Homemade Butterfinger

Nobody Lay a Finger on My Homemade Butterfinger....

A note from the wife:
I realize this is a late addition to Earth week but I have a good reason for the delay.  My husband and I were out of town enjoying nature for a few days.  I will be posting about our trip later.  For now, as promised,  I am posting another earth friendly re-purposing recipe.  This is another way to use your left over Easter candy.  I saw a recipe on Pinterest for homemade Butterfinger candy bars.  Instantly I was intrigued.  I have been wanting to make them since Halloween candy corn season but never got around to it.  So Easter arrived along with pastel candy corn and I had to take opportunity to make them this time. I'm not sure who the genius was that discovered that melting candy corn and mixing with peanut butter tastes very much like a Butterfinger, if you are reading this I would like to take a moment to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.



The ingredients:

16 oz candy corn
16 oz milk chocolate
2 cups creamy peanut butter



I added some traditional orange candy corn so it would have the Butterfinger orange color.



Step 1: Melt candy corn in microwave at 30 second intervals until completely melted and smooth



Steps 2 & 3 & 4:  Add peanut butter to melted candy corn and stir until smooth.  Pour into a wax paper lined 8x8 pan. Put in freezer for 20 minutes or until firm.



Step 5:  Cut into squares.  I tried to make somewhat bite sized.



Steps 6 & 7 & 8 : Melt chocolate in microwave at 30 second intervals until smooth.  Dip squares in melted chocolate. I think it's easiest to drop a square in the melted chocolate and use the fork to move around the bowl.  Once covered lift out of chocolate with fork and tap on the side of bowl to remove excess chocolate.  Place on wax paper lined baking sheet. Once all candy is coated put in freezer for about 15 minutes until chocolate is set.  A few tips: you may need to work in batches. If necessary put squares back in the freezer for a few minutes if they start to come apart.  You may also need to melt the chocolate again if it begins to harden.



Step 9 or 12 or 15??:  ENJOY!!!











Happy Earth Day!

Note from the wife:

In honor of Earth Day I decided to re purpose left over Easter candy the Easter bunny dropped off a few weeks ago.  I love the look of Peeps in all their bright, fluffy glittery glory.  I also like the variety of spring time animals- chicks and rabbits.  But beyond that I'm not a huge fan of eating them by themselves.  I decided to make something with them that I would enjoy eating. Naturally that involved chocolate.  It also involved more sugar, butter and graham crackers-Peeps S'mores!  The idea seemed like a good one and looked adorable as I was assembling. 

the ingredients

Assembly Step 1

Assembly Step 2 (Adorable!)

I didn't think about how disturbing it would be to see chicks and rabbits disintegrate before my eyes!



Peeps massacre


Despite the appearance the end result was DELICIOUS.  It basically tasted like a chocolate chip cookie bar.  I was surprised there wasn't more of a graham cracker taste but I will gladly settle for anything that tastes like a chocolate chip cookie. 

So as Earth Day draws to a close I feel like I did my part to honor the beautiful Earth we all live in. I realize it mainly involved chocolate and sugar but they are from nature!  I did take time to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature today beyond my kitchen.  Our resident hummingbirds returned around dinner time.  So far only 2 have made the trip back through from their winter vacation but I know more are on their way. My wonderful husband surprised me with the gift of nature on Friday as a pre birthday gift.  It was beautiful array of plants, flowers and trees!  I was truly overwhelmed with the selection and the love that went into picking each and every one of the plants.  Each one was carefully selected because of the benefits of what they would attract.  One of the plants is butterfly weed.  On Earth day a beautiful butterfly could not get enough of the new addition to our backyard and put on quite a show!  These are definitely gifts that will keep on giving! I'm very excited to watch how many butterflies appear in our yard throughout the rest of spring and summer.

the butterfly

My Easter candy isn't entirely gone so I'm looking forward to another recipe later in the week. Stay tuned!

Untitled (I'm Too Hungry to Create a Title)

I am sure I am mistaken, but it feels like Easter Sunday was the last time we had a home cooked meal. Woe is me. Let me reiterate... "woe is me".

