Chocolate, I needed chocolate!

I have not been feeling crafty lately but I have been craving chocolate.  I found a make a mix cookbook about a week ago and so today I decided to try out a recipe. 

Brownie Mix

6 cups AP flour
4 tsp baking powder
4 tsp salt
8 cups sugar
1 (8 oz) can unsweetened cocoa
2 cups vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt.  Add sugar and cocoa.  Blend well.  With a pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed.  Put into a large airtight container.  Label and store in a cool, dry place.  Use within 10-12 weeks.  Makes about 17 cups of brownie mix. 


Brownies

2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups brownie mix
1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350*.  Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.  In a medium bowl, combine eggs, vanilla and brownie mix.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake 30-35 minutes, until edges separate from pan.  Cool and cut into 2 inch bars.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar or frost.

I made these brownies tonight and let me tell you I think I am feeling crafty again.  I used a combination of chocolate and peanut butter chips and it was yummy, I mean really, really yummy.  Try this,  your taste buds and your creativity will thank you!  Hopefully this weekend I will be sharing more recipes that you can make with this mix. 

Recipe copied from Make-A-Mix Cookery HP Books copyright 1978

Easy Candy Box

Here is a super easy candy gift box.  It holds 6 mini baking cups.  This box is for my dad and will be filled with Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt.  Oh yum!

Items needed to create this

Solid cardstock 8 1/2x 6 1/2

Patterned cardstock 5 1/2 x 7 1/2

scoring tool

scissors or knife

adhesive

ruler

Acetate if you plan to have a window

Here is a sketch for the bottom of the box. 

The large piece is scored at 1 1/2 inches on all 4 sides. 

Cut in on each side 1 1/2 inches.

Here is the sketch for the lid to the box. 

This piece is scored at 1 inch on each side.

Cut in on each side 1 inch.

Here are my cut and scored pieces.

At this point I decided I wanted a window in the box top.  I used the cuttlebug and my nesties to cut a window.  You could very easily measure and cut with a knife or scissors as well. 

All you need to do is glue the tabs and you have your box!  I am going to cover my cut out with a sheet of acetate.  I hope you have fun with this little box.  It has huge possibilities.  Let me know what you think! 

Chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter and more chocolate

Holidays always mean chocolate to me...  It is just one of those things... if there is no chocolate can it really be a holiday?  I say no.  So in that spirit here are some super easy recipes that are guaranteed to help you get in the holiday spirit.

Easy Rocky Road Fudge

12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups of mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts

Directions:  Line a 9 x 13 with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Microwave the chips and milk together on high for 1 minute.  Stir and then continue to heat at 30 second intervals until smooth.  Stir in vanilla extract and then fold in marshmallows and walnuts.  Press mixture into prepared pan and refrigerate until set.  Cut into small pieces and serve. 

Makes about 48 servings.  Yea right!  Who are they kidding?  Everyone knows you can't have just one tiny piece of fudge!

Crispy Bars

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of Karo syrup
1 cup of peanut butter
6 cups of crispy rice cereal
1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts

Heat sugar and corn syrup to boiling.  Remove from heat and add peanut butter; stir to melt.  Add crispy rice cereal.  Press into buttered 9 x 13.  Melt chips together and spread over rice bars and top with chopped peanuts.  Cool and cut into small squares.

Makes about... oh come on I don't know how many it makes I was eating them as I put them on the plate.  It makes a bunch though.

Enjoy! 

*** If you came by looking for paper crafts don't despair I am working on some boxes to hold all of these wonderful yummy goodies.