Kentucky Pulled Cream Candy Recipe

    I have attempted to make the delicious Kentucky Pulled Cream Candy several times to no avail.  I had a batch that turned to sugar when I poured it onto the marble slab. I had a batch that just stayed like taffy and wouldn't cream.  Finally I gave up for several years.  Then I heard about a class at Fantasy in Frosting-our local baking/decorating place.
   The main thing I learned is that this candy is very difficult.  Our instructor even had a flopped batch!  Made me feel better about my unsuccessful attempts!  
Good thing the ingredients are not too expensive!

  Do not make this if raining!  The colder the temp. outside, the better!
Here is the recipe:



   Kentucky Pulled Cream Candy



3 cups Sugar
1 Stick Pure Butter
1 cup  water
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract



Boil water in large heavy saucepan. Add sugar and stir until clear. Slice butter into small pieces and add to water and sugar. Let cook with out stirring until it reaches 260 degrees(hard ball). Pour mixture onto a buttered cold marble slab(some people leave the stone outside in the cold weather to chill. You can also put it in your freezer. Do not pour it onto itself--pour in lines down and back until you have most of slab covered. Sprinkle with vanilla and let cool until lukewarm. Use the heel of your hand to test for lukewarm temp--it is the most sensitive part of the hand--just above the wrist.   Pick up the candy and roll as you go.  Butter your hands or wear gloves and pull the candy and twist as you go. Keep pulling until the candy looses its gloss--this can take quite a while and is a good job for 2 people.  Pull some more when you think you are done.  The candy should start to retract back when pulled and loose it's  gloss. Keep twisting the "Rope" and then cut with buttered scissors into small pillows onto a large buttered tray. Keep pieces from touching and then  cover with a large plastic bag.  An unscented garbage bag will work. Candy can take up to 48 hours to cream.  Humidity is a problem for this candy so you will have more luck making this when not raining. Some people even pull the candy outside because the cold temps help. Also, pulling a full batch is pretty strenous, so you can half the recipe for easier pulling.
  The candy should just melt in your mouth.  If it doesn't and you have sugar crystals in it you can use the pieces for coffee creamer!  If the candy gets too hard while trying to remove it from the slab it will crack like broken glass--just pitch it--not salvagable.
  If you like your candy with colors, just add a few drops of food coloring to the water. You can also use different flavors instead of the vanilla. 
  Well, If you are brave enough to try this, good luck! It is truly worth the effort involved!  This candy MELTS in your mouth!

Hope you enjoy this Kentucky Christmas Treat!

Oreo Truffles(or as we call them-Crack Balls)

Oreo Truffles are so darned good.  My cousin turned me on to these easy to make delicious treats.  To make them Christmassy just sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles or use red or green candy melts instead of the bark.

Here is the recipe:
Oreo Truffles

 1 pkg. Oreo Cookies
 1 8oz. Cream cheese softened
 pkg of candy coating or Almond Bark
 Sprinkles or cookie crumbs

Crush Oreos very finely in food processor. Mix cookie pieces with cream cheese. Roll into small balls and put on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.  Place in freezer for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt candy coating or bark in microwave slowly- stirring every 20 seconds so it will not burn. If it seems too thick, add a teaspoon of shortening.  Then dip balls into coating and let cool on waxed paper. Sprinkle with cookie crumbs or sprinkles or drizzle with another color candy coating. Be creative and you can let the kids help decorate them!   I made them in White candy coating for my nieces wedding and they were the hit of the reception!  They were also very well received on my Son's Wedding Dessert Buffet!  You will get rave reviews with these!

Sweet Blessings,
Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hoping everyone has a Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Grateful Blessings,

Lisa

Homemade Cocoa Mix

   One thing I plan on making for Christmas gifts is homemade cocoa mix. I put the mix into ziplock baggies and then into an embellished lunch bag. I fold over the top of the bag and hole punch it twice then tie a ribbon or string through to close the bag. Remember to put a tag on the tie to give the recipient the directions for use. This is a quick recipe or inexpensive gift that is just perfect for the cooler weather!

Homemade Cocoa Mix

1 1/2 cups nonfat instant milk powder
1 cup powdered coffee creamer
1 ¼ cup sugar or Splenda
2/3 cup cocoa powder

Add all of the above ingredients into a blender or food processor and mix until blended well. Store in a ziplock baggie or jar. Use 3-4 T per 8 oz. hot water. I love having this mix on hand for my family during the blustery cold winter! So lovely and warming!

Homemade Blessings to you all,
Lisa

Sweet Grandma Shower Cake!

Here is what I created last night!  A 1/4 sheet french vanilla cake with buttercream frosting embellished by a fondant baby and fondant flowers.  So much fun making this!  Of course I added my special touch--fairy dust(edible glitter).

Hope you liked it Amanda!

Sweet Blessings,

Lisa

If anyone needs a baby shower cake please message me on my Facebook Page!

The Dessert Buffet!

As many of you know, my DS#1 got married in September. I promised to show you pics of my contribution to the wedding so here they are!  

