Fudge-making virgin no more!

I have officially delved into the world of fudge-making. I have always avoided it because I thought it would be difficult. I found a recipe on Pinterest for Chocolate Cinnamon Fudge from a like-minded blogger. She was nervous about making fudge, too, but realized it's a lot easier than you would like.

Here's the recipe:
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (if you like cinnamon, but don't want a huge cinnamon taste, I would go with 1 t. Or you can leave it out completely)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 lb (about 2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, at room temp

Butter an 8x8 dish. Line with parchment paper (or don't and be like me...although this makes it more difficult to get the fudge out)

In a glass or stainless steel bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract.  Stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and butter. Put the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until chocolate is melted and there is a smooth consistency. This can take about 6-8 minutes. You can add nuts at this point, if you like nutty fudge. Pour mixture into baking dish and spread evenly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cut into pieces and enjoy!

Chocolate Cinnamon Snowballs

When I was in college, there used to be a local coffee shop called the Roasting Company. My husband (he was just my boyfriend at the time) and I went there one evening for a date night. We ordered cinnamon hot chocolate. It was so delicious and I have not been able to find anything like it anywhere else.

Today I was looking through the paper and the coupons. One of the ads had a recipe for Chocolate Cinnamon Snowballs. They look really yummy. And it seems like an easy Christmas cookie recipe. *Disclaimer: I have not made these, so I don't know if they actually taste as good as the picture makes them look. 

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened (the recipe says not to use butter substitutes)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 cups all purpose flour
Extra Powdered sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Beat butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon with an electric mixer until light. Gradually add flour, mixing until just blended.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place one inch apart on greased baking sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer from baking sheet to wire racks; cool slightly. Roll in powdered sugar; cool completely on racks. Re-roll in powdered sugar.