Bark Up This Holiday Tree: Chocolate Bark Three Ways

As promised, we're ending the week with a little tutorial on making the easiest holiday snack of all time. It's chocolate bark, and today I'm serving it up 3 ways to satisfy almost any taste bud. Let's get down to the goods, shall we?

Hold up. Before we go any further, how about a quick lesson in chocolate melting? I refuse to give in to the double boiler, so I go with the good old-fashioned microwave instead. I've done this many, many times and burned many, many bowls of chocolate, so I think it's only right to give you, dear reader, a quick rundown.

Here's how I get it done:

Place chopped chocolate in a shallow bowl (yup, if you aren't using chocolate chips, you really need to give it a rough chop for the chocolate to melt evenly - if you are in fact using chips, carry on as is). Microwave chopped chocolate at 15 second intervals (trust me! I have burned a LOT of chocolate in my day - don't be tempted to add additional time, even when after the first couple of intervals it will seems as, though nothing is happening...do not give in. It must be at 15 second intervals), stirring in between each time, even when it seems like nothing is happening. It will.
When the chocolate seems like it's just about done, but still has a few lumps, remove from the microwave and stir quickly. This will melt the remainder of chocolate chunks without microwaving, and therefore burning, the already fully melted part. It should look something like this:

That's it. Now enjoy perfectly melted, photo op quality chocolate.

Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Bark
4-5 oz white chocolate, roughly chopped (I use Baker's Chocolate, found in any grocery store baking aisle and premeasured into 1 oz squares)
1/3C Dried cranberries
1 tsp Orange zest
After melting your white chocolate, stir in dried cranberries and orange zest. Step lightly, as the chocolate will cool off and harden very, very quickly. Immediately spread out in a thin layer on a sheet pan - I lined mine with parchment paper for easy removal and clean-up. It may require a bit of elbow grease to spread it out, but use a spatula, get your hands dirty, and get 'er done. Let sit for a few minutes and then press aluminum foil down on the bark to hold it in place.

The next morning, with foil still on, bang all over with rolling pin. Remove foil, and break up pieces with your hands.

The result: A creamsicle tasting piece of goodness. The dried cranberries cut out some of the super white chocolate sweetness, leaving a perfect flavor combination that I will be devouring as soon as the clock strikes noon.

Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark
6 oz semisweet, white, or milk chocolate
1/3 C Dried cherries, chopped
1/3 C Slivered almonds, toasted in small pan for about 2 min - don't let them burn!!
After melting your semisweet chocolate, stir in cherries and almonds. Repeat steps above.

And after a night of cooling and being bammed with a rolling pin...

The result: I'm a huge fan of dried cherries so I had high hopes for this one. It did disappoint, however. I went with the semisweet chocolate and I think it was just too bitter to counterbalance the sour cherries. Next time, I'm going milk or white chocolate and I think it will be the winning combo I'm looking for.

Traditional Peppermint Bark
6 oz Semi-sweet chocolate
1 C White chocolate chips
4 Candy canes, crushed
1/2 tsp Peppermint extract
Melt semisweet chocolate and stir in peppermint extract. Spread out on sheet pan and let sit until semi-hardened. Next, temper white chocolate (I used chips here because I ran out of Baker's Chocolate) and carefully spread out on top of the semisweet chocolate. Mine ended up running together a bit, but it doesn't have to be perfect. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top and press down with aluminum foil.

When it's all put together...

Keep aluminum foil on top of bark, as above, and the next morning you'll get...

The result: What can I say? Nothing beats a classic. This was my favorite of the bunch. Crunchy candy cane on mint chocolate is a dynamite combination in my book. And this version give Williams-Sonoma a serious run for their money.

Now, before you break it all up and reap the sweet rewards, you need to let these cool completely. Even when you think it's done, it's probably not. I'm hesitant to put in the refrigerator since it tends to turn the chocolate into crumbly gray. Instead, I recommend finding a very cool area, like the garage or in a particularly cold room in your home. I laid the pans out in my living room, which gets pretty darn cold in the evening hours. The next morning, with the bark still covered with foil, bang 'em with a rolling pin for an imperfect break. Enjoy!

