Common Sense Living

Here’s a really simple recipe that will wow ‘em!

Chocolate Cheesecake Truffles

2 ½ packages Baker’s Semi Sweet Chocolate (20 squares, broken apart)
1 8 oz. Package cream cheese, softened

Melt 8 squares of the chocolate

Beat cream cheese until creamy. Add melted chocolate. Refrigerate until firm.

Later, shape the cheese-chocolate mix into 36 balls. Place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Melt the rest of the chocolate.

Using a fork, dip each of the balls into the melted chocolate.

Top with some sprinkles, or finely chopped nuts.

Refrigerate for an hour before trying to handle.

Makes 36.

You can get little paper or foil cups like you would use for cupcakes and make a pretty, festive, mouthwatering gift!

You can make some incredible gift packages with cookies, truffles, and the ever-popular People Chow. Grab the chocolate recipe book today! There’s not a lot of time left….

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Are you wracking your brain trying to come up with gifts you can afford this year? It’s Carole to the rescue!

We just finished brainstorming gift basket ideas. I think we’ve come up with some good ones!

It’s too long to post here. I made it into a pdf that you can download free. Just right click on the link and save target as.

Free Download - Creative Gift Basket Ideas Here

Oh my gosh, it’s cold out this morning! But I’ve got to get to the store. We’re putting up the Christmas tree this weekend, and my daughter wants to make potato chip cookies.

Never had them before? It’s a recipe I got back in the 70s. My daughter loves them, and I bet you will too!

Potato Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar- packed

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1 -6oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate pieces

2 cups crushed potato chips

2 cups flour mixed with 1 teas. baking soda

Beat butter, sugars and eggs until well blended in

large bowl.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until well

blended.

Shape into 3/4 inch balls. (if dough is too stickly,

refrigerate for about 1/2 hour)

Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes,

until lightly browned.

Cool for about a minute, then remove to wire racks to

continue cooling. Cool completely.

Makes about 84.

Store in airtight container in cool dry place for

up to 2 weeks.

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Imagine making your own special chocolate treats that your family will request year after year. How about if you could give homemade chocolate truffles for gifts this year? How impressive would that be? They’re really not hard to make. Grab a copy of your favorite chocolate recipes for only $9.97 and get your favorite cheesecake recipes too!

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My daughter said I’m still the best chili maker. Isn’t that sweet?

Her dad is a good cook too. She said he still uses my recipe, but he changed something and it’s not as good. (snicker, snicker…)

I went to look for the recipe to link it up here for you and I realized it’s not there anymore! Who knows what I did, but I’m fixing that right now.

This is an easy to throw together recipe, and it’s a great one to throw together and let simmer a little the night before so you have dinner ready when you come home from a cold busy day. Just heat it up on the stove instead of the microwave. It tastes better.

Carole’s Chili

1 lb. Lean ground beef, browned and drained

1 14.5 oz. Can petite diced tomatoes – not seasoned

1 12 oz. Can tomato paste, plus 1 can water

1 can dark red kidney beans – not seasoned

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon red pepper

¼ teaspoon cumin

Mix it all together, mixing very well. Bring to just boiling. Lower heat to very low. Cover and simmer for at least ½ hour. (Told you it was easy.)

Tastes better the next day.

Optional toppings – grated cheese, diced onion, oyster crackers

Serve with tossed salad and warm French bread.

And you know you can find more of my simple recipes here >>>

Enjoy!

Carole

I love pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, muffins, pie, pancakes…

I just stumbled across a recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies and I had to share it!

Enjoy!

Carole

Do you like pumpkin muffins, pancakes, bread…?

I don’t normally cook stuff like this, but I love pumpkin anything. Plus, pumpkin is really good for you. OK, minus the oil, sugar, and flour, but hey!

That’s why we eat healthy the rest of the time, right? So we can get away with some indulgence?

This recipe for pumpkin bread is easy, and it can bake while you do something else.

It makes 2 loaves.

Pumpkin Bread

1-16 oz. can pumpkin

4 eggs

1 cup oil

2/3 cup orange juice

3 ½ cups flour

3 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350 (F).

In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, eggs, oil, and juice until well blended.

In another bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.

Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture. Beat until smooth.

Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans – (9×5 or 8×5)

Bake at 350 for one hour or until bread tests done.

Cool on racks.

(do not try to cut into it before it cools. It will fall apart!)

Enjoy!

Did you pick up your Thanksgiving planner? It has more great seasonal recipes and nutrition info on some of your favorite Thanksgiving foods. You’ll be surprised at how healthy Thanksgiving Dinner really is!

Just pick up your planner in the upper right hand corner.