuts and rice krispies; stir quickly.  Cool a few minutes; form into balls (I make them a little bigger than the size of a walnut) and roll in coconut or powdered sugar.  Store in refrigerator.  These freeze well.  Can be made ahead a few days also.

Yield: about 2 dozen