Chocolate Covered Cherry Hearts

Valentine's Day is almost here. Like, tomorrow almost here.

Here is a really quick and easy Valentine treat you can make for someone you LUHVE. Plus these Chocolate Covered Cherry Hearts are super yummy.

These are ridiculously easy to make. All you need is--

cherry hearts
milk chocolate chips
wax paper
toothpicks

First melt the chocolate chips by the double broiler method. Put the chips in a bowl and then place the bowl over the top of a saucepan of shallow simmering water. The water and the bottom of the bowl should not touch. Stir the chocolate constantly until melted.

Use a toothpick to dip the cherry heart into the chocolate.

Cover the heart with chocolate and shake gently to remove excess chocolate.

Using a second toothpick, remove the chocolate covered heart from the first toothpick onto a sheet of wax paper.

Repeat until all the hearts are covered.

Let the chocolate cool and harden for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.

Now they are all ready. See how easy peasy it is.

You can package them up all pretty and give them away or you can just eat them right off the wax paper and say Happy Valentine's Day to yourself.

Or you can do what I did and give some away and eat some. A win win.

So Happy Valentine's Day and happy chocolate eating.

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Orange Creamsicle Chex Mix

A few Summers ago we made some Lemonade Chex Mix that we were all really fond of.

Like 'make a batch and it disappears in an hour' fond of.

Well, now we have another Chex Mix concoction to be fond of.

Orange Creamsicle Chex Mix. I have it on pretty good authority that it tastes like Summer. I know, I know, that is two posts in a row that I talk of things tasting like Summer. Between this chex mix and the Vanilla Bean Lemonade from yesterday, we are getting all geared up for Summer.

Normally I dread Summer. Summer is not typically my favorite season. Summer is a weird mix of over scheduling and constantly fighting the boredom bug. I am pretty excited for this Summer though. So I have high hopes for a change of heart and a complete enjoyment of Summer.

Even though I have traditionally not enjoyed Summer, one thing I love about Summer is all the fresh and crisp flavors.

I can tell it is Summer by the overflowing white bowls of fruit setting on my table and counters.

I have recently had bowls full of oranges. Since orange paired with Summer makes me think of Orange Creamsicle popsicles, it is no surprise my brain immediately made up this Orange Creamsicle Chex Mix.

I like to make a batch and then keep some and share the rest. This mix was a HUGE hit. Those with who this little treat was shared loved it and swooned over its yumminess. Okay there was no actual swooning, but they did really like it.

I am betting you will too.

Orange Creamsicle Chex Mix

9 cups Rice Chex
2 cups white chocolate chips
1/4 cup unsalted butter
4 teaspoons orange zest, divided
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 cups powdered sugar

In a large bowl, pour the cereal. In a microwavable bowl, combine the white chocolate chips, unsalted butter, and 2 teaspoons of orange zest. Heat at 50% for 1 minute. Stir. Repeat for 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the orange extract.

Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal. Carefully stir until the cereal is completely coated.

Stir the remaining 2 teaspoons of the orange zest with the 2 cups of powdered sugar. Then pour the powdered sugar over the chocolate covered cereal. Stir to coat.

Store in an air tight container.

Enjoy!

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Rice Crispie Treat Pops

We just had an Avengers party over here.

I am hoping to have all my photo edited and ready to show you by Monday. Costumes are done and Halloween is over, so the chances are a lot better now.

Today I am sharing just one little bit of the party. I am showing you these Rice Crispie Treat Pops.

Cake pops are all the rage. Unfortunately, I seem slightly inept at making the oh-so-awesome cake pops. I can't roll them smooth enough. The sticks never stay put. Then the chocolate goes on haphazardly. Hours later I am nothing short of miffed. How does the famous Bakerella do it? I bow down to her awesomeness.

So from cake pop frustration, these Rice Crispie Treat Pops were born.

So easy. So pretty. So yummy!

For about 20 pops, here is what you will need:

6 cups rice cereal
1 bag mini marshmallows
4 Tablespoons butter
2 bags candy melt chocolate
food coloring
straws

Melt the marshmallows with the butter for 1 minute at 50 percent power. Stir. Repeat for 30 seconds at a time until melted.

Have cereal in a bowl set aside waiting for it's dear friend melted mallow.

Pour that melted mallow over the cereal.

Mix well. Press the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.

The rice cereal mallow mixture needs to set up for 20-30 minutes. Long enough to be set up, but short enough to still be soft and pliable.

While you are waiting, gather some extra lovely and especially awesome straws.

Cut them in half.

Now that the cereal treat is ready, take a small palm full. Please feel free to ignore my E.T. hand. Just focus on the yummy cereal goodness.

Place a straw in the center of your palm full of treat. Mold the cereal around the straw into a ball shape. Press firmly so that the cereal/mallow adheres to the straw.

Place them on a sheet of waxed paper to set up for several hours.

Forgive me for not having pictures for the next couple of steps. I was half out of my mind trying to get all the party stuff ready and seemed to forget I needed pictures.

So just picture it with me...

Melt your chocolate according to the package. I did one bag at a time. When one bag of chocolate was completely melted, I divided it into two bowls.

I used Wilton food coloring with the best results. Simply add some into the chocolate and stir.

Once the color was right, I dipped the bottom of the Rice Crispie Treat Pop into the chocolate. I used a spatula to help cover the pop a little more and to help smooth the surface out better.

Repeat with the other bag of chocolate and the other colors (that is if you are a nut bar like me and did four colors).

Let set up for a few hours.

Now they are ready.

Lovely.

They keep for about 24 hours uncovered. In an air tight container they keep for several more days.

Look for more Avengers fun next week.