White Chocolate Birch Bark Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY BARK

Steps:

• Tempering the chocolate for the bark requires a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, improvise one by using a saucepan and a stainless steel bowl: Nestle the bowl into the saucepan, allowing a few inches of space to remain between the bottom of the bowl and the bottom of the saucepan. Keep an extra bowl of a similar size on hand to transfer the chocolate for cooling. Rest the chocolate thermometer on a towel. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Pour a couple inches of water into the bottom half of the double boiler and heat over medium-low to just below a simmer. Put the chocolate in the top half of the double boiler and set over the hot water. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring with a heat-resistant rubber spatula. As the chocolate melts, check the temperature periodically to make sure it stays between 82 and 86 degrees F. If it starts to rise above this temperature, quickly transfer the chocolate to the bowl on reserve and stir briskly to reduce heat. Return bowl to double boiler to maintain heat between 82 and 86 degrees F.
• Remove bowl from over the hot water just before all the chocolate melts. Stir vigorously until the chocolate melts completely. Check temperature again. Stir in the oil until evenly blended. Chocolate is now tempered and ready to use. Keep within the 82 to 86 degree F range, returning bowl briefly to the double boiler if necessary.
• Quickly stir the fruit and nuts into the chocolate. Spread chocolate mixture out on the prepared baking sheet so it's about 1/2-inch thick and the fruit and nuts are coated. Set bark aside at room temperature to harden. Break into angled pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Finely chop 1 pound white chocolate. Microwave all but 1 cup in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the reserved 1 cup chocolate until melted. Spread on a foil-lined baking sheet until 1/4 inch thick; sprinkle with dried cranberries and chopped candied orange peel. Let set, about 1 hour, then break into pieces.

CHOCOLATE BIRCH BARK

Steps:

• Melt milk chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, or in a microwave. Just before all is melted, remove from heat; stir with a spatula until completely melted. Repeat with white chocolate.
• Cut a 12-by-9-inch sheet of parchment; place on a baking sheet. Transfer 2 tablespoons milk chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip (such as Ateco #3; you can also use a tiny paintbrush). Pipe or brush small dots and dashes and "knots" sparsely across surface of parchment. Refrigerate 5 minutes.
• Pour white chocolate over pat- tern, spreading to edges of parchment. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Spread milk chocolate over white chocolate with a spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces; refrigerate until ready to serve.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BIRCH BARK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake until fragrant and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Let stand until cool, then coarsely chop; set aside. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Temper white chocolate. Pour tempered white chocolate onto prepared baking sheet. Spread into a thin, even layer, covering the parchment. Slowly roll a wood-graining tool over entire surface of white chocolate, parallel to the long side of the baking sheet. Let stand until set.
• Temper semisweet chocolate. Stir almonds into tempered semisweet chocolate. Pour semisweet chocolate over white chocolate. Spread in an even layer, completely covering white chocolate. Let stand until set. Peel off parchment paper. Break into pieces. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a pencil, draw an 8-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn¿t get onto the chocolate and place it on a sheet pan.
• Place the pistachios in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Place three-quarters of the white chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl and put it in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. (Time it with your watch for accuracy.) Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it¿s completely smooth. (If you need to heat it a little more, place it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.)
• Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled pistachios, the cranberries and apricots. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut or break the bark in 16 pieces and serve at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a pencil, draw an 8-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn't get onto the chocolate and place it on a sheet pan.
• Place the pistachios in one layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl and put it in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. (Time it with your watch for accuracy.) Stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula, return it to the microwave for another 30 seconds, then stir again. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Immediately stir in the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. (If you need to heat it a little more, place it in the microwave for another 15 seconds.)
• Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly to fill the drawn rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled pistachios, the cranberries, and apricots. Press the nuts and fruit lightly so they will set in the chocolate. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut or break the bark in 16 pieces and serve at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a pencil, draw an 8 by 10-inch rectangle on a piece of parchment paper placed on a sheet pan. Turn the parchment paper over so the pencil mark doesn't get into the chocolate.
• Place the walnuts in 1 layer on another sheet pan and bake for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool and then chop roughly into large pieces.
• Place 3/4 of the chocolate in a glass bowl and place it in the microwave on high power for 30 seconds. (Don't trust your microwave timer - time it with your watch.) Stir with a rubber spatula. Put it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds and stir again. Continue to heat and stir every 30 seconds until the chocolate is just melted. Immediately, add the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. (If you need to heat it a little more, place it in the microwave for another 15 seconds at a time.)
• Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it lightly into the drawn rectangle. Sprinkle the top evenly with the cooled walnuts, the cranberries and apricots. Set aside for at least 2 hours until firm, or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut the bark in 16 pieces and serve at room temperature.

WHITE CHOCOLATE UNICORN BARK

Steps:

• Measure all your ingredients into separate bowls. Heat the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-sec bursts until melted, stirring each time. Or put it in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) a pan of simmering water (an adult should help with this bit). Stir frequently until the chocolate has melted smoothly.
• Pour the melted chocolate into four or five small bowls. Use the food colouring to dye the chocolate in the colours you like best. Food colouring can be very strong, so start by adding a tiny amount, mixing well, then add more if you like.
• Line a large tray or board with baking parchment and spoon the different coloured chocolates onto the parchment in puddles, in any order you like. The different colours should start to join up and become one big puddle.
• Use a skewer or a cocktail stick to swirl the colours together, but don't swirl too much, otherwise the colours will blend into one. Gently shake the tray from side to side to help the chocolate sit in an even layer and fill in any gaps.
• Decorate with your sprinkles, sweets and marshmallows. Leave the chocolate to set in a cool place, or overnight, until set hard. Then break it into pieces and place in gift boxes lined with baking parchment. Will keep in the fridge for up to a week.