Christmas Treats From Around the World

!±8± Christmas Treats From Around the World

Many people have fond memories of Christmas candy from their childhood. Regardless of age, race, sex or culture, people all over the globe share a wide variety of Christmas candy during the jolly season. Christmas treats together with family members, close friends, gifts and religious significance make Christmas the celebration of the whole year

Christmas Treats in the Unites States

In the United States Christmas chocolate and other candies are traditionally placed in stockings mounted on the fireplace. The American tradition is that each child gets a stocking and that Santa Claus puts the candy in them. Other treats such as oranges were also placed in the stockings.

The stocking and placing of candy tradition supposedly began in Holland and brought to America by Dutch settlers who also gave Americans the tradition of placing coal instead of candy in the stockings of children who were naughty. The most famous American Christmas candy is the candy cane, a hardened sugar candy colored in a striped pattern, which is usually hung on the Christmas tree, but Christmas chocolate treats are the kids' favorites.

European Christmas Candy

In Europe, shaped milk Christmas chocolate treats are very popular. Some of these feature distinctive characters such as Santa Claus. This can be considered a remnant of World War II when American soldiers gave out Christmas chocolate to hungry children. Christmas chocolate and candy have a long standing lineage in some European countries. In Austria, holiday season candy is supposedly given by the child Christ who takes the place of Santa. In some European countries, even some Christmas chocolate ingredients like Marzipan are closely associated with Christmas.

Christmas Delights in Latin Countries

In Spain and Mexico candy is given by three wise men who visited Jesus on the night of his birth. Religious history says that these three visitors bring gifts to children as they did to the child Christ.

English Holiday Candy

In Great Britain Santa Claus is called Father Christmas. Father Christmas looks a great deal like the American Santa Claus except that he usually has a hood instead of a hat. Like Santa, Father Christmas brings Christmas chocolate and candy treats to children across the country during the holiday season.

Candy is associated with Christmas in both England and Scotland because, until the 20th century it was one of the few gifts that the working classes could afford to give their children who only tasted candy on Christmas morning.

The big English companies make a wide variety of candy which is sold in sets and are available online for people that want to give their children a taste of an English Christmas. The modern English Christmas chocolate often features special Christmas boxes and themes and popular English candies include toffee and fudge. Turkish delight is another treat widely associated with Christmas in the UK.

Christmas Treats From Around the World

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How to accomplish divinity

!±8± How to accomplish divinity

My grandma learns you how to make divinity. I don't know how to edit movies yet so it gets kind of slow at parts but bare with me.

How to accomplish divinity

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Advice on Praline Pecan Candy Making at Home

!±8± Advice on Praline Pecan Candy Making at Home

Most people believe that anyone can make delicious candies with constant practice. Of course, that includes praline candy making. There may be people believe that its hard but once you get use to making it the right way, you will absolutely get it perfect. With the help of taking the advice to your daily practice it will not be impossible to produce a sweet delicious candy.

There are common ingredients to your praline pecan candy, caramel, fudge, marshmallows, chocolate covered cherries, nut brittle, candied fruit and fruit rinds, spiced candied nuts, divinity, chocolate covered pretzels, caramel popcorn, and many others. In handling those ingredients with care will keep you make tasty candies. The following are few tips to do it.

Sweeteners Tips:
We are talking about candies so it is expected that we will use a sweetener as our main ingredient. Sweeteners may point out to honey, molasses, maple sugar, corn sugar, and corn syrup. However, most of the time we are instructed to use sugar as stated in the recipe. Once it is stated there, you should use white, crystalline sugar called sucrose. The one you use everyday which also called table sugar. It is from sugar cane or sugar beets.

Always, use newly purchased and unopened package of sugar. This is done for the purpose of making sure that there will be no infectivity of other ingredients in the kitchen like flour and salt. For corn syrup, always use the light one if not mentioned in the recipe. It is because if you use dark, you will have a molasses taste and odor. Otherwise, you should follow the instructions to get the desired result.

Never use a brown sugar instead of refined granulated sugar if you are not an expert candy maker. Never let brown sugar to exceed half of the amount of sugar. The brown sugar acts as one of the flavor agents and if you do not follow the advice you will have "Penuche". Secondly, you can never substitute unrefined sugar to granulated sugar. The same way goes with substituting powdered sugar instead of refined sugar. In short, just use granulated sugar.

Water tips:
The tap water just works fine with the recipe.

Butter and Fats tips:
You should always use unsalted stick butter and not margarine. As stated that Margarine contains lot of water and different amounts of fat that will turn your candy inconsistent. The butter gives delicious taste. Never use vegetable oil spreads or tub products to maintain the brittle texture of the candy.

Acids tips:
It could be tartar, lemon juice, or vinegar. It is the stabilizer. You can freely substitute lemon juice instead of it. Always use a newly squeezed lemon. It has more effect to your recipe if use the recipe. For vinegar, you can use that distilled white vinegar.

Cream tips:
Use the heavy cream for it has a higher butterfat which will give you a mouth feel and smooth texture. You cannot substitute evaporated milk for sweetened condensed milk. It might give your chocolate a semi-sweet taste.

