Make sweets for your sweetie
Sweet treats almost always make thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift. Making the treats yourself make them an even more special gift.
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Chocolate coating wafers typically are sold with candy making supplies.
Chocolate-Covered Cherries
60 maraschino cherries with stems
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons corn syrup
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 pound chocolate coating wafers
Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry. In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
Melt confectioners’ coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. For best results, allow to set for a week or more. Makes 60 candies.
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Chocolate Cherry Dessert
26 chocolate wafer cookies, crushed
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 3.9-ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
3/4 cup milk
1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling
In a mixing bowl, combine wafer crumbs with butter. Press into the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan. Place in freezer for 10 minutes. In another bowl, combine sour cream, pudding, and milk; beat on low for 1-1/2 minutes. Spread over crust. Spoon pie filling on top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 9 servings.
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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves
Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture. Turn the strawberries upside down and place on waxed paper lined sheets or insert the toothpicks into Styrofoam to cool. Makes 3 cups.
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Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries
1 1.4-ounce package sugar-free instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
1 cup cold fat-free milk
1-3/4 cups reduced-fat whipped topping
Whole fresh strawberries
In a mixing bowl, beat pudding and milk until blended, about 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Serve with strawberries for dipping or over slices of angel food cake. Makes 2-1/2 cups.
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Pantry Pointers
If you plan on baking a special chocolate treat for Valentine’s Day but find you are out of unsweetened chocolate, you can substitute three tablespoons cocoa and one tablespoon shortening for each square.
The Practical Pantry ©2007 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com
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