Aunt Jean's Peanut Butter Fudge

As you can imagine, I got this recipe from my Aunt Jean! Aunt Jean is married to my Uncle Sonny, my mother's oldest living brother. Aunt Jean has put up with a lot over the 50 some odd years she's been married to my Uncle Sonny! lol She's always an amazing cook, as are most of my relatives. Most women from West Virginia, especially the older women. There is nothing more comforting than a big 'ol pot of brown beans paired with homemade, baked in an iron skillet, cornbread. Well, except for Aunt Jean's peanut butter fudge. It is so rich & creamy, and if you make it just right, it will never come out dry. I hate dry peanut butter fudge. ICK!

Aunt Jean's Peanut Butter Fudge

3 c. sugar
3/4 c. butter
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1 c. JIF  creamy peanut butter (it must be JIF)
1 tsp. vanilla
1-7oz. jar marshmallow creme

Combine sugar, butter, & milk. Bring to a rolling boil; stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter until melted. Add marshmallow creme & vanilla, stirring until well blended. Pour into a greased 9x13" pan. Cool & cut into squares.


Notes: I usually make several batches of peanut butter as well as chocolate fudge around the holidays. I like to give small pans of fudge, along with a tin of cookies, to teachers, neighbors, my hair dresser, our mail carrier, and our friends. Usually, I will grease 4 mini loaf pans, and pour the fudge into each pan, giving me 4 gifts to give. Also, I have only ever used JIF peanut butter with this recipe as well as any other recipe I have that calls for peanut butter. Enjoy!!

Toffee Bars

I'm not sure where exactly I got this recipe. It's one that I go to when I need something to take to a pot luck, holiday party/get together, and honestly, a box of these delicious Toffee Bar squares, makes a nice giftie as well!!

Toffee Bars

1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 c. butter, softened
1 egg yolk
2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lg. Hershey bar

Grease 9x13" pan. Mix all of the ingredients, except Hershey bar, together. Spread dough into pan; might have to use your hands for this. Bake in a preheated, 350* oven for 15 minutes. Melt the Hershey bar, in microwave approximately 1-11/2 minutes, until melted & smooth. Spread melted chocolate over bars, while still warm in the pan. Chill & let set. Cut into bars!!

Enjoy!!

Caramels

This is one of my favorite candies to make for Christmas. It makes a large batch, as it uses a 9"x13" pan as opposed to the 8"x8" pans so commonly used for making caramels and/or fudge. I highly recommend using a candy thermometer is you have one.

Caramels

2c. half & half
2-1/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1 c. light corn syrup
1 c. butter

Melt butter in heavy saucepan; add brown sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add corn syrup; slowly add half & half. Stir until temperature reaches 245* on a candy thermometer. Pour into foil lined, well greased (I use butter) 9"x13" pan. Allow to cool & set. Cut into small pieces (about 1" squares). Wrap in wax paper squares, if desired.

Makes about 2 pounds of candy.

Notes: Once candy is cool & set, I remove the whole slab of caramel from the pan (with the foil), before cutting. I use a clean pizza cutter to cut my caramel into pieces. I also don't bother with ordering or purchasing those fancy wax paper wrappers available from online or specialty kitchen shops. I just use plain 'ol wax paper, that I cut into about 3-4" squares, to use for wrapping the caramels. These caramels make a wonderful food gift for anyone who has a sweet tooth, your child's teacher(s), the mail carrier, your hair dresser, your neighbor, etc. Enjoy!!!

Holiday Baking anyone?!

I can't believe that it's December 1st already! I mean, I do believe I was just ringing in the new year 2010 only a week ago!! Ahhh...the joys of getting older....the time just flies!! Anyway, I'm making my baking & candy making to-do list this evening, as the snow falls slowly & covers the ground. And first up on my list for this weekend, is what I call Yummy Sandwich Cookies. I actually got this recipe from my mother in law, who got it from a magazine several years ago. I've heard some people call these cookies  Whoopie Pies and Brownie Cookies...I just call them YUMMY!! =) And I hope you do as well!!


Yummy Sandwich Cookies

Cookies:
2 pkgs. Devils Food cake mix
4 eggs
2/3 c. vegetable oil

Filling:
1 pkg. cream cheese (8oz.)
1/2 c. butter, softened
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

To make cookie dough: mix cake mixes, eggs, & oil together in large mixing bowl. Batter will be stiff. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place onto un-greased cookie sheets and flatten slightly. Bake @ 350* for 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool completely.

To make filling: beat cream cheese & butter until light & fluffy. Add powdered sugar & vanilla & beat until smooth. Spread over cookie & make into sandwich cookies.

Filling can be tinted/colored for various occasions & holidays. For example, for Christmas, I will divide the filling in half, and color 1/2 red & the other 1/2 green.

These cookies are always a huge hit anytime I make them, and are especially good with coffee or hot tea.