Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Swirl Bark could start a new holiday tradition in your family. Warning: It’s addictive and tends to disappear quickly! You can substitute chocolate chips for either or both of the white or dark chocolate. My preference is to use a candy chocolate (Wilton, CandiQuik, almond bark) since it melts better and is easier to work with, especially the white chocolate. Follow the package directions for melting in the microwave. Use a narrow utensil to create the swirls-- the point of a knife, a chopstick, the handle of wooden spoon – and move slowly to allow the chocolate time to flow. Stop when you have a design you like. When you add the cranberries and pistachios, it helps to press them into the chocolate just slightly. I’ve become a fan of non-stick ... [Read More]
chocolate
Classic Oreo Truffles
Oreo Truffles can be made from plain chocolate Oreos, golden oreos or a flavored filling Oreo. My favorite is a mint filled Oreo Truffle dipped in chocolate. This was a special request so it is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Oreo dipped in chocolate. Pretty darn good! Be sure to use original Oreos -- not the Double Stuff filling. And yes, any brand you like is okay. (But would you have looked again if the title was Sandwich Cookie Truffles???) If you want to add sprinkles or chopped nuts to the top of the dipped balls, do it while the chocolate is still warm so they will stay in place. The time needed for chilling means you need to plan ahead a bit to make these. I prefer to chill the mixture for about an hour before using a cookie dip to measure out the individual balls. To me it is ... [Read More]
Cherry Mash Bars
Wheel’s mother made these a couple of Christmases in a row. And then cherry chips disappeared from the store shelves. Maybe it was a regional thing. But when I saw the package on the shelf a few weeks ago, I knew it was time for Cherry Mash Bars – Yay!!! You can make Cherry Mash Bars with a layer of chocolate on the bottom AND on the top. To do this, divide the chocolate chips, peanut butter and nuts in half. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips, 1/3 cup peanut butter for 45 seconds in the microwave, add half the chopped nuts. Spread in foil lined pan. When cherry layer is completed, repeat for the second layer of chocolate. OR Alternatively, you can put the entire mixture of chocolate, peanut butter and nuts on top of the cherry layer just by following the instructions in the ... [Read More]
Chewy Chocolate Brownie
I won a red Betty Crocker cookbook once upon a time. I still use it for family favorites today – worn, dog earred and missing more than a few pages from the index and vegetable section. Bytes Big Brother used them for paper airplanes – unfortunately he didn’t grow up to become an aviator. Fortunately I had marked my favorite recipes so I could get along without a full index. Umm – yeah. Moving on -- what we call Chewy Chocolate Brownies was on that list. This brownie recipe is so easy to make you can do it with two toddlers and a cat crawling around your legs after work,while you talk on the phone, catch the flour canister the three year old is trying to pull off the counter and still have a batch of brownies in the oven before the next play date is arranged. The taste will ... [Read More]
Old Fashioned Brownie with frosting
A good brownie recipe means different things to different folks. This recipe isn’t strong on the chocolate, not too sweet and is more on the cake side of the equation. I chose it first for the lower amount of sugar and make it occasionally for that reason. Ya know – healthy brownies. However, every time Bytes will say “this needs frosting!” So much for reducing carbs and calories with less sugar! Last time he even compared it to the brownie in a certain frozen dinner, which he also thinks needs frosting. How would he know about frozen dinners in this household? Oh yeah—those long days of painting over the past year plus. At any rate frosting it is. For his half of the brownies. Not sure how he ends up with half a pan while Wheels and I get to share the remaining half. ... [Read More]
Classic Naked Brownie
“Got a good brownie recipe?” my sister asked. “Oh, two or three,”, I replied. Brownies are chocolate –a life necessity. What did she mean, did I have “a” brownie recipe? So here is take one: Classic Naked Brownie. This brownie has a rich chocolate flavor, not too sweet and just the right texture. Texture is the key characteristic of any brownie. Some people like dense fudgy brownies, others like a less dense, more cake-like texture, still others want chewy middles or crispy edges. All brownies have five basic ingredients: Chocolate, butter, sugar, flour and eggs. Varying the amounts of chocolate, butter, sugar, and flour will affect the texture of the brownie. That’s not to say eggs are not important. Most recipes are intended for large eggs, whether they are specified ... [Read More]
