Samoa Cookies

Oh my Gosh..Oh my Gosh..Oh my Gosh..

Wow!!! These are so good you'll think your dreaming.

Since Girl scouts are out & about selling their delicious
Cookies...I thought I would bring you the BEST
"HOMEMADE" version for these cookies I
could find. And I think I may have found it.

If you Love the Girl Scout Samoas (a.k.a. caramel
delights) like I do....then you are going to want to try
these out for sure. I found this on Baking Bites from
a few years ago.

This version has a buttery shortbread cookie base,
Coconut/Caramel topping (I used Werther's Chewy
Caramels because that is all the store had..but I found
that they have the best flavor..using real butter &
cream) topped off by the perfect balance of
chocolate on the bottom & drizzle on the top
making it The Best Cookie ever! I knew I had
to hurry up & try these out so I could share
them with all of you. These take some time
but are well worth the LOVE & EFFORT!!
Hope you all Enjoy!!!!
*** If you would like to try a similar recipe but
less time consuming try my Samoa Bars click here.

RECIPE
(shortbread cookie dough) or you could buy
3 dozen shortbread cookies from the store to
save time & not make the base of the cookie
from scratch...
1 c. butter, soft
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Do not use unless to dry (up to 2 Tbsp. milk)
I did not need to use any!

(Coconut/Caramel Topping)
3 c. shredded coconut
12oz. good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. milk

(Chocolate drizzle/bottom)
8 oz. semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)

DIRECTIONS:
Pre-heat oven t0 350F. Bake for 11-13 min.
(keep watch..ovens vary..mine went 13)

1) In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter
& sugar. Mix in flour, baking powder & salt at a low
speed, followed by the vanilla. Milk is optional only
to make the dough stick together Add flour if your
dough is too sticky. The dough should come together
into a soft, not-to-sticky ball. SEE BELOW:

2) Roll the dough (working in 2 or 3 batches) out
between 2 pieces of wax paper to about 1/4-inch
thickness & use a 1 1/2"cookie cutter to make rounds.
NOTE: you may have trouble taking the
excess dough around the cookie shape
because it is so soft..See picture below
where I use a small turner which worked
beautifully & save excess and roll out to
make more cookies. SEE BELOW:


3) It was easier for me to flip the (turner with cookie)
on to my hand & then flip it over on to the cookie sheet
because the dough is so soft & buttery. SEE BELOW:
TIP: I also used a straw to make the hole in the middle
of the cookie...However..if you look at the next picture
after they have cooked, the hole seems to have filled
up because the "spread" of the cookie as it baked.
SEE BELOW:
4) So, I used a straw AFTERWARDS (When they
came out of the oven and were still warm & it
worked out great!) Set aside to cool completely.
SEE BELOW:
TOPPING
Pre-heat oven to 300F.
1) Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined
baking sheet (preferably one with sides) & toast
20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut
is golden brown. Cool on baking sheet...set aside.

2) Unwrap the caramels & place in a lg. micro-safe bowl
with milk & salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping
to stir a few times to help caramel melt. SEE BELOW:
3) When Smooth & creamy fold in toasted coconut
with a spatula. SEE BELOW:

TIP: Below are "offset" spatulas which are the

BEST Kitchen Tool for Spreading anything I think.
SEE BELOW:

4) Using an offset spatula, spread topping on cooled

cookies, using about 2-3 tsp. per cookie. Reheat

caramel for a few seconds in the microwave

if it gets too firm to work with(it did for

me many times)SEE BELOW:

5) While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small

bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 sec.

intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching.

Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate &

place on a clean piece of parchment paper or

(I used) wax paper & spread the chocolate on

each bottom with an offset spatula (that was a lot

easier & to speed up the cooling process of the

chocolate, I put in the freezer til set. SEE BELOW:

6) To finish..Transfer all remaining chocolate

(or melt a little additional chocolate, if necessary)

into a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner

snipped off & drizzle finished cookies with chocolate

in a back & forth motion for desired effect. Your Done!!

SEE BELOW:

Easter Bucket Baskets/Blog Hop

Here is an idea for Easter this year. Why not take Bucket Pails
(that can be used for Summer at the beach later in the year)
and use them for Easter Baskets filled with fun stuff & goodies
for the kids???? Here I made an Initial Decal with the Name
on top & dots. I love them & the kids will too.

Blog Hop below....Have fun leave comments.....
What have you been working on lately??? Show & Tell Time..