The happy couple!

The Dessert Buffet!

The Wedding Cake!  If you look closely at the back bottom of the brides dress is a cat.  They love their kitties!

Sandwich cookies on top right made by Brides Mother!  Decorated sugar cookies were made by my cousin Christina,!  Thanks for all of the help!

Cookies by Christina's Creations!

Well, what do you think?  I am so happy with how it turned out!

Blessings,
Lisa

Kentucky Transparent Pie

  

     Have you ever heard of Transparent Pie?  If you are from Kentucky you may have heard of it!  It is a yummy concoction of cream, sugar, butter and eggs in a pie crust! 
George Clooney is a fan of this special pie.  After wrapping up one of his movies, he had Transparent Pies shipped from Magee's Bakery in Maysville Ky to his crew!  Can you believe the Hollywood hoity toities ate good old Ky Transparent Pie?  They sure did! 
  Several years ago my husband and I found that little, out of the way bakery famous for it's Transparent Pie and stopped to buy one!  Well we bought a whole pie and then several mini pies to take home to our family.  Can you say yummy?  Well it was wonderful, and rich, and wonderful, and rich.........well, you get it!  So here is a recipe for Transparent Pie.  I only hope you enjoy it as much as my DH and I do!


Kentucky Transparent Pie

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup cream
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 2 tbs. flour
• 1 1/2  tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 unbaked (9-inch) pie crust

Preheat oven to 375°. Line a 9-inch pie plate or tart pan with unbaked pie shell (homemade or store bought)and place in the freezer while you prepare filling. This keeps the shell from shrinking when in the oven.
In bowl beat together butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add cream, and mix until smooth. Beat in eggs until combined, then stir in flour and vanilla. Pour into pie crust.
Bake at 375°. for 40-45 minutes  until golden brown and slightly set.  


The pie will puff up while baking and then fall. This is completely normal so don't worry!  Enjoy your Kentucky Transparent Pie!  Coffee and /or milk will be needed!


Sweet Blessings,
Lisa

Easy homemade Granola Recipe

Homemade Granola

We love granola at our house so I started looking for an easy granola recipe.  I found several that I liked but tweeked them to my taste.  Here is what I came up with:

3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup nuts(your choice but we are partial to walnuts and pecans)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup honey or 1/2 cup sugar in the raw
1/2 cup of wheat germ
1/2 cup raisins or craisins
1/2 cup chopped dates

Melt butter and add honey.  Add oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, nuts and coconut into a large bowl. Mix all together then add melted butter and honey. Stir together then pour onto a greased pan.

Bake at 250 for 40-45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes until golden brown.  Let oat/nut mixture cool then add raisins, craisins, and dates. Keep in a sealed container.  Use within 3 weeks.  Perfect with milk for cereal or to eat with yogurt. 

 Sweet Blessings to you all,
Lisa

Lisa's Low Carb Cheesecake

Lisa’s Low Carb Cheesecake 

4- 8oz. pkgs. Cream Cheese

1 ½ cup Splenda

1 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

1 heaping  Tblsp. Of flour

3/4 cup finely chopped nuts—your choice—pecans, almonds or walnuts 

Mix all ingredients except nuts in a mixer—do not over mix.

Spray a 10 inch springform pan with Pam or other cooking spray.

Pour finely chopped nuts into pan and shake to cover entire bottom and half way up the sides of the pan.  Then pour cheesecake mix into pan.  Tap to get air bubbles out and bake for 55-60 minutes on 350 degrees. Turn off oven and crack door (leave cheesecake in oven) until cool. Refrigerate. Serve with fresh berries and lite whipped topping.

  No one could feel deprived eating this!

I hope you enjoy this low carb cheesecake as much as I do!

Sweet Blessings,

Lisa

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Here is a recipe I have been making for my pumpkin loving family for years:

Easy pumpkin Muffins

1 box yellow or spice cake mix
1  15oz. can pumpkin
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 cup pecans (optional)
Sugar in the raw

Mix cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, spices and pecans together.  Scoop into cupcake liners ( mix does not raise much so fill liners up), sprinkle Sugar in the Raw on top and bake at 350 degrees for15 -20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Makes 15 muffins.

Enjoy!

Sweet Blessings,
Lisa

Bridal Shower Cupcake Dress

  My Bridal Shower Dress cake is so easy anyone can make it!  The hardest part was covering the board with the foil paper!  Just make you favorite cupcake and ice the tops flat.  You can use a piping bag and large star tip or just ice with a spatula-it will still turn out great!   I just played around until I liked the shape of the dress then put a dab of icing on the bottom of the outer edge cupcakes to "glue them to the board".  I cut a piece of wired ribbon for the sash and hot glued a silk sunflower onto it.  Easy peasy right? Everyone was impressed with it and it couldn't have been easier.  Pssst!  I will let you in on my secret--clear edible glitter or Fairy dust as I like to call it!  It gives the cupcakes a little extra sparkle! And Sparkle is always good, right?
Sweet Blessings,
Lisa