Flavoring tips:
The most preferred flavoring for candy is the candy oils. It gives a lasting flavor even mixed during cooking for they are oil-based. Unlike extracts, they are only added after cooking.

Coloring tips:

The most common being used is the food coloring. It is just the best liquid form that gives color to your candies and other foods. However, it is only for mixtures that do not combine readily with liquid.

These advices are just right in trying your own praline pecan candy at home. Just a few drops of information about the recipes and their characteristics then you are ready for trying one by your self.

Advice on Praline Pecan Candy Making at Home

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MMMM - Chocolate Truffles - A Chocolate Lovers Dream

!±8± MMMM - Chocolate Truffles - A Chocolate Lovers Dream

The term chocolate truffles evoke a visual image of pure decadence. You can almost imagine the commercial with a woman slowly biting into a chocolate truffle savoring the flavor while sitting on the beach under an umbrella.

What is a chocolate truffle?

A chocolate truffle is a chocolate confection in a round, conical, or curved shape. It is usually coated in cocoa or chocolate, but could be covered in nuts or coconut. The truffle is filled with a variety of fillings such as cream, caramel, nuts, berries, and liquor with the most common being a chocolate ganache.

A ganache refers to a filling for pastries. It is generally made from heavy cream that is heated and poured over dark chocolate. The mixture is stirred until smooth and can be enhanced by a liquor or extract. It should be two parts chocolate to one part cream.

What types of truffles are available?

There are three types of truffles available: American, European, and Swiss truffles. These types vary by ingredient, and length of storage life.

American truffles are shaped like half an egg and are covered by chocolate. They contain a mixture of dark and milk chocolate with butter fat and/or hardened coconut oil. A Canadian version includes graham cracker and peanut butter.

The European truffle is made with a cocoa powder and syrup. It also contains milk powder and fat.

The Swiss truffle is made with dairy cream and butter combined with melted chocolate. These types of truffles have a very short shelf life.

Can I make this at home?

Chocolate truffles are not difficult to make but is not for the beginning chef. The most important thing to remember when making truffles is to use exactly the chocolate called for in the recipe and to buy the very best chocolate you can find as this directly affects the taste. You should also use the highest quality cream.

The most challenging part of making chocolate truffles is forming the ganache base. The base of chocolate and cream can be enhanced with butter and egg yolks and can be flavored with anything from champagne to liquor to extract. Keep in mind that the ganache will need to chill for several hours before being formed into truffles. The truffle can be shaped using a knife, two spoons, or a pastry bag. Of course, you can always just scoop some out and form truffles with your hand. When using the two teaspoons, you scoop out a portion of ganache and use the second teaspoon to help roll into a ball. Whatever method you use to form the truffles, you will need time to form the truffles so keep that in mind when allocating time to make them.

Once the base is formed, you can just simply roll truffle in cocoa powder or you can cover it with chocolate. This is a traditional truffle. You can also roll the chocolate truffle in nuts, sprinkles, shaved chocolate, or coconut or any other topping you prefer. Now you are ready to impress your friends with homemade chocolate truffles.

MMMM - Chocolate Truffles - A Chocolate Lovers Dream

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Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipe - A Beautiful Presentation

!±8± Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipe - A Beautiful Presentation

I make this chocolate homemade candy at the holidays and get new compliments every year. It is so delicious and is made by melting white and dark chocolate together. It is also beautiful and can be presented 2 different ways. The red and green m&m's, coconut and white chocolate drizzle set it apart from any treat you'll make this holiday season.

Chocolate Homemade Candy

1 package semi sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
2 packages white chocolate morsels (11 ounces each)
1 cup marshmallows
1 cup pecans
1 cup rice crispy cereal
1 small package coconut
1 lb. package peanut m&m's (red & green)
1 - 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
one metal pizza pan

Note: Substitute different color m&m's to fit the holiday of your choice.

Reserve about 5 ounces of the white chocolate morsels (the remainder of the morsels will be mixed with the semi sweet chips). In the microwave oven (in a large glass bowl), melt the semi sweet morsels with all the white morsels (except the 5 ounces set aside) until smooth. Stop microwave every 30 seconds and stir; repeat until all the morsels are melted (being careful not to burn the chocolate). Let the mixture cool down somewhat and add to the mixture; 1 cup marshmallows, 1 cup nuts, 1 cup rice crispy cereal (mix well).

Spread this chocolate homemade mixture into a metal pizza pan; flatten mix out to extend to all sides of the pan. Place red and green m&m's on top of chocolate mixture in a decorative pattern (you will not need the entire 1 lb. package). Sprinkle coconut on top of chocolate mixture last.

Take the 5 ounces of reserved white chocolate morsels; melt them in the microwave (stirring every 30 seconds); add 1 to 2 teaspoons vegetable oil to this chocolate mix; melt together and stir thoroughly. Drizzle this mixture over the chocolate homemade candy.

Cool in refrigerator until completely set (at least 2 hours). Cut into squares or for a more elegant presentation, cut into slim pizza sized slices.

Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipe - A Beautiful Presentation

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