Perhaps, I have been negligent in posting entries to My Wife's Food Blog, or perhaps we haven't had a home cooked meal since Easter.  I honestly can't remember. I am weak from lack of sustenance. Please forgive me. Btw, does anyone know where I can sign up for a cooking class?

Below are photos from today's meal.

Ordered with love from Popeye's

For dessert I had some kind of children's organic food bar. My wife commented "maybe I should learn how to make one of those bars".

Recently we read an article in our local newspaper describing the hummingbird's migration throughout our area during the Spring. Of course, my wife quickly sprang into action insuring that these mini-migrating creatures enjoyed her specially prepared nectar during their travels.  Each year she creates her special hummingbird nectar. (None of that store bought red juice for the migrating creatures that stop in our backyard, by gosh! ) 

Hummingbird's enjoying their freshly prepared nectar. 

(Did I mention that I had Popeye's & some kid's energy bar for dinner today)

I would be remiss if I did not mention the attractive quiche dish that was prepared earlier in the week. I'll have to get her review on this dish. 

The Chocolate Honey Cake Review (part II)

Yeah, I'm still talking about the Chocolate Honey Cake. (note: this entry should have posted on Saturday...4/14/12)

I just wanted to report that the cake is just as good cold. During a few of my weak night-time chocolate craving moments (translation: every night this week) I have succumbed to sample a few more small, miniscule, tiny, iddy-biddy slivers of this deliciously lovely cake.

Example of my small, miniscule, tiny, iddy-biddy cake slivers 

The cake's consistency is almost brownie-like when cold. Additionally, the natural honey sweetness becomes pleasantly more evident in this slightly cooled state.

It's probably even better with cool tall glass of milk. (for those among you that like the taste of milk)

Note from wife: I haven't stopped thinking about this cake since last Sunday. If I could remember my dreams each night I'm sure it has been in every one.    I have also had a couple of iddy-biddy cake slivers.  I agree that it is amazing cold too.  I keep thinking about the next time I make it. How will it be decorated, what type of chocolate to use, should I try a different honey variety?  My husband was right it was great with a cool tall glass of milk...chocolate of course.  I am sad to report that we finished the last iddy-biddy, miniscule slivers.  You know it's true love when your husband gives you the container so you can scrape away the last remnants of amazing chocolate honey icing.  This is the last you will hear about this round of honey chocolate cake but we will meet again.

New Beginnings

 Early images of my wife's cute little container herb garden.

Basil &  friends

Herbs that prefer to remain anonymous
(Ask my wife she knows all of their names)

Her anti-social, argumentative herb

Stromboli

 It's the soft and flaky dough combined with the sun-dried tomatoes that make this meat filled Stromboli so tasty. This was Tuesday's dinner. (But I just had it for a snack)

  ~ 5 Points Plus for those of you that are into Weight Watchers ~

Stromboli bursting with flavor

The Chocolate Honey Cake Review

I finally broke down and had a slice (actually I had 2 oversized jumbo slices) of Chocolate Honey Cake at 11:30 pm last night. For some reason, I sometimes have strong urges for sweets at night, but I digress.

Chocolate Honey Cake Review (recipe by: Nigella Lawson) 4.5 out of 5 Forks
This cake was extremely delicious and satisfying. It was sweet, but did not leave me with a sugar hangover the next morning. It was filling, but surprisingly light. Remember, I had two large slices, & went to bed 1/2 hour later yet I did not feel stuffed. The icing was soooo good, that we joked about only making the icing next time, so I could drink it through a straw. The cake was very moist as well. My wife had the foresight to poke holes into the top of the cake allowing the delicious chocolate honey icing to seep deep into the interior of the cake.


Due to my nearly insatiable appetite for icing (or anything else sweet for that matter) my wife informed me that she'll layer the cake next time. Thus providing icing on the top, sides, and in the interior as well. (Yay!!!!)


My wife's one complaint about this cake was the vague recipe directions. However, I had no trouble directing myself how to eat it: 


Step 1 ~ Slice cake
Step 2 ~ Place cake onto plate
Step 3 ~ Scoop some of the extra yummy chocolate honey icing from the cake plate     onto my cake 
Step 4  ~ Make sure wife is looking elsewhere as I lick the cake slicing utensil
Step 5 ~  Devour Eat cake slice then repeat steps 1 - 5