With a nice selection of dried fruit and nuts in stock in our home before Christmas, we decided a third use (besides the previous two posts on salted and herbed nuts and nutty brittle) would be to make some easy but delicious chocolate bark. With several dinners planned in succession, one piece like this is good for 3-4 meals as a small treat with coffee or tea.
To make, I took a 1 lb. bar of dark chocolate from Trader Joe’s (that’s what was in the fridge), chopped it up and put two-thirds of it in a double boiler and let it melt. I took that off the heat, added the remaining chocolate (I guess this is to “temper” the chocolate), then added some homemade granola, golden raisins, dried cranberries and sliced almonds and pistachios. We spread this on some parchment paper on a baking sheet and sprinkled more of the same ingredients on top and put it in the fridge to harden.
Just before serving, break pieces of the “bark” into shards. The crunch from the granola an nuts along with the golden raising and sweet/sour bite of the cranberries was really, really nice. I am a huge fan of fruit and nut bars, so maybe I am impartial to this combination. But if you have an abundance of ingredients this holiday season, consider making this simple but special treat.
6 Responses
These posts are driving me nuts! I usually grab a few bags of cashews and almonds at the Dubai airport before I fly back to camp. When I run out of stock, I order online from nuts.com.
N(a)U(gh)TTY you!!!!
MM, you must mean “partial to this combination.” Thanks for the “nutty” tips; I always forget it’s the simple ones that yield the best results. Merry Christmas to you, your family, and staff!
Another delicious combo.. Chocolate, nuts and fruits!
Its a bit outta of the way, but I think we can squeeze in Trader Joe’s on your Amazing Race ala Marketman 48 hour shopping turnaround from Manila to SFO and back.
Hi Market Man
I have been reading your blog for the longest time, but was too shy to comment. I just want to say thank you for all your posts. Your blog is a constant source of joy, entertainment and inspiration. Merry Christmas to you and your family.