Pages

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Springtime Birds Nest Candies


Yesterday, Michael and I spent the afternoon and evening with a group of friends, celebrating Ostara and the start of spring.  Normally, for potlucks, I try very hard to make a healthy dish to take, but several people had that covered and I decided to make an old family favorite treat - Springtime Birds Nest Candies.  I've done these many different ways, and I'll share a few variations with you later in this entry, but this is how I did it this year. I made two varieties - one with butterscotch chips and one with dark chocolate chips.

The ingredients are simple - chow mein noodles (or some other sort of crunchy item that will create nest shapes), butterscotch or chocolate chips, and Cadbury mini eggs (or jelly beans), as well as some peanut butter, which didn't make it into this photo.

 The first step is to melt the chips and peanut butter together- this can be done in the microwave, but I prefer to set up a double boiler on the stove, because it will have to be stirred regularly.

I used a bowl big enough to contain the melted chips and peanut butter as well as the chow mein noodles once they get stirred in.  I put the bowl inside my metal colander and suspended it over boiling water in a large stock pot.

It took about 20 minutes, with occasional stirring, for the chips and peanut butter to completely melt.

Once that happened, I lifted the colander and bowl, and set it on a plate away from the heat, and added 2 cans of chow mein noodles, mixing thoroughly to coat.

I find that it helps to add the second can a bit at a time - it's better if they are coated as thinly as possible, so once you think you've added as much as you can, add the rest!

Once they were coated, I used two spoons to lift a small amount and laid them on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper (waxed works fine, too).

Put a little indent in the center, and place a Cadbury Mini Egg into it.  If you're using something smaller, like mini jelly beans, you can add two or three, to create a birds nest effect.  These are ridiculously rich, though, so I kept it to only one egg!

I tucked the tray into the refrigerator to chill.  It doesn't take long - a half hour will do it, although longer is fine!

I made two batches - each batch made about 24 nests.  These keep well in the refrigerator, and can be put into cellophane bags as lovely tuck ins for an Easter Basket.  Enjoy!


Springtime Birds Nest Candies
makes 24 2 1/2" nests

1 bag butterscotch or chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
2 cans chow mein noodles
48 Cadbury mini eggs

Melt chips and peanut butter over a double boiler until melted and smooth.  Remove from heat and mix in chow mein noodles, blending to coat thoroughly.

Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper.  Top each nest with a candy egg. Put in refrigerator to chill.

Variations:

Coating:  can use candy coating instead of chips, or try coconut oil and cocoa (keep in the refrigerator!)
Crunch: try Rice Krispies, instant oats or coconut flakes.
Eggs: Jelly Bellies, Dried cranberries or blueberries

Happy Spring!



Weekend Wind-Down


Shared with:
~ DIY Showcase Sunday, Happiness is Homemade, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Our Sunday Best Showcase, Silver Pennies Sunday, Submarine Sunday, Sunday FUNday, Sunday Link Party, Think Pink Sunday.
~ A Round Tuit, Block Party, Busy Monday, Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Craft O Maniac Monday, Craftastic Monday, Frugal Crafty Blog HopInspiration Monday, Mad Skills Monday, Making Your Home Sing Monday, Marvelous Monday, Masterpiece Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Mix it Up Monday, Mod Mix Monday, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Much Ado About Monday.
~ Anti-Procrastination Monday, Backyard Faring Connection, Be Inspired, Brag About It Link Party, Create - Link - Inspire, Do Tell TuesdayGood Tips Tuesday, Growing Homemakers, Handmade Tuesdays, Hearth & Soul Blog HopNifty Thrifty Tuesday, One Project at a Time, The Scoop, Share It Link Party, Share Your Stuff Tuesdays, Take It On Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Time to Sparkle, Tip Junkie Handmade Projects, Totally Talented Tuesdays, Treasure Box Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Tuesday To-Do, Tuesday's Treasures, Turn It Up Tuesday, Tutorial Tuesday, Two Cup Tuesday, You're Gonna Love It Tuesday.
~ Cast Party Wednesday, Centerpiece Wednesday, Down Home Blog Hop, Fluster's Creative Muster, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Inspiration Board, Link Up What You Think Up, Lovely Ladies Linky, Party On the Porch, Show + Tell Party, Wake Up Wednesday, We Did It! Wednesday, We Made That Linky Party, Wednesday Whatsits, Welcome Home Wednesday, What We Accomplished Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, What's It Wednesday, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Whimsy Wednesday, Wicked Awesome Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Wonderfully Creative Wednesday, Work It Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, Wow Me Wednesdays, Wow Us Wednesday, Your Whims Wednesday.
~ All Things Thursday, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Home & Garden Thursday, HomeAcre Hop, It's a Party, Moonlight & Mason Jars, Share Your Cup Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Time Travel Thursday.
~ Anything Goes, Be Inspired, BFF Open House, Creative Connection, Fabulously Creative Friday, Farmgirl Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Flaunt It Friday, Foodie Friday, Rattlebridge Farm Foodie Friday, Foodie Friends Friday, Freedom Fridays, Friday Favorites, Friday Link Party, From the Farm Blog Hop, Frugal Friday, Kitchen Fun & Crafty Friday, Party Bunch, Pinworthy Projects Party, Shabbilicious Friday, Show and Tell Friday, Thrifty Things Friday, Weekend Re-Treat.
~ G'Day Saturday, Link Party Palooza, No Rules Weekend, Show and Tell Saturday, Super Saturday, Weekend Potluck, Weekend Wind Down.
~ Easter Categorically Crafting.                          
                                                                                     

