Buy me candy! (if you want!)

As I said on my other blog, I added a widget to the side where you can buy me a Hershey bar (on my other blog you can buy me a Java Chip from Starbucks). You can donate however much you like, but you're not required to!

If you're feeling really generous, you could donate towards my next tattoo!

On another note, I hate HTML. It's so difficult to get things just how I want it when I want to edit my pages. I wish I could just drag things where I want it instead of having to change numbers in my HTML code and saving to see if it worked or not.

That's enough for now. I'm off to get a snack while Chase finishes up his nap.

If you liked this post, click the picture to buy me a Hershey bar!

Zodiac Tattoo

I was looking up Zodiac tattoos since I think that's what my next one would be. I found a few interesting ones. I'm a Cancer by the way, and the symbols are a crab and another symbol that kind of looks like a sideways 69. Here's some of the ones I found.



This one is a little harder than what I was thinking of, but I do like the purple, and that the 69 symbol is encorporated in the eyes.






This one is nice, but it doesn't have the crab symbol that I want too. I think it might look pretty cool outlined in black and filled in in purple though!



Images from TattooJohnny.com


I didn't find exactly what I wanted, but I'll keep looking!

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Post Thanksgiving Wrap-up

Well I tried to set up mobile blogger on here so that I could easily post and send pictures and whatnot, but that was a bust. I guess I can make posts on here from my phone, but for some reason it won't let me add pictures. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to keep on doing it the old fashioned way!

The Oreo Truffles turned out ok. I tried to melt the chocolate on a double boiler, but I guess me adding butter to try to make it smoother had the opposite effect...because then it froze up into a chocolate ball of...well...mess. Me with my bright ideas decided to try to re-heat it in the microwave, so I popped it into a glass bowl and put it on for 30 seconds. It didn't look much different but it was definitely hot. When I took it out and stirred it once, I heard a loud *POP* which was the glass bowl cracking. GREAT! So I just threw all of that away and heated up the white chocolate chips in a PLASTIC bowl in the microwave this time. That worked better but I ran out of chocolate about halfway through (not even halfway really) so I had to dash out and buy some more.

They didn't have the milk chocolate chips I wanted at the first store so I went to another and ended up getting Hershey's semi sweet chips (which I didn't want, but it was that or nothing). Then the debit card reader went down and of course all I had was $5 cash on me, but luckily it came up after a minute or two of standing in line.

All and all it turned out ok. This is why I decided to do this early. Next time I'll try 1 teaspoon of shortening in the chocolate to make it smoother and dip easier, and I'll make sure I get 2 bags of white chocolate chips and MILK chocolate chips (the semi sweet didn't taste that bad after all, but I still prefer milk chocolate). I think I'll try some mint ones too. Anyway, here was the finished product!

The drizzled chocolate on top made it look really pretty!

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My semi-famous fudge

My mom taught me this recipe, that she got from a can of condensed milk once, and now every holiday I'm the designated fudge maker. It's really easy to make.

Ingredients:
1 can condensed milk
1 1/2-2 bags Milk Chocolate Chips (or semi sweet if you prefer)
1 bag of chopped walnuts (or any nuts you prefer)
1 tablespoon of vanilla (optional, sometimes I forget to add this, but you probably won't notice if you do)
Aluminum foil or wax paper

Directions:
1.In a double boiler, put the chocolate chips and let them melt. Add in the condensed milk to help with this and stir until melted and combined.

2. Add the nuts and stir completely. You can also add the vanilla now if you're using it.

3. Pour the mixture into a pan lined with aluminum foil or wax paper. Spread evenly.

4. Put in the refrigerator or freezer until hard.

5. Peel off wax paper or aluminum foil and cut into squares

6. Enjoy!

This fudge is pretty rich, so I would suggest cutting small or medium sized pieces. Leave it out for a while to allow it to soften a bit and become easier to eat. You can leave it out in an airtight container if you want, or store it in the refrigerator.

So my secret is out. I hope you enjoy it!

If you liked this post, click the picture to buy me a Hershey bar!

Oreo Balls

I'm going to try to make these for thanksgiving along with my fudge and see how well they go over. If everyone likes them, I'll make them again for Christmas! I think I might try some mint Oreo cookies too. I bet they would be really good! I'm going to dip a few in white chocolate too (to change it up a bit, and my sister likes white chocolate).

Oreo Truffle Balls

1 (1 pound, 2 ounce) package Oreo cookies
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 (8 ounces) packages semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 ounces white chocolate, optional

* Use a good-quality chocolate. The taste and quality of these truffles are dependent on the quality of chocolate you start with.

Lin two large baking or cookie sheets with wax paper or a silpad; set aside.

In a food processor or blender, process and crush all of the Oreo cookies into fine crumbs. Add cream cheese and process until thoroughly mixed (there should be no white traces of cream cheese). Using your hands, roll into walnut-size balls, approximately 3/4-inch diameter. If the mixture becomes too soft to work, place the remaining mixture back into the refrigerator to slightly harden. Place Oreo Balls on the lined baking sheet and refrigerate or at least 45 to 60 minutes.

TIPS:

* The Oreo Balls may be stored in the freezer for up to 1 week.

* If you put the Oreo balls in the freezer for a short time before dipping in chocolate, this helps keep the balls cold longer. I also put the cookie sheets in the freezer first so they are really cold when I place the chocolate covered Oregon Truffle Balls onto the cookie sheet.

