DD is sick, and this is the weekend we are supposed to make candy for her to use as gifts for friends. i have never made peppermint bark before. i was going to find an internet recipe somewhere. I do not own a double boiler.
Anyone have any tips for making bark? A tried-true recipe to share?
Also, making chocolate pretzels... thanks!
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
my mom buys the chocolate pellets at the candy store or michaels. (the ones used for candy melting). then she buys the already crushed candy canes. (it works better than crushing your own)..she melts chocolate in mircro--- 30 seconds at a time and stirs....then stirs in the candy cane stuff when melted. the recipe says 1# chocolate to 1/2# candy cane but she only does 1/4 lb candy cane because she thinks it is too strong w/ the 1/2 lb. I think the keys as I remember are 1) using the meltable candy chips (vs. a bag of nestles) and using the already crushed bark...which makes it look more professional.
she does not use a double boiler or anything.
it is very easy..and hard to mess up. and you can do any flavors. I saw vanilla, choc and dark choc chips at Michaels when I was there
It would be a great teen gift and could probably be made with ingredients you already have on hand. It is quite spicy. I would probably reduce the cayenne by half if I was giving it to some unsuspecting soul. Good luck. --Francie The only thing I changed about the recipe was to reduce the salt by 1/2 t.
I do have a tip on making the pretzels. When I do them I add about a half a teaspoon of crisco to the chocolate when I melt it. It helps to soften the chocolate so that when it firms up again it won't all crack off in the first bite.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
Isabel, I'll give a thumbs up for the almond bark that is in the store. Easy, not messy, and tastes delicious. Chocolate for the pretzels, and put ground up candy canes in the white, and you've got it done. Have fun, don't lick your fingers, calories lie in the fingers!
Take the opportunity to change one thing about yourself once a day be it large or small. Trying doesn't get anything done.
Posts: 3408 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
and can i just say what a wonderful stress reliever it is to pound candy canes inside a ziploc bag with a mallet....oh yeah!!! we may have to make bark every day.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
Melt white chocolate; spread the melted chocolate onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. Refrigerate until set.
I use a double-boiler like the one cate described
This one from Epicurious sounds a little complicated, but AWFULLY good...
