Fruit Fondant Candies

“Fondant” candy is made from a thick, creamy sugar paste. Fondant is also one of several kinds of icing-like substances that are used to decorate cakes and sculpt pastries. In French, the word fondant means “melting”. These candies will definitely melt in your mouth!

Ingredients and Preparation:

• 1/4 cup mashed potatoes
• 1 TSP. butter
• few grains of salt
• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup nuts
• 1/2 cup candied fruit
• food coloring* (optional)

Mix the mashed potatoes, butter and salt. Stir in the powdered sugar and beat well.

Fold in the coconut, nuts and candied fruit. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

*Tip from DF: A few drops of food coloring can be added so the candies match a theme or holiday.

posted by Mountain Republic                                    recipe by Vida Slater

Related Articles:

• How to Make Fondant (candymaking.net)
  
• Cake Decorating: Baby Shower Cakes and Frosting Recipes (linksalphatest.wordpress.com)
• Tutorial Tuesday: Fondant Roses (gemcitytiffany.wordpress.com)

Date and Nut Loaf

I recently ran across this old date and nut loaf recipe. It produces a very delicious, extra moist date bread that I just haven’t been able to get enough of lately. I’ve made it several times in the last couple of weeks. It’s just so darn good!

Did you know that dates are really good for you? I guess my Grandmother did, because I remember that she often made this recipe. Besides being very high in both fiber and potassium, dates are also extremely rich in anti-oxidants.

This date bread smells really good when it’s cooking (I’ve got one in the oven right now!) but it tastes even better!

Did I mention that this recipe is quick and easy? Hope you enjoy. Here we go:

Ingredients & Preparation:

• Pour: 1 – 1/2 cups water boiling water over 1 – 1/2 cups chopped dates (1 – 8 oz. package) Stir lightly. Let cool

• Mix together in a bowl: 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed), 1 TBSP.  soft shortening, 1 egg

• Stir in: the dates and water

• Sift together and stir in: 2 – 1/4 cups sifted flour, 1 TSP. baking soda, 1/2 TSP. salt

• Blend in: 1 cup broken walnuts

• Pour: into a well greased 9″ x 5″ x 3″ loaf pan. Let stand 20 minutes.

• Bake: at 350° for 60 – 70 minutes. A toothpick stuck in center should come out clean

posted by Mountain Republic

How To Shell Brazil Nuts

I always remember having a big bowl full of mixed nuts on our table during the holidays, the nut cracker & pick at the ready. I also remember having a hard time getting all the meat out of those tough shelled Brazil nuts.

While looking through my Grandmother’s recipe box this morning, I found this little tip she had jotted down on how to easily shell Brazil nuts.

• Place the nuts in a pan and cover with cold water.
• Bring to a boil and boil 3 minutes.
• Drain.
• Cover with cold water and let stand 1 minute.
• Drain and crack.

posted by Mountain Republic