2010 Neighbor Holiday Gift - Peppermint Bark, Again

Do you have a favorite treat you expect a certain neighbor to deliver during the holidays? Sherry always makes me caramel popcorn and Amy makes delicious Chex Mix.

I wanted to be the owner of Peppermint Bark and have friends near and far clamoring for a bag. Until.. I got bored of making it. So for 2010, I tried switching to fudge.

Guess what...I broke down and bought the chocolate and candy canes as too many requests for Peppermint Bark have been denied.

Here's my recipe:

15 oz Merken's milk chocolate disks (called Cocoa Lite)
15 oz Merken's white chocolate disks
14 drops peppermint oil
1 box (12) Bob's crushed candy canes

In a microwave-proof bowl, melt the milk chocolate in 30-second increments until smooth. Add 7 drops of peppermint oil (approx 1 tsp.). Spread in a jelly roll pan, banging the sides of the pan to even the layer.

While this layer cools slightly, melt white chocolate in 30-second increments until smooth. Add 7 drops of peppermint oil (approx 1 tsp.).

Check milk chocolate layer. When it starts to cloud over, but is not completely set, gently drizzle the white chocolate across entire pan. Using a spatula, smooth out the white chocolate, covering the milk chocolate. Do not mix too aggressively or you will end up with marbled bark.

Sprinkle candy cane pieces onto the white chocolate and press. Allow the chocolate to set. Using a butter knife or dough knife, break chocolate away from sides of the pan and into bite-sized pieces.

1 pan = 11-4 oz bags

Finding the right Brownie recipe

I've been testing out brownie recipes to help a couple of cute friends who are getting married in the next few weeks. One wanted a cake-like brownie that would go well with a scoop of ice cream. The other thought a rich, elegant brownie that could stand on its own would be the best. The winners? Stick with a box mix for the first kind and here's the recipe for the second- from A Pinch of Salt Lake, with a slight modification on the glaze, making a ganache instead. I also cook them in a jelly roll pan as they tend to be very rich and smaller bites are better.


Mint Brownies
Brownies
2 cups sugar
2 ½ cups sifted flour
1 cup butter, softened
¼ tsp salt
4 eggs
¼ tsp baking powder
4-1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
2 teaspoons vanilla

Filling
4 Tbs butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbs evaporated milk (half and half or cream work too)
½ tsp peppermint extract
Few drops of pink or green food coloring, if desired

Glaze
3 Tbs butter
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs until well blended; then add melted chocolate. Sift flour, measure out 2 1/2 cups and sift again with dry ingredients then add to creamed mixture along with vanilla. Spread in greased and floured jelly roll pan and bake for about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs attached. Do not over bake. Set aside and let cool.

Mix all frosting ingredients until creamy and spread on brownies. Refrigerate 1 hour.
Combine butter and chocolate chips in top of double boiler; add cream, vanilla and blend thoroughly. Pour gently over frosting and spread by tipping pan until all of the brownie mixture is covered with glaze. Refrigerate until set.