Raspberry Chocolate Magic Shell

How about some homemade Raspberry Chocolate Magic Shell topping for you and your sweetie this Valentines Day?...

If you don't know what Magic Shell ice cream topping is, it's a liquid topping that becomes a hard shell when you pour it on ice cream. Yum! So we decided to make our own homemade version. It's incredibly easy and soooooo tasty! It only takes a few ingredients and a microwave...

You could even put it in a cute jar and give as a gift! We devoured ours before I could do anything that cute, though.;)

Raspberry Chocolate Magic Shell
Ingredients:
16 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 oz. coconut oil
1/4 c. raspberry syrup
3-4 drops raspberry oil

Notes: I found the coconut oil at our local health food store. You can get coconut oil refined or unrefined. Either one works--unrefined will give you a slightly coconutty flavor. You can find raspberry syrup by the regular pancake syrups in your grocery store.

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except flavoring oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 60 seconds on high power, remove and stir. Microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until ingredients are melted and combined. Stir in 3-4 drops raspberry oil or 5-6 drops raspberry flavoring. Store in a sealed container at room temperature (do not refrigerate!). If it hardens, simply microwave for 20 seconds before serving.

To serve, pour over your favorite ice cream...

You know, I think I'd like a little more...

Mmm....getting better...
That's more like it!...

Warning: this liquid lusciousness has been known to cause serious romance. Use at your own discretion!

Apple Teacher Baskets

This year we made easy and cute baskets for the girls' teachers with my contact info and just a little blurb about our child (this is an especially great idea if you have a child with allergies, etc.!)

I was inspired by these adorable caramel apple boxes that I found on vacation! You can check your local cake/candy supply store, I also found some online here.
In the baskets, we placed a Bath & Body Works Apple Hand Sanitizer, a little pack of these SUPER CUTE (& free!) printable cards from Posh Pixels Studio, and a Caramel Apple.

I'm sure you've all made caramel apples before, so I won't insult your intelligence! I will say that I love Peters Caramel Loaf--it is SO GOOD for any candy and especially apples. After the apples are dipped in caramel and have set up on wax paper, we like to add...
CHOCOLATE AND SPRINKLES!
(in our school colors, of course!)

You can entirely dip the apple in chocolate...
or just add some fancy drizzles...
All ready to be boxed up and sent off to school!
The girls loved this easy project (and so did I!).
I'd love to hear any back-to-school traditions you have! Are you ready/excited for school?

Beary Much in Love with Hershey!

We are "Beary Sad" to leave Hershey, PA! As my kitchen is getting packed up, we had to have some Hershey Bears cookies with our heart in them since there will be a piece of it ALWAYS right here in Chocolatetown, USA. By the way, we just got home from the Hershey Bears hockey game where they beat Manitoba in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals. GO BEARS!! We will miss you, Hershey!

These would also be a great Valentine cookie with a card saying, "I love you Beary Much!" or even a "Thank You Beary Much" gift to someone. The possibilities are endless.:)

I won't have a kitchen for at least a week, ACK! Don't worry, I'll be busy thinking of fun things to make. In the meantime, we have a few fun giveaways and other exciting things to do! See you soon!

To make these "heartfelt" bears:

--Use your favorite gingerbread or sugar cookie dough, cut into bear shapes, and place on a cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil and sprayed with cooking spray. (Don't forget the foil or your bears won't come off the pan!)

--Using a sharp knife or small cookie cutter, cut out a heart shape on each bear.

--Crush red Life Saver or Jolly Rancher candies in a ziploc freezer bag until they are ground into fine pieces. Sprinkle a small amount of crushed candies in each heart.
--Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes, until edges are barely brown and candy is melted. Cool completely and peel cookies off foil.

--If desired, dip legs in melted chocolate and set on wax paper to dry.

Runs with Scissors and Eats Crayons...

9/16/2015 UPDATE

I've had a lot of people asking for crayon labels recently, apparently someone made them on TV.  I designed these 7 years ago so don't have access to all my files anymore BUT do have three labels I uploaded to Google Drive for you to download.  Have fun!

Back to School Crayon Labels HERE

Halloween Crayon Labels HERE

Blank Crayon Labels HERE

Last Valentine's Day, I made some edible crayons. They were such a hit that we decided to make them for Back-to-School treats! I made some Back To School crayon labels that you can download here. Just print them out and you're ready to go!

