Janettes Lighter Truffles Food

PEANUT BUTTER TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Scald cream in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and chill. Combine white chocolate and peanut butter together in a mixing bowl and blend together. Add chilled whipping cream and continue blending at high speed until a smooth consistency is achieved. Pour mixture into a suitable container and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours, to allow mixture to set.
• Using a melon baller, or a number 70 scoop, form the mixture into balls. Place balls on a sheet pan and into the refrigerator to firm up.
• Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler. Gently dip each ball in the melted chocolate so that it's fully coated. Decorate with crushed peanuts. Keep truffles in the refrigerator until required.

JANETTE'S LIGHTER APPLE RUM RAISIN PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust, sift the flour, baking soda, sugar, and cinnamon into a medium-size mixing bowl. Add the oil, yogurt, and vinegar and stir gently just until combined. Press the dough into a ball and divide in 1/2. Flatten each piece into a disk, wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• To make the filling, put the raisins in a medium-size bowl and pierce them with a fork so they will soak up the rum flavoring. Add the water and rum extract and stir to combine. Let stand at least 1 hour. Drain and return raisins to the bowl. In a saucepan, combine apple juice, apples, lemon juice, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook over medium heat until the mixture has thickened, about 3 minutes. Add raisins and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 piece of dough and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate. Add the filling. Roll out the remaining dough, fit it over the top of the pie, pinching the edges together to seal. Trim and crimp the edges. Pierce the top of the pie in a few places with a fork to make steam vents.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees F. then reduce the oven to 325 degrees F. and bake until apples are tender and crust is browned, about 45 minutes. Place on a rack to cool. Cut into wedges and serve.

BAKLAVA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• For the coating: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add the walnuts, shredded wheat and salt and toast until the walnuts are fragrant and the wheat has started to brown, about 3 minutes. Spread out on a plate and refrigerate to cool completely.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add the walnuts and toast until fragrant, 5 minutes. Place in a food processor with the honey, cinnamon and salt and puree until a smooth nut butter forms, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• In a large bowl, crush the shredded wheat cereal with your hands, then add the walnut butter. Stir until combined, then roll into 24 small balls.
• For the dipping: Microwave the honey until thin, 1 minute. Put a filling ball on the end of a toothpick or skewer, then dip into the honey and roll in the coating, making sure to cover completely. Place each truffle in a mini cupcake liner, and package in a decorative tin.

SNOWMAN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• MELT chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk in large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into medium bowl; cover. Chill up to 1 hour, until firm.
• SHAPE chilled chocolate mixture into 18 balls of each of the following sizes: 1 1/4-inch, 1-inch and 3/4-inch. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Place 1 large ball on plate, flattening bottom side to balance. Insert toothpick in center. Thread medium ball on top of large ball. Top with small ball to make a snowman.
• UNROLL fruit snack. Cut 1/4-inch wide strips from the short side (4 1/2 inches) of one roll-up snack for the scarves. Place one around the neck of each snowman, overlapping in front to keep it in place. Insert mini chocolate chips, pointed tops in, for eyes and two to three buttons down front.* Add a mini candy coated chocolate piece for the nose. Insert pieces of pretzel sticks into the middle ball to make arms.
• CUT four 2-inch circles from one roll-up snack.** Make one slit to the center. Overlap circle, almost double, to make a cone-shape for the hat. Wet inside edge with water; stick hat to head. Place on top of snowman. Repeat for remaining snowmen to make 18.
• * Wipe powdered sugar from hands between adding each eye, button and nose.
• **Use 2-inch diameter cookie cutter or sharp edge of inverted 1/4-cup measuring cup to make circles.

PUMPKIN TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine pumpkin, brown sugar and spices. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until mixture reduces by half and pumpkin looks dry. Set aside. In a medium saucepan over high heat, add cream. When cream boils, take off heat. In a heatproof medium bowl, add chocolate and hot cream. Let the mixture sit for a minute, then slowly begin to stir, starting in the center of the bowl and working outwards. Once the chocolate and cream are evenly mixed, add pumpkin mixture and whisk to combine. Add the butter and liqueur, if using. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.
• On a parchment lined cookie sheet, scoop mixture into small balls using a melon baller. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour, or until chilled. Remove truffles from refrigerator and dip each in melted chocolate. Roll in cocoa powder and serve.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE CRUNCH TRUFFLES

Steps:

• LINE a baking sheet with waxed paper. Place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Carefully melt the chocolate, stirring to blend with cream. Remove from heat and stir in marmalade. Mix until blended; fold in rice cereal. Spoon mixture by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet.
• CHILL truffles in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Place each truffle in a small decorative paper cup.