Easy Creamsicle Fudge

 Ingredients:

• 2 bags 12 oz. white chocolate chips
• 14 oz. can Eagle Brand Milk
• 1/4 cup butter (use 3/4 stick if using off-brand chips)
• 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons orange extract
• orange gel food coloring

Directions:

1. Butter 8"x 8" or 9" x 9" casserole dish and set aside.
2. Put chips in microwaveable bowl.
3. Pour mild over chips.
4. Lay butter on top.
5. Microwave on medium temperature for 5 minutes.
6. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
7. IF NEEDED, return bowl on medium temperature for 5 more minutes.
8. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
9. Remove 1 cup of the mixture to a medium bowl. This will remain white.
10. Mix in orange extract in the bowl with the most mixture.
11. Add the food coloring to the desired orange color in the bowl with the most mixture.
12. Pour orange fudge mixture in buttered casserole and level it out.
13. Drop the white fudge by spoonfuls in a random pattern onto the orange fudge.
14. Use a knife or wooden skewer to make swirl patterns.
15. Cut into square pieces after completely cooled in refrigerator.

Romney's Foolproof Fudge

We went to church with Romney and his sweet family when we lived in Kentucky. In my opinion, Romney's fudge is second to none...AND...it's so easy to make!

Ingredients:

• 2 - 12 oz. bags milk chocolate chips
• 14 oz. can Eagle Brand mild
• 1/4 cup butter (use 3/4 stick when using off-brand chips)
• 6 oz. pecans or walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Butter 8"x8" or 9"x9" casserole dish and set aside.
2. Put chips in microwaveable bowl.
3. Pour milk over chips.
4. Lay butter on top.
5. Microwave on medium temperature for 5 minutes.
6. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
7. Return bowl to microwave on medium temperature for 5 more minutes.
8. Remove bowl from microwave and mix well with wooden spoon.
9. Stir in pecans or walnuts. (optional)
10. Pour fudge mixture in buttered casserole and put in refrigerator.
11. Cut into square pieces after completely cooled in refrigerator.

Bourbon Balls

Just about every Kentuckian hosting a Kentucky Derby Party will serve these delectable Southern bite-sized treats!

Ingredients:
      2 sticks butter, softened
      2 lbs. powdered sugar
      1/4 cup bourbon
      1 cup finely chopped pecans (I put pecan halves in a food processor.)

      2 - 12 oz. bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
      2 Tbsp. shortening (I've been known to use butter flavored.)

      86-90 pecan halves for garnishing

Instructions:
1.  Using an electric mixer, mix softened butter with powdered sugar until well blended.
2.  Add bourbon and mix well.
3.  Hand stir in the chopped pecans.
4.  Refrigerate mixture for at least 1 hour.
5.  While mixture is chilling. line 4 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
6.  When mixture is chilled, use a small cookie scoop to guarantee a uniform size of bourbon balls.
7.  Roll each bourbon ball and place on cookie sheets.
8.  Refrigerate bourbon balls.
9.  Melt 1 bag plus 1 tablespoon of shortening.
10. Dip bourbon balls in chocolate and place a pecan half on each ball.
11. Return dipped bourbon balls to refrigerator.
12. Repeat #9-#11 until all balls have been dipped.
* These bourbon balls will keep in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for a month.

Bourbon Balls

This candy is a must for a Kentucky Derby party. Although the recipe calls for 5 tablespoons bourbon, you may add more if you want. This recipe makes 30 balls.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons Kentucky bourbon
18 oz. dipping chocolate (I use semisweet.)

Directions:

1. Cream together butter and sugar.
2. Add bourbon until well blended.
3. If the dough is too soft to form balls, put in refrigerator for 1 hour before forming the balls.
4. Form into 3/4" balls, and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
5. Chill balls in refrigerator overnight.
6. Melt chocolate. (I use a double boiler if using semisweet chips.)
7. Dip balls to coat, letting excess drip off.
8. Return to refrigerator to harden.
9. Store in airtight container in refrigerator until serving time.

Homemade Reeses Peanut Butter Truffles

Pinterest is the best website for finding all kinds of ideas. This is exactly where I first found this Homemade Reeses Peanut Butter Truffles Recipe. From Pinterest I found the Six Sisters Stuff Blog! They have some wonderful sounding recipes, and I can't wait to try more. This recipe was a big hit with Papa Dukes tonight! I just made a few revisions because I'm too lazy to do things the hard way. So...here's my version:

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter softened
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar (1 lb.)
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups graham crackers (Here's where I was lazy, but you could crush a sleeve of graham crackers instead.)
1 pkg. chocolate Almond Bark (found at Walmart)

Directions:

1. Mix butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter & graham cracker crumbs until well blended.
2. Roll into 1-inch balls and put on wax paper lined cookie sheets.
3. Put cookie sheets in freezer for 20 minutes.
4. After 20 minutes melt chocolate per package directions. (I melt half at a time.)
5. Dip balls in melted chocolate and return to wax paper lined cookie sheets.
6. Once chocolate is firm, store truffles in refrigerator.
Makes 6 dozen.

Homemade Butterfingers

I saw this recipe at a blog I follow, and I couldn't believe my eyes. It only takes three ingredients (candy corn, peanut butter & chocolate almond bark), and you have some AMAZING Homemade Butterfingers.

Potato Candy

Ingredients:
1 medium potato (boiled, peeled & mashed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 stick margarine
2 lbs. powdered sugar, sifted
12 oz. jar peanut butter

Directions:
1. Mix first three ingredients well.
2. Add powdered sugar; mix well.
3. Spread on waxed paper (sprinkled with powdered sugar).
4. Work with 1/4 of mix at a time.
5. Roll out 1/4 inch thick.
6. Let stand until stiff.
7. Spread on peanut butter.
8. Roll into logs; chill several hours.
9. Slice into 1/4-inch slices.