Edible Crayons
Ingredients:
*Pretzel Rods
*Candy Melts (or white chocolate bark/chocolate chips with a little of your favorite food coloring added)*Paper Labels (make them yourself or download mine here. Print on colored paper of your choice)
Instructions:
-Break or cut pretzel rods in half.
-Melt candy melts or chocoalte chips in microwave on medium heat for 1 minute. Stir and continue cooking at 15 second intervals until melted. Stir well. Add a few drops food coloring if desired.
-Dip ends of pretzels in melted candy.

-Place on wax paper or aluminum foil to dry.

-When dry, wrap with crayon label and secure with tape. "CrayonEatr" got the most giggles since our baby is quite the professional. :)

We put some in inexpensive pencil boxes for back to school gifts!

Notes: You can buy Candy Melts in white or brown at Wal-Mart. They're in the craft section in the wedding supplies. Wal-Mart also had white chocolate bark in the baking aisle. For colored Candy Melts, check your local cake supply store or you can get them at http://www.sugarcraft.com/. On sugarcraft.com, do a search for "compound coating". To color melted white chocolate chips or chocolate bark, oil-based candy food coloring is best. If you have regular food coloring, just make sure the chocolate isn't too hot (just warm) when you add it or it might make it clumpy.

Hot Chocolate Foaming Milk Bath

For some special time with your kiddos, read to them (or watch) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory then make your own “Chocolate River” in the tub! Fun with the kids and chocolate…..works for me!!:)
This also makes a great and inexpensive gift for a friend or teacher. I made some cute gift tags for this that you can download here. Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate Foaming Milk Bath
Ingredients:
1/2 C. Powdered Milk
1/2 C. Baking Soda
1 Tbs. Cream of Tartar
1/2 C. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 Tbs. Cornstarch
1 Tbs. Ground Cinnamon

Directions:
Let kids pour all ingredients in large Ziploc bag. Let everyone have a turn shaking it up well. Or, you can just use a bowl and mix it but it’s not as fun;). Store in tightly sealed glass jar or container.

To use: Put approx. ½ C. hot water in a mug. Add 3 tablespoons Milk mixture. Pour mixture to bathwater while tub is filling and enjoy the bubbling chocolate extravaganza!

Notes:
For you non-dairy families, pick up some soy or vegetable-based baby formula at the store (or you can use almond meal, but it's too expensive to use for a bath!). It's a great sub for the powdered milk and makes your skin soft.:)

For easy cleanup, sprinkle some baking soda around the tub after the water has gone out. Let the kiddos wipe it around then rinse out. Fun bath, clean tub, two thumbs up!:)

"C" is for Edible Crayons

Yummy! Crayons!
These are simple to make and are sooo fun to eat. My kids thought it was so funny that they got to eat "crayons" (something we're constantly telling the baby NOT to do!).
In addition, they got to break things, dip things, and use tape. What snack could be more fun to make??!:)
You can put several in a Ziploc baggie with a handmade note saying "You Color my World" for an easy class valentine treat. I'd make a few different colors (red, white, etc) but the girls had too much fun with pink so we just went with it.:) These would also be a great "C" snack for preschool or a great "back to school treat". Have fun!

INGREDIENTS:
Pretzel Rods
Candy Melts (or white chocolate chips with a little of your favorite food coloring added)
Paper Labels (make them yourself or download mine here. Print on colored paper of your choice)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Break or cut pretzel rods in half. Melt candy melts or chocoalte chips in microwave on medium heat for 1 minute. Stir and continue cooking at 15 second intervals until melted. Add a few drops food coloring if desired.
Dip ends of pretzels in melted candy.
Place on wax paper or aluminum foil to dry.
When dry, wrap with crayon label and secure with tape.
You can download the labels I made here.

Chocolate Ice Cream Bath Fizzies

OK, this isn't edible but it's so easy for the kids to make (teacher gifts, etc....) I had to include it. Chocolate Ice Cream Bath Fizzies Need a quick, cheap, and fun gift? The kids can help “scoop” these out with ice cream scoops onto wax paper. Pick up some ice cream glasses at the dollar store to gift wrap them in for a fun touch! Or, I saw this picture of someone who simply wrapped a scoop in plastic wrap, put it on an ice cream cone (you'd have to tape or glue it) and tied a bow. Easy!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup citric acid (you can find this at most pharmacys or health food stores. Just call first)
1/4 cup corn starch
2 Tbs cocoa powder
7 Tbs coconut oil melted (health food store or large grocery store)

Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients, melt coconut oil and drizzle over dry ingredients and mix. Using ice cream scoop, make 3 scoops and unmold them onto waxed paper and allow to dry 2 days.