The More Unusual, The Better ~ I Say!

Its Christmas baking time AGAIN!  Question:  Are you going for the old favorites and the traditional baked wonders from your kitchen or this year, would you like to try something more festive and different?

How 'bout making some Bark!  Yes, you heard right, I did say BARK!!

Ok, so I'm crusin' the web and I come across a curious thing called Candy Cane Bark, sounds interesting so far; I check it out and find a recipe that is ~~ completely confusing!!! 
Its on the Better Homes and Gardens site and coming from the US where they have different names for chocolate, apparently. I mean, 'chopped chocolate-flavor candy coating' and 'chopped vanilla-flavor candy coating' when what is meant is chocolate chips and white chocolate chips is just.... shake your head, you know what I mean!?

Officially a 'Candy Coating' is a general term used for a variety of products like white chocolate, almond bark, confectioner's or ??summer coating?? Seriously! I would have been scratching my head for months over that one. Its usually available to purchase in 1 or 2 pound packages or in blocks in places like the Bulk Store. I am assuming it can also be dipping chocolate pieces. Its a special type of chocolate because it doesn't involve 'tempering', a process used to prevent real chocolate from developing speckles and grey streaks as it hardens.

Well, after I got that one figured out I went to take a look at the recipes and the different varieties of Bark make for a very simple and very pretty Christmas treat, ornament, showpiece and snack. 

Examples:
   Candy Cane Bark!
  Candy Crunch White Bark!

  Santa's Delight Peppermint Bark

  Lemon Drop Bark!

THE OFFICIAL VERSION -- Candy coating is a general term used for a variety of products. It's sometimes called white chocolate, almond bark, confectioner's coating, or summer coating and is available in 2-pound packages and in blocks or round disks wherever candy-making supplies are sold. The coating comes in vanilla, chocolate, and butterscotch flavors.It's used for candy dipping because it doesn't require "tempering," which is a process candy makers use to prevent real chocolate from developing speckles or gray streaks as it hardens.

THE OFFICIAL VERSION -- Candy coating is a general term used for a variety of products. It's sometimes called white chocolate, almond bark, confectioner's coating, or summer coating and is available in 2-pound packages and in blocks or round disks wherever candy-making supplies are sold. The coating comes in vanilla, chocolate, and butterscotch flavors.It's used for candy dipping because it doesn't require "tempering," which is a process candy makers use to prevent real chocolate from developing speckles or gray streaks as it hardens.

If I may; 

Candy Cane Bark      Recipe from

"A wonderful Christmas gift from the kitchen, this chocolate and peppermint candy is simply delicious. For easy cleanup, line the baking sheet with foil." (quote)

Servings: Makes 1-1/4 pounds.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 55 mins

Related Categories: Candy, Chocolate Candy, Christmas Candy

• 6  ounces chopped chocolate-flavor candy coating (Chocolate chips or dipping chocolate)
• 3  ounces chopped milk chocolate bar
• 6  ounces chopped vanilla-flavor candy coating (White Chocolate chips or dipping chocolate)
• 3  ounces chopped white chocolate baking squares
• 1/4  cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Line a large baking sheet with foil. In a small, heavy saucepan melt chocolate-flavor candy coating and milk chocolate bar stirring over low heat until smooth. Pour onto baking sheet and spread into a 10x8-inch rectangle; set aside.

In another small, heavy saucepan, melt vanilla-flavor candy coating and white chocolate baking squares, stirring over low heat until smooth.

Slowly pour white mixture over chocolate mixture on baking sheet. With a thin spatula swirl white mixture into chocolate mixture. Shake baking sheet gently for even thickness.

Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Chill 30 minutes or until firm. Use foil to lift candy from baking sheet; break candy into pieces. Makes 1-1/4 pounds. 

To Store

Layer pieces between waxed paper in an airtight container and cover. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days. Serve at room temperature. 

If you're wondering what this will do to your diet:

Nutrition information ~~ Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet Per serving: Calories 55, Total Fat 3 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 2 mg, Carbohydrate 6 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g. Daily Values: Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 0%, Iron 0%. (quote)

I will post the other recipes soon. Tis the Season to enjoy or at least the month until January's new diet starts! 

Catspaw

A Tribute to Cats Who Served During Wars

This is a memorial to all the animals that were caught up and suffered equally in human wars, around the world and in different times, that has been erected in England's London's Park Land. In 1975 the British Royal Navy banned cats and all animals from serving on its ships to the tragedy of the death of a most beloved and highly missed tradition.

One extraordinary tail (that has no date attached to it) revolves around Bofors the rabbit and a female cat known as Preedy. Cat and bunny were on 'quite good terms' with each other and had all their meals together. Though Bofors, it seems, was indifferent to mice in general as Preedy learned to her eternal confusion, when she'd take pains to catch one, play for a while and drop it at the Bofors's feet. He, in his turn, would promptly ignore it completely and allowed it to escape. 

Both were the mascots of a Bofors Gun Team in the Royal Air Force Regiment. Preedy has been described as a 'beautiful pet' who had made herself quite at home with the Regiment in her time with them; she accompanied anyone who went on duty, day or night. But when the team received its marching orders for a different position and typical of most cats, Preedy was having second thoughts about joining them, seems she had taken a liking to where she was. After escaping six times from the luggage truck and ending up in a box the seventh time, one of the personal opened the box to check on her. Her moment came and she seized the moment; shooting out like flashpoint lightening, never to be recovered.Though I think we can all assume that she found herself another home that was happy to have her. She seemed to have the tenacity for it.

Then there's the tale of Wallad, a native of Syria. A handsome male with beautiful markings he belonged to a New Zealander, one George McAllister. Turns out that Wallad presented himself as a quite proper dandy and as such was desperately lazy, pooh-poohing the very notion of hunting. 12^th October 1942 with the assistance and cheering of a boisterous crowd of troopers, Wallad captured his very first mouse. However, there were moments during the chase when Wallad was manifestly circumspect about coming to grips with his quarry; the minute his enfeebled victim was writhing in his paws, he unhesitatingly curled up and went back to sleep. One can only assume the little mouse was unharmed by his harrowing ordeal, waited his chance, then dashed for Freedom!

Catspaw