Video: Cool Food Gifts for the Holidays, Southern Sweet Chocolate Coconut Pie Recipe

From Denny: This is so cute! I've done a few gingerbread houses in my time and this one is simplified and easy, so easy you can do it with your kids. How fun! The kit has a cardboard frame, the mix included for the cookie dough and the royal icing too, from Sur la table for the $35 kit.

Another idea is a baked Southern tradition: caramel cake. This lady baked these cakes for her family and they were such a big hit she started a business. From Carolines Cakes for $45.

This year's newest trend are gifts of salt and this company was also started by a woman. These are unprocessed salts that are healthier for you from Salt Sisters Salts for $5 to $14.

Do you know someone who likes to make their own vanilla extract with vodka and 8 vanilla beans? Here's how and you can purchase the vanilla extract kit from Salt Sisters Salts for $25.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I love the combination of chocolate and coconut and found this easy pie recipe that would be convenient to make for the holidays! Chilling time is the most effort you have to put into it.



Southern Sweet Chocolate Pie

From: Kraft Foods

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 5 hr 25 min
Makes: 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S GERMAN'S Sweet Chocolate
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 deep-dish pie crust (9 inch), unbaked
1-1/3 cups BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut
1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan on very low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; gradually add milk, stirring until well blended.

MIX sugar, cornstarch and salt in medium bowl; beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually add chocolate mixture, mixing until well blended. Pour into pie crust; sprinkle with coconut and nuts. (Crust will be quite full; filling will not rise over sides.)

BAKE 45 to 50 min. or until top is puffed and browned, covering loosely with foil for the last 15 min. to prevent overbrowning if necessary. (Filling will be soft, but will set while cooling.) Cool at room temperature 15 min., then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.


*** Thanks for visiting and come back often! :)

Recipe: Fun Halloween Oreo Spider Cookies

Photo from Kraft Foods

From Denny: This little fun cookie idea for Halloween just got me laughing so hard I had to share this with you! :) It's so very clever AND easy to create! What a treat for the kids at a Halloween party! Sure to be a big hit with the arachnid lovers in your family.

From: Kraft Foods

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 20 min
Makes: 6 servings, 1 spider each

Ingredients:


48 pieces (1-1/2 inches each) black shoestring licorice
6 OREO Cookies
12 black jelly beans
1 Tbsp. ready-to-spread chocolate frosting

Directions:

INSERT 8 licorice pieces into cream filling around side of each cookie for "spider's legs," using frosting to secure.

ATTACH 2 jelly beans to each spider with frosting for the "eyes."

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Fun Idea

Top ice cream sundaes or frosted cupcakes with cookie spiders just before serving.

Video: Making the Best Burger from the 21 Clubs Famous Chef

From Denny: It's still summer and Labor Day weekend is coming up quickly! Take some tips from this famous chef at the 21 Club about their famous burgers. And invite me over to your place, pahleez! :)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: Making the Best Burger from the 21 Clubs Famous Chef

From Denny: It's still summer and Labor Day weekend is coming up quickly! Take some tips from this famous chef at the 21 Club about their famous burgers. And invite me over to your place, pahleez! :)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: Independence Day Trivia

From Denny: This is well worth the watching! While I knew most of the dry facts - what I didn't know were some of the ancedotal stories that went along with those historical facts that spoke a lot to the personalities and conflicts of that time.


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HAPPY EASTER!!!

From Denny: From my rose garden to yours this year! Louisiana is in full bloom and the worst of pollen season is finally done. These are Tiffany roses. They practically glow from within with the golden hearts and the light perfumed scent is absolutely DIVINE!

Happy Easter to all! May this be a wonderful time of spiritual renewal for you whatever belief system you hold in your heart...

For more wonderful Easter photos from flickr friends and a few special ones of my own, check out the photo blog: Visual Insights.