Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by Recipes From The Heart Of Your Home. Don't forget to check out the Christian resources we have linked to on the left of the page. I am a Christian wife and mother, doing my best to take care of my family and be a good steward of the wonderful blessings God has given us. I enjoy cooking for my family and doing it unto God for His glory. I love to cook from scratch when it's affordable and not too time-consuming and I especially love to bake. Lots of family and friends ask for my recipes so I've decided to put them on a blog so they can get them or anyone else who wants them. I think you can make good quality, good tasting food at a fraction of the ready-made price and it doesn't have to break your budget. Please let me know how these recipes turn out. They're our family's favorites. I'll be updating this blog as often as I can. Enjoy and God bless!

Melissa

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Delicious Chocolate Truffles



Chocolate truffles are so delicious and such a treat, but they're always so expensive to buy. You can easily make them at home for the holidays or any day.

Chocolate Truffles

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 (12 oz.) semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted (melt on low heat in saucepan)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
colored sprinkles, flaked coconut, powdered sugar, crushed candy canes, etc.

1) Beat cream cheese in large bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended.

2) Add melted chocolate and vanilla; mix well. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

3) Shape into 1 inch balls. (Easiest to do with your hands, but really messy!) Roll into various toppings, or leave plain. Store in refrigerator.

Makes about 5 dozen candies.

Holiday Peppermint Bark



I don't have an official recipe for this because I find it doesn't have to be exact for it to work out. It's a pretty flexible recipe and you can easily make variations for other holidays by adding other toppings or sprinkles. I made up this recipe one day last year while looking through newspaper ads and saw a store selling Peppermint Bark in a small Christmas tin for $10. I knew I could make it much cheaper and so I did. It's a family favorite now!

Peppermint Bark

1 to 1 1/2 bags of white chocolate chips (depending on how thick you want your bark)
1 to 1 1/2 bags of dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 - 4 tsp. shortening (depending on how much chocolate you use)
10 candy canes (can use more or less if desired)

1) Crush unwrapped candy canes in a sealed ziploc bag with a wooden mallet. Be careful not to crush it too much, otherwise it will turn into powder.



2) In a small saucepan, heat dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 or 2 tsp. shortening on low heat until completely melted. Stir continously so you don't scorch it.

3) Spread melted chocolate onto well-greased baking sheet. Put in freezer until frozen solid. (Can also put in fridge, but it will take much longer.)

4) While chocolate is setting, heat white chocolate chips with 1 or 2 tsp. of shortening on low heat until completely melted. Stir continuously.

5) Spread white chocolate carefully onto frozen chocolate in baking sheet quickly and carefully, so you don't melt the bottom layer and have them mix together. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top and set back in freezer or fridge until firm.



6) When firm, take out and break into various size pieces. Enjoy!