Leftover Halloween Candy Transforms Holiday Treats

Don't let Halloween candy go to waste.

Halloween has come and gone, but now you’re left with a cauldron of candy. Yes, you can nibble your way to New Year’s, but maybe you are looking for more creative ways to use it up. With the holidays right around the corner, how about turning that candy into holiday treats? We’ve browsed the web for some of the most tempting suggestions to transform that candy into something almost unrecognizable. What about you? How have you used leftover Halloween candy to turn into a holiday treat? Share your ideas!

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Ask the Patch Pro: Baking Experts Ready to Help You In the Kitchen

Our panel of experts are waiting in the comments to answer all your questions about baking in the latest installment of Ask the Patch Pro.

A fresh-baked dessert just hits the spot, however, not everyone is a baking expert. Some people are lost in the kitchen. What's an easy thing to bake for beginners? What's a healthy snack you can bake? Regular cake vs. cupcakes—which is better?  In the latest edition of "Ask the Patch Pro" we want to find the answers to those, and other, baking questions. But we needed some help.  We don't have the answers to those (and your) questions, but not to worry. We've compiled a crack team of experts to help us out. Meet the experts:  Got a question for our experts? Ask below!

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Terri Roberts

4:56 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I love pumpkin pie as well and I think some cream cheese adds a great flavor. Maybe just about 3oz for a normal size pie, soften and mix in with all the pie filling ingredients.   more ›

Ask the Patch Pro: Looking for Baking Experts

The St. Charles County Patches are looking for experts who have baking knowledge to dole out advice to readers.

Who doesn't love a tasty dessert? The problem is, not everyone is a baking expert. What's an easy thing to bake for beginners? What's a healthy snack you can bake? Regular cake vs. cupcakes—which is better?  We want to find the answers to those questions, but we need a little help. In the latest edition of "Ask the Patch Pro" we want to find the answers to all sorts of baking questions. But we need help. To do this, we need experts.  If you consider yourself a baking expert and can answer these questions and more, let us know two ways. One: You can leave a comment on this post. Two: You can send an email to stpeters@patch.com. We need experts to answer questions on Wednesday, Aug. 22.  Curious as to what we are looking for? Take a look at …

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Trays of Tradition: The Art of Baking the Perfect Cookie

Baking cookies is a tradition and an art for St Louisan Julia Usher, author of the "Cookie Swap" and "The Ultimate Cookie" cookbooks.

Julia Usher is one smart cookie, especially when it comes to baking Christmas cookies.  “I love to bake Christmas cookies, but cookie-baking and cookie swaps are something I think people should do all year round,” said Usher, of Webster Groves, whose love for cookies served as the inspiration for her two cookie cookbooks, The Cookie Swap and her latest release, The Ultimate Cookie, both published by Gibbs Smith Publishing. Usher began commercially baking cookies and other sweet delights after relocating to St Louis several years ago. She opened a confection company here after working first as a a Yale educated engineer. A few years into the busincess she made the decision to close the company to focus on writing cookbooks and demonstrating…

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Ten Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes

There’s nothing like a little holiday baking to bring everyone together!

Click on each cookie name to find a recipe! Gingerbread - Who can think of Christmas without gingerbread men and fancy gingerbread houses? Divinity - A family favorite – while not exactly a cookie, this sugary treat always finds a way to the dessert tray around Christmastime. Fudge - Need a chocolate fix but sick and tired of unwrapping red and green foil kisses? This should do the trick. Fudge is one of the most popular of our holiday handouts. Chocolate Chip - Honestly, isn't Christmas a good enough reason as any to bake a classic?  It's always the first cookie to disappear. Sugar Cookies - Stockings and reindeer and Santas, oh my! I love getting creative with sprinkles and icing. Macaroons - Still sweet, but a nice change of pace from …

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Shopping Around

Christmas Shopping for the Foodie, Part Two: Baking

What can you put under the tree that will put a smile on the face of your favorite baker?

So maybe the person you are shopping for doesn't have the time to shop, prepare, cook, and clean up in the evening.  But perhaps your favorite foodie likes to bake on the weekends; now you're into a whole new realm of gifts. Food Preparation It all starts with a mixing bowl.  I prefer Pyrex, a popular and sturdy brand of glassware.  You can find Pyrex products at Bed Bath & Beyond (hereafter BB&B), Target, and Wal-Mart, but BB&B offers a line of Pyrex with rubber grips (which someone like me could stand to invest in).  Pick up a three-piece set at Target for only $10.99, or you can get a Pyrex Grip-Rite bowl at BB&B for the same price.  However, if buying breakables makes you nervous, you can buy a six-piece set of footed mixing bowls from…

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