mint to be #giveaway #NielsenMasseyInspires

Swirled white chocolate peppermint bark. For whatever silly reason, it seems like peppermint is really only featured during the holidays, and that's a shame!

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hostess heaven #giveaway

Vietnamese coffee fudge. Vietnamese coffee, which makes use of sweetened condensed milk, is perfect for people who add lots of cream and sugar to their black coffee.

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memories should linger... #WipeAwayHolidayMess

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WipeAwayHolidayMess #CollectiveBias

... messes should not.

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and bad mistakes, i've made a few

Easy chocolate peanut butter fudge. Do you have 4-H in your neck of the woods? I did, and it helped me learn at least one valuable lesson.

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my favorite gifts #ShareTheHoliday

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareTheHoliday #CollectiveBias

In trying to remember what my favorite gifts were to receive as a child, the things that come to mind are unsurprisingly all toys and games (LEGOs were always a hit!). I don't have to think very hard about what I prefer to get these days...EDIBLES!

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the madness of march #HoopsWithCrunch

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HoopsWithCrunch #CollectiveBias

I love basketball!

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can't hardly wait (and a chocolate #giveaway)

Forget the island paradise--we're honeymooning in Ireland!

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frannie's faves

As soon as I showed any interest in helping out in the kitchen, I spent a few days leading up to each Christmas celebration helping my grandma make batch after batch of candy.

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a christmas contest

Looking for a new craft to try out during the holidays? I have two words for you: Cookie Kabobs.

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these spices have been nutted!

There are very few foods that cause me to completely lose control, but come on--we all have 'em. The latest addition to that short list is candied nuts. I could sit down with a bag of those and just eat. And eat.

And eat.

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hot stuff, comin' through

Once upon a time, I made a fantastic batch of fudge. It was so good, I made it again and again and never tried any other recipe or budged from exactly what was written.

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a second helping

One of my posts is not like the others. By that, I mean that one of my posts has been viewed more than 50 times more often than the next most popular post. That's huge. We're talking almost a million hits.

Disclaimer: In no way am I making light of actual crack addiction.

Thank you, Pinterest.

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a heathful halloween

More chocolate! Rejoice, rejoice!

The posts this week on The Back Burner are all about Halloween candy, and I have one word for you: Heath.

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goofballs and a giveaway

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There are many words in the English language that could be used to describe me. Quirky is a good one. Efficient would be another. A word you won't find on that list is stylish.

No, I've never cared much about the latest trends. The worst thing of which you could accuse me regarding those is that I usually eventually do follow them, just a few months years too late.

That said, I have to give a huge shout-out to the phenomenal crew at Shabby Apple. They have supplied me with a gorgeous and OH-so-stylish dress from their nifty Mad Hatter collection that elevates my level of sophistication simply by hanging in my closet. Now, if only I had an event to which I could wear it...

Good news--you, too, can be stylish, with the help of Shabby Apple! One lucky commenter will win her (or his...) very own dress! Just take a moment to peruse their lovely and fashionable dresses--you'll find everything from little black dresses to fun and flirty frocks. The winner has his or her pick (no exchanges, please)!

To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment here. Tell me the latest fashion trends in your area of the world. For extra chances to win, do one or both of the following, being sure to leave another comment to let me know what you've done:
*Like my Facebook page
*Like Shabby Apple on Facebook

Other fluff:
*There's a 10% off coupon that all of you can use. Just enter "asoutherngrace10off" at checkout. The coupon will be active for 30 days.
*This giveaway is open to US residents.
*Comments will be open from today until next Friday, March 2nd. I'll contact the winner shortly thereafter, so be sure to leave me a way to contact you. Good luck!

(I am an unrepentant) Goofball(s)
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups dates, chopped
2 eggs, slightly beaten
5 cups crispy rice cereal
1 cup coconut

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the sugar and bring to a boil. Add the dates and cook 5 minutes, or until the dates are cooked down. Cool a bit, then add the eggs slowly. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cereal until coated. Cool until able to handle and then form balls, roll them in coconut, and cool them completely on wax paper.

