His Mom's Chocolate Pecan Fudge

I have a friend of mine that every year when you ask him what he wants for Christmas it’s always the same reply, “my mom’s chocolate pecan fudge”. This was a bit vexing to me at the start of our friendship. How was I supposed to buy for him and compete with mom’s chocolate pecan fudge? That first Christmas season we were friends I can’t remember getting him anything other then a card and maybe the latest music CD of his choice. Over the years I’ve had several opportunities to sample his mom’s chocolate pecan fudge and I must say – it was the best I’ve ever tasted. I’ve begged his mother for the recipe time and time again, which she of course would never give up…and with good reason. That first Christmas my friend gave me a small bite to sample – no more because it was his! I took the small piece offered and gave him a glare before popping it into my mouth. Oh my! With that first and only bite I was allowed to have I immediately knew I wanted more and why my friend didn’t want to share. His mother only made her chocolate pecan fudge at Christmas time and wouldn’t make it any other time of the year no matter how much begging and pleading was involved. I even tried to be sneaky a few times and hide out in the kitchen and watch her make her chocolate pecan fudge – but she always figured out what I was doing and sent me out of the kitchen straight away with some other “project” that needed to be taken care of right away. And each time my friend was just laugh at me telling me “silly girl, you know Mom is not going to let you know her recipe”. I would just look at him and glare. At first I wanted to find out how to make his mom’s chocolate pecan fudge so I could make it and make him happy too, but then I quickly realized that no matter how I made my chocolate pecan fudge, it just was not going to be as good as him mom’s, or at least to him it wasn’t. And I tried dozens upon dozens of chocolate pecan fudge recipes – and many of them were quite good, just not as good. A few years into our friendship, his mom started gifting me with tins of her fudge at Christmas… I gleefully opened the tin and began to shovel the creamy fudge creation in my mouth. My friend just looked at me and started laughing which then started me into fits as well. But at least I no longer had to fight him for a piece. And I know his mother gave me my own tin because she felt I was part of the family – something his various girlfriends of the month never rated. I would take my tin of chocolate pecan fudge home and eat it and savor it and guard it closely from my family because I wasn’t sharing. My friend and I don’t share every holiday together anymore. He met a girl, got married and now has children of his own and I’ve had my own relationships through the years. But I know I’m still thought of as part of the family because every year, I still receive my very own gift tin of his mom’s chocolate pecan fudge no matter where I am… and I still do not share.

Southern Pecan Pralines

Have you ever tried to make true southern pecan pralines? You know they taste so sinfully rich and decadent, but just how easy are they to make? Surprisingly, pecan pralines are actually pretty simple. Just about anyone that has a fairly decent grasp on basic cooking skills can create a batch of these delicious candies. Pecan pralines are pretty much a basic mixture of butter, cream, and sugar.

Pecan Pralines:
· 1 tsp Vanilla
· 2 cups Pecans
· 1 cup Buttermilk
· 2 cups Sugar
· 1 tsp Baking Soda

Mix together buttermilk, sugar, and baking soda in a large pot. Lay a sheet of wax paper out on a flat surface close to your stove. Put the pot over medium heat and, stirring constantly, allow the mixture to reach a "soft ball stage". To determine if the mixture is at a "soft ball stage" take a cold glass of water and drop a bit of the mixture into the water. A "soft ball" should form. The color should be a darker light brown. Remove the pot from heat and mix in the vanilla. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken (about five minutes). The brown color should get darker. Add the pecans and continue stirring until the mixture is slightly thicker (about one - two minutes). Spoon the pralines onto the wax paper. If the mixture starts to run, you did not wait long enough, but it's fine, your pralines will just be a bit thin. If the mixture starts to crystallize and harden, you have waited too long. That's fine, too. Just try better next time. * If the mixture starts hardening too quickly, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of warm water to thin the mixture. Allow the pralines to cool and enjoy.

