Chocolate-coated Pringle Cowboy Hats . . . not as simple as you might think!

A lesson learned — simple is sometimes complicated! Knowing that I taught at Abilene High School in the land of the AHS Cowboys and Cowgirls, my sister sent me this seemingly simple idea for a treat that I could make as a favor for an upcoming teacher’s reunion. We joked on the phone that it was probably one of those projects that looked simple but was not! NOT was correct. I gathered my supplies, melted chocolate and began dipping Pringle chips one hot summer day. A thick layer of chocolate encased the chips, much too thick to be feasible and I couldn’t imagine holding onto the edge until the excess slowly dripped off. Thought I’d add a bit of coconut oil to the chocolate to thin out the chocolate and help it harden..I dipped, placed the chips (over 40 of them) on waxed paper and waited for the chocolate to harden. I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Finally I put the chips in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes and they did harden. Took them out and before long the chocolate was again soft and sticky. “This will never work,” says I. Barry, thinking he’d saved the day and ready for his fair share of sweet treats, volunteered to eat the rejects. Back to the drawing board/ This time I purchased chocolate melts.” By now, I’m beginning to run out of time, so I decide to simplify the process and asked Barry to assist. Instead of dipping, I simply brushed a layer of chocolate on the top of the Pringle, set it on wax paper, and then Barry applied the Rolo and an orange mini M&M (orange and brown are the Cowboy/girl colors). Not perfect but we finished quickly and they added a festive touch to our gathering.  

*Chocolate Melts — compound chocolate or chocolate wafers, offer a world of convenience. Unlike real chocolate, they contain vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter, which means they don't require tempering. This makes them a go-to choice for quick and easy melting, ideal for coating, dipping, or decorating.

 

Chocolate-coated Pringle Cowboy Hats

Chocolate Melts

Pringles

Wax paper

Rolo candies

Mini M&M candies for decorating 

1. Melt Chocolate Melts according to package instructions.
2. Using a silicon pastry brush, coat the top of a Pringle with a thin layer of melted coating. Set on wax paper.
3. Center a Rolo candy in the center of the Pringle and add an M&M candy (or other decoration of your choice). 

   A
   Above - a plate of extra AHS Cowboy/girl edible hats.
   Below: A few pics from our AFS staff reunion. 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4 Easy Pecan Holiday Treats as featured in KANSAS! Magazine

Check out the latest KANSAS! Magazine (2023 / vol 79 / issue 1 / pp. 26-31) for information about fresh, Kansas grown pecan! Kenny Felt’s pecan  photographs are amazing.

                 The magazine is full of ideas for holiday shopping and family excursions. 

Below are their recipes—perfect for the holidays, and easy, too! I’ve also included contact info for each pecan grower that was included in my article on pecans . . . so you’ll have easy ordering access. 

EASY PRETZEL TURTLES   Yield: 30 candies

A kid-friendly candy that Lila Carter makes with 

her grandchildren using Jake Creek Pecans.

INGREDIENTS

30 Rolo® chocolate covered caramel candies, unwrapped

30 square-shaped waffle pretzels 

30 pecan halves, toasted*

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up. 

2.  Place the pretzels on baking sheet and top each one with a candy.

3.  Bake in oven for 3 to 5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The candy should be soft but not completely melted.

4.  Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a pecan half. 

* To Toast Pecans: Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir or shake the pan occasionally so the nuts brown evenly without burning. Watch closely as the oil in the nuts can cause them to burn. Toasting adds another layer of flavor to pecans. 

Note: Due to their high oil content, raw and toasted pecans stay freshest if stored in the refrigerator or freezer in sealed containers.

Jake Creek Pecans Orchard

Owners: Brad and Lila Carter

Address: 11469 W 335^th St., Paola, KS 66071

Phone: 913.406.2501

On-line store: jake-creek-pecans.square.site

Webpage: Jakecreekpecans.com

Facebook & Instagram: Jake Creek Pecans 

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SUGAR COATED PECANS    Yield: 1 pound 

Slina 

Prothe uses Prothe Pecans to create these crunchy, sweet holiday treats.

INGREDIENTS

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

1 cup granulated (white) sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 pound pecan halves

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease or spray one standard-sized baking sheet.

2.  In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg white and water until frothy. 

3.  In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, salt, and cinnamon.

4.  Add pecans to egg whites; stir to evenly coat the nuts. 

5.  Remove and add them to the sugar mixture; toss them in the mixture until coated.

6.  Spread nuts in a flat layer on prepared baking sheet.

7.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

8.  Cool and store in an airtight container. 

 

TOASTED, SALTED PECANS    Yield: 1 pound 

Recipe from Slina Prothe, Prothe Pecans. 

