Chocolate Mint Cooler Food

FRESH MINT & CHOC CHIP ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a plastic bag, seal and freeze for at least 30 mins. Bash the frozen chocolate with a rolling pin until it shatters into small chunks inside the bag.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium heavy-based pan, then add the vanilla pod, scraping the seeds into the mixture. Heat the creamy milk, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling. Add the mint leaves and stalks, cover with a lid, and leave for 15 mins.
• Strain the liquid, pressing the mint with a spatula to extract maximum flavour. Discard the leaves and stalks, and scoop out the vanilla pod.
• Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar until thick and pale - about 5 mins if you are using an electric whisk. Return the minty cream to a clean pan and bring back to almost boiling.
• Pour half the hot liquid onto the egg and sugar mixture, whisking to combine everything before adding the remaining liquid. Return the custard to the rinsed-out pan and cook over a low heat, stirring all the time, until lightly thickened - about 3-4 mins. Take care it doesn't get too hot or it may curdle. Strain the custard into a bowl and leave to cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming. Chill the custard until really cold - it's a good idea to leave it overnight.
• Churn the custard in an ice-cream machine until frozen. Add the chocolate pieces just before it sets. If you don't have a machine, pour the custard into a chilled container and freeze for 2-3 hrs until the sides become icy. Whisk thoroughly to break up any crystals, then add the chocolate and freeze until solid. Leave to soften in the fridge for 20-30 mins, then serve in bowls or cones.

CHOCOLATE MINT CANDY

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips with 1 cup milk. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Spread half into a waxed paper-lined 8-in. square pan; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan over low heat, cook and stir candy coating with remaining milk until coating is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. Spread over bottom layer; chill for 10 minutes or until firm. , Warm remaining chocolate mixture if necessary; spread over mint layer. Chill for 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan; cut into 1-in. squares.

MINT COOLER

Steps:

• Reserve 4 mint leaves for garnish. Place the remaining mint leaves and lime cordial into the container of a blender, and process until mint is finely ground. Stir in the club soda. Serve in tall glasses over ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lime slices.

CHOCOLATE MINT CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine the granulated sugar, eggs, melted chocolate, shortening, baking powder, and peppermint extract in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Gradually beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
• Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with Reynolds® Parchment Paper; set aside. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar and place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake about 9 minutes or until edges are just set. Transfer the cookies on the parchment paper to a wire rack; cool completely.

CHOCOLATE MINT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place the cocoa powder along with 1 cup of the half-and-half into a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine.
• Add the remaining half-and-half and the heavy cream. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine.
• Temper the cream mixture by stirring cream into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about third of the cream mixture has been added. Whisk in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F. Pour the mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature to cool for 30 minutes. Stir in the mint extract and vanilla extract. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, Cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until the temperature reaches 40 degrees F or below.
• Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.

CHOCOLATE MINT ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Beat pudding mix, coffee granules, milk and extract in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Fold in COOL WHIP.
• Spread 1/2 cup pudding mixture into 10-inch ring on flat 12-inch plate, leaving 6-inch opening in center of ring. Place 10 cookies, with sides touching, over pudding mixture on plate. Repeat with remaining pudding mixture and cookies to make additional layers, ending with layer of pudding mixture.
• Refrigerate overnight.

CHOCOLATE MINT COOLER

Steps:

• Put hot chocolate powder in a sml pan & stir in 1/2 cup milk. Heat gently (stirring) till almost boiling. Remove pan from heat.
• Put hot chocolate milk in heatproof bowl or lrg pitcher & whisk in the remaining milk.
• Add the yoghurt & peppermint extract & whisk again.
• Pour the mixture into 4 tall glasses, filling them no more than 3/4 full. Top ea drink w/a scoop of ice cream. Garnish w/fresh mint leaves to get fancy. YUM!
• VARIATIONS: For "Chocolate Vanilla Cooler", use light cream instead of yoghurt + 1 tsp vanilla extract instead of peppermint extract -- or -- For "Mocha Cooler", dissolve the chocolate in 1/2 cup strong black coffee & reduce milk to 1 1/4 cups. Use cream instead of yoghurt & leave out the extract.

CHOCOLATE MINT MOJITO

Steps:

• Combine sugar, water, and cocoa in a small saucepot. Place on a burner over medium-high heat, stirring continuously. Allow the syrup to simmer for 3 minutes, until thickened slightly. Let cool, then store in a sealed jar.
• Muddle mint leaves and lime in the base of a highball glass.
• Stir in syrup and rum, then add the ice cubes.
• Top with club soda, garnish with a sprig of mint, and enjoy!

COOL CHOCOLATE MINT SMOOTHIE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in blender and cover. Blend on high for 90 seconds or until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.