Some recipes use brown sugar, cream, and butter in addition or to or instead of the ingredients listed in this pecan praline recipe and for a more creole tasting pecan praline try rum flavoring instead of vanilla. You may have to try the recipe a few times to get the “feel” of it, but it is well worth the effort. And you may need to watch for the hot mixture popping up and burning you. Overall, pecan pralines are a fairly easy candy to make – compared to some others.
Pecan pralines are woven in the history of the coastal south and their unique flavor has been around since the french settlers in New Orleans – only then the candies were made with almonds. Pecans – which grew naturally in abundance – were so readily available that it seemed only natural to tweak the recipe just a bit and add pecans instead of almonds and the Crole or Southern style pecan praline was born.
Here’s a pecan praline recipe with a bit of a kick in it…

Pecan Pralines:
*1 cup pecans
*1/4 cup heavy cream
*1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
*1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1/2 pound) light brown sugar
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 teaspoon bourbon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a cookie sheet, and place in the oven for 3 minutes. For even toasting, turn the tray, front to back. Toss the nuts with a metal spatula and bake for another 3 minutes. You'll know they're done when they give off their fragrant aroma, and be sure to check them so they don't become overbaked or charred. Line a cookie sheet with baking parchment. Fit a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a candy thermometer . Over high heat, cook the cream, butter, and brown sugar to 240 degrees F (soft ball). If necessary, stir once to help dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let sit for 15 seconds. Carefully (it may sputter) stir in the vanilla, bourbon, and toasted pecans. Vigorously stir with a spoon for 10 seconds, until the mixture looks creamy and slightly thickened. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet. Let cool for 20 minutes.

Hope you have fun trying these delicious pecan praline recipes… Enjoy!!

Pie with History

Chocolate has to be one of the most beloved flavors in the world. Do you know that over 600,000 tons of chocolate are consumed all over the world each year? Or that 90% of Americans have chocolate most every day of their life and that the average person eats 11.5 pounds of chocolate in one year? Wow, that is a lot of chocolate… But it is with good reason, chocolate is so very versatile where in a drink, dessert, or candy. Chocolate pecan pie is just one of the scores upon scores of desserts featuring chocolate. Chocolate pecan pie is rich in history and tradition.
Chocolate has origins dating back to the Aztec Indians and beyond. Reportedly Emperor Montezuma drank upwards to fifty cups of his dark bitter chocolate brew every day. He served it in golden goblets, saying it was a drink for the gods. The Spaniard explorers did not care for the bitter drink and upon taking the cocoa beans back to Europe, added cane sugar and a few spices such as vanilla and cinnamon and served the drink hot. This was just the beginning…

Spiced Hot Chocolate Mug

1 Cup Milk
1 /4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (1 ounce) square semi-sweet baking chocolate. Finely chopped
2 chocolate sand which cookies.

Mix milk and cinnamon in saucepan. Bring just to boil on medium-high heat. Add chocolate; beat with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted and milk is slightly frothy. Serve hot with the cookies... or chocolate pecan pie.

The Spanish kept their chocolate a secret until the monks charged with growing the cocoa beans let it out… chocolate then began to spread throughout all of Europe. That’s when it underwent many transformations to become the chocolate we know and love today. An English company created “eating chocolate” in 1847 which was a fondant velvety version that replaced the grainer chocolate that had dominated Europe. Once people started Then in 1879, a gentleman from Switzerland, Daniel Peter, devised a way to add milk to the chocolate – creating the milk chocolate we love today. And I’m so very glad he did! America’s love of chocolate began back with the colonies when the first chocolate factory was introduced in 1765. Over the years it became such a staple that during WWII the army rations included chocolate bars. The soldiers loved that little burst of energy it gave them and let them keep on going.

Now when you know that when you bite into a chocolate pecan pie you are biting into scores of history and tradition. Pecan pies have been a southern tradition for years and chocolate is a world wide favorite… why not blend the two together.

Chocolate Pecan Delight
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk
2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or two knives, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans, press into bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and bake 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 cup whipped topping with electric mixer until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together chocolate pudding mix, vanilla pudding mix and milk until there are no lumps. Combine cream cheese mixture and milk mixture and stir until smooth. Pour onto cooled crust. Spread remaining 2 cups of whipped topping on top of pudding mixture. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of chopped nuts over all. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

Peanut Butter Fudge With a Bow

One of my favorite things to eat as a child was peanut butter…still is. I love the smell when you first open the jar. Creamy or crunchy – makes no difference. Sometimes I would sit and eat peanut butter straight out of the jar with a spoon… new nephew now does this. Takes after his aunt. So of course it stand to reason that my favorite cookies and candies all contained peanut butter. This, of course, includes peanut butter fudge. It’s not as difficult to make as the original chocolate fudge and if you add white chocolate or marshmallow cream to it is simply scrumptious. Adding marshmallow cream or white chocolate to your peanut butter fudge will give it a lighter texture and an even creamier taste. I must also admit to eating marshmallow cream right out of the jar also. And sometimes I even put the peanut butter and marshmallow cream together on bread or cracker for a snack. So , it just makes sense to me to add marshmallow cream to peanut butter fudge. And for a little extra kick you can use crunchy peanut butter for your peanut butter fudge.