Using one of the below methods, melt the chocolate chips:

Double Boiler:

In the top of a double boiler over hot water, not boiling water (don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the water, melt chocolate; stirring until smooth. Be careful boiling water may cause steam droplets to get into chocolate which can result in "seizing," when the chocolate becomes stiff and grainy. NOTE: If you don't have a double boiler you can improvise one by placing a glass or stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water. Remove from heat. Let the chocolate cool slightly, but it should not set.

Microwave Melting Chocolate:

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips using either the defrost setting or 10-percent power in the microwave. Microwave for 1 minute, then check and stir. If you need more time, do it in 10 to 20 seconds intervals and check and stir after each addition of microwave time. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted. Baking chips and baking chocolate may appear formed and un-melted after heating but will become fluid after stirring. Blend in cream, brandy, liqueur, or coffee

When ready to coat with chocolate, remove the chilled Oreo Balls from the refrigerator. Replace wax paper on baking sheets if they are not clean. NOTE: A small fork, toothpicks, or chopsticks are great to use as dipping tool. Dip each Oreo Ball into the melted chocolate, allowing the excess to drip back into the pot. Place the Oreo Truffle Balls onto the wax paper. NOTE: If the chocolate gets too hard to dip well, reheat it over the double boiler or in the microwave.

Optional: In a separate bowl either melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave. When melted, using a fork, drizzle white chocolate over the harden chocolate balls to decorate.

Let Oreo Truffle Balls harden and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Makes 40 to 50 candy balls, depending on the size balls your roll.

Recipe and picture from Whatscookingamerica.net

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More chocolate craziness

The more I dig the more crazy chocolate stuff I find! I'm sure your sick of posts on this subject by now (or intrigued like I am) but here are two more chocolate treats.

First up is chocolate monopoly. It's a twist on the original game, because the pieces and properties are made out of chocolate. The winner gets to eat them all. I guess this isn't a game you can play more than once!

You can buy this one from BoardGameGeek

This is not the game Monopoly except in name only.
The name is licensed from Hasbro but any similarity ends there.
The player whose turn it is spins a spinner. This determines where the player places a chocolate piece representing a property color. When all properties of that color
or railroad have been placed the next player to spin that color or railroad gets
to eat all those chocolates. There are 32 pieces of milk chocolate in the game.
The winner is the player who accumulates and eats the most pieces of chocolate
properties.

Description also from BoardGameGeek.

There's also a version called Chocolate-opoly.

You can buy this version from AreYouGame.com

Chocolate-opoly...A decadently delicious property trading game for chocolate lovers! Dark, milk, bittersweet, semi-sweet, in a shake, filled with caramel, covered in nuts, or as a warm, frothy brew - there's nothing the cocoa bean can't do. In Chocolate-opoly players buy favorite chocolate properties, collect chunks of chocolate and trade them in for chocolate factories. Sounds easy enough but pay your conching fees, suppress your cravings or get sent to Chocoholics Anonymous and it becomes a little more difficult...and a lot more fun! So choose your token and roll the dice! Who knows? You may be chosen as a "Supertaster" or you may experience Death by Chocolate. Here's a game for the true chocophile! For 2-6 players, ages 8 to adult.

Description also from AreYouGame.com

There's also a lot of recipes for chocolate covered bacon! It sounds kinda
gross...but here's the recipe if you're interested

Chocolate Covered Bacon
Original recipe by PartySugar

Ingredients
6-8 slices thick cut, best quality bacon
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces white chocolate, melted, optional for garnish

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Place the bacon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven, until bacon is cooked to your liking. 15 minutes for soft bacon, 20 minutes for crispy bacon.
3. Let bacon cool on the parchment paper for 5 minutes then transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
4. Meanwhile set up a double boiler. Heat a large saucepan filled with water over high heat until boiling. Reduce heat to a simmer.
5. Set a heat-proof bowl over the simmering water. Add the chocolate chips and stir with a fork until smooth and completely melted.
6. Cover another baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Using tongs, carefully dip the bacon into the melted chocolate turning to coat all sides in chocolate. Transfer to the clean sheet of waiting parchment paper. Repeat with remaining slices of bacon.
8. Drizzle with the white chocolate, if desired.
9. Refrigerate until chocolate is hard.
10. Once cool, enjoy!

Recipe from yumsugar.com

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More weird chocolate

I found a few more weird items.

At Toe-Food Chocolates and Candy they have a 10 oz. chocolate foot! Great for the chocoholic on your christmas list that also has a foot fetish!

At Chocolate Cheers you can customize a 10 lbs bar of chocolate into an american express card for only $75!

I sure hope that's not her real card number! lol

At The Candy Shop you can buy chocolate covered gummy bears!

These are just cavities waiting to happen.

I love chocolate, but I might have to pass on a few of these. I don't really think chocolate and gummy bears would go well together. I know if I tried to eat 10lbs of chocolate that I would fall into some sort of coma (but I WOULD try it!) And the chocolate foot reminds me of a squeeky toy that I had for my dog Panther that was a foot. He ended up chewing all of the toes off of it. Maybe not the best toy idea for him lol. Actually though, once you at the toes off of the chocolate foot, then it's just a big hunk of chocolate!

If you liked this post, click the picture to buy me a Hershey bar!