Rum & Coconut Truffles

THESE ARE THE PRETTIEST TRUFFLES I MAKE. THE RUM, IN THE AMOUNTS I CALL FOR, IS MERELY AN ACCENT. IT DOESN'T OVERPOWER THE CHOCOLATE. I USE PRESIDENT'S CHOICE CHOCOLATE BARS. THEY ARE FAR MORE AFFORDABLE THAN OTHER BAKER'S CHOCOLATE.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup heavy cream
4 T unsalted butter
2 t light corn syrup
1 pound finely chopped semisweet chocolate, plus 12 oz for dipping
3-4 cups sweetened coconut, toasted
3-4 T rum

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.In a small saucepan, bring cream, butter, and corn syrup to a full boil over medium heat. Turn off heat. Add 1 pound chopped chocolate; gently mix together and let sit 5 minutes.
2.Meanwhile toast coconut in the oven on a cookie tray using the broil setting. Stir 2 cups-worth into the chocolate mixture along with the rum.
3.Transfer mixture to a bowl and place in refrigerator, stirring every 15 minutes. After 45 minutes it will set more quickly, so check in on it every 5 minutes until it is thick enough to work with.
4.When ready, take a teaspoon and scoop out messy balls onto a cookie tray. Put back into the fridge for 10 minutes, or until hard enough to roll. When firm enough, work each scoop between your palms to form rough balls and chill until ready to add topping.
5.Topping: Heat 12 oz semisweet chocolate over a double boiler. Dunk each ball into the chocolate, and then transfer to a bowl of toasted coconut.

MAKES: About 36 truffles

Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Classic Waffles

OUR SOMETIMES DINNER ON A SNOWY WINTER'S DAY

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 eggs, separated
  
• 1 1/2 cups warm milk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside. Preheat waffle iron to desired temperature.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture; beat until blended.
3. Whip egg whites until stiff and fold into waffle mixture.
   
4. Ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Orange

CAKE:
1 cup flour
4 t. baking powder
1/4 cup softened butter
4 eggs, separated
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 t. salt
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 cups milk
1 t. grated orange rind

Lightly grease and flour 2 9" round pans.
Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar. Add egg yolks, on at a time, beating well after each is added.
Gradually add flour mixture and milk alternately. Mix well.
Stir in vanilla, nutmeg and orange rind.
Beat egg whites until stiff; fold into batter.
Pour into pans and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

ICING:
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. melted semi-sweet chocolate
Pinch of salt

1 t vanilla