Valentine Message Cones

From Better Homes & Garden

You'll need:

Purchased sugar cones
meringue cookies
chocolate chips for the treat
pretty paper and nonpareils for the secret message.

See the next three slides for more directions.




Choose Your Words

Print love fortunes on pretty paper and cut them into strips. Roll the note and tuck in the bottom of a cone. For an additional surprise, sprinkle a few colorful nonpareils inside the cone on top of the note.

For an additional surprise, sprinkle a few colorful nonpareils inside the cone on top of the note.


Make Cookie "Scoops"

Using a pastry brush, coat the bottoms of two store-bought meringue cookies with melted chocolate chips and stick them together.

Seal Your Note

Coat the top inside of the sugar cone with melted chocolate, then set the meringue cookie "scoop" on top. Let the chocolate set before giving or eating.

Tuxedo Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

White Chocolate Almond Bark
Chocolate Almond Bark
Strawberries
toothpicks

Melt white chocolate in double boiler.  Dip strawberries in white chocolate and place on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper. Place in fridge to cool and white chocolate to harden. 

Melt chocolate almond bark in double boiler.  Dip strawberries on an angle in the chocolate, you may have to double dip to coat well.  With a toothpick dip end into the chocolate to draw buttons and bow for the "tux look"

Cocktail Weenies

Two versions....I like them both

1 can cranberry sauce
1 jar chili sauce
3 lbs of cocktail weiners

Put all in igredients in a crock-pot and simmer.


or

1 bottle of your favorite BBQ Sauce
1 jar grape jelly
2 pkgs of cocktail weenies

Put all ingredients in a crock-pot and simmer

Pinwheels

TORTILLA PINWHEELS

Med. size tortillas
3 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing or dip mix
Blend cream cheese and dressing mix.
3 green onions with tops
1 red bell pepper, 1/2 green pepper
Sm. can of chopped or sliced black olives
Sm. can diced green chiles

Add to cream cheese in small portions. Spread on tortillas, roll and then roll each in foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Makes about 9. To serve, unroll, slice in bite size pieces and serve. Can be refrigerated for several days. Improvise!

 
TORTILLA-CREAM CHEESE ROLL UP

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
Approximately 1/4 c. picante sauce (mild, med. or hot)
1 pkg. flour tortillas

Mix cream cheese and picante sauce with electric mixer until well blended. Spread on flour tortilla 1/2 thick; roll up; refrigerate until chilled, approximately 1-2 hours. Slice 1 inch thick.

 

Ranch Ham Roll-Ups

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 11 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 22 thin slices deli ham

Directions

1. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and salad dressing mix until smooth. Add onions; mix well. Spread about 3 tablespoons over each tortilla; top each with two ham slices.

2. Roll up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm. Unwrap and cut into 3/4-in. slices

 
Spinach Roll-Ups

• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup bacon bits
• 3 tablespoons chopped onions
• 10 (12 inch) flour tortillas

Directions

1. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine spinach, ranch mix, mayonnaise, sour cream, bacon bits and onion. Spread the mixture onto each tortilla and roll it up. Refrigerate the rolled tortillas until ready to serve.

2. Slice each roll-up into 1 inch servings no more than 3 hours before serving.

Pickled Okra

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds fresh okra
• 3 dried red chile peppers
• (or jalapenos)
• 3 garlic cloves
• 3 teaspoons dried dill
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 2 tablespoons salt

Directions

1. Divide the fresh okra evenly between 3 sterile (1 pint) jars. Place one dried chile, and one teaspoon of dill into each jar.

2. In a small saucepan, combine the water, vinegar and salt. Bring to a rolling boil. Pour over the ingredients in the jars, and seal in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Refrigerate jars after opening.

Puppy Chow ~ For People

Ingredients

• 9 cups crispy rice cereal squares
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• Into large (2 gallon zip lock bag, measure cereal; set aside.

• In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter, butter, mix until smooth, add vanilla, or In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon re-sealable food-storage plastic bag.

• Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Best Ever Sugar Cookies

Blend together until smooth:

1 1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup melted Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 eggs
1 Cup Sour Cream


Combined in separate bowl:
5 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

• Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined.
• Make a ball out of the dough and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge 2-3 hours or until firm. Over night works well too.
• Once dough is firm roll out a portion of the dough onto a floured surface. You want the dough thick. I roll mine out to be about 1/3" thick! • Cut with cookie cutters and place on greases cookie sheet. • Back at 375 for 10-12 min. You don't want them golden brown. They will be the same shade as the uncooked dough.

To make the perfect glossy and smooth frosting simply warm in your Microwave a can of Strawberry Frosting for about 30 seconds. Stir it and warm it longer until it's soupy. Dip your cooled cookies face down into the frosting and let the excess frosting drip off. Add Sprinkles right away so they can stick well. When the frosting cools it dries smooth!

Soft Sugar Cookies

Makes: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup margarine or butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cream margarine or butter with sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well.

Sift together dry ingredients and add to butter/sugar mixture.

Chill at least 1-1/2 hours.

Roll on floured board to 1/2 inch think. Cut with desired cookie cutters.

Bake at 400º 8-10 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.

Cool and frost with your favorite frosting!