Sometimes it's the occasion over the recipe - Candy Apples for a brace-free smile

Sometimes, it is more about the occasion and the gesture than it is about the recipe.  FYI...that is huuuuge rationalization...but today I actually believe it!  Someone got her braces off today...over a year of no corn-on-the-cob, apples, chewy candy (or so the dentist said...), nuts or hard food...which makes this a perfect occasion for surprise candy apples!

I actually wanted to make caramel apples and roll them in an abundance of candy treats, but time was not on my side and the Bulk Barn only had a candy apple kit....some terrible sugary, red-dye concoction that is mixed with sugar and boiled to 150F....but it looks great and it's a tasty treat on a special occasion!

The (brace-free) smile, running hugs and secret photos for BBM were enough to make it all worthwhile.

Candy apples always take me back to the good ole days when Simpsons used to put on the Christmas windows.  I can play back those cold, snowy days, watching the magical windows light up with colourful animation and Christmas sparkle....and there would always be those lovely old men with their carts of popcorn, candy apples and roasting chestnuts waiting for us on the corner.  It wouldn't be the same without a candy apple and some hot chestnuts to complete the occasion.  What a warm and wonderful memory.

Although I don't have a recipe to share (it's on the back of the box)...I did take the liberty of rolling the warm candy apples in toffee bits and sprinkles.  A tip for next time....the toffee bits work the best and they taste better too!

Oh Yeah....Smothered Hot Chocolate Cookies!

So, it's getting dark earlier now...certainly not as early as I remember of my days in Britain....in November,  it would actually start getting dark at 3:30 pm.  Seriously.  But I digress....it is getting dark earlier...and cold...and I actually wore gloves today.  So these cookies are very appropriate....fudgey chocolate cookie, smothered in chocolate frosting with a lovely marshmallow surprise inside.  Uh huh!

Just like a warm hot chocolate in front of the fire...but better because it is sweeter and meltier and slathered in chocolate!  So, we welcome the cold.  We embrace the cold.  We mock the cold....Bring it!

Smothered Hot Chocolate Cookies

Cookies:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch processed)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
About 9 large marshmallows, halved crosswise

Frosting:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons (just under 1/2 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup plus 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not dutch processed)
1/2 cup milk
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Sift together flour, cocoa, soda and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of a stand up or electric mixer, fitted with paddle attachment.  Mix on medium high speed until pale and fluffy (about 2 mins).  Reduce speed to medium low, mix in egg, milk and vanilla.  Mix in flour mixture all at once and stir until combined.  Dough will be slightly sticky.
4. Using a small ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart.  Bake cookies until firm (8 - 10 mins).  Immediately press half a marshmallow on top of each cookie and pop back into the oven for 2 mins.  Let cool completely on wire racks.  If the cookie is still warm when you try to ice it, it will be a slippery, gooey mess...

Frosting:
1. Put confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl.  Melt butter with cocoa in a saucepan or the microwave (for about 30 seconds).  Stir well.  Add butter mixture to the confectioners' sugar.  Whisk in milk and vanilla.
2. When cookies are cool (see above), spread about one teaspoon or so of frosting on top of each cookie to cover the marshmallow.  Not too much or a drippy cookie, you will have!  Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temp for a couple of days.

Start the log fire...and enjoy.