peppermint

Tasty Tuesday–Swirled Peppermint Bark

This recipe is so easy, and looks so pretty! It would make a great addition to anyone’s Christmas baking! (Also, did you know that you can buy pre-crushed peppermints? No more hammering with a rolling pin, and never getting them fine enough, or running them through the food processor, and ending up with peppermint dust!)

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  • 1 package (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 package (10-11 oz.) white chocolate chips
  • 2 tsp. vegetable oil or shortening
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy pieces

Line a jelly roll pan (about 10×15) with parchment paper.
Melt semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler. Spread over parchment paper.
Melt white chocolate and vegetable oil in a double boiler. Spread down center of semi-sweet chocolate, and swirl with a skewer.
Sprinkle peppermint pieces over the top.
Refrigerate until firm, then break into pieces.

Pumpkin Overload

No one likes pumpkin as much as I do. Just ask my family! I’ve made pumpkin soup, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin smoothies, and countless pumpkin desserts. I even dedicated last week’s Tasty Tuesday to pumpkin recipes! I’ll drink pumpkin coffee, even though it’s not my favorite, and I know that pumpkin can make a nice addition to chili. (Pumpkin does not, however, belong in beer, and I’m not changing my mind about that one!)

But, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. I’ve had enough pumpkin. Especially pumpkin coffee! Pumpkin remains the food item of the moment…pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin Kahlua (saw it at the grocery store, and wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole!), and of course, pumpkin pie. Which is fine, especially the pie, because Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away. Now that it’s getting colder, it’s time for peppermint, in my opinion…peppermint mochas (I wish McDonald’s would add the peppermint mocha back to their menu), desserts, candies, and did I mention mochas?…but the pumpkin fad is holding strong.

I know it’s still November, and Thanksgiving season, but I see no reason why we can’t ease off the pumpkin in favor of a minty treat! I’d really enjoy a peppermint hot chocolate right about now!