Chocolate Candy Slice

This is a recipe I unearthed from my mother's recipe box. I was hosting an open house a while ago and wanted to make some squares that didn't require a lot of time or effort. This recipe fits the criteria.


Whip this slice up in 10 or 15 minutes, pop it in the fridge for about 1/2 an hour and you've got a rich (I mean sugar high for a week) treat.


Like a lot of recipes I post, this one takes me back to the basement of our small town Manitoba church. The social life of the church revolved around the UCW (United Church Women) and food. You could generally find this slice on a dainty tray casually rubbing shoulders with the peanut butter/caramel/marshamallow squares and the cherry marshmallow bars (two other favourites you'll see in future posts).

In those days no one was aware of peanut or gluten allergies. Life is a little different today so you'll find two versions of the recipe posted below. One is the original version in all it's nut-filled, anaphylactic glory. The other is a version I've adapted to eliminate the potential allergens of peanut butter, coconut, walnuts and gluten.

Here's the easy, no-bake blast from church teas past.

CHOCOLATE CANDY SLICE (The Unadulterated Version)

Melt in a double boiler:

1 pkg (300 g) butterscotch chips
1 pkg (350 g) chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup peanut butter
(If you don't have a double boiler use very low heat on your stove top).

Stir in:
1 cup coconut
3/4 cup walnuts
1 package mini marshmallows (you can use coloured or plain - it's up to you)

Pour into a 9" x 13" pan. Chill

CHOCOLATE CANDY SLICE (The Allergy Free Version)

Melt in a double boiler:
1 to 1 1/2 pkg butterscotch chips
1 1/2 pkg chocolate chips
1 cup butter or margarine
(If you don't have a double boiler use very low heat on your stove top).

Stir in:
1 cup Rice Krispie cereal
1 pkg mini marshmallows (coloured or plain - you decide)

Pour into a 9" x 13" pan. Chill.

CELIAC NOTE: Rice Krispies may still be a problem for those with Celiac disease as they contain barley. You can generally find gluten free rice cereal in the organic aisle or at a specialty food store.

PEANUT NOTE:  Check the packages of butterscotch and chocolate chips closely - the package of butterscotch chips I used still had the "may contain peanuts" note at the end of the ingredient list.

Billboards From God

Have you ever asked God for guidance in helping you make an important decision? You bring the dilemma to Him seeking a solution but instead of a definitive answer you feel like you’re twiddling the tuning button on the radio resulting in static and dead air.

Many times in my life I’ve brought important decisions to God in prayer.  I take a few minutes in the morning to say something like this,

“OK God, here’s my dilemma.  I really need to make a decision about this and it’s going to affect the next few years of my life.  I really want to do your will and make the right choice so can you tell me what you want me to do and what the right choice is?  Thank You for hearing my prayer Heavenly Father and thank You for answering it.  I know you will.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”  Then I rush out the door to get on with my busy life.

Isn’t that admirable?  I’m bringing my decision to God. I’m telling Him I want to choose wisely and do His will. So why don’t I get an answer. Why isn’t there a big billboard on the side of the highway that reads,

“Dear Carol…thanks for your prayer this morning. I’m really glad you took six seconds out of your busy schedule to share that with me.  Here’s a numbered, step by step list of what you should do to make that decision. And oh, by the way, here’s a link to a YouTube video of how your life will turn out if you follow my list of instructions.  Have a nice day! God"

If I saw that I’d pull over, take a picture and download it to my computer.  I’d make sure I followed it step by step so I didn’t mess up!

You know I’m being facetious.  My point is we all rush to God when we have problems or important decisions to make.  We expect a response NOW!  Then we get frustrated and disillusioned when we don’t seem to get an answer.  We think we can call on God like a Google search.  Cast up a prayer, get 10,000 hits back in the matter of a millisecond, and pick the one we like. 

God doesn’t work that way.  Max Lucado in his book, “Out Live Your Life”, says, “God has posted traffic signs everywhere we look.  In the universe, in scripture, even within our own hearts...”  Much to my chagrin Max wasn’t referring to advertising spots on billboards. 

In most cases God does answer our petitions for guidance but we’re too busy to get it.  In some cases we ignore the message because it doesn’t come like a lightning bolt out of the blue or a smack upside the head with a two by four.

Maybe God answered you through a gentle conversation with a friend or neighbor.

Maybe God’s answer is found in the persistent nudging of your conscience.

Maybe God answers in the beauty of a sunset, the majesty of a mountain top, or the gentle breeze on your face.

Maybe God answers in a quiet moment of inspiration that comes to you when you turn off the Iphone, the TV and the computer.