34 comments:

  1. Around christmas time I made some that used a mint dark chocolate chips. mm!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love it! I'm from Home Cooking Blog and a new follower on Twitter. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
    http://gangi-homecooking.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have never eaten these before or saw chow mein noodles used this way. They look delicious and cute . I'll have to try making these bird nest. I'm pinning this for sure!!

    Have a great day,
    Kim~ This Ole Mom

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a fun thing to make in the Spring time. The little ones love to make and eat them. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, Lynda, these are just too cute! Kids (of all ages!) will love these. Thank you so much for sharing them with us at Treasure Box Tuesday- PINNED! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great treat! Thank you for sharing your lovely blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. G'day and what fun!
    Thanks for sharing it at the Foodie Friends Friday #Foods That Make You Smile Party!
    Cheers! Joanne
    http://whatsonthelist.net

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for linking up with us the Weekend Wind Down Party! These are super cute.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so cute! I bet they taste awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  10. These look so lovely! Never thought of using those noodles, but what a fabulous idea, salty and sweet and chocolaty! You're a genius!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So adorable will share this with my daughter. Thanks for bring it to foodie friday.

    ReplyDelete
  12. These are a favorite with me! Thanks for linking up at Take it on Tuesday!
    ~ Betsy @ Romance on a dime

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Lynda,
    Your little Birds Nest Candies are just adorable! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again real soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are super duper cute! Thanks for sharing and linking up again with us at the #WWDParty.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We make these and our family loves them. The crunch of the chow mein noodles is yummy! Thanks for sharing them with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  16. Cue dessert for Easter or for spring! thanks for sharing your post on the HomeAcre Hop, hope to see you again tomorrow! - Nancy
    The Home Acre Hop

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fun! I remember making these with my children when they were younger! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  18. These are always a festive treat around this time of year. Unfortunately, I can't make them due to a peanut allergy so I enjoy from afar. Thanking you for bringing to my party this week to share with others. Blessings for a wonderful weekend ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've never made these, but have seen them. So cute and fun for Easter! Pinned

    ReplyDelete
  20. These are cute and tasty too! I have made them, but not as bird's nests.. and they were enjoyed much. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks from Grammy Dee, #WednesdayAIMLinkParty, social media shared.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So cute! Thank you for sharing at Ravenwould.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for linking up with us at Fiesta Friday - such a lovely idea!
    Ginger x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh how cute is that Lynda. I would never have thought of using noodles to make the nests. Very clever idea

    ReplyDelete
  25. These are so cute! I'll have to try these! Great for Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  26. That is a nice little sweet treat with a difference. Very creative and fun.
    Kathleen
    Blogger's Pit Stop

    ReplyDelete
  27. I haven't made these in years! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us at My Busy Beehive's #beeparty this week! Yum.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I used to make these with my First Graders! Thanks for the fond memory!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've made something similar before, but I don't think I used butterscotch and chocolate - this sounds delicious! Thanks for linking up with our Merry Monday party this week!

    ReplyDelete
  30. These are so cute for spring. The kids would love these. Thanks for sharing at the Friday at the Fire Station link up! Pinned

    ReplyDelete
  31. We make a similar treat, only I use half milk chocolate chips and half butterscotch. Very tasty and cute! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your bird's nest candies look so cute! What a tasty treat! Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle. Pinning to my Easter Treats Board.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congratulations!
    Your awesome post is featured on Full Plate Thursday today and it has been pinned to our features board! Thanks so much for sharing with us and enjoy your new Red Plate.
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete