Coconut Christmas Mice Food

COCONUT CHRISTMAS MICE

Steps:

• Pulse coconut, confectioners' sugar and milk in a food processor until coconut is finely chopped. For each mouse, roll 1 tablespoon coconut mixture into a ball; taper 1 end to resemble a mouse. Attach sliced almonds for ears and licorice pieces for tails. Press miniature chocolate chips, tip side down, into place for eyes. Store in an airtight container.

COCONUT ICE SQUARES

Steps:

• Using a wooden spoon, mix together the condensed milk and icing sugar in a large bowl. It will get very stiff. Work the coconut into the mix until it's well combined - use your hands, if you like.
• Split the mix into two and knead a very small amount of food colouring into one half. Dust a board with icing sugar, then shape each half into a smooth rectangle and place one on top of the other. Roll with a rolling pin, re-shaping with your hands every couple of rolls, until you have a rectangle of two-tone coconut ice about 3cm thick.
• Transfer to a plate or board and leave uncovered for at least 3 hrs or ideally overnight to set. Cut into squares with a sharp knife and pack into bags or boxes. These will keep for up to a month at least, if stored in an airtight container.

MICE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Chop the confectioners' coating into chunks, and place into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the coating in the microwave oven on High for 30 seconds; then heat again 4 or 5 more times for 10 to 15 seconds each time until the coating is warm (not hot) and melted. Stir well until the chocolate coating is smooth and free of lumps. The coating should be about 95 degrees F (35 degrees C).
• Dry the cherries well with paper towels. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip it into the chocolate coating to just reach the bottom of the stem. Carefully lay the cherry on its side, so the stem sticks out the side. This will be the tail. Before the coating sets up, stick the flat side of an unwrapped chocolate kiss opposite the tail, to make a pointy-nosed face. Pick out two nicely shaped slivers of almond, and insert them between the chocolate kiss and the dipped cherry to make little ears. Use a toothpick to make two small dots of melted coating on the face for eyes; stick two little red candies to the coating dots. Repeat with the rest of the cherries. Allow the coating to set until firm and cool, about 30 minutes.

CHRISTMAS COCONUT MICE

Steps:

• Mix the icing sugar and condensed milk. Mix in the coconut. Divide the mixture between two bowls.
• Dye one mixture dark red while the other eighter leave white or else dye pink. ( when I make white mice I use blue silver balls for the eyes).
• Dip a clean tablespoon ( use a dessert spoon to make smaller mice)into some water and let it drip, then lift up a tablespoon of the mixture.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Press the mixture into the tablespoon and level it. Now turn the spoon over and tap it, so that the mixture will come out onto the plastic wrap.
• Pinch a nose on the narrow end , then add the eyes, the ears made out of the milky buttons or slivered almonds and push a piece of liquorice, as a tail. Allow to dry.

CHOCOLATE MICE

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate, and combine with sour cream. Stir in 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
• Roll by level tablespoonfuls into balls. Mold to a slight point at one end (the nose).
• Roll dough in confectioners sugar (for white mice), and in chocolate cookie crumbs (for dark mice). On each mouse, place dragees in appropriate spot for eyes, almond slices for ears, and a licorice string for the tail.
• Refrigerate for at least two hours, until firm.

CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS MICE (OR ANYTIME MICE)

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler and dip a cherriy into the chocolate, holding by the stem ("tail").
• Set cherry on its side on waxed paper. This is the mouse's body and tail.
• While chocolate it still gooey, "glue" on a hershey's kiss to the mouse's body, with the bottom of the kiss touching the cherry and the pointy part pointing out, the opposite direction that the tail is pointing.
• Add sliced almonds in the seam for ears.
• Decorate with icing or red hots for eyes and nose.
• Repeat with the rest of the cherries, etc.

NEE NEE'S PRIZED COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine boiling water to butter and sugar. Cream well with mixer. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together, three times. Add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Add vanilla. Fold in coconut and beaten egg whites, by hand. Pour into 3 nine-inch cake pans that have been well greased and floured. Bake for 20-25 minutes according to your oven.
• Icing:.
• Combine egg whites, sugar, syrup, water, salt and cream of tartar. Place in double boiler over boiling water. Beat with a hand mixer until mixture stands with "peaks" (approximately 10 minutes). Remove from heat, add vanilla and continue beating until thick enough to spread. Use fresh or frozen grated coconut to sprinkle between each layer along with the icing and sprinkle generously on the top and sides. Keep any leftovers refrigerated.