We tend to have a one-sided relationship with God.  How many friendships or marriages have you seen where one person does all the talking while the other person just sits and listens?  How successful are those relationships?  They’re not exactly what I’d call healthy.

Frequently we fail to be in healthy relationship with God.  We don’t read scripture every day or spend time listening.  We don’t give God a chance to speak.   We don’t hear the answer because we’re too busy doing the talking!

I still dream of my billboard by the side of the road but I know it’s not a reality.  The only way I’m going to hear God speak is by spending time with Him.  When I ask Him to tune all my senses to be ready to hear the message He has for me and when I go into the day watching for ways He might speak to me, I’ll begin to hear His answers.

How does God speak to you?  Post your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

A Slave To Debt

In January I wrote a post on acquisition addiction (part 1 and part 2), which typically results in debt.  Are you haunted by bill collectors? Stalked by credit card companies? Have a sick lump of dread in your stomach every time the phone rings because you’re afraid it’s another collection agency?

Do you take a cash advance on one credit card to meet the minimum payment of another? Are you using the 1990’s Roseanne Barr method of avoidance by not signing the cheque when you put it in the envelope to the utility company because you know there’s not enough money in the account for it to clear? You have to LOOK like you’re trying to send them money…so you pretend you FORGOT to sign it.

Are you living on payday cash advances with inflated interest rates of 29% or more and administration fees that gobble up your pay cheque before it hits your bank account?  Are you sinking a little deeper every day in the sea of debt? Is the water closing over your head in spite of all your efforts and hard work?

If you find yourself mired in desperation brought on by debt I want you to know there’s still hope.  I’ve been there and admit to using all of the various tactics listed above. I’ve also experienced all of debt's negative emotional friends:

        Shame                      Fear                      Anger

        Frustration                Desperation           Panic

        Depression                Apathy                   Dread

        Helplessness              Worthlessness

I dug myself out of the pit once. Now my husband and I are back in because of choices we made during the last two years. It’s so frustrating! We’re slaves to debt.

The money we make isn’t ours to spend, share and give; instead it’s going to lines of credit and credit cards. It’s sickening! We’re no longer free to be generous the way we’d like. We’re no longer free to use God’s money in ways that please Him. Until it’s paid off debt is our master.

We kicked 2012 off with the decision to start the process of getting out of debt.  It’s not easy to take charge of your finances when you’re overwhelmed.  You don’t want to know just how deep the hole is; but if you’re ever going to be free from debt’s shackles this is where you need to start. 

Gather up your statements, your bills, your loan documents, and your IOU’s. Get a sheet of paper and a calculator and sit down at the kitchen table. On the sheet of paper list every creditor to whom you owe money and write down the amount you owe beside it.  Now punch those numbers into the calculator, add it up, and finally face your foe - the total dollar value of your debt.

I understand this is a terrifying process.  When you live in debt for an extended period of time the only way to survive is by refusing to face reality. Right now your stomach’s churning and panic lurks around the corner. It’s OK, take a deep breath.  Half the battle is facing reality.

Now take it a step further - beside each creditor write down your minimum monthly payment. Add this amount up. Beside it write down your total monthly take home income.

Some of you are relieved to see your monthly income exceeds your monthly debt payment. Others feel your heart sinking because that’s not the case. Your monthly debt payment exceeds your monthly income.

At this point I’d recommend seeking help from a professional. There are a lot of good financial counselors who can set up a debt repayment plan or determine if you should file for bankruptcy.  In Canada you might want to check out www.creditcounsellingcanada.ca as a starting point.

I also recommend you visit Dave Ramsey’s website at www.daveramsey.com .  Dave has some great resources to help you get on a budget and systematically tackle your debt. He hosts a daily talk show via podcast giving callers advice on their debt scenarios. You'll learn alot just by listening. You can pick up his book, “Total Money Makeover” or find a church near you offering the Financial Peace University course.

Dave speaks from experience and his advice is sound. I highly recommend his website if you’re looking for a method to stop the debt madness and re-gain control of your finances.

You’re probably feeling discouraged, demoralized, and defeated. So here’s a pep talk. Just because you’ve made some financial mistakes doesn’t mean you’re a worthless person. Even if it comes to the point of bankruptcy God still loves you. Money doesn’t define who we are in Christ and it shouldn’t define who we are as people. Don’t lose your identity just because you’ve lost control of your finances.

You don’t need to be a slave to debt for the rest of your life. Are you ready to break its chains? Share your thoughts by clicking on comments below.

