Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Raisin Clusters

If you can use a Crockpot (and you don't mind the wait), you can make these easy melt in your mouth Chocolate Peanut Raisin Clusters. There's nothing better than peanut, raisins and chocolate all in one bite! But be careful, your friends and family will fight you for the last one!

I have made these several times using this recipe. However, I wanted to use up the chocolate chips I had leftover from the holidays and really wanted to add raisins. This is the recipe that I came up with:

In a crockpot, add 1 (12 oz.) bag of white chocolate chips, 1 1/2 bags (18 oz.) mini semi-sweet chocolate chops, 4 oz of Baker's chocolate, and 1 tsp of shortening, such as Crisco (do not use butter, margarine, or oil).

Set the slow cooker / Crockpot on low. Cook on low for 3 hours

After 3 hours you will see the chocolate chips and bake's chocolate has melted.

 Stir and mix well 

 Add raisins and stir to mix well. Let stand 10 minutes

 Drop by heaping tablespoons onto parchment paper

 Let cool and serve! Yum!

Ingredients:

12 ounces white chocolate chips
18 ounces mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 1/2 bags of mini chips)
4 ounces sweet German chocolate
1 teaspoon Crisco shortening
16 ounces lightly salted dry roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins (I would use more next time but this is what I had on hand)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in crockpot except the raisins). Cook on low for 3 hours (* Don't touch just leave it be - it's ok). After 3 hours, turn pot off, mix, add raisins, stir to mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cover a large surface with waxed or parchment paper. Stir mixture completely. Drop by teaspoons full onto paper. Let harden and store in airtight containers.

Notes:  Crockpots cook at different heat levels so you may want to check after 2 hours.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Candy Sundaes / Ice Cream Soda

This is the first year I don't have an elementary school age child celebrating Valentine's Day at their school. I admit I'm kind of sad knowing that part of my children's growing up is over. I will miss participating in the school celebration (Valentine's Day was always my favorite kid party) and buying those boxes of Valentine's Day cards that the children share with their classmates.
In addition to the school parties, we've always done a family Valentine's Day celebration of some sort. This year we'll be celebrating with some Valentine's Day Candy Sundaes. I made Candy Sundae's using green Cocoa Cola glasses,  from the dollar store, for the bottom of the sundae, a variety of candy for the 'ice cream', curling ribbon for the whipped cream and tootsie pops for the cherry. I guess these really look more like an Ice Cream Soda since I used Coke glasses to hold the candy. 
Also, I used free printable Valentine's Day cards from Anders Ruff. There are several tutorials around showing you how to build these adorable treats. I found this tutorial at Between Naps on the Porch to be the best way to make these. Have a try at making these. They were very well received by my kids and hubby (yes, he got one too).

Later tonight, for dessert we will have real ice cream sundae's with all the fixings (ice cream, strawberries, bananas, Nutella, fudge, nuts, whipped cream and of course cherries)!

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Happy Valentine's Day!