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the joy of the almond

We've talked about candy bars before, and I've proclaimed that I enjoy a Mounds bar more than an Almond Joy, regardless of the fact that it's been ridiculously named. Mounds? Couldn't they do better than that? Why not Heaps or Piles or Clumps?

Alas, there's no turning back now, and I guess that in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. I just wish they had consulted me--I have a knack for naming things.

The good news is that a flavor combination can have a silly name and still be amazingly delicious. That's how I feel about chocolate and coconut, and almonds are a nice bonus. These little cupcakes are coconut-flavored and get topped with an almond-infused chocolate buttercream. To finalize things, the garnish on top consists of coconut and sliced almonds, both toasted.

Unhinge jaw, insert tasty treat.

Clumps Cupcakes (with a little Almond Happiness)
(inspired by Martha)

Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed sweetened shredded coconut
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg whites
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Frosting:
8 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
6 cups powdered sugar
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 tablespoons milk, plus more, if needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sweetened coconut flakes, toasted
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

To make the cupcakes, first preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients (including coconut) in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Mix remaining wet ingredients in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry, scraping the sides of bowl occasionally. Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks.

To make the frosting, put the chocolate in the top pan of a double boiler set over but not touching simmering water in the bottom pan. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Let cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine the powdered sugar, butter, milk, extracts, and salt and beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, then reduce the speed to low. Add the chocolate and beat until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute more.
If the frosting is dry, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it is creamy but still holds peaks. This makes about 4 1/2 cups, which is more than enough to frost 21 cupcakes. Deal with the rest as you see fit.

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juliet had it right

Naming is overrated. As far as I know, the treats I'm about to reveal to you have no official moniker, but that doesn't stop them from being completely addictive and delicious. Nope, it doesn't slow them (or my intake of them) down at all.

"What's in a name?" indeed.

All it takes is one glance at the list of ingredients to know that this is some good candy. It has sweetness, it has crunch, it has saltiness, it has chewiness, and it melts in your mouth.

I've found that the making of this candy can either be tedious or a fun challenge, depending on my attitude at the time. If you work quickly, the mess and overall difficulties are no big deal at all, especially considering the tasty end results.

Good Candy
4 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup peanut butter
2 pounds white chocolate, chopped

In a large bowl, combine the cereal and marshmallows. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate and peanut butter. Stir the oh-so-drinkable white chocolate-peanut butter mixture into the dry goods and drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper. Let them set until firm and then store in an airtight container.

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buck...

...aroo? No. Do I look like a rhinestone cowboy?

...naked? No. Get your minds out of the gutter.

Buckeyes. Much preferred, wouldn't you say?


Now I'm not from Ohio and I don't know very much about the state itself (other than the fact that Cleveland rocks, but Drew Carey told me that...)(Yeah, I watched his sitcom.)(I knew him before The Price is Right, which incidentally doesn't hold a candle to the other show he hosted.)(The show to which I'm referring was called Whose Line Is It Anyway, for those of you keeping track.)(Colin Mochrie is brilliant and hilarious, but I digress...). However, as the source of these little nuggets, I fully appreciate the place. I mean, come on--chocolate-covered balls of sweet peanut butter confection? Outstanding.

Yes, they take a little time and effort to make. Yes, it can be a fickle and frustrating process. Is it worth it? Totally. I didn't need Mr. Carey to tell me that.

What's your state's culinary claim-to-fame?

Eyes of the Buck (hmm...that's a wee bit morbid)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
6 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup shortening

Line a cookie sheet or four with wax paper. In a large bowl, mix together the softened butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla with a wooden spoon.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Set them on the prepared cookie sheets and insert a toothpick into each ball. Chill in the freezer until hard, approximately 30 minutes.
Melt the chocolate chips and shortening together over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly dip the frozen balls into the chocolate and place back onto the cookie sheets. Be sure to leave a little peanut butter showing! Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, approximately 2 hours. Oh, and don't eat the toothpicks.

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i prefer bales.

