Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label halloween. Show all posts

Monday, October 27, 2014

Tweaked Treats

   Halloween is a time of fun and sweet indulgences.  And doesn't everyone want to partake in the festivities?  I know I do.  Unfortunately not everyone can consume the now traditional Holiday sweets without consequence.  Well, that's just not fair!  That's why I am sharing some easy and common tricked out treats that anyone can make for our favorite Witches and Ghouls with common  dietary restrictions.  Not only are these candies nutritionally friendly, but they taste darn good too!
   Enjoy!


Gum Drops (Diabetic Friendly)                                       
5 Tbl Unflavored Gelatin

1/4 C Juice (flavor of your choice)
1/4 C Water
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1- Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper (long enough to hang over the edges)
2- Combine the Gelatin, and Water in a saucepan.
3- Whisk over medium heat until the Gelatin dissolves.
4-Stir in the cold Juice and Vanilla Extract.
5-Pour the mixture into the pan. Let set overnight until firm.
6-Use mini cookie cutters or a hot knife to cut the gumdrops into squares or other shapes.

(Non- Diabetic Option - Roll in Sugar)


Candy Corn (Dairy Free)                                                            
1 C Sugar
2/3 C Corn Syrup              
5 Tbl Vegan Margarine      
1 tsp Vanilla Extract           
2 1/2 C Powdered Sugar   
1/3 C Powdered Soy Milk 
1 Pinch Sea Salt                 
Red & Yellow Food Color 

1- In a large saucepan, bring the Sugar, Corn Syrup, Margarine, & Vanilla to a boil.
2- Reduce the heat to medium & boil the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat.
3- Add the powdered sugar, powdered soy milk, & salt to the pot & stir.
4- Let the mixture stand until slightly warm to touch, about 20 minutes.
5- Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces.
6- Add several drops of yellow food coloring to one piece of dough & knead food coloring into the dough until smooth and color is even.
7- Repeat using red & yellow food coloring (for orange) with the second piece & leave the last piece white, but knead it until smooth.
8- Roll each piece into ropes of equal length (don't roll too thin or the dough will break) and push the three ropes together to form a long rectangle.
9- Using sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles.

Candy Bar (Gluten Free)                                                              
For the Nutty Base:
4 1/2 C Raw Cashews, finely ground
6 Tbl Agave Nectar
1 tsp Cold Water
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

For the Coconut Filling:
2c  Shredded Coconut (no sugar added)
1/2c Agave Nectar or Honey
For the Chocolate Topping:
1 1/4 C Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 C Maple Syrup
1/3 C Coconut Oil (or Cold-Pressed Oil)
1/4 C Cold Water
1/8 tsp Salt
1. Line an 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper.
2- In a bowl, combine Cashews, Agave, Cold Water and Salt, stirring until the mixture is very thick and holds together.
3-Press the mixture into the prepared pan and place the pan in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

4- In a small bowl, combine the Coconut and Agave. Spread over the cashew mixture and return the pan to the freezer for 1 hour more.

5- In a small bowl, mix the Cocoa Powder, Syrup, Oil, Water and Salt until smooth.

6- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove the pan from the freezer, and, using a sharp knife, cut the mixture into bars.
7- Dip each of the bars into the chocolate mixture, then place on the cookie sheet.
8- Pour any excess Chocolate Sauce over the bars, then return to the freezer for 1-2 hours more or until set.

Spooky Treats

          Tis the Season for Ghosts and Ghouls... my favorite time of year.  With just under  1 week until Halloween, my husband and I are a bit behind in finding just the perfect costumes for our 7 year old Goblins.  It's not that we haven't tried or that we haven't stewed on it for a year... we just haven't found the perfect get-up for their first real trick-or-treating excursions. 


 


Even though the boys haven't been transformed yet, I have some perfect disguises for your ordinary cupcakes.  From Wacky Witches to Perfect Pumpkins, any boring  cupcake can be made extraordinary.   All you need is icing (buttercream is my favorite), food coloring, chocolate, candy, and some imagination.

Here is a fantastic Icing Recipe to get you started:

Butter Cream Icing Recipe3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
(to make Chocolate... add 3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder)






Pumpkin Cupcake                                                                   
White or Yellow Cupcakes
Orange Colored Buttercream  Icing
Orange Sugar or Sprinkles
Pretzel
Green Buttercream

1- Ice your cupcake with Orange Frosting
2- Cover with Sugar or Sprinkles
3- Use Pretzel as a Stem
4- Pipe leaves with Green Frosting
5- ENJOY!

 If you need help with any of your Halloween Treats, don't hesitate to call on us... In the meanwhile, readers, I am calling on you... Costume ideas anyone?