Grandma’s Peanut Butter Fudge:

1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup marshmallow cream
2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix together the peanut butter and marshmallow cream in a bowl; set aside. Lightly grease a square glass dish with butter. Stir together the sugar and milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat; stirring occasionally, bring to a boil at 234 degrees F (110 degrees C) and then immediately remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter mixture and the vanilla; pour into the prepared dish and allow to cool to room temperature before serving.


My grandmother used to make peanut butter fudge and cookies and put them together for a homemade gift tin to give for birthdays or holidays…. I still carry on the tradition of candy gift giving – peanut butter fudge included - I just don’t always make it from scratch. Tanners Pecans has the best peanut butter fudge I’ve ever tasted and most of the time I think “why go through all the trouble to make a mess in my kitchen when I can buy it already made and in a gift tin ready to go”. And if you wanted to add a special touch to your gift of peanut butter fudge you can your very own bow for your gift box:

You’ll need:
· Scissors
· Craft Wire
· Ribbons

1. The first step in learning how to make a bow is to cut 3 1/2 yards of ribbon
.
2. Make a loop over your thumb. This will be the center.
3. Pinch the ribbon and twist it counterclockwise between your fingers and thumb. The ribbon should be right side out.
4. Work from top to bottom, making equal-size loops in the ribbon that return each time to the center.
5. Pinch and twist each loop under the original center loop and hold the stack with your thumb. Again, the pattern on the ribbon should be facing out.
6. Extend the tail of ribbon out the other side with each loop.
7. Keep making loops until you have a bow the size you want.
8. Twist a piece of wire around the center and wind it around tightly a few times.
9. Twist the ends of the wire together behind the bow, and leave enough so that you can use it to attach the bow to an object.
10. Fluff up the loops and now you have learned how to make a bow.

Chocolate Pecan Pie Good For You?

Is it possible for something that tastes so sinfully decadent too also be good for you?
A chocolate pecan pie is, of course, a great tasting dessert. However, can this sweet and tempting treat possibly contain healthy ingredients? The research is saying “YES.” Chocolate as well as pecans contain many health benefits. If you are worried about your cholesterol levels or blood pressure, but still want a delicious treat, a chocolate pecan pie can be the perfect choice.

Chocolate in a Chocolate Pecan Pie is Good for You

Chocolate is a heavenly snack no matter how it is eaten, but most people would not believe it has health benefits. One important benefit of chocolate is that it helps lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure can make it harder for blood to flow through your body and to the heart and may lead to strokes or heart attacks.

Flavonols in chocolate can also prevent fat from clogging the arteries so the blood can keep flowing properly. Clogged arteries are the main cause of strokes and heart attacks – two of the most serious health problems facing Americans.

Chocolate also contains stimulants that release endorphins and serotonin into your bloodstream and give you the bodies’ natural “high.” This is similar to the reaction created by exercise.

Pecans in a Chocolate Pecan Pie are Good for You

Now you know the benefits of the chocolate in a chocolate pecan pie but what about the pecans’ health benefits. Other nuts are often considered healthy or important to a diet, but few people discuss the many advantages of eating pecans.

If you are low-carb dieting, pecans can provide a great snack because they contain only 4.5 grams of carbohydrates in 1 ounce of pecans. That’s about one-fourth of a cup of nuts.

Pecans also work on lowering LDL cholesterol. High cholesterol leads to many serious health disorders, such as coronary disease and heart attacks. Pecans also contain B6 which is an essential vitamin that allows for cells in the heart to regenerate. Eating plenty of B6 is important for heart health. Zinc is another nutrient found in pecans. If a person has zinc deficiency, it can cause a number of diseases, such as liver disorders and sickle cell disease.

Other Good Reasons for Chocolate Pecan Pie

Obviously, eating a piece of chocolate pecan pie can have a few more health benefits than you might have once assumed. However, there are other good reasons to consume a piece occasionally. Unlike many fattening alternatives, such as high calorie soda, you will actually receive valuable nutrients from the pie. Of course, moderation is always the key to a healthy lifestyle and that includes not over-indulging in chocolate pecan pie.

The Final Verdict on Chocolate Pecan Pie
A chocolate pecan pie is a wonderful indulgence that contains many ingredients that are healthy as well as tasty. Chocolate is great for blood flow and this means a reduced risk in many serious disorders. If you want a new snack that can lower cholesterol and is full of nutrients pecans may be the best choice. These new health facts mean having a slice of chocolate pecan pie is a delectable option for anyone.

