Valentine Candies Menu

I'm giving a Cakes talk in a couple of hours this morning, and am more nervous than usual, for some reason. I was eating chocolate like it was an Olympic event yesterday after helping run the 1st grader's party, so this picture and menu seemed fitting. It is from Southern Heritage Southern Living Celebrations: A Collection of Confections. Apparently, you are supposed to serve this menu at your party: Creamy Pastel Bonbons, Date Kisses, Secrets (candies enclosed in paper hearts with notes), Chocolate-Covered Cherries and Minted Nuts. That's my kind of party.

Readers here know that candy making and I are not friends. There was that melted thermometer incident. I sure do like to eat it, though. Perhaps I will add fudge making to my list of goals for the year, since the crochet blanket is not going as well as I'd hoped!

Want to try some candy making?

Creamy Pastel Bonbons

1 package cream cheese, softened

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter or margarine, melted

Coating

Beat cream cheese at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add cocoa, butter, and vanilla; mix well. Shape mixture into 3/4 inch balls, and place on waxed paper. Chill 1 hour. Using 2 forks, quickly dip balls, one at a time, into warm coating mixture. If necessary to maintain coating consistency, add a small amount of warm milk. Place on waxed paper; refrigerate until coating is firm.

Coating:

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2-3 drops food coloring

Combine sugar, butter, and milk in top of double boiler; place over boiling water. Cook until mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla and food coloring. Remove double boiler from heat, leaving coating mixture over hot water. Use immediately.

Use immediately - or eat? haha

I've mentioned that I've been reading Betty Hechtman's crochet mysteries. I discovered she blogs with some of my other favorite writers, including Joanna Slan, at Killer Hobbies. Check it out! Of all things, today she wrote about knitting!