Chef Heather
The Chocolate Mousse
http://www.chocolatemoussecatering.com/
845-518-6533

Monday, October 25, 2010

Candy Consumption with a Clean Conscience

   Halloween is a time of fun and sweet indulgences.  And doesn't everyone want to partake in the festivities?  I know I do.  Unfortunately not everyone can consume the now traditional Holiday sweets without consequence.  Well, that's just not fair!  That's why I am sharing some easy and common tricked out treats that anyone can make for our favorite Witches and Ghouls with common  dietary restrictions.  Not only are these candies nutritionally friendly, but they taste darn good too!
   Enjoy!


Gum Drops (Diabetic Friendly)                                       
5 Tbl Unflavored Gelatin

1/4 C Juice (flavor of your choice)
1/4 C Water
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1- Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper (long enough to hang over the edges)
2- Combine the Gelatin, and Water in a saucepan.
3- Whisk over medium heat until the Gelatin dissolves.
4-Stir in the cold Juice and Vanilla Extract.
5-Pour the mixture into the pan. Let set overnight until firm.
6-Use mini cookie cutters or a hot knife to cut the gumdrops into squares or other shapes.

(Non- Diabetic Option - Roll in Sugar)


Candy Corn (Dairy Free)                                                            
1 C Sugar
2/3 C Corn Syrup              
5 Tbl Vegan Margarine      
1 tsp Vanilla Extract           
2 1/2 C Powdered Sugar   
1/3 C Powdered Soy Milk 
1 Pinch Sea Salt                 
Red & Yellow Food Color 

1- In a large saucepan, bring the Sugar, Corn Syrup, Margarine, & Vanilla to a boil.
2- Reduce the heat to medium & boil the mixture for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat.
3- Add the powdered sugar, powdered soy milk, & salt to the pot & stir.
4- Let the mixture stand until slightly warm to touch, about 20 minutes.
5- Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces.
6- Add several drops of yellow food coloring to one piece of dough & knead food coloring into the dough until smooth and color is even.
7- Repeat using red & yellow food coloring (for orange) with the second piece & leave the last piece white, but knead it until smooth.
8- Roll each piece into ropes of equal length (don't roll too thin or the dough will break) and push the three ropes together to form a long rectangle.
9- Using sharp knife, cut the ropes into triangles.

Candy Bar (Gluten Free)                                                               
For the Nutty Base:
4 1/2 C Raw Cashews, finely ground
6 Tbl Agave Nectar
1 tsp Cold Water
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

For the Coconut Filling:
2c  Shredded Coconut (no sugar added)
1/2c Agave Nectar or Honey
For the Chocolate Topping:
1 1/4 C Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 C Maple Syrup
1/3 C Coconut Oil (or Cold-Pressed Oil)
1/4 C Cold Water
1/8 tsp Salt
1. Line an 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper.
2- In a bowl, combine Cashews, Agave, Cold Water and Salt, stirring until the mixture is very thick and holds together.
3-Press the mixture into the prepared pan and place the pan in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

4- In a small bowl, combine the Coconut and Agave. Spread over the cashew mixture and return the pan to the freezer for 1 hour more.

5- In a small bowl, mix the Cocoa Powder, Syrup, Oil, Water and Salt until smooth.

6- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove the pan from the freezer, and, using a sharp knife, cut the mixture into bars.
7- Dip each of the bars into the chocolate mixture, then place on the cookie sheet.
8- Pour any excess Chocolate Sauce over the bars, then return to the freezer for 1-2 hours more or until set.









Monday, October 18, 2010

Who Needs Tricks When They Can Have Treats?

          Tis the Season for Ghosts and Ghouls... my favorite time of year.  With just under 2 weeks until Halloween, my husband and I are a bit behind in finding just the perfect costumes for our 3 year old Goblins.  It's not that we haven't tried or that we haven't stewed on it for a year... we just haven't found the perfect get-up for their first real trick-or-treating excursions. 


 


Even though the boys haven't been transformed yet, I have some perfect disguises for your ordinary cupcakes.  From Wacky Witches to Perfect Pumpkins, any boring  cupcake can be made extraordinary.   All you need is icing (buttercream is my favorite), food coloring, chocolate, candy, and some imagination.

Here is a fantastic Icing Recipe to get you started:

Butter Cream Icing Recipe3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
(to make Chocolate... add 3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder)






Pumpkin Cupcake                                                                   
White or Yellow Cupcakes
Orange Colored Buttercream  Icing
Orange Sugar or Sprinkles
Pretzel
Green Buttercream

1- Ice your cupcake with Orange Frosting
2- Cover with Sugar or Sprinkles
3- Use Pretzel as a Stem
4- Pipe leaves with Green Frosting
5- ENJOY!

 If you need help with any of your Halloween Treats, don't hesitate to call on us... In the meanwhile, readers, I am calling on you... Costume ideas anyone?


Chef Heather
The Chocolate Mousse
http://www.chocolatemoussecatering.com/
845-518-6533