Sunday, November 7, 2010

Italian Love Knots

I swear the Holidays come faster every year don't they! I am sharing my super delicious, super secret recipe for one of my fav Christmas Cookies. While they're not only for the Holiday season, for some reason once I make them it sure feels like Christmas!Enjoy!



For the Cookies:
3 cups good quality all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice (or orange juice)
2 tablespoons lemon zest (or Orange zest)
For the Icing:
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
4-5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (don't substitute imitation)
Colored sprinkles
To make the cookies:
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Set aside.
In a second bowl, cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the lemon or orange juice and zest.
Gradually add the flour mixture, beating well to combine.

Wrap the dough in wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease 2 baking sheets.
Place the dough on a lightly-floured surface and break off 2" pieces of dough then
roll each piece into a rope about 6 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter.
Tie into a knot like a tight pretzel.
Place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool only slightly. You will be dipping the cookies into the icing while still slightly warm.

For the icing:

In a bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar & milk until smooth.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Dip the top of each cookie into the icing.
Top cookies with colored sprinkles.
Store in an airtight container for about 1 week

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Are you barking up the wrong tree?

You won't be with this delectable gourmet chocolate bark!



Bark is super easy to make at home! Here's a quick recipe for a combo bark;

Simply place semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate in separate medium microwaveable bowls & microwave until completely melted, following directions on package.

Spread melted chocolate on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Crumble in toppings of your choice; crushed Oreos, marshmallow, pretzel pieces or whatever strikes your fancy & sprinkle topping(s)over melted chocolate.

Cut through chocolate mixtures several times with knife for marble effect.

Refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces & store in airtight container in refrigerator. Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Pretzel MANIA

Need we say more..........


There's something extra wonderful about the sweet-n-salty taste of chocolate covered pretzels. We've been experimenting with different toppings and these were today's creations; milk choclate with butterscotch, cookies & cream crunch, dark chocolate coconut, double dipped milk & white and candy sprinkles.

I can't wait to create a holiday basket filled with these delights! Stay tuned!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Bellisimo + Mrs Fields Cookies = The Perfect Gift!

Bellisimo is one of the chosen few to have been elected as an E-Commerce Partner with the fabulous Mrs Fields!




Compliments of Mrs Fields we are delighted to share one of their secret recipes!!!

Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter
2 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons milk or cream
1 cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 pounds peanut butter candies (such as Reese’s Pieces)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small saucepan, melt butter on low heat. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside. Combine sugars and melted butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until a thick paste forms. Add peanut butter and mix well. In a small bowl, beat eggs and then stir in vanilla and milk. Add egg mixture to sugar mixture and mix for about 60 seconds, or until well combined. Slowly add in flour mixture, followed by the chocolate chips.

Pour peanut butter candy in a separate bowl. Scoop and form generous balls of dough with your hands (the dough will be soft), and then roll each one in the candy. Place candy-coated dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies to a baking rack and allow to cool before serving.

Enjoy!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

A FABulous gift idea at under $20-it's craaaazy!

Another winning baby gift idea!



www.bellisimo.theaspenshops.com

Standing tall in a safari-themed gift box, Jakka the Giraffe has all the plushness and playfulness you could ask for in a cuddle-soft baby gift! Intriguing textures and sounds, like the crinkle leaf, the satin trim and the rattle, will captivate the senses of a baby new to the world!
http://bellisimo.theaspenshops.com/product/jakka-the-giraffe-little-expeditions-plush.html/categoryid=3c49cb3c-4b62-417f-8688-1fb704cde17f

Monday, October 4, 2010

Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 15% of your purchase will be donated to The National Breast Cancer Foundation






Raise awareness with a Giant Pink Ribbon Fortune Cookie- it's almost the size of a football and contains a 1-ft-long fortune with your personalized message inside. Each cookie is hand-dipped in Belgian White Chocolate and adorned with edible Pink Ribbon designs adn finished with Pink & White Non-Pariels. Beautifully wrapped in a gussetted cellophane bag and tied with a Pink Satin Ribbon, your cookie arrives Gift Boxed and topped with Pink Tissue Paper. Send one to a Breast Cancer Patient or Survivor as a unique & sweet way to show your support! $35

Call us at 908-879-4483 to place your order