Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows for Christmas treats

This is something I started about five years ago and it has always been a huge hit.  I use the large marshmallows with plastic forked picks, straight ones are a little harder to keep a good hold on the marshmallow but are ok.  One year I tried the huge campfire roasting marshmallows and used a popsicle stick.  They were enormous and fun but I prefer the standard ones.

What you will need:
- trays
- wax paper
- forked tooth picks
- double boiler (or two pans of different sizes that have the same effect)
- chocolate chips or melting chocolate
- marshmallows
- toppings of your choice

Preparation:
- line the trays with wax paper
- place the marshmallows standing up on one tray and push the picks in all the way to the bottom
- prepare several saucers with the toppings you wish to roll the chocolate covered marshmallows in,
  Suggestions:
  Chocolate = use hot chocolate mix
  Chocolate Orange = use Tang powder, this has quite a punch and tastes great
  Smore = use graham cracker crumbs
  Cinnamon = sprinkle with cinnamon sparingly, or you can use cinnamon candy bits
  Chocolate Mint = use crushed peppermint candy pieces or chocolate mint hot cocoa mix
  Chocolate Nut = use diced nuts, pecans/walnuts/peanuts/etc...
  Sprinkle = any sprinkles you would like, we use holiday ones to be festive
  *anything else you can think of that would taste good and adhere to the melted chocolate
- place your melting chocolate in the double boiler on med/low to melt the chocolate
  I suggest reading up on how to properly temper chocolate, too hot too fast too long can all cause problems.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_evlqvYZOM

 Rolling the Marshmallows:
- Using a spatula, scoop up some chocolate
- Holding the stick, roll the marshmallow in the chocolate on the spatula until the sides are coated
- Dip in the chocolate to cover the bottom and use the spatula to drop enough chocolate to cover the top
(If your chocolate is deep enough you could dip the entire marshmallow, but the weight may pull it right off the stick)
- Next, roll (don't slide) the dipped marshmallow in the topping
  For heavier toppings, like nuts and sprinkles, I only coat two opposite sides by laying one side down at a time on the dish
- Set on a tray with wax paper to cool and dry, it takes an hour or two

Now they are ready to eat or to bag up and give away as Christmas Treats!  Enjoy!


                     

Mushroom Cream Sauce

Another super easy, super quick recipe to enhance your meal.

Mushroom Cream Sauce
 - 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
 - 1/2 can milk
 - 1 small can mushroom slices or pieces (optional)
 - 1/2 cup sour cream

Stir this together in a medium saucepan on med high heat with a whisk until hot, avoid boiling.
Enjoy!

I like to pour it over rice but pasta would be great too.