Those No-Bake Chocolate, Oatmeal, Coconut Things

Those No-Bake Chocolate, Oatmeal Coconut Things; Quick Chocolate Drops; Chocolate Dainties; Haystacks; Fiddle Diddles; and the not so appetizing… Turd Cookies.  Are your taste buds quivering with anticipation or revulsion? 

For a lot of people these cookies are old familiar friends, but for the uninitiated, here’s what you need to know.  They don’t require any baking and use ingredients that were staples in every kitchen about 25 years ago.  (Wow I can’t believe I just typed “25 years”! Am I ever dating myself!)

These tasty, chewy treats were regular attendees at church events.  You could pretty much guarantee they’d pop up at all community events and wedding showers.

Like puffed wheat cake, the popularity of these cookies has languished.  I think it’s time our taste buds take a stroll down memory lane.

My family called them Fiddle Diddles. I don’t know where the name came from. It wasn’t the name at the top of the recipe in the cook book, but as a kid it was fun to say.

I took a big interest in baking at an early age and these were the first cookies I learned to make; probably because my mother didn’t have to worry about any potential oven mishaps.  She just had to ensure no fires started on the stove top. (I only remember starting a fire on the stove once and that was when I was an adult in my own kitchen…and it was an accident…but I digress.)

Any time I wanted to bake, Fiddle Diddles were the cookie of choice. They had everything you needed for a successful cookie. From my perspective they were sweet and chocolaty and you experienced close to instant gratification since they required zero oven time – just drop them on waxed paper, wait about ½ an hour and voila…cookies!

From my mother’s perspective they provided oat fiber, cleverly hidden in the guise of a sweet, chocolate treat. So there you have it a cookie everyone can agree on. 

Here’s the recipe, I’ll leave the name choice up to you. J

Put the following ingredients in a medium sized pot:

2 cups white sugar

3 tbsp. cocoa

½ cup milk

½ cup butter

Pinch of salt

Mix together and bring to a boil.  Boil for 1 ½ minutes.

Remove from heat.

Stir in:

3 cups oatmeal (either regular or quick cooking rolled oats will work - don't pre-cook it, just dump in the plain, raw oats)

1 cup coconut

1 tsp. vanilla

When completely mixed drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper and cool.

Do you remember these cookies? What did your family call them? Click on "comments" below to share your thoughts.

Acquisition Addiction - Part II

Does the acquisition of consumer goods satisfy? Can buying more “stuff” solve our problems? Can owning a new car, a flashy new cell phone or an expensive sweater change our self-image, solve our relationship problems or make us happy? (From Acquisition Addiction - Part 1)

Yes, a new car or great new sweater will make you feel better. It will boost your self-image and maybe even build confidence. It’s exciting to score that great bargain and the right clothing can make you feel amazing!

Unfortunately the feeling is only temporary. When the initial sense of euphoria fades our problems rise to the surface like dead fish in an aquarium. They can’t be ignored and they stink! Back to the mall we dash for our next hit of self-worth found in the form of clothes, shoes, cosmetics, housewares, jewelry; you fill in the blank.

 The very act of addictive shopping leads to a set of its own unique problems. The shopper descends into a dark, muddy pit of self-loathing and credit card debt.

Marital problems, family problems, financial problems, work problems, self image problems, health problems, social problems, addiction problems...none of the realities of life are fixed by another trip to the mall.

Every day we’re bombarded by advertising messages telling us we need more “stuff”.  Advertisements tell us we’ll feel better about ourselves if we buy a certain brand of make up or own a specific designer’s clothing. We’ll be more beautiful and popular if we buy a certain hair product. Marketers are trained to manipulate our emotions, our desires and our dreams.  Guess what? Advertising works!

With easy access to on-line and television shopping and malls in every residential neighbourhood we’re walking a thin line between healthy buying patterns and those leading to addiction.

Perhaps it’s time to step back and examine our buying patterns and motivations? Do you see an advertisement and find yourself wanting to buy the product so you’ll be more beautiful, more popular, more desirable or happier? Are your credit card balances higher than your bank balance? Do you own a bunch of stuff you don’t need and don’t even want? Do you hide your purchases from your spouse or your friends? Are you ashamed to talk about your spending habits?

Have you crossed the line from responsible shopping into addiction?  If so I encourage you to speak to your doctor, who can determine the best way of managing your addiction. He may prescribe medication or refer you to a counselor specializing in the area of shopping addiction. He may recommend a combination of both.  Treatment plans are different for every person.

Don’t delay on this. Do it now before you’re faced with the serious consequences of bankruptcy and financial destruction. If you’ve already fallen into the bottomless well of debt, don’t despair, there’s still hope. The first step to ending the slavery of addiction is recognizing the problem and seeking help.  Everyone has to start some time. Make it now!

