Maybe I should title this segment just “Cleaning Out” since it seems like I have been picking things that haven’t been in the fridge all the time!
Anyone who has kids know you end up with a million candy canes through the holiday season. Everywhere you go, people give them to your little ones, and we don’t really eat a ton of them, so now it’s January and I have a ton piled on my kitchen table. What to do with them? Here’s a few ideas!
-Stir finely crushed candy cane and cracked black pepper into cream cheese, spread on whole wheat crackers and top with smoked ham.
- Make Candy Cane Sugar. Process candy canes in a food processor, and add to granulated sugar (1 part crushed canes to 1 part sugar). Stir into hot tea, iced tea, hot cocoa, or to rim glasses for cocktails.(Like the one in the next tip!)
- In a cocktail shaker, combine ground candy cane with half-and-half. Serve over ice with a splash of soda.
- For Valentine’s Day, unwrap two mini candy canes and place on a baking sheet in the shape of a hear. Bake at 350 degrees F for a couple of minutes until the stick together. Cool and remove with a spatula. Cute on top of a frosted cupcake if you use the mini candy canes.
-Melt candy cane with a splash of water; simmer with chopped fresh mint, minced garlic, vinegar and hot sauce. Serve with lamb.
- Buy Cool-Whip and stir in crushed candy cane. Refreeze and scoop for a lighter, lower calorie ice cream-like dessert!
