Sweet Valentine’s Treats

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Alison Lewis, who blogs at Ingredients, Inc., a beautiful food blog and she lives here in Birmingham.  You’re gonna love her! I quickly asked her to guest post for me the first time we met, so since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, this was the perfect time to introduce you to Alison.

Pssst, pay attention when she starts talking about those cookie dough truffles!  Not kidding, they are fantastic.

Take it away, Alison!

I was so excited to meet Rhoda at an Alabama Bloggers event a few months ago. We recently had lunch, and I gave her some of these Cookie Dough Truffles that I had leftover from some television segments I had taped that day. I asked her if I could “guest post” on her site (I am an avid fan), and I was so excited when she agreed.

These Cookie Dough Truffles and Valentine Brownies are a few sweet treats that I made for Valentines Day. I love these tiny sweet treats, and eating just one gives the great pleasure of chocolate in a just a small bite. I have 3 children under the age of 13, and these Cookie Dough Truffles were quite the hit.

It was really funny when a friend said after trying one, “And I didn’t think cookie dough could get any better!”  This recipe for Valentine Brownies comes from a variation of a Saucepan Brownie recipe in Birmingham’s newest Junior League of Birmingham’s book, Tables of Content. They can’t get much easier (or fabulous) than this.

Valentine Brownies

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Yield: 10 to 12 brownies

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Red and white icing (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the flour mixture, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 8 x 8-inch baking pan and bake for 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire racks. Refrigerate for up 15 minutes before cutting into heart cookie cutters. Decorate with icing if desired.

Cookie Dough Truffles

Prep: 45 minutes

Yield: 31/2 dozen

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 (14 ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

3/4 to 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) package dark candy coating

Preparation

1. Beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until fluffy. Add in the vanilla, mixing well.
2. Alternating, add the flour mixture followed by the condensed milk, beating well in between each addition. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop 1 tablespoon balls and place on wax paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until they are firm.
3. In the palms of your hands, roll them into balls. Place back in refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes.
4. Melt chocolate according to package directions. Let cool. Use forks or a dipping tool, dip cookie balls in candy coating to cover. Place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and chill until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Alison Lewis is a nationally known Recipe Developer, Food Television Spokesperson, Food Educator, Mom Food Blogger and President and Owner of Ingredients, Inc., a Food Consulting Company in Birmingham. She is known for creating healthy, family-friendly recipes that are easy to prepare, and she offers great entertaining ideas on her blog, Ingredients, Inc. Her first cookbook, 400 Best Sandwich Recipes: Ideas for Every Meal and Occasion, will be internationally published by Robert Rose Books in the spring of 2011. Alison’s recipes are frequently featured in well- known magazine publications, food companies, and cookbooks such as Southern Living, Cooking Light, Better Homes and Gardens, Birmingham Magazine, Clean Eating, Cooking Light and more. She is featured regularly on NBC 13 “Daytime Alabama. Check out her food blog at Ingredients, Inc.

You can see from Alison’s bio that the girl knows what she is talking about with regards to food, so I hope you’ll go on over and do check out her blog!

You’ve got to make those truffles, trust me!

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