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons vegetable or pecan oil

2 tablespoons butter

1 pound pecan halves

Salt to taste

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Place oil and butter on a standard-sized baking sheet with sides; place in a preheated 250 degree F. just until butter melts. 

2.  Mix pecans and salt with the oil and butter. Spread nuts in a flat layer on prepared baking sheet.

3.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  

4.  Cool and store in an airtight container. 

 

Prothes Pecans

Owners: Leland and Slina Prothe

Address: 33850 Victory Rd Paola, KS 66071

Phone: 913.849.3358  

Webpage: prothespecans.com 

Facebook: Prothes Pecans

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SPICY HOT PECANS

Kendall Grier’s family adds Bentley Farm pecans to saucy and spicy ingredients to create a savory holiday treat. 

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups pecan halves

1 tablespoon chili powder, or cayenne pepper for hotter mix. 

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.   Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2.   Mix ingredients in a resealable plastic bag and shake.

3.   Spread coated pecans on a medium-sized baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring approximately every 10 minutes.

 

Bentley Pecan Farm

Owner: Kendall Grier 

Address: 1216 Chestnut, Halstead, KS 67056 

Phone: 316.209.4588

Facebook: Bentley Pecan Farm

 

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Circle's Pecans & Country Store

Owners: Tom and Barbara Circle

Address: 2499 US HWY 400 McCune, KS 66753

Phone: 620.632.4382 

Webpage: kansaspecans.com

Facebook: Circle’s Pecans & Country Store

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Osage Ridge Farm 

Owners: Travis and Rhea Wilson

Address: 18090 Xavier Rd, Oswego, KS 67356

Phone: 620.238.2965

Email: osageridgefarm@gmail.com

Facebook: Osage Ridge Farm

Rolo® Pretzel Turtles – Easy, 3-ingredient Holiday Candy

So easy, so good, so festive! Holiday baking begins . . .

Rolo® Pretzel Turtles Small mini twisted pretzels

Chocolate covered caramel candies (Rolo® candies) 

Pecan halves

1.  Preheat oven to 300°.

2.  Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Place one chocolate covered caramel candy on each pretzel.

3.  Bake for about 4 minutes or until candies melt into “turtle” shape.

4.  While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel.

5.  Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Recipe without photos . . .

Rolo® Pretzel Turtles Small mini twisted pretzels

Chocolate covered caramel candies (Rolo® candies) 

Pecan halves

1.  Preheat oven to 300°.

2.  Arrange the pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Place one chocolate covered caramel candy on each pretzel.

3.  Bake for about 4 minutes or until candies melt into “turtle” shape.

4.  While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel.

5.  Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Rice Krispy Ornaments -- trim a holiday plate with these edible ornaments!

Trim a holiday plate with these edible ornaments!

Who doesn't love Rice Krispy treats? Now you can fashion them into simple but festive edible ornaments and use them to adorn your cookie trays!

Rice Krispy Ornaments  Makes 6 or 7

1 batch RiceKrispy treats (made w/ butter, marshmallows & rice cereal)

Butter

Holiday-colored sugar, sprinkles or jimmies


Rolo® candies
(or you could use miniature marshmallows)

Toothpicks

1.     Butter your hands well; shape the cereal mixture into six or seven tightly packed balls. (Even with disposal gloves that have been buttered, this is a sticky mess. I found that if I first added a portion of the Rice Krispie mixture to a custard cup, that had been sprayed with pan release, then pushed it into shape, it was much easier to form into a ball shape.) 

2.     Roll the balls in colored sugar until coated.

Again, I used custard cups -- adding the sugar to a cup and then rolling the ball around in the cup.

3.     For the top of the ornament, stick a toothpick into one end of a wrapped Rolo® candy; insert the other end into the Rice Krispy ornament.

Recipe without photos:

Rice Krispy Ornaments    Makes 6 or 7

1 batch Rice Krispy treats (made w/ butter, marshmallows, vanilla & rice cereal)

 

Butter

Holiday-colored sugar, sprinkles or jimmies


Rolo® candies
(or you could use miniature marshmallows)

Toothpicks

1.     Butter your hands well; shape the cereal mixture six or seven tightly packed balls. (Even with disposal gloves that have been buttered, this is a sticky mess. I found that if I first added a portion of the Rice Krispie mixture to a custard cup, that had been sprayed with pan release, then pushed it into shape, it was much easier to form into a ball shape.) 

2.     Roll the balls in colored sugar until coated.

3.     For the top of the ornament, stick a toothpick into one end of a wrapped Rolo® candy; insert the other end into the Rice Krispy ornament.