Acquisition Addiction - Part 1

Before I jump into this post I have a confession to make. I’ve stolen the title from Beulah Alliance Church's sign in Edmonton. The two words screamed for my attention when I drove by the sign a few months ago. Immediately the squirrel in my brain started chattering!

In hope of finding a thought provoking sermon on the topic I clicked around their website but came up empty handed.  I couldn’t resist shamelessly ripping off the title and sharing some of my thoughts on the topic.

Acquisition addiction! How many of us suffer from this affliction? Probably everyone to some extent. We all have our little weakness – things inexplicably leap off the shelf and into our shopping cart. Perhaps it’s a collection of dolls, spoons, Christmas ornaments, or other essentially useless items. We're drawn to owning more and more and more...and more.

My four greatest shopping weaknesses are tea, candles, scarves and yarn (not necessarily in that order). I justify these because I drink the tea, I burn the candles, I wear the scarves and when I have time (sadly none recently) I knit.

But do I really NEED all the tea in my cupboard? Do I NEED shelves full of candles and accessories in the basement? Do I NEED a different scarf for every day of the week? Do I NEED four sweater kits when I haven’t had time to finish a single prayer shawl in the last six months? Of course not, but with acquisition addiction that’s not the point!

Why are we compelled to buy more “stuff”? I may joke about buying more tea or yarn but shopping addiction is a serious affliction leading to a rapid descent into overwhelming debt, depression and bankruptcy.

There’s a medical term for shopping addiction – oniomania. Oniomania is defined as, “a passion or mad desire to buy things.” Like any addiction, it is generally a symptom of some other underlying problem.  Oniomaniacs buy things to hide from pain, to reduce stress, to escape their problems, to boost their self esteem, to comfort themselves, to reward themselves, and to escape loneliness and depression.

We’ve just come through the highest spending time of the year – Christmas. People go in debt to put the best gifts under the tree. Relationships are judged on the value of the gift. Feelings of depression and loneliness run rampant as we compare our failed relationships to the “perfect family moment” playing in the movies and on TV. Consumer goods are purchased to numb the pain and marketers know it!

Does the acquisition of consumer goods satisfy? Can buying more “stuff” solve our problems? Can owning a new car, a flashy new cell phone, or an expensive new sweater change our self image, solve our relationship problems, or make us happy?

Please post your thoughts below (click on "comments"). 

Look for Acquisition Addiction – Part 2 next week.

To Give...Or Not

To give, or not to give...that is the question. OK, that’s a bad rip off from Shakespeare’s familiar quote from Hamlet, “To be or not to be...” but it’s an area where we all struggle.

Do we give to charity or don’t we? Do we give to the homeless or don’t we? Do we tithe or don’t we? That’s right, I said the word...tithe. Depending on the church you attend this may be a common word in your vernacular or it may elicit looks of dismay, mumbled grumbling and a general sense of unease in the audience.

I’m not starting the year off with this post to stir up trouble or start a heated discussion about those who tithe and those who don’t.  (Although feel free to leave your comments below.) As I sit down to work through our personal financial budget for 2012, generosity has been on my mind.

It’s easy to be generous when the bills are paid and extra money is readily available. It’s easy to give 10% to the church and support other charities when it doesn’t affect our everyday life...like the food we eat and the number of channels on our TV’s.

What about when the numbers just don’t add up? When you total your income and expenses and realize the final number is red, not black. How easy is it to be generous now?

The knee jerk reaction is to cut back in the areas where no bill collectors will phone us or send us nasty letters. Of course that’s the church and charities. These people aren’t going to call us up and ask us why they didn’t get any money this month.

I’ve volunteered on a few church boards and councils over the years. I can’t remember a single time when we presented a budget at the annual general meeting that wasn’t a “faith” budget. What does that mean? It means there was no way we’d ever generate that kind of revenue without relying on God to produce it.

So what about our personal finances? Do we do ourselves a disservice when we cut back in the church and charity areas? Are we limiting the amount of blessing and joy we get out of life by being generous? Should we approach it like the “faith” budget and trust God to move in our lives and provide for us through various unexplored opportunities?

I don’t have good answers for these questions.  I function with a highly analytical and logical mind and I have issues with seeing the colour red at the bottom of a column of figures!

But you throw faith into the mix and suddenly there are unknown factors in play – the “what if I give God a chance” or “do I trust Him enough to follow through on other opportunities and see what happens?” spring to mind.

What do you think? Are we too fast to cut back on generosity and giving in our personal lives? Do we limit God’s opportunities to show us what He can do for us?