Easy Valentine's Day Treats/Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day!! Hope you have a fun day
with that special person. Above is a photo of the
Marshmallow Candy Treats for my husbands class tomorrow.

These are so EASY/FAST..
1) You just need:
Candy Melts (you can get at Walmart or Michael's)
Assorted sprinkles
Pop sticks & plastic bags with twist ties
Marshmallows (Big kind)
Oasis foam


2) Put Marshmallows on sticks (see below)


3) Line up sprinkles & put melts in bowls.


4) Put candy melts in microwave safe bowl & microwave
on high for 1 min. Take out..CAREFUL might be very hot.
Stir to help candy melt . Put back in Microwave oven
30 sec. & should be done..stir (see below) You need it smooth
enough to dip marshmallow in & turn all around so candy melts
cover the marshmallow. After that **Hold over sprinkles bowl & take
handfuls of sprinkles to cover candy melts. (See Below)


5) Place finished Marshmallows in Oasis Foam til dry.
(see below)
6) Let dry...Take dry Valentine's Day treat & put plastic
bag over Marshmallow & put twist tie around to secure for
presentation.


8) It's now ready to give the kids some Valentine Day Treats
& Homemade Candy Marshmallows.

Hope you have fun & enjoy your kids & loved ones
this Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Dessert/Blog Hop

Valentine's Day is coming so what a wonderful surprise it
would be to have a wonderful, delectable, mouth
watering DESSERT like Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Friends always think they take a long time to make,
but truth be known they are really easy to make...

Why don't you surprise that special person that you
love ...with these babies...I bet he/she will love them &
you for being so thoughtful....

RECIPE
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips or wafers
2 Tbsp. butter or shortening
2 (1lb.) boxes of fresh strawberries

You also will need: baking sheet, wax paper,
microwave-safe bowl

Directions:
1) Line a baking sheet with wax paper (I used
Cut-Rite). This will give you a good place for
the strawberries to cool & harden after you
dip them in the melted chocolate.

2) Wash strawberries...

and dry thoroughly.

Paper towels are probably the best to use for

drying strawberries. You want the melted chocolate

to adhere to the strawberry without any problems.

SEE BELOW: (Also leave the hulls on the

strawberries so you have a "Handle" to hold

on to while dipping.)

3) Put chocolate chips & butter or shortening

in microwave-safe bowl.

4) Place in microwave & heat for 1 min (on 50%

power) Continue to stir & check every 30 sec.

until smooth. SEE BELOW:

5) To dip strawberries: Take strawberry by the

stem (hull) and dip into melted chocolate...

6) They should be dipped almost completely & placed

on prepared baking sheet (with wax paper)

SEE BELOW:

7) After placing them on baking sheet..

Let them dry thoroughly..Place in refrigerator

until hardened if necessary. (I like to do that!)

They harden faster that way...

8) You did it!!!!!!! See that wasn't so hard..

Now go share these with someone special..

These are Sooooo Delicious.....Enjoy!!!

Super Bowl Chocolate/ Peanut Butter Brownies/Blog Hop

Who can resist a Chocolate Peanut Butter
Brownie???? These are actually very similar to
the Chocolate Mint Brownies we did before.

These turned out to taste really good...They
are a little rich but you can control that by the
the size you cut each one. Hope you like
them.. P.S. These would be a great addition
to any Super Bowl Party.
RECIPE
Bottom Layer:
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
4 lg. eggs, beaten (FYI: the original recipe in
Cooking Light replaces 2 of these 4 eggs with
1/2 c. egg substitute...that's what I did for this
recipe)
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
8oz. chocolate syrup (1/2 of a 16oz. can)

Peanut Butter Layer
2 c. powered sugar
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. milk (I used non-fat, but you can
probably use whatever you have)

Chocolate Glaze
3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. butter

Directions:
TO PREPARE BOTTOM LAYER:
Combine flour & salt..whisk set aside.
Combine sugar, 1/4 c. melted butter,
2 Tbsp. water, vanilla, eggs & chocolate
syrup in a medium bowl; beat with mixer
til smooth. Slowly add flour mixture to
chocolate stirring until blended.

BATTER WILL BE THIN! Pour batter
into 13 x 9 inch baking pan coated with
cooking spray.

BAKE at 350F. for 23 min. or until a
wooden toothpick inserted comes out
almost clean. COOL completely in pan
on wire rack.

