Peppermint Milk Food

PEPPERMINT MILK

Steps:

• To make a batch, combine 20 peppermint candies and 1 quart milk in a pitcher and stir; refrigerate 1 hour, stirring once or twice, then strain. To decorate glasses, dip the rims in melted white or dark chocolate, then in crushed peppermints. Chill 15 minutes to set.

PEPPERMINT MILK

Steps:

• To make a batch, combine 20 peppermint candies and 1 quart milk in a pitcher and stir; refrigerate 1 hour, stirring once or twice, then strain. To decorate glasses, dip the rims in melted white or dark chocolate, then in crushed peppermints. Chill 15 minutes to set.

PEPPERMINT CREAMS

Steps:

• Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add a little of the egg white and a few drops of the peppermint essence and mix really well. You want the mixture to come together as a soft dough, so keep adding a little egg white until this starts to happen (you might not need to use all of it). Taste the mixture and add more peppermint essence if desired.
• Divide the mixture into 20 small balls, then flatten them gently with your fingertips into discs.
• Place baking parchment on a large board or tray and space out the discs. Meanwhile, tip the chocolate into a microwavable bowl and heat in 30 second intervals in the microwave until melted, stirring after each blast. Once melted, leave the chocolate to cool for 5-10 mins then carefully dip the peppermint creams in the melted chocolate until they are half coated. Lay them back on the baking parchment to set for 3-4 hours or overnight.

PEPPERMINT MILKSHAKES

Steps:

• In a blender, combine milk, ice cream and extract; cover and process for 30 seconds or until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup peppermint candies. Pour into chilled glasses. Top with whipped cream and remaining peppermint candies; serve immediately.

PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• Combine the sweetened condensed milk and peppermint extract.
• Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat.
• Knead on a surface sprinkled with more sugar until dough is stiff.
• (The stiffer the better when it come to the dipping part!) Add more sugar while kneading if the dough is sticky.
• Roll 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut into approximately 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch circles. If they are much bigger than that they fall apart when you dip them.
• My girlfriend said she uses a screw-off wine bottle cap!
• Let the cut patties dry for at least 2 hours on *each* side. They need to be really dry.
• Melt chocolate & shortening it a double boiler; stirring constantly until smooth. Using 1 Tbls of shortening for every 6 oz. of chocolate. Keep chocolate hot for dipping.
• Dip patties in melted chocolate. The method my friend has found to work best: she places them on a long 3-tined fork, puts them in the chocolate (it should be no more than 1 1/2 inches deep), flips them over to coat the other side, lifts them out again with the fork underneath the patty, shakes the fork to shake off the excess chocolate & then places the patty on waxed paper to harden.

PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Melt the milk and white chocolates in two separate heatproof bowls set over pans of simmering water, ensuring the bases of the bowls don't touch the water. Or, melt in the microwave in 20-second bursts. Add the peppermint extract to the melted milk chocolate and gently mix until combined.
• Pour the peppermint milk chocolate over the centre of the baking tray. Smooth with a spatula until it's 2mm thick, then drizzle over the white chocolate. Gently swirl the white chocolate through the milk using a teaspoon, then sprinkle over the candy cane chunks.
• Leave to set at room temperature to prevent the milk chocolate from discolouring. Once fully set, freeze for 10 mins, then snap into shards. Will keep in an airtight container lined with baking parchment for up to two weeks.

PEPPERMINT PATTIES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine condensed milk and peppermint extract. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, to form a stiff dough that is no longer sticky. Form into 1 inch balls, then place on waxed paper and flatten with fingers to form patties. Let patties dry at room temperature two hours, turning once.
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate with shortening, stirring often. Remove from heat. Dip patties, one at a time, into chocolate by laying them on the tines of a fork and lowering the fork into the liquid. Let cool on waxed paper until set.

PEPPERMINT MILK BATH

Steps:

• Crush the peppermint leaves into a very fine powder.
• Mix with powdered milk until well blended.
• Store in a glass jar in a cool, dry place.