Our Chocolate Factory is Semi Homemade

I love to look at all the goodies and see if they can be done at home for less.  Well, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the "latest" with a very pricey tag.  Malted Milk Balls revisited.

GOURMET CHOCOLATE BALLS:  Dip each ball in white chocolate and set on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Chill a few minutes then  lightly coat with finely crushed peppermint.  After you have added the crushed Peppermint they can be rolled into a smoother ball.  Now once you think about it, they can be covered with all sorts of coatings of all colors. 

PEPPERMINT BARK:  Pour melted chocolate bark, with 1 Tbs. of  peanut butter added in a lightly greased pyrex dish about 1/8" thick.  Let this set while you melt the same amout of white chocolate bark and drizzle over chocolate layer.  Have ready some very finely crushed peppermint to sprinkle on top.  When hardened just break into chunks.  Very Pretty.

CHOCOLATE CORDIAL CUPCAKES:  Simply press a store bought chocolate coated cherry with a googy center in the middle of your chocolate cup cake before baking.  Frost with store bought cream cheese frosting and top with red sprinkles. Yummy.

CHRISTMAS IN A JAR: Measure every item into small bowls and line them up to be "tamped" down in a wide mouth canning pint jar.  From  the bottom first, 3/4 cup white flour, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup white chocolate morsels, 1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.  A long necked funnel works great.
On the gift tag write: add 1/3 cup soft butter, 1 large stirred egg and 1/2 tsp. cherry extract or vanilla.  Makes 1 dozen cookies.  Bake at 325' for about 10 minutes.  Tie a little cotton quilters square on top with a ribbon.  Put on a hang tag and attach a cookie cutter.  Getting one of these nice gifts is absolutly semi homemade.  Ball Corp.

CHOCOLATE POPCORN  MUNCH: Buy some pre popped popcorn from the store in the chip department.  Spread a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet.  Pour out a single layer of popcorn.  Melt 3 squares of chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute.  Add 1 Tbs. of peanut butter to the chocolate and stir.  Pour lightly over the popcorn.  You still want to see popcorn.  Chill for 20 minutes.  Scoop op and put in a pretty bowl for snack'in.  Keeps very well.  I add my candied pecans along with the popcorn before covering with chocolate.