Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Raisin Holly Yule Log | Yule Log | Christmas Desserts

  

Here is a special Christmas dessert, Holly Yule Log that your family will be certain to enjoy during the holiday season, New Years Eve or New Years Day Brunch - and perhaps become a tradition in your house, as it is in ours.


Holly Yule Log Recipe


Christmas Holly Yule Log Recipe

Many many years ago my MIL found a recipe for a Christmas Yule Log.  Our family enjoyed it for years.  Then suddenly, a major ingredient that was necessary was discontinued. It was Whip & Chill.  If it's still made, I can't find it around here. 

I experimented, and by golly by accident, came up with a replacement! Yay! 

The Almond extract gives this festive dessert a soothing flavor, but of course, you can change the flavoring to any you wish - perhaps Peppermint is your favorite?

Holly Yule Log Recipe

Over the years, we've adapted this recipe to make it into individual servings.  Using a scoop, pour into individual festive cupcake papers and freeze.  At this point, we now call them "Yule Plops" ! 

Check out my other holiday desserts that will delight your seasonal gatherings - 
Semi Sweet Chocolate Cream Pie

Happy Holidays!

Easy clean up with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop! 


Handmade Cotton Dish Cloths

 

Raisin Holly Yule Log

Ingredients: 

  

                3/4 cup raisins, chopped

                  1 oz  semi sweet chocolate

                  2     packages Dream Whip

                  1     box instant vanilla pudding

                  1 cup milk

                1/2 cup vanilla wafers

                  1 tsp cherries

                  1 tsp Almond extract (or flavoring of your choice - peppermint, brandy, rum)

                  2 oz  bittersweet chocolate

                  1     tb butter

 

  Preparation: 

 

               Chop raisins.  Shave chocolate.  Prepare whipped 

               mix.  Fold in chocolate, raisins, cookie crumbs, 

               cherries and extract.  Freeze in soup can (large) 

               until firm. (Or place plops in foil-lined cupcake 

               papers). Glaze: Melt 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate with 

               1 tbl butter over hot water.  Stir in 2 tsp. light Karo 

               syrup.  Decorate as desired.  Cool slightly. Serves 6

Unmold while slightly room temperature.


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© Frugal New England Kitchen 





Cherry Nut Chocolate Cake Recipe | Quick Bread Mix



I’d like to share this easy chocolate Cherry Loaf cake that’s created with ~~ A Quick Bread Mix! This is also an easy recipe to have the kids help get involved with. Not quite a bread, not really a fruitcake, it’s really more of a dessert cake when finished – and is so simple to put together your friends & relatives will think you’re a genius!

Add some festive decorations; use your own favorite Frosting or Ganache recipe; serve with your favorite Party Beverage & you’re good to go!



Cherry Nut Chocolate Cake Recipe


Not just for Christmas, make this for Thanksgiving or your next family party, get-together with friends, holiday parties or even summer picnics on the deck!


Chocolate Cherry Cake Recipe


Easy Quick Bread Desserts Hacks


Holiday Party Invitations and Save the Dates should either be in the mail by now, or at least be written!

For me, one of the best ways to savor the Holidays and create Traditions is through taste and smell. At this time of year I love to keep a few things ahead in the freezer to bring when we visit! It’s great to have a ‘little something good to eat’ ready for visits to friends, elderly or shut-ins. Also – last minute party invites!

This Cream Cheese Nibble Bread adapted and made from a quick bread mix is also great to bring to parties, or serve when guests stop over!


Some of my favorite recipes were culled over the years from my co-workers at the various offices I worked in. Although I may have changed jobs, or my friends have retired, when I recreate the recipes they’ve shared, it enables me to remember them fondly! This recipe is from Teddi, who I enjoyed working with for over 15 years!

Easy clean up in the kitchen with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet !

Handmade Dish Cloths Kitchen Washcloths


Cherry Nut Chocolate Cake 


1 pkg. Pillsbury Nut or Date Quick Bread Mix (or box mix of your choice)
1 c. coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 (10 oz) jar maraschino cherries, drained, cut in
half
3/4 c. Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 c. water
1/4 c. kirsch (cherry flavored) or 2 tsp almond
extract plus 1/4 tsp
c. water
1 tbl oil
1 egg

Glaze
1/4 c. Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp oil

Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour bottom of 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan. In large bowl, combine all fruitcake ingredients. Stir by hand until mixture is moist. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 65 to 80 min. for 8×4 pan, 60 to 70 min. for 9×5 pan or until toothpick is clean. Cool 15 min. Remove from pan. Cool completely. In small sauce pan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and oil, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Allow glaze to set in refrigerator. Wrap well in plastic wrap or foil and store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months. For optimum flavor refrigerate at least 24 hrs before serving.

Another great way at this time of year to pass on traditions to your children or grandchildren is to bake or cook a favorite dish that a family member used to prepare. Food is a wonderful way to recall happy times and gatherings.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing some great recipes from family members who are no longer with us physically, but always in our hearts. Enjoy the Season! 

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© Frugal New England Kitchen 









Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe | Ice Cream Maker | Homemade Ice Cream

Here's the Scoop! Set aside a family night on a budget to make homemade chocolate ice cream recipe Cuisinart style. Invite grandparents to come over and talk about the "old days".