PREPARE PEANUT BUTTER LAYER:
Combine powdered sugar, 1/2 c. melted
butter, peanut butter, & milk. SEE BELOW:

Make sure bottom layer is completely COOLED
before frosting..
Frost bottom layer with Peanut Butter filling as
seen BELOW:
TO PREPARE CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
Combine the chocolate chips & 3 Tbsp. melted
butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
MICROWAVE ON HIGH for 1 minute or
until melted.(stirring every 30 sec) Let stand
2 min.

Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the top.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cut & Serve...and Enjoy the delicious taste.

Valentine's Day Dessert

Here is a FAST & EASY Dessert for the ones you
love... It's just a Chocolate brownie cut out with a
heart shaped cookie cutter...topped with a scoop
of vanilla ice cream, Chocolate sauce dipping
down the sides..& a Chocolate heart place on top!!!
It looks harder than it is..I promise...

RECIPE
1 box of Brownie mix (any kind)
ingredients for brownies (eggs, oil, & water usually)
vanilla ice cream

For Chocolate Hearts on Top:
1 bag chocolate melts (like in previous post..from
Walmart or Michael's)

For Chocolate Sauce:
3/4 c. heavy cream
2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Make brownies as directed on back of pkg.
(cool & set aside)

2) To make Chocolate Hearts
Take 1/2 a bag of chocolate melts and microwave
for 1 min. on 50% power...then continue at 30 sec.
intervals at 50% power stirring after each one
(until smooth & shiny)

(Line a baking sheet with wax paper for the hearts
to be placed on & to dry)

Take melted chocolate & put into baggie (that
is not pleated) or small Ziplock bag with spoon.
Grab & twist bag tightly at top so chocolate doesn't
come out & cut a tiny bit off the corner so you have
a small hole that you "write" a heart on the prepared
baking sheet. Make as many hearts as the baggie will
hold or that you need. Let cool (I put them in the
refrigerator to speed up the process.) Set them aside

For Chocolate Sauce:
Melt chocolate chips in microwave @ 50% power
for 1 min & then 30 sec. intervals until melted
(Stirring after each interval) stir in cream slowly
to blend & is smooth & shiny

Putting it all together:
1) Cut brownies with heart shaped cookie cutter
2) With ice cream scoop put 1 scoop of vanilla ice
cream on top of brownie
3) Make sure the Chocolate sauce is warm & with
teaspoon drip some sauce on top of ice cream.
4) Place a Chocolate Heart on top of ice cream &
Chocolate sauce....

Superbowl Football Brownies/Blog Hop

Here for the Blog Hop?? Show us what you
have been working on.. It's Below the recipe.
Please link up & show us your talent. We can't
wait to see...

Are you thinking about what kind of foods
to have at your next get together..whether a
"Superbowl Party" or just having friends
over anytime..???

You don't want to be in the kitchen..you
want to be with family & friends..& enjoying
the memories your making. So with that being
said I am going to be giving you a fun recipe that
hopefully makes a 'Touchdown" at your next get
together.

You can make these the day before. These Chocolate
Brownie Footballs are adapted from Betty Crocker.
Thanks Betty.

RECIPE
1 box of your favorite brownie mix (Lg size)
(water, eggs, & vegetable oil called for on mix)

1 tub of white frosting or icing in a tube

Chocolate Ganache
4 (1 oz) semi-sweet chocolate squares
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
3 Tbsp. butter

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 350F. Line a 9"x 13" pan
with foil so that foil extends about 2" over
short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of
foil with cooking spray. SEE BELOW



2) Make & bake brownies as directed on box for a
9x13 pan using water, oil & eggs. COOL for 1 hr.

3) When cooled take out of pan with foil & flip over on to surface (breadboard, etc.) for cutting out the
footballs.

Peel off aluminum foil and make a template of a
"Football" (abt 3 1/2" x 2") SEE BELOW

If this is all you want to do then just use white icing

to put "Laces" on the football & your done.

OR

4) If you would like to make a ganache then proceed

with taking 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream, 3 Tbsp.

butter getting it hot on stove. (watching to not burn)

Add semi-sweet chocolate squares & blend together

to make ganache. SEE BELOW

It should have a beautiful glisten.

5) BELOW shows the way I did the dipping.
I hand dipped one side of the brownie & put on
cookie rack to dry.
Then after they have dried I put white frosting
into a icing bag (with a small round hole tip) &
decorated the footballs with "Laces." I was happy
with the way they turned out..and they were a big
hit with friends & family.