I made a trip to the "Dollar tree" store for a few of their clay plant pots. I bought all those clearance shelf plants for the pondthat came in cheap nursery plastic. I feel bad for their root bound bottoms peeking from the holes.
After walking in, I spotted silicone (flexible) ice cube trays with little heart shapes. I stopped in my tracks, distracted by the little trays. At $1 a tray, I knew this was the key to our Kid Friendly Valentines for their Class. On my way out I saw the next key factor for our big idea. Candy canes- 12 in a box- 4 boxes for $1.... Then I was off to the chocolate aisle!
Little bite size hearts for little fingers...
Each year, Panda and I try to dream up a cool "Valentine" for the class exchange. Something Handmade. Something that would be enjoyed by boy or girl. Something....DIFFERENT (and NOT store bought).
Last year it was a heart shaped cookie in a decorated, see through, CD sleeve from another blog spotlight.
The year before it was handmade paper Valentines with pop up art. This year, we decided to make Peppermint Bark in the shape of hearts!
A recipe is listed below for those wishing to make these. Follow the instructions, but forget the oven part. Just double boiler method both chocolates. Being sure to wash the boiler between chocolate changes.
First layer into iice cube trays is the dark chocolate. Put in fridge to chill 30 minutes. 5 minutes before chill time is up, double boiler your white chocolate. Using a spoon, pour the white chocolate over the dark chocolate in the hearts. Sprinkle on top of the still warm white chocolate, your crushed/smashed/ beaten- candy canes. Place back into fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. These will pop out easy, be gentle non the less. Its chocolate- not ice.Frog and I made the test batch today. I ran out of peppermint oil, which I add to the WHITE chocolate while melting in the double boiler. Gotta pick that up this week before we make the final batch for giving.
Here is the same recipe I make when we get on a "peppermint bark trip". I reduce the white chocolate to half, adding a thinner layer of the white over the chilled brown chocolate:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Peppermint-Bark-345124
I worked for a bit at a William Sonoma store (total dream land for the kitchen lover in me!) and that peppermint is the best. My recipe- the same as the link above- is no different.
chocolate.*KEY TIP*Just remember, do NOT buy cheap chocolate. Buy Hershey's chocolate chips in the baking aisle or Ghiraldi brand. Go with a chocolate that gives pure bliss in a bite. The same with the white chocolate. READ your ingredients on the white chocolate. They are NOT all the same. If it does not contain Cocoa butter as a main ingredient, then forget it. Its not real white My trusty brands for our bark~
Of course now I need to find a way to wrap them.
I could always get valentine zippy bags if I got lazy... But I have a feeling it may go "parchment paper and ribbon with heart tags...
~Sweetest dreams,
~Tammie
After walking in, I spotted silicone (flexible) ice cube trays with little heart shapes. I stopped in my tracks, distracted by the little trays. At $1 a tray, I knew this was the key to our Kid Friendly Valentines for their Class. On my way out I saw the next key factor for our big idea. Candy canes- 12 in a box- 4 boxes for $1.... Then I was off to the chocolate aisle!
Little bite size hearts for little fingers...
Each year, Panda and I try to dream up a cool "Valentine" for the class exchange. Something Handmade. Something that would be enjoyed by boy or girl. Something....DIFFERENT (and NOT store bought).
Last year it was a heart shaped cookie in a decorated, see through, CD sleeve from another blog spotlight.
The year before it was handmade paper Valentines with pop up art. This year, we decided to make Peppermint Bark in the shape of hearts!
A recipe is listed below for those wishing to make these. Follow the instructions, but forget the oven part. Just double boiler method both chocolates. Being sure to wash the boiler between chocolate changes.First layer into iice cube trays is the dark chocolate. Put in fridge to chill 30 minutes. 5 minutes before chill time is up, double boiler your white chocolate. Using a spoon, pour the white chocolate over the dark chocolate in the hearts. Sprinkle on top of the still warm white chocolate, your crushed/smashed/ beaten- candy canes. Place back into fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. These will pop out easy, be gentle non the less. Its chocolate- not ice.Frog and I made the test batch today. I ran out of peppermint oil, which I add to the WHITE chocolate while melting in the double boiler. Gotta pick that up this week before we make the final batch for giving.
Here is the same recipe I make when we get on a "peppermint bark trip". I reduce the white chocolate to half, adding a thinner layer of the white over the chilled brown chocolate:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Peppermint-Bark-345124
I worked for a bit at a William Sonoma store (total dream land for the kitchen lover in me!) and that peppermint is the best. My recipe- the same as the link above- is no different.
chocolate.*KEY TIP*Just remember, do NOT buy cheap chocolate. Buy Hershey's chocolate chips in the baking aisle or Ghiraldi brand. Go with a chocolate that gives pure bliss in a bite. The same with the white chocolate. READ your ingredients on the white chocolate. They are NOT all the same. If it does not contain Cocoa butter as a main ingredient, then forget it. Its not real white My trusty brands for our bark~
Of course now I need to find a way to wrap them.
I could always get valentine zippy bags if I got lazy... But I have a feeling it may go "parchment paper and ribbon with heart tags...~Sweetest dreams,
~Tammie
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