Quick and Easy Anytime Confections

Candy and other confections are so good and simple to make that once you learn how, you’ll want to make them for no reason at all. One very easy candy to make involves aligning pecan halves into an “x” shape, using four pecans for each. Unwrap caramels and set one on each “x”. Microwave on low just until the caramels begin to melt. Remove and place in fridge for 10 minutes. Spread chocolate frosting on each one and you have homemade turtles – a chocolate and caramel delight.

Melt a cup and a half of white chocolate in microwave or double boiler. Stir in 3/4 cup of pretzel sticks and 3/4 cup of dry roasted peanuts. Pour onto a cookie sheet, lined with waxed paper, and freeze for ten to fifteen minutes. Remove and break apart.

Make bonbons by mixing two boxes of powdered sugar, a can of condensed milk, a half pound of butter and a package of coconut flakes. Chill the mixture for an hour. Remove from fridge and roll portions into balls. Place on cookie sheet and chill for another hour. Melt 12 oz of chocolate chips in double boiler along with a half-square of paraffin. Dip balls into chocolate mixture and place on waxed paper. Chill until firm.

Melt a stick of butter and mix with 4 cups powdered sugar and 18 ounce creamy peanut butter. Shape into balls and chill. Melt a cup of chocolate chips, a half bar of paraffin and a 7 or 8 oz chocolate bar in a double boiler. Dip peanut butter balls in, place on waxed paper and chill until firm.

Mix 3 cups powdered sugar, 3 cups coconut, 1 cup butter, 2 tablespoons milk and a dash of salt. Pick up one cherry and a large pinch of the mixture and form the mix around the cherry making sure the cherry is completely covered. Roll in graham cracker crumbs.

Mix 4 cups Golden Graham cereal, 2 cups mini marshmallows, and 2 cups of pecans or walnuts in a large bowl. Melt two pounds of white chocolate in double boiler. Pour liquid chocolate over the cereal mix and stir until well coated. Drop tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper and chill.

Combine a cup and a third of sugar, two cups of light corn syrup and a quarter teaspoon of red food coloring in a pan and stir constantly over low heat. Bring to 300 degrees and remove from heat. Add a dozen drops of oil of cinnamon and pour into greased cookie sheet. Place in fridge until cold then break by hitting with the back of a spoon. This is called Broken Glass candy.

Make quick fudge by boiling a half cup of water and 2 cups of sugar. After boiling for a couple of minutes remove from heat and stir in one cup of peanut butter and a teaspoon of vanilla. Pour into buttered pan and refrigerate until set. Remove after chilled and slice into squares. Make chocolate fudge by following the same recipe adding 3 tablespoons of cocoa after adding the vanilla.

Usually this next recipe is made into cookies but making the portions very small and they are a delicious candy. Stir two cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cocoa with a half cup of milk. Stir constantly over low heat. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Stir in a half cup of peanut butter, two cups of uncooked oats, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Let cool slightly and drop by the tablespoonful onto waxed paper. Chill.

Melt butterscotch pieces in a double boiler. If you don’t have one simply bring water to a boil in a pan then place another pan on top of the boiling water to melt the morsels. Drop in a small square of paraffin. Stir in dry chow mein noodles until well covered. Place the mix by the spoonful onto waxed paper to make “hay bales”. These can also be done in white or dark chocolate.

Melt a half pack of chocolate chip morsels then stir in 2/3 cup of Eagle brand milk and a cup of peanuts. Drop by the spoonful onto waxed paper and chill. Or, melt 6 oz of chocolate chips, and a half cup of peanut butter then stir in a half cup of peanuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and chill.

Melt a cup of white chocolate in double boiler. Stir in a cup of malted milk powder and mix well. Form into balls and let chill a few minutes. Dip into white chocolate, place on wax paper and chill.

Stir one cup of sugar and a half cup of light corn syrup. Microwave for 4 minutes. Add a cup of salted peanuts without skins. Stir well and microwave for 4 more minutes. Add a teaspoon of butter and a teaspoon of vanilla then stir well. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and stir gently until fluffy. Pour into buttered cookie sheet and cool for an hour. Break with the back of a metal spoon. This makes great peanut brittle the old-fashioned way.

Crush one box of vanilla wafers and stir in a can of condensed milk and a cup of chopped nuts. Dump in 15 pieces of orange slice candy and stir well. Shape into a roll, roll it in powdered sugar, and place in freezer overnight. Slice and serve.