Last minute gift idea

You are in the middle of another busy day at work. The phone is ringing off the hook. Clients are screaming for you. Your boss is screaming at you. The school wants you to come and pick up your child who got sick after eating the tuna surprise in the cafeteria. You are two days past your dead line. The car is in the shop – again. And you just looked down at your day planner and you suddenly realized in absolute horror that tonight is your Aunt Marge’s birthday dinner and you completely forgot! Okay, so don’t panic. One word – well actually three words: holiday gift baskets. I know it sounds crazy, but actually it can be very spot on for any occasion. You don’t have to wait for a holiday to give a holiday gift basket - birthday, dinner party, house warming, retirement, congratulations, and just so many more. The beauty of a holiday gift basket is you can buy according to the person’s taste. You can select depending on if they have a major sweet tooth or have a more refined gourmet palate. And giving a holiday gift basket will be a pleasant surprise and what better way to let someone sample a wide variety of goodies at one time? Just think of the look on Aunt Marge’s face when she unwraps the decorated cello and there is a basket overloaded with chocolate pecans, roasted nuts, peanut butter fudge, divinity, candied pecans… and much more. Unless Aunt Marge is watching her girlish figure and in that case we even have sugar free holiday gift baskets. Or maybe Aunt Marge is a bit of a food snob – then we have the gourmet holiday gift basket. It is filled with many unique and tasty foods from our she-crab soup to our pecan pepper jelly to our cheese straws.

Cheese Straws

· 1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet. In a large bowl cream butter and cheese. Stir in flour and salt; mix well. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 inch in thickness. Cut into 2 inch strips and sprinkle with ground red pepper. Place the strips on prepared cookie sheet(s) 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crisp.


Now the above isn’t our recipe, but it is a very good and easy one and cheese straws are a delicious alternative to boring cheese and crackers. Our cheese straws come in cheddar, blue cheese, and jalapeño. So if you wanted to get a little creative with your own cheese straws – by all means, go for it. But I’ve gotten away from my original topic: holiday gift baskets. I will sum it up with this: you just cannot go wrong with giving a holiday gift basket. There are holiday gift baskets for nearly any and every taste.

Just a little pecan info...

The pecan tree is the only major nut tree that grows naturally in North America. Its origins can be traced back to the 16th century and is one of the most valuable nuts. The name “pecan” is Native American word that means “all nuts needing a stone to crack”. Because wild pecans were so readily available, many Native Americans used them as a major food source during autumn and it is said that they were the first to cultivate pecan trees. By the late 1700’s, pecans were being grown all over the colonies. Even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew pecan trees in their gardens in addition to the settlers along the gulf coast growing pecans in community gardens. Pecans became very popular not only because of their availability, but also because of their taste. It was actually the French and Spanish settlers along the Gulf of Mexico that realized the economic potential of the pecan. With New Orleans located at the mouth of the Mississippi River, it became very important to the marketing of pecans. Not only was it a major import/export location – but it also had a natural market for pecans. During this time frame (late 1700’s to early 1800’s) the demand for pecans grew and the pecan became a large item of commerce for the Americans…and the pecan industry was born. Today, pecans are generally associated with the South. We use them in everything from desserts, to main dishes, to even just eating them plain by the handfuls. Pecans are not only good, but good for you too. They are rich in natural antioxidants, may help lower cholesterol, aid in weight loss and maintenance, contains heart healthy fats, very little saturated fats, and not trans fat, and they are rich in fiber. That is pretty incredible for one little nut. You get all that plus great taste too – it’s no wonder that pecans have been in high demand since the very beginning. I’ve spoken before about the joys of pecans in desserts, but have not really touched on the versatility of pecans in other foods such as appetizers and main dishes:

Buttered Pecan Popcorn

8 c. popped popcorn (about 1/3 to ½ c. unpopped)
Nonstick cooking spray
½ c. pecan pieces
2 T. butter or margarine
1/3 c. light corn syrup
¼ c. instant butter pecan pudding mix (dry)
¼ t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. After popping, discard unpopped popcorn kernels. Spray a 17x12x2” roasting pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the popped corn and pecans in the pan. In a separate pan, heat butter and corn syrup, then stir in pudding mix and vanilla. Pour mixture over popcorn. Bake in oven at 300 degrees for 16 minutes, stirring halfway through baking. Remove pan from oven and turn mixture onto a large piece of foil. Cool popcorn completely. When cool, break into large pieces and serve.

