Tiramisu Balls

2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
60 vanilla wafers, finely crushed (about 2 cups)
4 tubes Nescafe instant coffee
1/2 cup powdered sugar, optional
8 oz. white chocolate

Mix cream cheese, crushed wafers, coffee and powdered sugar until well blended.  Shape into 1" balls and place in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes.  Melt white chocolate in a double boiler.  Dip each ball into melted white chocolate to coat.  Place on a plate to cool.  Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.  These need to be refrigerated until served.

Comments:  I have a neighbor who loves Tiramisu so for her Christmas present I decided to make her Tiramisu Balls.  I found a recipe that called for 1 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese but after mixing everything together I didn't like the taste.  It was too strong so I added another pkg. of cream cheese.  I also added the powdered sugar.  It didn't seem to be quite sweet enough without it but you can omit this ingredient if you want and use the sweetness of the white chocolate and what comes from the wafers if you like.   Apparently I got it right because she popped one in her mouth and smiled from ear to ear.  If you like the flavor of coffee ice cream or iced coffee, you'll love these.  One bite and they melt in your mouth.

Better Homes and Gardens Cookies & Candies 1973

Just in time for the upcoming holidays I've added another Cookie and Candy cookbook to Books, Books & More - Adopt a Book and the price is only $2.00 plus shipping.  This is a must have for goodie making.

Happiness is a jar full of these sweet goodies waiting for you to come home from work or school. After mastering a few techniques, happiness will be the pride of serving your own homemade treats to family and friends. All of the recipes included within this book have been tested and retested in the BH&G Test Kitchen to develop the best balance of ingredients and standard methods. To insure success at home, measure all the ingredients carefully and follow mixing directions to the letter. For best results always use all-purpose flour that has been sifted before measuring, and also remember that softened butter or margarine creams best. Using the tips within this book you'll soon be making your own Glazed Lebkuchen and Springerle, Spicy Hermits and Maple Nut Chews, or maybe you would rather make candies such as Coconut Macaroons and Pecan Tassies. All are simple and delicious.

This hardback was copyright 1966 with this copy being a 10th print dating 1973. It measures 10 1/4 x 7 3/4 x 1/4 (approx.) and contains 90 pages packed with delicious sweet goodies. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this copy a 7+. The outside cover shows slight shelf wear and there is some yellowing of the inside pages. This book has been used but is still in great condition.

Candy Cookies

Cookies are loads of fun to make and so easy to be creative with.  The cookies you see here are all made using a basic sugar cookie mix and chopped candies for flavoring.  For these I doubled the recipe, divided the batter into 5ths and used mini candy bars.  This is a fun cookie to make with the kids.  This is a good cookie to make after Halloween when the kids bring home all of those sweet goodies.