Fruit And Nut Bark Apricots Almonds Cranberries Ginger Food

FRUIT AND NUT CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place the dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe glass bowl or measuring cup. Heat for 1 minute, at 50% power, stir and heat an additional 30 seconds, stir again until smooth. Pour the chocolate across the lined baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula.
• Wipe the bowl clean and repeat the melting process with the white chocolate chips. Pour the white chocolate over the dark and use the end of a spoon or a spatula to swirl the two chocolates together. Sprinkle with the chopped fruits and nuts. Let the chocolate harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Cut the bark into pieces once it has set. Store at cool room temperature or in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

CHUNKY CHOCOLATE FRUIT-AND-NUT BARK

Steps:

• Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Roughly chop chocolate and place in the bowl to melt, stirring frequently, keeping the heat very low. Chop toasted nuts; using scissors, cut dried fruit into small pieces. Finely chop candied ginger and/or orange peel. Place fruit and nuts into a large mixing bowl.
• Once chocolate is melted and smooth, take it off the heat and stir fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Gently stir to combine so the fruit and nuts are all combined with the chocolate. Line a pan with parchment paper that's been sprayed with a little oil. Sprinkle cocoa powder over parchment and then add the chocolate mixture. Spread it out in an even layer. Dust with more cocoa powder and place another piece of parchment paper on top. Let it cool down and set in the refrigerator, 1 hour.
• When chocolate is set, run a knife around the edge to remove from the pan. Break or cut into pieces to make chunky chocolates.

EASY CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• If you have time, toast the nuts/seeds: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Toast the nuts/seeds on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant and turning lightly golden on the edges, about 6 to 9 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a cutting board and roughly chop them.
• In the meantime, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each one. Don't overdo it. The chocolate is done when it's about 90% melted-keep stirring off the heat and the pieces should completely dissolve. (Alternately, you can use melt it in a heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water.)
• Cover a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a silicone or rubber spatula to spread chocolate evenly over the center area of the baking sheet-aim for about 1/4″ thickness (it won't reach the edges).
• Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the chocolate, followed by the dried fruit. If you're adding flaky salt, crush it between your fingers as you sprinkle it over the chocolate. Lightly use your palms to press the toppings into the chocolate.
• If you're in a hurry, place the pan on a flat surface in the refrigerator to harden for about 15 minutes. If you're not, let the chocolate cool at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours, until completely hardened.
• Once the chocolate is completely hardened, use your hands to break it into about 25 pieces. Serve immediately, or cover and store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

FRUIT AND NUT BARK (APRICOTS, ALMONDS, CRANBERRIES & GINGER)

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a large double-boiler over just simmering water until barely melted. You want to avoid needing to re-temper the chocolate.
• Stir in the fruits and nuts. Pour out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Let cool completely. Break into pieces and serve.

CRANBERRY ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt white chocolate at 70% power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Repeat with semisweet chocolate. Stir almonds and cranberries into white chocolate. Thinly spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. , With a spoon, drizzle semisweet chocolate over the white chocolate. Cut through with a knife to swirl. Chill until firm. Break into pieces. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

SALTED FRUIT 'N' NUT BARK

Steps:

• Melt the dark and white chocolate in separate bowls suspended over pans of gently simmering water, stirring every now and then. Meanwhile, line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Leave the chocolate to cool for 10 mins.
• Pour the dark chocolate onto the tray and spread it into a rectangle, roughly 20 x 25cm. Drizzle over the white chocolate and create a swirled pattern by dragging a cocktail stick back and forth across the chocolate. Scatter over the nuts, fruit and sea salt, then leave somewhere cool to set.
• Break into shards or leave whole, wrap in cellophane or pack into a box, then tie up with ribbon. Will keep for 2 weeks.

ITALIAN BISCOTTI AL LA SYD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl mix the first 7 ingredients until well blended.
• Stir in the flour one cup at a time.
• When smooth, mix in cranberries & pistachios.
• Pat the dough into a smooth round dome in the mixing bowl, then cut it into quarter sections. Slowly shape each section, patting & rolling it carefully, first into a log, & then into a seamless loaf about 13" long & 4" wide. Place two of the loaves on a 15"x10" baking sheet.
• Bake loaves for 45 minutes, checking them every 15 minutes to see if the dough is spreading out & becoming too flat. If it is, reshape the loaf with a spatula.
• Remove loaves from the oven & allow them to cool. When cool, cut each loaf into 1" slices & then cut those slices in half. Place the slices back on the baking sheet, STANDING UP & SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER, then bake them for another 10 minutes or so.
• Remove cookies from the oven & cool them completely before storing them in an air tight container.

FRUIT AND NUT ALMOND BARK

Steps:

• Melt almond bark in a double boiler.
• Have ready in a large bowl, the raisins, walnuts and chow mein noodles.
• Mix this altogether carefully; pour the melted bark over this and mix carefully.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
• Let cool.

WINTER DRIED FRUIT AND NUT CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Line small baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate chips in medium bowl over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate onto foil, spreading with offset spatula to thickness of scant 1/4 inch. Scatter nuts and dried fruit over chocolate. Sprinkle with ginger. Sprinkle with fleur de sel. Chill until chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes. Peel off foil. Cut chocolate into irregular pieces. Serve bark slightly chilled.

CRANBERRY-ALMOND-APRICOT BARK

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a sheet of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Combine cranberries, almonds, and apricots in a bowl. Add to melted chocolate and mix until well combined.
• Spread chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator until chocolate has completely hardened, about 1 hour. Break into pieces.