Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas




Merry Christmas! Enjoy a cup of cocoa, a good book and time with family and friends!

Happy Christmas Eve



Merry Christmas Eve!
 I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday with family and drinking lots of cocoa and eating many cookies!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Salted Caramel Peanut Bark

Good morning! I hope that you had a great weekend. Are you ready for Christmas? Do you have all of your gifts purchased, and all of your baking finished?



I baked up a storm this weekend and I made this delicious and easy Salted Caramel Peanut Bark. If you are looking for an easy recipe for last minute gifts or for your Christmas celebration look no further.




Salted Caramel Peanut Bark
Recipe from Good Housekeeping Magazine

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine 3 Tablespoons corn syrup, 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 1/4 teaspoons of salt. Add 2 cups of peanuts and stir to coat. Spread evenly in a single layer on parchment paper lined pan and bake for 15 minutes or until brown and caramelized. With two forks separate the nuts and then cool completely. Stir into 12 ounces of melted dark chocolate until well coated and then spread evenly onto waxed paper. Refrigerate until set.

I hope you try this! Enjoy your day!

Linking to:
Stone Gable
Savvy Southern Style
Katherines Corner
French Country Cottage

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Raspberry Hot Chocolate



Hello! I hope you are having a good weekend. Are you decorating for Christmas? Do you have your tree up?


Is it warm? Do you feel a chill in the air? Or is it downright cold? Today it is a little chilly here and of course I am experimenting with some hot chocolate recipes. I made some raspberry hot chocolate and thought you might want to try it!






Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Adapted from Food Network

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped or 6 oz 60% Ghiradelli bittersweet chips
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, I use Droste
  • 3 tablespoons raspberry liqueur (recommended Chambord)
  • Snowmen, candy cane marshmallows for garnish, optional

Directions

Combine everything except the liqueur in a small saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Whisk occasionally until chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes.
Continue to cook, whisking frequently until smooth and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in liqueur, top with marshmallows and serve immediately.




This hot chocolate is delicious, it is creamy, sweet, chocolaty and there is a hint of raspberry, it is like eating a candy bar.  I know that I do say that all of the time but lets face it, I would not write about something that I do not like! 

I hope you try it, and if you have a favorite chocolate recipe do let me know and I will come and check it out!