The Peppermint Patty deserves its well-earned place in the munchies hall of fame. Only problem is, it doesn't make much of a Valentine treat. Today we experiment with what you might call a more romantic hue!

Ingredients:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 bag of powdered sugar
1/3 cup (infused!) Crisco
2-Pack Strawberry flavoring
Red food coloring
2 tsp vanilla or cream flavor
Melting Chocolates (Chips, wafers, etc)

Directions:
This one’s really quite simple. Mix the milk, sugar, Crisco, flavoring and coloring--using a mixer with a dough hook if you’ve got one. It’ll be ready when it looks wet and almost shiny (but will still be somewhat dry to the touch). I found it best to first mix by hand, then I put in a big resealable bag and continued to knead it.  

Dust your surface with spare powdered sugar. Roll the mixture out thin and use a small circular cutter or an old open pill bottle, shot glass, you name it. Re-roll your leftover dough and repeat until fully used up. Freeze the discs. Then, melt your chocolate and dip each. Chocolate chips and other types may require more refrigeration, chocolate with less additives holds up the best.

This recipe makes a heaping harvest of patties depending on size, so you’ll have more than enough to package in clear boxes and bows for Valentine’s day. Their dosage and thickness are up to you -- along with even the flavor or shape (you could change for each season). Want to take this recipe to the next level? Find a heart-shaped cutter.

Bon Appetit!