Easy peasey – tasty Barkey

Peppermint bark that is.  I had never had the candy before in my life because, well, never really looked at it and because I’m allergic to chocolate!  But one day DH snagged himself a sample of the stuff while we were out somewhere and as he munched he commented on how he doesn’t see it often and likes it.  So what do I do? I look up a recipe for it on Pinterest of all places (the new place to find and store things – and a new addiction of mine) and I came across a ridiculously easy recipe for the candy via Food Network and Paula Deen.

I used a white chocolate that I am not allergic to (not all white chocolate is made the same; some contain an ingredient which is very bad for me) and went to town!  Some of the chunks weren’t as small as they could’ve been and fell off when I broke the candy into pieces (busting up the slab was fun!) and I learned that it might help a bit if you gently press the candy bits down into the warm chocolate to help them adhere better.  The recipe called for some optional peppermint flavoring which I didn’t have so I pulverized some candy canes into dust and added that to the melting white chocolate instead.

All in all an easy and tasty first try at a classic candy.  Now I have to hide the container from myself….it is so yummy!

Peppermint Bark – Paula Deen from Food Network

Ingredients

• Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
• 2 pounds white chocolate
• Peppermint flavorings, optional

Directions

Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)