I grew up knowing a thing or two about farming--my uncles and grandfather own a good portion of land on which they've grown corn and hay and raised sheep, chickens, beef cows, and dairy cows. That said, although I've never seen a legitimate haystack, I don't think they look like this:

Looks more like a spider to me. A spider with a couple of tumors.
It's not a toomah!

Nope, my family prefers the bale--round or square. I hefted my fair share of the those square suckers onto the wagon as the baler spit them out. Ah, fond memories. Fond memories of scratched forearms and dust-filled nasal cavities. Fond memories of accidentally stepping in cow patties (that's mounds o' manure, for the uninitiated) and wagons full of hay bales tipping over. Fond, fond memories.


But I digress! Although failing to resemble any harvest of hay that I've ever seen, this treat is delicious. Butterscotch morsels (to which I'm completely addicted even though they taste nothing like true butterscotch), peanut butter, marshmallows, and chow mein noodles. Easy, straightforward, quick, and scrumptious--almost too good to be true.

Butterscotch Stacks o' Hay (for the baleless among us)
1 2/3 cups (11 oz) butterscotch morsels
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
8 oz chow mein noodles
3 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Line several trays with wax paper.
Microwave the butterscotch morsels and peanut butter in a large bowl for one minute and stir. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Add the chow mein noodles and marshmallows and toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated. Drop by haystack-shaped tablespoons onto the prepared trays. Store in a cool place or refrigerate until ready to serve.

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boo, i say. boo.

Not "Boooooo!" like the noise an unhappy crowd makes, but "BOO! Boogity-oogity!" in the scare-some-hapless-kids-into-wetting-themselves sense. That's what I meant.


Not that I would intentionally do such a thing, of course.

We all know that I'm not the most creative person, so my offering for Halloween this year relies heavily on the random colors associated with the holiday. I made fudge, and I made it to be black and orange. Isn't that clever? I'm actually quite proud of myself.

I know this recipe by the name Easy Bars, and I have a story to share:

In elementary school, we had to occasionally give presentations to our classmates, teacher, and some judges from around the community. One year, I decided I would present the preparation of a tasty and aptly-named treat called Easy Bars.

It's important to note that one hard and fast rule for any food presentations was to never lick your fingers or utensils. I knew this. However, I became so flustered at one point that I stuck pretty much my entire chocolate-covered fist into my mouth. Can we say humiliation? I think so. I painfully groped my way to the end of my spiel and promptly bolted to the bathroom in tears.

After I had pulled myself together a few hours later, I came back and offered the judges some of the finished product, giving the excuse that I had waited to serve the goodies because I didn't want to spoil their lunches (even as a child I was pretty shrewd). I got a blue ribbon.

Thus marked the beginning of the end of my career as a public speaker.


These are good. These are simple. Make them, but don't lick your fingers. And have a thrilling Halloween.

Easy Bars, Halloween-Style
Black:
1/2 cup peanut (or almond) butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

Orange:
1/2 cup peanut (or almond) butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

For each layer, do the following:
Melt the peanut butter, margarine, and chips in the microwave and mix until smooth. Do not lick your spatula. Stir in the vanilla. Do not lick your spatula. Fold in the marshmallows and mix well. Do not lick your spatula. Dump into a buttered or lined 9x9 pan. The order of the layers is completely up to you. Place in the fridge until set and slice into squares. Now you may lick your spatula.

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happy mint-dependence day!

Sometimes you just need to step back and stop thinking. Turn off the ol' idea-machine. Let the engine cool down.


Leave your brain alone for a minute and it might surprise ya.

I spent way too long looking for and thinking about something festive to make for my coworkers in celebration of Independence Day. Ideas were few and far between, and none of them were good. I got frustrated and finally gave up, deciding not to make anything. Shortly thereafter, I had a miniature epiphany, and the Mint-dependence Day flag was born.


(I left the red part a bit swirly intentionally. Swirls are pretty.)

These are your typical cream cheese mints, which I've done before. A little food coloring, a little artistic positioning, and the result is a patriotic display of sweetness. It's not an outstanding production, but it satisfied me (and my co-workers, who I'm convinced will devour just about anything).

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

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