Pecan Four Cheese Pizza

1 12” prepared pizza crust
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 large onions, sliced
3 Tbsp. goat cheese, softened
3 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
½ cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Chopped parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place pizza crust on cookie sheet. In frying pan, heat oil. Add onions and cook slowly until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Mix the goat and cream cheese together and spread on crust; spread the cooked onions over the cheese. Sprinkle the feta and mozzarella cheeses over the onions; top with the pecan pieces. Bake for about 5 minutes or until cheeses melt. Sprinkle parsley over top before serving. Cut into 6 wedges to serve.

Original chocloate fudge

I’ve sung the praises of peanut butter fudge on here before, but now it’s time to talk about the creamy, the delicious, the original: chocolate fudge. What started out as an “oops” in the kitchen from a bungled bunch of caramels has become one of the country’s most beloved treats. You can eat and sample different flavors and kinds, but it always comes back to the original, and the original can be a very picky difficult candy to try and master. Chocolate fudge – like toffee, divinity, caramel, and brittle – begins with sugar. You add various other ingredients to the sugar depending on the candy and boil until the desired consistency is reached. A lot more goes into making fudge then just the right ingredients and flavors and time and stirring. There’s also a bit of science and weather involved. You shouldn’t make fudge on a humid day because this could cause the chocolate fudge to be grainy. And if you know anything about the South – particularly the Gulf Coast, it is always humid here. So, what can you do? And then there is the problem of boiling sugar tending to crystallize. Now, thank goodness there are things that can be done to slow down crystallization – not much luck with the humidity though. The most popular way is to add corn syrup and cream to the mixture. And yet another is to brush down the sides of the pan with cold water if there are any crystals forming…and do not stir the syrup once it boils. And if you manage to boil your sugar mixture without the dreaded crystals forming, you still must take utmost care to prevent it from cooling too quickly because that will also affect the chocolate fudge’s texture. So, why would you go through all this trouble for a piece of candy? Because it is worth the care and trouble it takes to make chocolate fudge. One bite and you would agree.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Fudge:

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside. Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again. Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers. Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. Do not under beat. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Cut into about 60 squares.

This is a really great and delicious recipe, but it can be somewhat difficult if you are not familiar with sugar candy cooking. There are easier chocolate fudge recipes out there…ones that call for ingredients that minimize the chance of crystal formation and some you can even make in the microwave:

Easy Microwave Fudge

4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Grease a 9x9 inch dish. In a microwave safe bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and cocoa. Pour milk over mixture and place butter in bowl. Do not mix. Microwave until butter is melted, 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla and stir vigorously until smooth. Pour into prepared dish. Chill in freezer 10 minutes before cutting.

Holiday gift idea

It’s hard to believe that fall of the year will soon be here… and with that, the holiday season right on it’s heels. As I stood in line to register my child for school thinking that it was too soon to getting my little man ready for school. But no, it was the end of July and with school starting in a few weeks… fall was right around the corner. So, if school snuck up on me so quickly, what would the holiday season do? Come running up out of nowhere in a huge sneak attack from behind and clobber me? Yeah, it probably would. So while my mind wondered while standing in the endless line of parents and children I thought of something… holiday gift baskets. What a great idea. With holiday gift baskets, I could go as big or as little or as personal as I wanted to. Tanners Pecans already has such a variety of holiday gift basket to choose from the only problem would be selecting one. I send holiday gift baskets for nearly any and every occasion. Doesn’t just have to be at holiday time. My mother received one on Mother’s Day, my son’s teacher at the end of the school year, my friends for their birthday… I can always find a holiday gift basket for whatever it is I have coming up. And what I love is their versatility. If I’m going to send a family group gift, I can go with our Southern Creation holiday gift basket. It is chock full of yummy southern traditions. It has mini pecan pies, chocolate pecan fudge, peanut butter fudge, and our award winning brownies... Oh my goodness, the brownies. Who doesn’t like brownies? Add nuts, peanut butter, caramel, or cream cheese icing… whatever… brownies are just the best!

Grandma’s Brownies:

3 / 4 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all – purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease 8 x 8 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy. Stir in the unsweetened chocolate and vanilla until well blended. Mix in the flour, and then the walnuts. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

Now, our Southern Creation holiday gift basket is our top of the line… filled with just about everything including the kitchen sink… but we have holiday gift baskets for sweeter tastes and more gourmet tastes and even sugar free tastes. Holiday gift baskets that include everything from orange, butter rum, and cinnamon candied pecans to chocolate pecan fudge, brownies, and nuts to cheese straws, she-crab soup, and pepper jelly. Now my only problem is deciding who gets what…