One last gift...

It's Christmas Eve and I'm going to assume that all of you are finished with your shopping. Bottles of wine have been purchased for holiday meals, pies and cakes are done or still in the oven.  But what happens when you find out that you have just one more unexpected holiday guest coming and you don't have a gift for them, perhaps that last minute Christmas Eve party invite just came through, now what do you do.  If you have 30-minutes to an hour to spare this evening than I've got just the thing for you...Chocolate Bark. 

Last week I received a phone call from a client ( I did a few private cooking courses with her last year).  She belongs to a moms group and every year they do a whole girls night out thing just before the holidays. Something to escape the screaming kids, holiday meal prep, and mounds of gifts that still need to be wrapped.  This year she didn't want to do your standard dinner out, so she thought it might be fun to gather the ladies and have me come in and lead a short cooking class on making holiday treats.  The class had a two-fold purpose it not only was an opportunity for the group to get together and toast the holidays but also a way to drum up a few quick homemade gifts.  There were truffles, shortbread, a few gingerbread men too. But the biggest hit of the night was the chocolate bark.  chocolate bark is everywhere and every food blogger/writer I know has already told you just how easy it is to make. Yet you still haven't tried it, have you?  Trust me, as someone who doesn't consider themselves to be confectioner or even a great baker for that matter chocolate bark is fool proof.  The recipe we used was straight out the pages of Whole Living magazine. As for what kind is best, the flavor combinations are endless, it can be whatever you have on hand. Peanuts, sea salt, candied ginger, m&m's, dried coconut, you name it. Use your spice cabinet too, I love a pinch of cardamom or good quality cinnamon.  For this group we had three varieties, pistachio with sea salt, sweet and spicy dried mango, and marcona almonds with dried cranberries. But before you run off and whip up that first batch I have one word of advice, use the best quality baking chocolate that you can afford.  I was fortunate enough that my friends from Scharffen Berger ( I have the best job in the world!) sent me some of their Bittersweet 70% Cacao to use in the class, like the great Julia Child it is my favorite. In my opinion no other brand comes close.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go already, make the bark and have a very Merry Christmas.