So what do you think? Do any of these sweet confections make your sweet tooth tingle? Do you have any other holiday barks that you love this time of year?

*Note: I made these in very small batches since I was making all three in one night (all I can say is thank god I'm not a big chocolate eater or I'd be about 400 pounds). If you want more, adjust recipes accordingly.

How to: Plan and Host a (Fabulous) Holiday Cocktail Party

In case you couldn't already tell, I'm a huge fan of the holidays. In fact, my own personal holiday season begins on the ride home from my aunt's house on Thanksgiving night as, to Shaun's dismay, I blare Christmas music and, even worse, proceed to sing along. In honor of our love for the holidays beyond Christmas music, this past weekend Shaun and I hosted a holiday cocktail party at our humble Jersey City abode. It was my first large scale party hosting (and by large, I mean there were 12 of us), and like many, my biggest concern was...where to start? Before we begin, I just want to add the disclaimer that I prefer to think of myself as detail-oriented, not controlling; meticulous, not psycho. As one of my favorite quotes puts it, "I like things the way that I like them, but I mean, who doesn't?" (Bonus points for naming that one) So with that in mind, here's my holiday hostess survival guide.

Step One: Figure out who's attending
You can't really plan much past this point until you know who you're inviting (and who's actually going to show up). Will it be friends? Family? Both? Couples only? Around holiday time, many people are booked early, so at a minimum plan for (at least in our case) half of the invited guests to attend.

Step Two: Plan the menu
For me, this is the most fun part. Scouring recipe collections from Martha Stewart, Food Network, Real Simple, and my mom's own personal collection can seem daunting but the world is your oyster, so to speak, and what can be more exciting than that? For a cocktail party, you'll likely be starting later in the evening (8:30 or later), which means hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and dessert, all in an informal fashion (and by informal, I mean put out on a table buffet style or scattered among various side and coffee tables).  Here's my food breakdown:
Beverages
For drinks, we stocked the bar with sparkling white wine and pomegranate juice for a pom-spritzer (a huge hit with the ladies), orange Stoli & Sprite Zero, Pinot Noir, and a fridge full of Stella Artois. I think that in the drinking situation, less is definitely more. Focus in on what you want to offer and stock your bar on a dime by limiting options. I promise, your guests will be happy drinking what you have to offer, especially if it's a special, signature cocktail or decent bottled beer.
Food
For the food, I tried to keep it simple and seasonal. Here's a sneak peek at the menu:

Spiced sweet potato wedges

Pigs in a blanket

Pizza dip

Spinach dip

Spiced walnuts

Brie & raspberry bites

Blue cheese dip with potato chips

So perhaps it wasn't the most healthy menu of all time, but what better time to splurge on the caloric intake than for a relaxed holiday cocktail party with your closest friends? Exactly...there isn't one.

Step Three: Get all fancy on it
If you're having a theme party, your location should reflect this. Shaun and I had our Christmas tree up and ready for all of the oooh-ing and aahhh-ing that our guests were sure to dish out. It's not necessary to spend a fortune on holiday decor. By repurposing some of last year's ornaments, cake plates, and candy, I whipped up some fun, DIY decor on a dime.
By adding holiday M&M's to a Pilsner glass, I spruced up the bar area. Add a 99 cent box of candy canes in a $1 Target planter, and your bar is set for a festive evening.

Next, I raided my china cabinet for a chic cake plate and candy bowl. Add some festive, sparkly ornaments (which were purchased last year for the tree) and you've got two punchy pieces for your table.

And let's face it, nothing quite says POP like a truly gorgeous red poinsettia (snapped up for a mere $5.99 a piece) on a classic white table cloth.

Since the poinsettias were so beautiful, I picked up two and placed one on this amazing glass platter (ok, this one was a wedding gift, purchased at Tiffany, so not exactly an item you may have lying around...but isn't it a beauty?)

Lastly, another candy bowl placed on a silver platter, filled with already-owned ornaments. Ta da!

