Fa-la-la-lala Bon-Bons

For any holiday party, gift, or next book club meeting that you want to have a melt-in-your-mouth to-die-for chocolate treat . . .

This easy Chocolate Truffle will make you the star of the day.

You will need:
One Box Cake Mix (Dark Chocolate/Milk Chocolate - whatever your pleasure!)
oil and eggs as indicated on the box mix

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup apricot preserves (I promise you this is fab -- use it!)
1 tsp vanilla
2 pkg (8oz) semi sweet chocolate chips/squares

Step by Step:
Step One: Bake a chocolate cake following the directions on the box. Set aside and let cool.
Step Two: In a large pot slowly melt the butter.
Step Three: Add cocoa and sugar. Stir until smooth and glossy.
Step Four: Crumble the baked/cooled cake into the mixture.
Step Five: Add the apricot preserves, confectioners sugar and vanilla to the pot.
Step Six: Mix well blended and moist.
Step Seven: Roll the mixture into one inch balls or form small cubes. (You could use small ice trays or candy forms if you are feeling adventurous.
Step Eight: Place in refrigerator to chill. This makes dipping the treat into chocolate easier!)

DIPPING and DECORATING:
Melt the semi-sweet chocolate over low heat and stir until smooth.
Dip truffles into melted chocolate and place on wax paper. Let stand for an hour.

*Decorating:
You can drop sprinkles across the top of the truffles, or I like to get white chocolate and drizzle or draw a swirly circle on top. A wreath or holly leaf with berries using different colored decorating gels is a cute holiday theme as well.
If you are feeling especially adventurous, roll the still moist truffle in coconut or chopped nuts. The possibilities are endless!

Place them on a plate and wrap with cellophane and a bow, use a tin, or a little chinese take out box.

Pass along and share the delight!
~Hugs and Happy Holidays
Nancy

Cheeseball Recipe - Easy, Quick and Yummy!

I made the Adorable Thanksgiving Project that I posted over the weekend. The little Gobbler's turned out so cute! I'm putting one at each placesetting and iced the name on the back of the striped cookie (tail).

Is Book Club right in the middle of a million other things and it's your turn to bring the snack?
-OR-
Are you joining others for dinner? Did they say, "No. Don't bring a thing, just yourself." But the hostess in you is saying . . . bring something!

Here's a quick fail-proof recipe for a cheeseball. You can do it in a quick hurry!

CHEESEBALL RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
2 8oz Cream Cheese
1/4 cup finely diced peppers (Your choice red, green for Christmas and yellow, red for Thanksgiving makes it festive!)
2 TB finely chopped onion
1 8.5oz crushed pineapple (drained)
1 1/2 tsp season salt
2 C chopped pecans

What to do?
Plop all the ingredients (EXCEPT 1c of the chopped pecans) in a big bowl.
Mix the ingredients well.
Form into a ball (or several small ones or make a shape!)
Roll in the pecans.

All done. Serve with Crackers, Pita Chips or Pretzels.

Presentation Ideas::
Option 1-Wrap in clear plastic wrap and tie off with a ribbon, pipe cleaner or bag twistie
Option 2-Get a cutting board from the Dollar Store and place your cheeseball on that with a hand towel as wrapping. The perfect hostess gift.
Option 3-Place the cheeseball in a pretty bowl that you can leave behind
Have fun with it!
My favorite wrapping tool:: Wide wire ribbon. You can't go wrong. It always looks pretty.

Have a delightful time, and enjoy this scrumptious appetizer.

Books as Gifts

Tis the season we begin holiday shopping. The economy is still trying to recover and unfortunately I read just last week that Walden Books is closing 100s of stores in January -- several in my 100 mile radius.

It's a shame, but don't let those closing stores deviate you from giving books as gifts. A book can be::

a dose of humor when you're sad,

a reminder you're not alone,

a friend when you're lonely,

a teacher of something new,

a treasure when it touches your emotion,

make you slow down and find balance in this hectic world

or a weapon in a pinch if it's a hard cover - I always keep one by my bed! haha.

I was delighted to see that my own step children had books on their wish list this year. I bet the folks on your list would love one too. Young Adult is hot this year - help connect the youth on your list to an author.
Large Print can make the seniors on your list feel a renewed love for the written word.
eBook Readers can satisfy the techno-gadget guy or gal on your list, and then there's always just a good old paperback. Paperbacks fit perfect in most stockings!

Add a pretty wire ribbon (even a regular shoe string bow looks pretty with glittery wire ribbon!) and you're all set.

Happy Gift-Giving.