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe


Awhile back I purchased a Cuisinart Ice 21 Ice Cream Maker.

When I was a kid, ice cream was made using a hand cranked freezer, or rolling it around in a barrel full of ice in the yard! If your parents don't live close, think about inviting an older couple or person from your neighborhood. They will enjoy it and so will your children!

Cuisinart Ice 21 Ice Cream Maker - Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker


I think this is one of the best ice cream makers for a fancy electric small kitchen appliance! The ice cream maker is easy to use, and has a strong motor that freezes the ice cream mixture base within 15 to 20 minutes.

Features Include:

  • Easy-lock lid with wide ingredient spout

  • Mixing Paddle that mixes and churns automatically

  • Double-Insulated freezer bowl that freezes ingredients evenly

  • Heavy-Duty Motor that makes up to 1-1/2 quarts in 20 minutes or less

  • Compact Design featuring a built-in cord storage

The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker comes with it's own recipe book.  You have to plan ahead, and keep the bowl in the freezer for about 24 hours before making your ice cream.

I chose to make homemade Simple Chocolate Ice Cream Cuisinart recipe.  Unlike store-bought ice cream, this is extremely rich with a nice texture.  The addition of a pinch of salt always brings out the chocolate flavor when using real cocoa powder.

Even though my family can get ice cream on sale at Aldi for about $2.59 per container, I find that the extra money I might be spending on real cream, whole milk and Dutch Chocolate cocoa powder is worth the flavor.  Plus, I know what's going into my ice cream!  There's no corn syrup in the recipes I used. Also, if I can't pronounce the ingredients, such as carrageenan, then maybe I don't want to serve it to my grandchildren!

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Ice-21

Of course, being from New England, my family has always been a big fan of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, which we do enjoy.  My charming son-in-law is from Vermont, and while on vacation, the grandkids and I went on the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory Tour in Waterbury, Vermont. If you're planning a New England vacation, put this fun tour on your day trip agenda!

I ordered their Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book.  I'm going to be trying out ice cream recipes from both the Cuisinart and Ben & Jerry's Homemade cookbooks along with recipes I find on Pinterest.

I'll be making not only old favorites such as Old Fashioned Vanilla, Rhubarb Ice Cream or Fresh Strawberry ice cream, but we can't wait to try Heath Bar Crunch, New York Super Fudge Chunk and come Fall, some Pumpkin Ice Cream.

I'd really like to try to duplicate my personal Ben & Jerry's favorite, White Russian, which has been retired to the Graveyard of Flavors!

The Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21 would make a great gift for mom, grandmother, or even dad or grandfather for Father's Day!

I'm sure you get the idea by now. What you do on family night may not be as important as just doing it! Keep it simple and fun!

Good character, like good ice cream, is usually homemade! For anyone dieting, be sure to check out my diet-friendly recipe for no-bake Cool Whip Peanut Butter Frozen Treats

Also try my Dash Mug ice cream recipes single serving size using Half and Half 





Easy kitchen clean-up with my handmade crochet Dish Cloths from my Moomettes Crochet shop !

Handmade Cotton Dish Cloths

Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe 

3/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
pinch salt
1 cup whole milk
1 cups heavy cream
1/2 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugars and salt. Add the milk and using a hand mixer on low speed or a whisk, beat to combine until the cocoa, sugars and salt are dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla.
Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or overnight.
Follow your ice cream maker's directions for freezing.

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© Frugal New England Kitchen 


Source: Cuisinart Recipe Booklet


Personal Review. Opinions are my own.

Reindeer Christmas Mix | Holiday Muddy Buddies | Peanut Butter Free

This Holiday Muddy Buddies Mix is a party favorite of my family ! It's easy and quick, made with Chex cereal and Chocolate !  Package the Reindeer Christmas Mix up in pretty cellophane bags or tins for family and friends !

Reindeer Christmas Mix Muddy Buddies


My husband isn't a fan of peanut butter, so I adapted this recipe to make it peanut-butter free.


Muddy Buddies Reindeer Mix


We still like peanuts in our Muddy Buddy Mix, but you can leave them out if you prefer.  Whether you use Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate, it's unanimous in our family that this is one of the best snack mixes  during the holidays !

I always try to find my ingredients at Aldi for the best prices.

Muddy Buddies Mix Reindeer Food


Check out my other White Chocolate Reindeer Food Christmas Mix Recipe and Christmas Bark Recipe !


Easy clean up with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet !

Handmade Cotton Dish Cloths


Muddy Buddy Mix



1 box (12.8 oz.) (about 13 cups) Rice Chex, Corn Chex Wheat Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal (or combination)
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Pretzels
Peanuts
¾ cup creamy peanut butter, optional
Or use 1/4 to 1/2 cup Corn syrup
6 tablespoons butter, cut into smaller pieces
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup Holiday M&M's

Melt chocolate chips in double boiler, add butter and corn syrup, stirring until smooth
Add Vanilla Extract
In a large bowl or stock pot pan, add Chex Mix, peanuts, M&Ms, Pretzels
Mix in chocolate mixture until all is coated
Stir in Powdered Sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until well coated
Layer in parchment lined cookie sheet
Refrigerate until firm
Break into pieces
Place in air-tight container and store in

Like my Recipes?  Buy me a Bag of Flour


© Frugal New England Kitchen