by Christina Lucas

Created on: November 25, 2008

The holidays are here! It is time for homemade fudge, peppermint bark, warm pies, and gingerbread cookies. At Christmas time sweet treats serve as the perfect family snack, hostess gift, and handmade Christmas presents. If you are like me, and find baking tedious, then try your hand at candy making. It is surprisingly easy and inexpensive.

To make the simplest chocolates, you do not even need to make a ganache. Simply melt chocolate baking chips; you can melt them in a glass bowl set on top of a pot of boiling water, or you can even use the microwave. Microwave milk and dark chocolate at one minute intervals, stirring in between. melt white chocolate at 30 second intervals. For detailed information on melting and tempering chocolate, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/temp ering-chocolate-recipe2/index.html Tempering isn't necessary to make good chocolates, but it does improve the shine and texture.

With a bowl of melted chocolate you can make easy and delicious candies. You can dip things in chocolate like dried or fresh fruit, pretzel rods, potato chips, gummis, apples, caramel squares, etc. Just set on a wax-paper lined tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For fancier candies use plastic molded trays, which you can find at almost any craft store. Simply pour the melted chocolate in the tray, tap in down on a counter to eliminate air bubbles and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. My favorite is drizzling different kinds of chocolate over pretzels. Spread the pretzels out evenly and use a fork to drizzle the melted chocolate evenly. Gently break apart the pretzels with your hands after they have set in the refrigerator. The easiest thing you can do with melted chocolate is create a candy bark, like peppermint bark. Spread melted white chocolate evenly on a wax-paper lined baking sheet and gently press in desired amount of crushed peppermints. Break apart after it has set or leave it whole and wrap in a large square box.

For truly exqusite candies make a batch of chocolate truffles. Start with a basic ganache recipe:

8oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

3/4 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Put the chocolate in a glass or stainless steel bowl and set aside. Boil the butter and cream on medium heat. As soon as it starts to boil pour it over the chocolate and whisk. Spread it thin to chill in the fridge quicker-at least 2 hours. Then use a spoon to form the chocolate into balls and coat with mini chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, toffee, powdered sugar, etc.

All of these treats can be store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks.The best thing about these candies are how easy and fun they are to make. You can enjoy them yourself or give them as beautiful, indulgent gifts. Especially during the holidays, there are so many ways to make them look special. Pick up some inexpensive holiday tins or nesting boxes, or even plain white candy boxes available at craft stores and wrap with a beautiful Christmas bow. For more candy wrapping ideas go to these sites:

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/hand made-gifts?lnc=13e8b0be557ee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aR CRD&rsc=photogallery2_christmas_holiday_christmas

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/gifts/homemade -food-gifts/

http://www.homemade-gift-basket-ideas.co m/gift-basket-containers.html

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