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Pam’s Peppermint Bark
Last night I spent four hours making holiday treats with a friend. We invented this recipe in an attempt to imitate a Williams-Sonoma peppermint candy she had tried earlier in the week. We had a jolly good time and I'd love to pass on this recipe for holiday success. It may not be as homemade as Ralph's fudge, but it is so easy that you can whip it up in no time to brighten someone's day at your office or in your neighborhood.
Pam's Peppermint Bark
1 package candy making milk chocolate (we used Nestle's)
2 packages candy making white chocolate
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies
Melt the milk chocolate and stir until smooth. Add the peppermint extract, mixing thoroughly. Pour onto a lipped cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread evenly on tray. Let cool. Melt the white chocolate and stir until smooth. Pour over the milk chocolate and spread evenly. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies while still hot. Let the whole thing cool, then break into pretty pieces and enjoy.
Many thanks to Pam Ozenberger for the idea!
| COMMENTS (1)
Last night I spent four hours making holiday treats with a friend. We invented this recipe in an attempt to imitate a Williams-Sonoma peppermint candy she had tried earlier in the week. We had a jolly good time and I'd love to pass on this recipe for holiday success. It may not be as homemade as Ralph's fudge, but it is so easy that you can whip it up in no time to brighten someone's day at your office or in your neighborhood.
Pam's Peppermint Bark
1 package candy making milk chocolate (we used Nestle's)
2 packages candy making white chocolate
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies
Melt the milk chocolate and stir until smooth. Add the peppermint extract, mixing thoroughly. Pour onto a lipped cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread evenly on tray. Let cool. Melt the white chocolate and stir until smooth. Pour over the milk chocolate and spread evenly. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies while still hot. Let the whole thing cool, then break into pretty pieces and enjoy.
Many thanks to Pam Ozenberger for the idea!
| COMMENTS (1)
Candy Cane Lane Christmas Punch
I'm not really a peppermint person. As much as I'd like to be giddy with anticipation of a red holiday Starbucks cup filled with a pump or two of peppermint syrup, in my mind, it's one of those ingredients that can ruin a perfectly good mocha.
But to be honest, I am in love with my grandma's peppermint punch, made exclusively on Christmas Eve. If you're already a peppermint enthusiast, you'll be sure to enjoy it. It's a candy cane on ice, one giant creamy swirl of pink froth in a punch bowl, a walk through a candy cane forest covered in snow. It's welcomed as an appetizer or sipped with dessert.
Candy Cane Lane Christmas Punch
1/2 gallon peppermint stick ice cream
1 quart eggnog
1 large bottle (2 liters) 7-up, chilled
Mix the 3 ingredients together in large punch bowl approximately 30 minutes before guests arrive, so ice cream has time to partially melt. Makes a large punch bowl; approx. 24 servings.
| COMMENTS (0)
I'm not really a peppermint person. As much as I'd like to be giddy with anticipation of a red holiday Starbucks cup filled with a pump or two of peppermint syrup, in my mind, it's one of those ingredients that can ruin a perfectly good mocha.
But to be honest, I am in love with my grandma's peppermint punch, made exclusively on Christmas Eve. If you're already a peppermint enthusiast, you'll be sure to enjoy it. It's a candy cane on ice, one giant creamy swirl of pink froth in a punch bowl, a walk through a candy cane forest covered in snow. It's welcomed as an appetizer or sipped with dessert.
Candy Cane Lane Christmas Punch
1/2 gallon peppermint stick ice cream
1 quart eggnog
1 large bottle (2 liters) 7-up, chilled
Mix the 3 ingredients together in large punch bowl approximately 30 minutes before guests arrive, so ice cream has time to partially melt. Makes a large punch bowl; approx. 24 servings.
| COMMENTS (0)
The Never-Fail Homemade Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
Every kitchen develops its own recipe staples, and this one has become mine. I make it when entertaining, take it to bring-a-salad events and even make it just for myself every once in a while. The base of this dressing is equal parts oil, vinegar and sugar, with a little pepper, poppy seeds and salt mixed in. I never measure anything besides the oil, vinegar and sugar, but for those of you who like a little more concrete recipe than a list of ingredients, I estimated the amounts I usually use. So simply add poppy seed, pepper and salt to taste, shake it up, and - Voila! - instant holiday salad pick-me-up.
The Never-Fail Homemade Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 C White Vinegar
1/4 C Sugar
1 T Poppy Seed
1/2 T Black Pepper
a dash of salt
Add all ingredients in container with tight lid and shake vigorously until mixed. This recipe makes enough dressing for a large salad, with some to spare. And one final tip: a salad will not stay crisp and fresh with this dressing on it for more than about an hour, so don't add this dressing until just before you are ready to serve.
| COMMENTS (2)
Every kitchen develops its own recipe staples, and this one has become mine. I make it when entertaining, take it to bring-a-salad events and even make it just for myself every once in a while. The base of this dressing is equal parts oil, vinegar and sugar, with a little pepper, poppy seeds and salt mixed in. I never measure anything besides the oil, vinegar and sugar, but for those of you who like a little more concrete recipe than a list of ingredients, I estimated the amounts I usually use. So simply add poppy seed, pepper and salt to taste, shake it up, and - Voila! - instant holiday salad pick-me-up.
The Never-Fail Homemade Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
1/4 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 C White Vinegar
1/4 C Sugar
1 T Poppy Seed
1/2 T Black Pepper
a dash of salt
Add all ingredients in container with tight lid and shake vigorously until mixed. This recipe makes enough dressing for a large salad, with some to spare. And one final tip: a salad will not stay crisp and fresh with this dressing on it for more than about an hour, so don't add this dressing until just before you are ready to serve.
| COMMENTS (2)