Work treats ?

[CindySoCal]

I have 7 great employees that work for me.;) This year I want to give them each a tin of goodies.

Any suggestions??

What are you giving as food gifts this year??

[EmptyNestMom]

I always give loaves of homemade cinnamon swirl bread...
however, check out this thread for more ideas...http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=130704

Have fun doing whatever you decide upon! :D

[aggie94]

I used to try to do something different every year, but last year I made almond roca and peppermint bark for both my office and DH's office. I've gotten so many requests for them again this year (and even people who have offered to BUY it :eek: ) that I can't disappoint.

So this weekend I start on the candy-making marathon -- 10 batches of peppermint bark, 6 batches of almond roca -- and I'm off this afternoon to find the best price on white chocolate, since I need 11 pounds of it. :o

[Molli526]

Trader Joes has a fair price for white chocolate

[aggie94]

Thanks, Molli - I remember reading that on an earlier thread about white chocolate. I am actually headed over there during my lunch hour. :)

[CindySoCal]

I used to try to do something different every year, but last year I made almond roca and peppermint bark for both my office and DH's office. I've gotten so many requests for them again this year (and even people who have offered to BUY it :eek: ) that I can't disappoint.

So this weekend I start on the candy-making marathon -- 10 batches of peppermint bark, 6 batches of almond roca -- and I'm off this afternoon to find the best price on white chocolate, since I need 11 pounds of it. :o

GREAT idea! Does it stay fresh?? Do I have to store it in the fridge?? I have a tiny fridge :(
Could you share your recipes for these?
Thanks!

[Dawna]

My husband has specifically requested oreo cheesecake balls (not sure that is the official name) posted on the boards a few years ago, as gifts for his staff.

I would really not like to become "known" for a 3-ingredient recipe, but they definitely do taste better than the sum of their parts would suggest.

[apple*tart]

I made CL's caramel popcorn last year and it was a hit! Plus it's relatively inexpensive and fills up a lot of space, so it's easy to be generous with portions. My tip is to look for "mushroom flake" popcorn online; it tastes the same, but it has a ball shape rather than a butterfly shape, and it handles the hot caramel much better. :)

[aggie94]

Trader Joes has a fair price for white chocolate

I struck out at TJ's. :( They have 10-ounce bags of "white baking chips" but that's it. I also checked Safeway and Fresh & Easy, but the best price I could find (on sale) on "white chocolate" came out to $8.50/pound for Baker's. So I ended up ordering an 11-pound bar :eek: of Callebaut white chocolate online for less. It won't be here until next week, though, so it looks like this weekend will be spent cranking out batches of almond roca instead. :)


GREAT idea! Does it stay fresh?? Do I have to store it in the fridge?? I have a tiny fridge :(
Could you share your recipes for these?
Thanks!

The peppermint bark recipe was originally posted by RebeccaT and the almond roca recipe by Anna (claire797). I've posted them for you below but you might also do searches - I know both have been discussed extensively on the BB, so you'll find some helpful tips, substitutions, etc., including info on storage.

I won't be giving treats out until probably the week before Christmas (maybe around the 16th or so), so I'll end up freezing the almond roca, which I'm making this weekend (and yes, it freezes beautifully if you have the freezer space). Since I'll be making the bark the weekend just before giving them out, I'll probably just keep that in the fridge so it doesn't get melty (it still gets warm here during the day).

LAYERED PEPPERMINT CRUNCH BARK

Packed in jars that are decorated with red ribbon and candy canes, this sweet makes a festive gift. To crush the peppermints coarsely, tap the wrapped candies firmly with the bottom edge of any unopened 15- to 16-ounce can.

17 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), finely chopped
30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)
7 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons whipping cream
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Turn large baking sheet bottom side up. Cover securely with foil. Mark 12 x 9-inch rectangle on foil. Stir white chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth and candy thermometer registers 110°F. (chocolate will feel warm to touch). Remove from over water. Pour 2/3 cup melted white chocolate onto rectangle on foil. Using icing spatula, spread chocolate to fill rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermints. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.

Stir bittersweet chocolate, cream and peppermint extract in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until just melted and smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes. Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture in long lines over white chocolate rectangle. Using icing spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate in even layer. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.

Rewarm remaining white chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F. Working quickly, pour white chocolate over firm bittersweet chocolate layer; spread to cover. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermints. Chill just until firm, about 20 minutes.

Lift foil with bark onto work surface; trim edges. Cut bark crosswise into 2-inch-wide strips. Using metal spatula, slide bark off foil and onto work surface. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 sections and each section diagonally into 2 triangles. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Chill in airtight container.) Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Makes 36 pieces.

Bon Appetit
December 1998



Anna's Almond Roca

2 Cups Sugar
1 Pound (4 sticks) Butter
1 Cup Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 Cups Almonds -- the "shaved" kind, not slivers or whole
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 pound bar of Cadbury Milk Chocolate -- broken up

Reserve 1 cup of the almonds and set aside. Mix sugar, butter, water, and salt in large, heavy saucepan and heat to boiling over medium to medium high heat. Make sure there's room in the saucepan for the mixture to foam up and boil. Heat mixture over medium to medium high until it foams and reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. When temp reaches 240, stir in 2 cups of almonds. Stir mixture constantly and watch temp carefully until temp reaches 290. Remove from heat, stir in soda and QUICKLY pour onto a cookie sheet covered with buttered or greased wax paper. Mixture should start to harden immediately. As mixture hardens, sprinkle chocolate chunks over hardening mixture and spread the chocolate chunks around until they melt. Sprinkly melted chocolate with reserved almonds. Let sit until toffee hardens and chocolate sets.

