You guys are having way too much fun without me! Finally got the Anniversary cake done so now I can try to catch up on all the great ideas everyone has. Did I miss Mel's caramels? Was it posted on the file? I found a recipe a couple of years back for make a head mashed potatoes that I make for Thanksgiving when I have so much to make. They are great but not as easy as Mel's. We like ours mashed, though, with a masher. I actually like a few chunks of potatoes in mine.
Hey Fiddle. What all do you put in your Holiday baskets? Sounds like you are making some great goodies!

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=607601&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=15
MELS caramel recipe is on page 2

GrandmaG... My gift baskets are different every yr! Just depends on what new creative recipes or otherwise that I feel like tring. I always have some sort of a homemade cocoa recipe, last yr it was in the form of the Santa heads. Usually a tin of either choc dipped candies /or homemade cookies. If its a yr I have made my own candles then I add those( havent done that for a few ) I do basket weaving also so Some yrs it was baskets I weaved for everyone then filled with goodies! I like to change it up and keep them guesing ! Also these are just for special family/friends Not for everyone. Though I used to also make several trays of cookies/ choc pretzels etc and pass those to about everyone that stoped by ! Yikes !! Lots of work .

Wow fiddle - I think you put my homemaking to shame

sayhellojana.. Im sure your creations are awesome !

Thanks Fiddle for the info! I'm going to try to get motivated and give a couple of gift baskets this year.


Here is the Crockpot Cranapple Sauce recipe.
This is for 8 servings.
3 pounds apples
1/2 C craisins
1/2 fresh lemon squeezed
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 C water
1 C sugar

Core apples. Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

Thanks for the recipe that sounds different and delish!

Whooohooo! Whoop Whoop!! Let's go party!! Ya, right. Hubby's yawning already and I'm pooped from finishing my cake today. We're an exciting pair, we are. I guess any one reading this is probably having just as much excitment! That and watching Food Network. That's usually my Saturday night.

Im with ya! I think every yr Im ready for bed just a little earlier then the yr before.
Oh well I love my bed. Some days a nice hot shower and my cozy bed is a great ending to a crazy day !
I can go to bed and dream of all my sugar creations I would like to do

I dream about decorating cakes almost every night. One night I woke myself up. I was dreaming that I was smoothing my buttercream with a Viva towel and I was rubbing my thigh.

OMG!! Thats hilarous ! The other night I was talking in my sleep about explaining to one my kids that my cakes are all buttercream ! And I have all sons My husband asked me about it the next day, but Ididnt remember any of it

If that worked the shelfs of Viva would always be empty! And I would be hording um !

OMG. This has got me laughing! Mel, I'm older than you and I don't know what a pony keg is. But you make it sound hilarious! Maybe if the Viva towel didn't work, the Melvira roller method will! Does it work on cellulite?

OK, DH just informed me what a pony keg is. He's giving me funny looks because I'm laughing at the computer.

It's just a smaller keg than a regular one I think. I'm not a beer connoisseur, so I could be wrong.

I thought of a "signature" recipe of mine I could share. It's not candy or gift though, but is great with a big dinner. I make it at thanksgiving or Christmas. It's a variation of a Bobby Flay recipe, Sweet Potatoes and Bananas. I wrote it down somewhere...time to digg up...

Ok, I'm pretty sure we've talked about Buckeyes on here a few times, and had a few different recipes... well, todays Kraft Foods newsletter had this recipe in it and it looks like a much easier version since you don't have to roll them out and dip them! Good for when time is of the essence n'est ce pas?


Buckeye Bars

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
22 NILLA Wafers, crushed
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 of 8-oz. tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw.)
3 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

LINE 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Beat butter and peanut butter with mixer until blended. Mix in wafer crumbs. Gradually add sugar, mixing well after each addition. Press onto bottom of pan.

MICROWAVE COOL WHIP and chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min.; stir. Microwave 15 to 30 sec. or until chocolate is melted; stir until blended. Spread over peanut butter layer.

REFRIGERATE 2 hours. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting to serve.

Thanks Mel.. Wow, thats sounds really different .Wonder why I didnt get my Kraft Foods newsletter yet !!!

I think the addition of the Nilla Wafers is pretty interesting. It's most likely just to incorporate one more of their products, but it should give it a more crunchy texture. Might be good... might not! Hard to say until you make it!

Oooo, Sweetpotatoes and Bananas sounds interesting. I know my boys would love that!

I did get my news letter and they look pretty tasty to !

Melvira I am curious, why not just peel the spuds (potato) before you boil them?

If you put lots of butter, cream cheese, sour cream, milk whatever into them they mash up silky smooth with a regular old potato masher.

If you pipe them into big rosettes on a baking tray and pop them in the oven to let the outside get crispy, they are yummy

Love this, thanks for all the wonderful recipes especially the pb ones all we use that for here is putting on bread so can't wait to try these!

banba, the whole point behind it is to NOT have to peel them! That's why I only made them rarely because it took so long to scrub and peel them. This is just that much easier because you don't have to bother with that. I used to make a deal with DH, I'd make him mashed potatoes if he'd do the peeling... so he only broke down and did it when he was desperate for them! Hehehe.

Peanut Butter Bon Bons

Not sure if anyone has put this recipe up yet or not, but this is the peanut butter bon bons that my dad absolutely loves. I get requests for these all the time.

The Filling:
1/4 cup butter softened
2 cup peanut butter
1 lb confectioners sugar.

Mix all together well. Roll into 1/2" balls. Dip in melted chocolate (i use almond bark).

This will yeild about 6 dozen hand rolled and dipped bon bons. These look great if you use the bon bon molds (tho it takes more chocolate) the filling goes way way farther. I used half of this filling recipe and got approx 150 bon bons using the molds.

Teena_Marie we are always happy to have recipes even if they're similar to something else!! Thanks for sharing!

File has been updated to include this!

Teena_Marie.. You can never have to many peanut butter recipes!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mel!!

Ok fine I will ask what are Peanut Butter Fingers???? And yes how to you make them??? Just the bon/bons shaped like a finger??