3 Easy Ideas for Using Leftover Candy Canes

Every single year after Christmas, I find myself with an abundance of sweets.  We currently have a pile of brownies (from 3 different people), homemade fudge, 4 boxes of chocolates, 2 boxes of cookies, plus an assortment of homemade cookies.  We also have a basket filled with individually wrapped Holiday chocolates and truffles.  That basket used to include many candy canes until I decided to do something about it.

That something was crushing them all.  I simply put them all unwrapped into a durable sandwich bag and smashed them with a mallet.  It was so easy (and therapeutic too)!


3 Uses for Crushed Candy Canes . . . 

1.  When baking chocolate chip cookies, take your ball of cookie dough and roll them in the crushed candy canes before placing them on the pan.  When doing so, it's best to keep the number of large pieces of candy cane to a minimum and to press the ball of dough slightly after placing it on the pan.  Doing both these things will help your cookies to spread into a round shape, rather than an irregular shape.

2.  Stir a teaspoon or so of crushed candy cane into your hot coffee, tea, or cocoa.  The finer the candy cane is crushed, the more easily it will dissolve in your hot beverage.

3.  Sprinkle the crushed candy cane as a topping over whipped cream.  This would work great on almost anything you top with whipped cream.  You can also sprinkle the crushed candy cane directly on top of classic ice cream flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, or coffee.


What ideas do you have for using leftover candy canes?

Flavored Iced Coffee

On August 26th, Folgers unveiled two new coffee products . . . Folgers Filter Packs Coffee and Folgers Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets, which are available in both Classic Roast and Classic Decaf.  The filter packs work with any coffee brewer that has a basket or cone filter.  Sold in two different sizes, one Filter Pack can make up to six 6oz cups of coffee without the mess of using paper filters and loose coffee grounds.

The Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets are the perfect thing for when you are on the go.  Each box contains 7 packets.  The box is so compact that you can easily store it in a kitchen or desk drawer, your purse, a briefcase, or your backpack.  All you need is a cup and some hot water or milk to turn one packet into a hot cup of Folgers coffee.

Recipe:  Easy Caramel Flavored Iced Coffee

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup warm water

1 (.7oz packet) Folgers Classic Instant Coffee Crystals

2 Tbsp half and half, creamer, or milk

ice cubes

whipped cream

2 Tbsp Smucker's Caramel Sundae Syrup

Step 1.  Pour water over coffee in an 8oz glass.

Step 2.  Add Caramel Syrup and stir until dissolved.

Step 3.  Stir in creamer.

Step 4.  Add ice cubes.

Step 5.  Top with whipped cream

If you prefer to drink unflavored coffee, simply replace the Caramel Syrup with 1 Tbsp of sugar.  This recipe was provided by Folgers.  For more coffee drink recipes, visit Folgers.com.

Thank you to Folgers for providing a gift basket full of complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional gift basket for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Folgers Gift Basket containing the following:

• Samples of the two new Folgers products
• 1 Cuisinart Brew Central 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (ARV $79.95)
• 1 Travel Mug
• 1 Coffee Travel Case
• 1 Bottle of Smucker's Caramel Sundae Syrup
• 1 Customized Boat Bag

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me where would be a handy place to keep Folgers Instant Coffee Single Serve Packets. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 10 extra entries, join the Wakin' Up Club to receive Folgers coupons, special offers, recipes, and more. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

4)  For 1 extra entry, "Like" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here with the link to your Facebook profile.

5)  For 1 extra entry, "Like" Folgers on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.


6)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, September 26th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Holiday 2010 Review: Dunkin Donuts Seasonal Coffees

Coffee is something that makes the perfect gift for many people all year round, but especially during the colder months. It is ideal for stocking stuffers, holiday gifts to relatives, co-workers, neighbors, teachers, your mail carrier, the school bus driver . . . the list goes on forever. My father always receives coffee for Christmas and Father's Day. In our house, however, my husband is the only coffee-drinker. He brews it, he drinks it, and I enjoy the aroma. That is why I asked my husband to share his thoughts with you about the 3 seasonal Dunkin Donuts coffee varieties . . .

"I love Dunkin' Donuts coffee. I mean I really love it. I would rather have a plain old cup of DD coffee than anything offered at Starbucks any day. So when I had the opportunity to try Dunkin' Donuts Flavors of the Season I couldn’t say yes fast enough."

"I usually don't drink flavored coffee, plain ole' joe is my thing, but I was excited to try the variety that I was offered. I was sent Vanilla Nut, Pumpkin Spice, and Mocha Mint. The first thing I noticed were the fun holiday themed bags, these would make a nice gift. The second thing that hits you (like a Mack truck) is the amazing aroma as I unpacked the bags. The Pumpkin Spice smells amazing.

The first flavor I tried was the Pumpkin Spice as that most intrigued me. As I mentioned the aroma is splendid and fills the house. The flavor was quite strong and tasted like pumpkin muffins or cake. Although pumpkin Spice tasted as I imagined it would, it was not my favorite of the three. The flavor was a little too intense for my taste, I usually drink plain after all!

The next flavor I tried was the Mocha Mint. I will say right now that this was by far my favorite of the three. The flavor was rich but not overpowering which suits my subdued taste.

And lastly the Vanilla Nut. This flavor was the one I was least interested in trying, but after making myself a cup I was pleasantly surprised. Like the Mocha Mint the flavor was rich but not overpowering and I enjoyed it.

Individual tastes aside, these coffees are very high quality and flavorful. I would certainly recommend these to anybody who is a fan of coffee, and especially to fans of Dunkin' Donuts. The Flavors of the Season packages are colorful and fun would make terrific gifts!" ~Todd

I cannot tell you how happy I was that the Mocha Mint is my husband's favorite of the three. That one gives off the most delicious aroma in my opinion.

To learn more about Dunkin Donuts coffee products you can purchase for gifts and for your home, visit DunkinAtHome.com . Look for these and other Dunkin Donuts coffees at your local supermarket. Just pick up a couple, throw them in a gift bag, and you have an easy affordable last-minute gift!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Smuckers and received necessary products to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.