Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Salty and crunchy peanuts covered in rich dark chocolate.

I had left over Chocoley Bada Bing Bada Boom Dipping and Coating Chocolate when I made my Tira-mocha Truffles and I couldn't let it go to waste.  I sat there staring at the chocolate trying to figure out what to do with it when I remembered peanuts.  We always get a big container of roasted, salted peanuts from Costco to keep around for a quick snack so we had plenty of them.   I added them to the melted chocolate by the handful, stirring, until everything was coated in chocolate and pretty much all of the chocolate was used.  Then I scooped them out by the spoonful to setup on waxed paper.  After a quick pause in the refrigerator they were ready to eat.

These are just what you'd expect.  They combine a sweet craving with a salty and crunchy craving.  They are also a great way to get a little fiber while you enjoy chocolate.  Any nut would be delicious covered in chocolate so use whatever you have on hand.  I also think it would be great to add some dried fruit and make it like a chocolate covered trail mix.  The options are endless and it makes a great snack for you and/or a simple gift for friends.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Ingredients:

Melted dark chocolate (I used Chocoley it's simple and delicious...you could also try melted chocolate chips)
Roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted whatever you prefer)

Add peanuts to the melted chocolate and stir to coat well.  Just keep adding peanuts until the chocolate runs out.

Scoop out the chocolate coated peanuts by the spoonful and place on waxed or parchment paper.

Put in the fridge for about 10 minutes until the chocolate hardens then enjoy.

Keep at room temperature or in the fridge in a sealed container.

Get your Chocoley Chocolate here.

Enjoy.

Linked to:  See Ya in the Gumbo, Two Cup, Lou Lou Girls, Teach Me, Taasty Tues, Tickle my Tastebuds, Whimsy

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Holiday Gift Idea: Pickled Peppers

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?  I don't know, but I do know that this is a tasty and festive looking gift for any pepper lover.

The smell of white vinegar reminds me of Easter.  I know this sounds strange, but it does.  While I was growing up, my sisters and I dyed eggs almost every Easter.  The kits my parents bought for this usually had these colored tablets that you had to dissolve in white vinegar and then you would dip the eggs in. We would sit around the kitchen table and and spend hours dying our Easter eggs,  being silly, talking, and laughing. We did this for as long as I can remember until we grew up and moved away.  So that's the connection.  Sometimes it is funny what you will be reminded of by a smell.

Anyway, white vinegar is  used in this recipe, I'm not just reminiscing for no reason.   White vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and some spices are boiled and then in go the pepper slices.  I used red and green jalapenos to give it more of a Holiday feel, but you could use any you like.  I'm sure not many people think of pickled peppers as Christmas gifts, but my husband loves all things spicy and goes  through pickled jalapenos like crazy.  So I thought I would try this recipe, after all, we have a many football (bowl) games left and they will be great on nachos.

Ingredients:

I got this idea and recipe from the Food Wishes blog.

10 jalapenos (4 red, 6 green), sliced
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar (add more if you like them sweeter)
1 Tbsp sea  salt (coarse salt)
1/2 tsp oregano
3 cloves garlic, peeled

Bring the water, vinegar, salt, sugar, and oregano to a boil then add the pepper rings and garlic.  Turn off the heat and let sit, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.  Then pick out the peppers and place them in a jar (I reused an old store bought pickled jalapeno jar, I think it was about 10 or 12 oz, they all fit).  Cover with the brine and refrigerate. This is a quick pickle, and it isn't the type of canning process that will store for ever, but it should last for a few months in the refrigerator (although it won't get the chance in my house).

If there is someone you know who loves peppers, of if you want to bring something different to a holiday party, keep this idea in mind.  It is also a great gift/recipe to make anytime. 

Enjoy.



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Mint Chocolate Macaroons

These, lighter, cookies are great for those who do not want too much butter over the holidays.  Made with egg whites, fresh coconut, and chocolate, with mint extract these cookies are fresh and delicious.