NOTE: For this recipe to turn out perfect, you have to watch temperatures CAREFULLY. Don't let the almonds burn (so use medium to medium high heat) and don't remove the mixture from the stove before temp reaches 290. If you do, you'll get chewy almond roca.

[Jewel]

I'm making homemade Granola this year! I have 12 10-cup containers and I've just received my custom label order, so I'll be labeling and decorating containers this week and then the weekend of the 11th I'll be busy making about 10 batches of homemade granola! Already spent last weekend buying oats, slivered almonds, dried cranberries and brown sugar in the bulk sections! :D

[ChristieinMB]

I struck out at TJ's. :( They have 10-ounce bags of "white baking chips" but that's it. I also checked Safeway and Fresh & Easy, but the best price I could find (on sale) on "white chocolate" came out to $8.50/pound for Baker's. So I ended up ordering an 11-pound bar :eek: of Callebaut white chocolate online for less. It won't be here until next week, though, so it looks like this weekend will be spent cranking out batches of almond roca instead. :)
Where did you order your white chocolate?
I need lots for the same recipe.

[applecrisp]

If you are looking for sweets --- I like biscottis since they have a longer shelf life than the standard cookie. If the person receives (or makes a bunch of cookies) they might be on cookie overload during the holidays. A prob I never seem to have. :D

Maybe something savory.

[aggie94]

Where did you order your white chocolate?
I need lots for the same recipe.

I ordered the white chocolate from United Overseas Food Corp. (http://www.shop.uofc.biz/), which I found through Amazon (the website price was much cheaper than through Amazon). Type "Callebaut" into the quick search and the bar will pop up. It was almost $80 with shipping but it still worked out to a per pound price of $7.27, which is cheaper than what I could find in the stores.

ETA: Depending on how much you need, you might also check out Chocolate Source (https://www.chocolatesource.com/home/index.asp), which was the second best price I found. Chocolate Source appears to charge shipping rates based on amount spent versus actual weight, so if you are ordering more than one bar, it might be a less expensive option than United Overseas Food Corp.

[Wendy w]

Anna's almond roca has become a tradition that my coworkers look for. I often try to do something else too, maybe this year I will do shortbread. I experimented last year and it came out good. The peppermint bark recipe that Eva posted is good too, but a pain in the behind to make, so I only make it for a friend's birthday in January who is a big fan of it.

[CindySoCal]

I made CL's caramel popcorn last year and it was a hit! Plus it's relatively inexpensive and fills up a lot of space, so it's easy to be generous with portions. My tip is to look for "mushroom flake" popcorn online; it tastes the same, but it has a ball shape rather than a butterfly shape, and it handles the hot caramel much better. :)

This sounds like a GREAT idea, but what is "Mushroom Flake" Popcorn? What do you put your Camarel Corn in??

[EmptyNestMom]

I made CL's caramel popcorn last year and it was a hit! Plus it's relatively inexpensive and fills up a lot of space, so it's easy to be generous with portions. My tip is to look for "mushroom flake" popcorn online; it tastes the same, but it has a ball shape rather than a butterfly shape, and it handles the hot caramel much better. :)

I'm not sure what mushroom flake popcorn is but I have made a "Gingerbread" Popcorn...it is great at this time of year. :D (For people that like ginger flavor ;))

[apple*tart]

Mushroom flake popcorn tastes the same as "regular" popcorn, which is butterfly flake. It's just a different shape - the popped kernels have a round shape to them. It's the type of popcorn that seems to be used most in commercially made caramel corn. It holds up better to the hot caramel sauce and keeps the popcorn light and fluffy. I can only find it online, so I make sure to order it early. I'm actually going to order some today!

Last year I used some largish cardboard gift wrap tubes for the caramel corn, like the kind used for wine bottles. You could also use those large gift boxes shaped like chinese take-out boxes, or tins, or a cello bag. I lined the tube with wax paper since it wasn't meant for direct food contact, and then folded down the top of the wax paper to seal in the popcorn.

[CindySoCal]

Mushroom flake popcorn tastes the same as "regular" popcorn, which is butterfly flake. It's just a different shape - the popped kernels have a round shape to them. It's the type of popcorn that seems to be used most in commercially made caramel corn. It holds up better to the hot caramel sauce and keeps the popcorn light and fluffy. I can only find it online, so I make sure to order it early. I'm actually going to order some today!

Last year I used some largish cardboard gift wrap tubes for the caramel corn, like the kind used for wine bottles. You could also use those large gift boxes shaped like chinese take-out boxes, or tins, or a cello bag. I lined the tube with wax paper since it wasn't meant for direct food contact, and then folded down the top of the wax paper to seal in the popcorn.

Oh YUM! It's the BIG fluffy kernels, LOVE them!
GREAT idea :)
Thank-you....

[CindySoCal]

If you are looking for sweets --- I like biscottis since they have a longer shelf life than the standard cookie. If the person receives (or makes a bunch of cookies) they might be on cookie overload during the holidays. A prob I never seem to have. :D

Maybe something savory.


Biscotti is a GREAT idea! :)
So many wonderful suggestions....now I can't decide! :confused:

[Sheila in MD]

Mushroom flake popcorn tastes the same as "regular" popcorn, which is butterfly flake. I can only find it online, so I make sure to order it early. I'm actually going to order some today!


Can you please post where you ordered it...I tried to do a search but wasn't coming up with a supplier..thanks so much!

Sheila in MD