Ultimate Pretzel Bark (with bacon!)

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I made a batch of Oreo truffles today for a co-worker and had some leftover chocolate. In my eyes it is a sin to let perfectly good chocolate go to waste, so I did a mental scan of all the stuff I had in my cupboards. I had some pretzel chips, craisens, and almonds, so I knew I could make something very yummy.


So this is what I did:

I poured some pretzel chips into the mixing bowl with the melted chocolate and stirred the mixture up until the pretzels were completely covered with chocolate.

I then poured the mixture out on some wax paper. I spread it out so it would dry in one piece, but it wasn't in a thick clump.

Then I sprinkled craisens on top.

I had toasted the slivered almonds on a cookie sheet in the oven until they were slightly browned. I then sprinkled the toasted almonds on top of the craisens.

Now get this.....I had some crumbled bacon in my fridge that was left over from dinner, so I sprinkled that on top of half of the bark. Oh weird....but yummy!



Then I melted some white chocolate in a baggie, cut off the tip and drizzled the white chocolate over all of the bark. BEAUTIFUL!

Put the bark in the fridge to harden, break it up and serve!

I also made some white chocolate bark with toasted almonds, craisens and broken pretzel chips on top.

Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Rods

I decided to repost this awesome treat since many of us are starting to plan the special homemade gifts we would like to give for holidays. Your friends and family will sing your praises when you make them these!

I have had some questions about the Candy Quick that I used to cover the pretzel rods. Candy Quick is a big hunk of chocolate that is great for melting. I found mine at Wal-Mart above the chocolate chips. It is in red packaging. You could also use any other chocolate to cover the pretzels such as chocolate chips or Wilton candy melts which is found at craft stores. If you use chocolate chips or the Wilton candy melts, I would buy two bags to be safe.

Also, if the chocolate seems kind of thick after it is melted, you can add a tablespoon of vegetable oil or shortening to thin it out. Just add the oil or shortening, put it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and then stir. If you want it thinner, add a bit more.

I hope that clears up any questions! :)




Chocolate Covered Caramel Pretzel Rods

Things to get:
Pretzel rods (recipe makes about 50!)
Whole package of Chocolate candy quick (found at Wal-Mart)
Vanilla candy melts to drizzle (optional)
Caramel ingredients

First make a batch of caramel:

1c. Karo syrup
1c. Brown sugar
1c. White sugar
1 stick of butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk


Put first 5 ingredients in a large sauce pan over medium heat and stir until melted and combined. Bring to a boil and stir for five minutes. Be careful to keep stirring so that it doesn't start to burn on the bottom of the pan. Take caramel off the burner after 5 minutes.

Put the hot caramel in a deep container. I used my Pyrex 4 cup measuring cup.

Prepare a couple cookie sheets lined with wax paper.

Dip pretzel rod in caramel, about 3/4 of the way and let it drip off any excess caramel. Then lay the rod on the cookie sheet.

Repeat with remaining pretzels.

Put cookie sheets in the fridge to help set up caramel.

Once caramel is set, lift up each pretzel rod off the wax paper and mold caramel around the rod since it will puddle on the sides as it cools.

Prepare the cookie sheets again with new pieces of wax paper.

Melt chocolate in a deep container and dip caramel covered pretzel rods.

Place chocolate covered pretzel rods on cookie sheets and place in fridge to set up.

In a zip lock baggie, melt the vanilla candy melts in the microwave. When completely melted, cut a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle the chocolate on the rods.

Place back into the fridge to set up.

Tip: I ran out of pretzel rods before I ran out of caramel and chocolate. So I put the caramel in a greased glass 8x8 and made some yummy soft caramel squares. I also put some dry roasted peanuts in the leftover melted chocolate and spooned in out on wax paper for some yummy peanut clusters. I'm just like the Indians. I don't let anything go to waste. Especially chocolate!


Well, I hope these turn out for you. They are a lot of work but so very worth it! Enjoy!

Kid's Corner: Chocolate Covered Spider Legs

Who here loves Halloween?

Meeeeeeeeeee!

And it has nothing to do with the candy, and the treats and the caramel apples...

Not. A. Thing.

Who am I kidding? I have to wait to buy Halloween candy until the 31st so that I won't be tempted to eat it!!! Give me strength!

Here to kick off October is a fun little activity to do with the kids. I'm sure they will love making these little chocolate covered delights!

Don't they look like tarantula legs? Yuck! Kids love gross things though. I'm always reminded of that when they want to buy candy that you squirt out of a tube. Maybe I should buy some of that to pass out as Halloween candy this year. You'd never catch me sneaking that stuff!



Chocolate Covered Spider Legs

Here is what you need:

Chocolate: white, dark, milk or a mix of all three
thin pretzels (tied, not sticks) broken into large peices
peanuts (optional but a great addition)

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate in an electric skillet on low heat or in the microwave in a large mixing bowl. Stir the chocolate as it melts. You can add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil or shortening to the melted chocolate to thin it out.

2. When the chocolate is completely melted, add the pretzels and peanuts. Stir until it is all coated. Continue to add pretzel pieces and peanuts until the chocolate is evenly distributed.

3. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

4. Place in refrigerator until hardened.



Happy Haunting!

Kid's Corner: How to Make Candy Leis

Here is a fun little activity to do with your kids in these last few weeks of summer vacation: Candy leis! What little kid wouldn't love making a cute, candy necklace. Don't you remember how much you loved those candy beads around your neck when you were a kid? Good times!

This little project is so easy and the final result is adorable! I found it on The Solomon Family Delights blog.

Here is what you need:

lots of hard candy, small prizes or coins
saran wrap
ribbon

And here are the step by step instructions:

Lay out about 2 feet of saran wrap on a table or other hard surface. Make it as long as you want your lei.

Put 2-3 pieces of candy in the middle of the saran, every 2 inches. Make a line all the way to the end of the saran wrap.

Fold the excess wrap on the bottom over the candy as shown in the picture.

Fold the excess saran on the top, down over the candy as shown in the picture.

Tie a ribbon at the end of the lei, right in front of the first group of candy. Then tie the ribbon in a knot between each candy section until you tie off the end. Bring both ends together and tie a knot.


And you have your beautiful candy lei!

The kids had so much fun making (and eating) these!

Have fun and ALOHA!