Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Chocolate Chip Fudge Toffee Bars

FEATURED RECIPE

Chocolate Chip Fudge Toffee Bars

INGREDIENTS - makes 32 servings
1/2 cup Butter, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (32 squares)
1 bag (8 oz) toffee bits (1 1/2 cups)
1 roll (16.5 oz) Refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
1 bag (12 oz) Semi-sweet chocolate baking chips (2 cups)
1 can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan)

Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with No-Stick Cooking Spray

In medium bowl, stir 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 1/2 cups of the cracker crumbs and 3/4 cup of the toffee bits. Press mixture evenly in bottom of pan. Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until firm.

Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. In 2-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips, milk and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat, stirring frequently, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.

Spread mixture over graham cracker crust.

In medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Mix in remaining 1/2 cup cracker crumbs with wooden spoon until well blended. Crumble mixture evenly over chocolate layer. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup toffee bits.

Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 2 hours.

Cut into bars.
=============================================================

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Make Your Own Homemade Soap at Home

FEATURED MAKE YOUR OWN AT HOME IDEA

Soapmaking is a fun way to express your creativity. With a few basic ingredients, you can easily create soaps for every day use, or treat yourself to a luxury rivaled only by the best spas.Four Methods of Making

There are four standard methods for making your own soap.

Melt and Pour Method: This is the quickest, easiest method and a great place to start, if you are new to the craft. With this method, you purchase pre-made, unscented blocks of soap base and add your own fragrance.

Cold Process Method: This is the old standard that consists of making soap from scratch with natural oils and lye. The techniques are a little more advanced.

Hot Process Method: This is similar to the cold process method, but the soap ingredients are cooked.

Rebatching Method: This process involves shaving or grinding bars of existing soap such as Ivory, adding milk (goat's milk or cow's milk works well) or you can simply use water. You'll then mix the ingredients, enhance the mixture with coloring, fragrance, herbs, etc.

For this process, you simply purchase the uncolored, unscented soap base in a microwave, crock pot, or double boiler. When the soap base is melted, you will need to add your choice of fragrances, coloring and other additives. Simply pour the melted mixture into a mold, allow it to harden, and your soap is ready for use.

The Melt & Pour Method:
Always start with a clean workspace and have your tools readily available
Here are the items you’ll need:
Melt and pour soap base (unscented, uncolored)
Be sure to choose a good quality base for this.
A microwave, crock pot, or double boiler
If using the microwave, you’ll want to use a glass bowl, rather than a plastic one.
Measuring spoons and cups
A hand blender or wire whisk
Essential oils for fragrance (optional)
Coloring (optional)
Other additives such as herbs, crushed flowers, etc (optional)
Soap Molds (these can be purchased, or you can simply make your own molds out of items you have around the house. Use your creativity.