Avalanche Bark

If you have been to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory you may be familiar with this incredibly delicious treat. I think that this is my all time favorite sweet treat. I have been getting caramel apples  from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for years now and they are my absolute favorite. Several years ago my friend Abby found this copycat recipe and we have been making it ever since. My family LOVES it!

Avalanche Bark

Copycat Recipe from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Find the recipe here

1/4 C Creamy Peanut Butter

1 3/4 C White Chocolate Chips

1 C Rice Crispies Cereal

1/2 C Marshmallows (slightly packed)

1/4 C Chocolate Chips (frozen)

• In a double boiler or using whatever melting method you prefer, melt white chocolate chips and peanut butter together until creamy.
• Remove from heat and transfer to mixing bowl to cool for about 5 minutes.
• Fold in Rice Crispies, then continue cooling until  it does not feel warm at all. (Do Not put in fridge to cool or it will set up)
• Making sure that the mixture is not warm fold in marshmallows and chocolate chips. (If you add these when the mixture is to warm the chocolate will melt, you do not want that to happen)
• Pour the mixture into an 8x8 pan lined with plastic wrap.
• Place pan in fridge to set up, approx 20-30 minutes
• At this point you should be able to easily remove the bark from the pan. Cut into desired size pieces & enjoy.

Holiday Peppermint Bark

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend, I know we sure did. I realize this recipe would have been better posted before the Holiday but I did not make it till the very last minute. I still wanted to post it anyway. I have seen this bark made several different ways but I think the way I made it this year is my favorite. Makes a great treat to place in goodie bags to give as gifts.

Holiday Peppermint Bark

6 squares of Chocolate Almond Bark

6 squares of White Almond Bark

3 Candy Canes Crushed

• Melt chocolate almond bark according to packaging, when completely melted pour into 8x8 baking dish lined with wax paper or onto cookie sheet with edges and let it set up (I placed mine in the fridge)
• When chocolate bark is set up melt the white chocolate bark and pour on top of the chocolate and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
•  Once completely set break the bark into desired size pieces and enjoy right away or package up and give as gifts.

I used almond bark but you can use white or chocolate chips to. With the recipe listed above I used an 8x8 pan lined with wax paper, I thought that the thickness of the chocolate came out perfect. You can also add some of the crushed candy canes right into the melted chocolate for more peppermint flavor. I only added the crushed candy canes to the top and thought the peppermint flavor was perfect for my taste.

Holiday Baking

Well time is flying by and I have not completed my shopping and I have not done any baking yet either with the exception of a few things here and there. I am hoping to finish my gift shopping today and maybe start some baking, we will see how things go. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day to complete everything that needs to be done, as usual. Have you started your holiday baking yet? I will be starting mine early this week and I can't wait, I have some really awesome goodies planned to make. Here is a list of the Sweet Treats I plan to make. What are you making?

Mels Kitchen Cafe

Cookie Dough Truffles

Bakerella

Cake Balls

Our Best Bites

Dipped Marshmallow Pops

Cinnamon Caramel Corn with White Chocolate

Peppermint Bark 

Avalanche Bark (recipe to come soon)

Oreo Balls

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ooey Gooey Caramel Pie

Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers



If I have time I would like to try a few other things to...

Brown Eyed Baker

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix 

Peanut Butter Cookies ( For my Husband)

Be sure to check out these blogs for more Holiday Baking and Gift Ideas
Our Best Bites
Little Birdie Secrets
Bake at 350
Two Peas And Their Pod

My Latest Project & New Hobby

I learned how to crochet about 10 years ago around my senior year of high school but  for what ever reason did not continue. I really wish I would have. About a month or two ago I decided that I really had to get back into it even if I had to teach myself, so I did. I checked out a ton of books from my local library and found several really good ones. I keep finding so many cute things that I want to make. I am very proud of the progress I have made and am super excited about the projects I have completed. I am by no means a pro, but a beginner with great determination to make some beautiful things.

 

Here are a few of the things that I have made so far, including a men's beanie, newborn hat and washcloths.

Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers

I have had these on my baking list for a couple months now but  after having some the other day I knew that I had to make some. I know that this may sound weird to some or OK all of you maybe but until just recently I do not think that I have ever had a chocolate covered graham cracker.  I have heard of and seen them but never actually had one. I must have lived a sheltered life. My friend Abby gave me some to try and I instantly loved them and knew that I HAD to make some. Check out her blog here. They are super easy to make and can be decorated with just about anything. I used mainly Christmas sprinkles but also used a drizzle of white chocolate on the chocolate covered crackers and some chocolate bar shavings on just a couple of them.  My personal favorite is the chocolate, imagine that! Cover your graham crackers however you desire. Dip them half way in chocolate, completely cover them or just dip one side then top them with whatever you want. I thought about putting marshmallows or rice krispies on them too.

Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers

Source: Myself and An "A" For Effort

 

White or Chocolate Almond Bark

Graham Crackers

Sprinkles or other toppings

Simply melt your chocolate choice as directed on the packaging then dip your graham crackers however you would like. Place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and if adding a topping do so fairly quick before the chocolate hardens. You can just leave them on cookie sheet till chocolate hardens or place in refrigerator.

(I melted 3 squares of almond bark and was able to cover one side of 9 full size graham crackers which I simply broke in half before covering.)

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

What a wonderful time of the year. It is definitely feeling a lot like Christmas around my house, especially with all the snow we woke up to this morning. I just love Christmas, it is my all time favorite time of the year. I LOVE to decorate my house with all my decorations, watch tons of Christmas movies over and over and listen to Christmas music. I love to do lots of baking and create handmade gifts for my family. For me it is just not the Christmas season if we do not watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer featuring Burl Ives. I have been watching that movie since I was a kid and I LOVE it. Its definitely a tradition in my family to watch that every year. What traditions do you share with your family?

Click here to view all my Christmas pictures!

My Favorite Christmas Movies

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

The Santa Clause

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Charlie Brown Christmas

My Favorite Christmas Music

Holly Jolly Christmas-Burl Ives

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer-Burl Ives

Frosty The Snowman-Gene Autry

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town-The Judds

Rockin Around The Christmas Tree-Brenda Lee

The Little Drummer Boy-Harry Simeone Chorale





Freebies In My Mail

More freebies in my mail....YAY! Are you recieving any freebies in your mailbox? I would love to hear about what you got. Here is what I have found in my mailbox over the last couple weeks.

• All You Magazine
• Tide Laundry Detergent
• Wisk Laundry Detergent
• Dove Deoderant
• Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner
• Crisco Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Scotch Blue Painters Tape
• Emergen-C
• Kotex Tampons & Pads
• Always Pads
• Vaseline Repair Moisture Lotion
• Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless
• Garnier Ultra Lift Anti Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer

Don't forget to check out these websites for your chance to snag some awesome freebies.

http://www.freesamplefreak.com/

http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/
www.allyou.com