Step Four: Plot your attack plan
Just like tackling any To Do list, it's vital for keeping your sanity to make an attack plan. I used Google documents to plan my menu ideas, make my shopping list, and plot out when to do each task on the list. Trust me on this...it may seem a bit intense (see disclaimer above), but I've found it's the only way to stay focused and on track while allowing yourself time to enjoy the party. My biggest tip? Do as much in advance as humanly possible and recruit your boyfriend or husband for all of the things you can pass off...in my case it was vacuuming, tidying the living room, and running out to the grocery store on a whim while I was chained to my tiny kitchen doing food prep.

Step Five: Leave yourself time to enjoy the party!
You've done the work, now it's time to reap the rewards. As mentioned before, prep as much in advance as possible. Clean the toilets, vacuum, tidy up, decorate and dust the night before. Prep any dips in advance that can be popped in the oven at the last minute. Leave only the items that will suffer quality-wise if not made the day of (like my sweet potato wedges...this is not something that should be reheated, despite what the recipe recommends). After all, once your friends and family arrive, you'll want to relax and enjoy the night with them, not slave in the kitchen!

So there it is. A simple, chic and fun cocktail party with friends without going bananas trying to prep for the event. Are you hosting the holidays this year? If so, what's your plan of attack? Any fun recipes to share? How do you stay sane as a host or hostess?

A Foodster's Gift Guide: On-the-Go

Welcome to the last edition of the 09 Foodster's Gift Guide, and this time we're talking on-the-go. You know who I mean. The on-the-goer who loves food and sweets, yet whose day is so filled with work, school, or other commitments to get it together and enjoy a great home-cooked meal. Fear not, as the last part of our Gift Guide is for your favorite on-the-go foodster. Check it out...

Hot Chocolate & Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Set of 2, $33 (Williams-Sonoma); Sarabeth's Jam Gift Sampler Box, $25 (Sur la Table); Crumbs Gift Card, $15 (Crumbs); thelifestyled Monogrammed Tote Bag, $23 (Etsy.com); Crockpot Countdown Slow Cooker, $49.99 (crock-pot.com); Eco Coffee Cup, $14 (fredflare.com)

Hot Chocolate - Just like the Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark, this is a total splurge, but one that's well worth it in my opinion. Sampled at Winter's Eve, this hot chocolate is like no other. For the on-the-go food lover, this is a perfect way to have some delicious and quick, right out of your home.

Sarabeth's Jam Sampler - Jam is one of my favorite foods, and this is a great way to enjoy it long past Christmas. While homemade jam can be wonderful, this extensive sampler provides all the jam your heart desires. The complete set features plum cherry, orange apricot marmalade, strawberry raspberry, pineapple mango, mixed berry, and peach apricot.

Crumbs Gift Card - Need I say more? When is a free cupcake ever unwanted or unwarranted? Never. Especially as an on-the go treat.

Monogrammed Tote Bag - Always a pushover for anything monogrammed, I tote this little guy everywhere. The perfect lunch bag or grocery sack, this tote bag is super chic and personal making it the ultimate on-the-go gift. Oh, and did I mention that they are personally designed and crafted by bestie Catherine (who also just so happens to have a fabulously made-over blog)?

Crockpot Slow Cooker - This is one of my personal favorite appliances, and a great on-the-go gift. Put all of your ingredients in this sweet little appliance, press play, and presto! A home cooked meal that's perfect for the cold winter months...soup, pasta, chili, the possibilities are endless and it couldn't be easier.

Eco Coffee Cup - The perfect vehicle for the aforementioned hot chocolate. It's fun, functional and environmentally friendly to boot - the ideal way for an on-the-go foodster to bring homemade deliciousness along for the ride.

So what do you think? Any of these tickle your fancy? Do you have someone on your list for which any of these fit the bill?

Well that wraps up our '09 Gift Guide. I hope it was helpful in your holiday shopping, and if it was, I'd love to hear about it! Or if I left out any fabulous ideas, please clue me in for a possible reader-suggested gift guide for last minute shopping! Have an idea? Shout about it in comments!

*Also, if you missed any Foodster's Gift Guide madness last week, you can check out the guides below:

A Foodster's Gift Guide: When You're Just Starting Out

A Foodster's Gift Guide: For the Dessert Lover

A Foodster's Gift Guide: For Him