I finally picked up a whole coconut, in China Town.  I got the vendor to cut it in half for me so it would be a little easier to manage, then I (well actually my husband) cut out the meat.  This was not an easy thing to do, but there are some videos on youtube that make it look so simple.  Here is my favorite (I love the song).  Anyway, once we got the meat from the shell I rinsed it and shredded it (food processor made this easy).  Now for the Macaroon recipe.

I started with a basic macaroon recipe, replaced the vanilla extract with mint extract, and added melted chocolate.

Ingredients:

2 egg whites
1/2 tsp mint extract
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup shredded coconut (I probably used close to 2 cups, all of my coconut)
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted

Beat egg whites and extract until soft peaks form then add sugar slowly and continue beating until stiff peaks form (a stand mixer works great here).  Then fold in the remaining ingredients (make sure chocolate isn't too hot).  Drop by teaspoon full onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake in 325 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until set.  Let cookies cool on pan for at least 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.  Makes 30.

Wow, these turned out great. The chocolate gives them a brownie-like flavor with chewiness from the coconut and cool, freshness of mint.  A wonderful holiday treat.  Enjoy.

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Holiday Gift Idea: Coffee Chocolate Bark with Macadamia Nuts

This incredibly simple holiday gift idea uses only three ingredients and tastes amazing.  Made with bitter sweet chocolate chips, 100% Kona coffee (Hawaiian grown coffee) and studded with macadamia nuts this gift is sure to please.

I was inspired to make this after seeing a post from Grab a Plate .  I was shocked at how simple it was so I had to give it a try, with my own modifications of course.  To make it my own I added some instant coffee to flavor the chocolate.  I love coffee and chocolate together, almost as much as I love chocolate and peanut butter.  I actually have this favorite candy that I get sometimes, they are coffee flavored dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts.  It seems that all candy here in Hawaii contains macadamia nuts and it's no secret why, they are grown here, and they have a delicious buttery flavor. So with my ideas I made chocolate bark.

Ingredients:

1 bag of bitter sweet chocolate chips (60% cacao)
1-2 tsps Instant coffee
1/2 cup roasted Macadamia nuts, chopped

In a microwave safe bowl I melted the chocolate chips.  Then I added the instant coffee (I crushed the crystals in a mortar and pestle to make them finer) and half of the nuts.  I stirred this well, and then poured the mixture into a parchment lined 9 by 13 inch baking dish.  I allowed this to cool over night in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardened, then I lifted the chocolate and parchment paper out of the pan, and broke the chocolate into shards.  The chocolate once hardened does not stick to the parchment paper, you can also use aluminum foil.  I then put the bark into gift bags (I got about 4 bags with a little left over for myself).

This is so easy. I don't know if I can stress how simple this is to make.  There are so many variations you can make as well, it's all up to your own tastes and creativity.  I loved the coffee flavor in the chocolate.  The bitter sweet chocolate already had a bitterness to it of a good dark chocolate, and the unsweetened coffee added a little more bitterness.  It was perfect.  If you like your chocolate sweeter you can always choose a sweeter chocolate like semi sweet or milk chocolate.  As always be creative and enjoy.

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Holiday Gift Idea: Peppermint Patties

While making cookies for Christmas, I ran across a recipe for homemade peppermint patties. Since these are my mom's favorite candy I could not resist trying them, even though there is no baking involved. I followed the recipe exactly except for the chocolate. My store did not have enough baking dark chocolate, so instead I used chocolate chips, and added 2 Tbsp shortening. The recipe made 47 patties and I made 9 bags of 5 patties. Overall a great recipe just a little messy dipping in melted chocolate.

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Holiday Gift Idea: Apple Spice Granola

I've posted earlier how to make granola, but I love to try new things and make it special. This time I'm trying apple spice granola.
1 cup apple juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp allspice
Mix ingredients in a small saucepan until it begins to boil, let boil a few minutes stiring continuously (When I finished my juice mixture had condensed down to 2/3 of a cup). Let cool for 1 hour.
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chopped pecans
5 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup canola oil
Apple juice mixture above
I decided it would be a neat gift to give some of my friends homemade granola. I found some cute gift bags at the store, and filled them with granola. People loved it. One batch of granola made 2 bags (about 4 cups per bag).

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