Friday, December 21, 2012

Snowy Day Chocolate Treats

Happy Friday everyone!  What are you up to today?  The past 24 hours have looked a lot like this around here...


(OK, this pic is from a big storm in 2011 but we have at least that much snow - maybe more and that is me!)

And since the weather outside is frightful why not fill our tummies with something delightful!  This is a little treat for the kiddos that is fun to make and yummy to eat.  And I bet you might even have the ingredients in your pantry right now.

All you need is graham crackers, chocolate & marshmallows   Wait...that sounds an awful lot like Smores!?!?  Well, it pretty much is but no campfire or roasting sticks needed.


Just melt some chocolate (chips, bar, whatever you got) in the microwave.  You will want to cook it 30 secs at a time, giving it a good stir with each interval.  It should only take about a minute and half total.  Lay the graham crackers out on parchment paper.  Once the chocolate is melted spoon it onto the crackers and spread it around with a spoon.  Then place 4 or 5 mini-marshmallows on each one and let it cool on the counter for 10 minutes or so.  


Maybe even serve it with some hot chocolate for the perfect snowy day treat!

Now if you are looking for a more grown-up chocolate recipe this one is perfect for entertaining.  I made it a few weeks ago when I had some girlfriends over.  It is a chocolate fondue with amazing orange flavors.  OMG, I want it right now!  

The recipe comes from Fondue by Fiona Smith.  And this is the Bittersweet Chocolate Fondue.

You will need:
10 oz bittersweet chocolate 
1/2 cup cream
1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
2 tbl orange liqueur such as Cointreau
finely grated zest and juice of 2 oranges

To prepare:
Put the chocolate in a double boiler (a bowl placed over a sauce pan full of water works great), add the cream, pepper flakes, liqueur and orange zest and juice.  Heat the water until simmering and the chocolate mixture will melt as you stir.  Transfer to a warm fondue pot and serve with yummies.  Ideas include fruit, ginger cookies, marshmallows, pound cake, churros.  Oh they all sound so good!