Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Sweet Start to the Year--Chocolate Pecan Bark

BUFFALO WEST WINGFirst off, a big congratulations to my friend Julie Hyzy for her acclaimed new release, Buffalo West Wing. I can’t wait to find out what Chef Ollie is up against this time! This book is coming out to outstanding reviews, so y’all be sure to pick up a RileyAdamsFoodBlogPostpic_thumb_thumb[3]copy.

New Year. Time to crack down on what we’re eating and start the new year out right. Make resolutions, make plans, get healthy.

Or not. :)

Rules are made to be broken, aren’t they?

I do like to start out a new year with something sweet. Maybe that’s just as superstitious as eating greens was—but it makes me think the year will be sweet, too.

With this recipe, you can break the rules just a little bit. A pinch of chocolate bark here and there…and pecans are good for you!

Jenn gave us a treat last month with her delicious peppermint bark recipe.

Or, if you really do want to be good, just bookmark this recipe and make it next month…and give it to your sweetie for Valentine’s Day. :)

MLK5Chocolate Pecan Bark

1 cup pecans chopped (or any chopped nut)
3 (4oz) Ghiradelli 60% cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Bars
3 (4oz) Ghiradelli White Chocolate Bars

1 tsp kosher salt

MLK1MLK2MLK3 MLK4

Line jelly roll pan with parchment paper
Break each chocolate bar into even pieces
Arrange alternately in checkerboard pattern in pan on top of parchment paper
Bake at 200 for 5 minutes until chocolate is melted
Remove pan and swirl chocolate with a toothpick for a marble pattern
Sprinkle with nuts and salt
Chill 1 hour
Break into pieces

MLK6Store in airtight container.

Enjoy breaking your resolutions! I know I am! :)

Riley/Elizabeth
Delicious and Suspicious (July 6, 2010) Riley Adams
Pretty is as Pretty Dies –Elizabeth Spann Craig

18 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious and looks so yummy. With this recipe you couldn't go wrong because all the ingredients are really good for you. This is a great way to start off the New Year.

    Congratulations to Julie on the release of Buffalo West Wing. I've got it on my TBR pile and can't wait to read it.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  2. Isn't this pretty bark? Love the checkerboard pattern!

    Resolutions? Oh, yeah, keeping to a schedule. so far so good. I would never try something as drastic as no chocolate or sweets. I just couldn't do it. Goals are made to be reachable, right?

    BTW, Julie, great opening day!

    ~Avery
    AveryAames.com
    @AveryAames
    facebook

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  3. This looks wonderful! My only problem is that I've never been very good at breaking chocolate bars into even pieces. ;-)

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  4. Liz, this is INCREDIBLE!!! The plans are going through my head now... how about white chocolate and that strawberry red colored chocolate for Valentines Day, swirled like you showed and topped with those candy hearts....

    OH OH OH... I got it...

    a rich dark Chili pepper enhanced chocolate paired with the white (and topped with bacon (seriously, chocolate bacon is amazing).

    Great tips, great post... you'll be seeing this on my blog soon

    Dave

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  5. And wouldn't Lulu serve Chocolate bacon at Aunt Pat's???

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  6. LOL, Dave!

    Elizabeth, this is the greatest idea. So easy! Fabulous pictures, BTW -- I love the way it looks when swirled. Yum!

    ~ Krista

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  7. Elizabeth - This looks absolutely delicious!!! And it's interesting that you make a connection between making something sweet and a good new year. That's a Jewish tradition, too; the Jewish New Year is often marked with honey cake and apples with honey - for a sweet new year...

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  8. Mason--It's GOOD for you! Yes!

    I think Julie's book is going to be a smash hit!

    Avery--Reachable goals make the most sense, don't they? cutting back on chocolate couldn't be on my list. :)

    Harbingerdc--I'm not either, but in my house there are chocolate-devouring children, and I'm lucky to get any!

    Dave--Chocolate bacon! I love it. For Lulu, it could be a chocolate pig! Eating chocolate bark! (Do pigs eat bark? I think not, but who cares! The visuals would be great. :) ) Can't wait to see your version.


    Krista--Finally some good pictures! Ha! But I think I'm going to be back to casseroles next week, and you know the kinds of pictures those produce!

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  9. OMG, Lulu WOULD serve Chocolate bacon (with or without pecans, that is the question). Love this recipe, E. Marc and I do a white chocolate bark with pecans, but I love the genius of your checkerboard marbling technique and the addition of salt, as well. My must-make list for sure!

    Sweet dreams,
    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  10. This is *gorgeous* and I can't wait to try making some of my own. I may switch to almonds because chocolate + almonds is always a favorite around here, but wow... what an amazing idea! Great pictures too!

    And I'm with Dave - Lulu would add bacon to this recipe. I think you might have to add that to your next book!

    Love this! Thanks for the new book congrats!

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  11. I love it. One. Two. Three and you have chocolate pecan bark. Yum!

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  12. Now why, why, did it NEVER occur to me to lay out the chocolate bars in a checkerboard pattern, melt, then swirl for the marble effect???? Nurse JudyMac

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  13. Well this is just too cool! okeey doke - another recipe from Mystery Lovers' Kitchen into my "gotta try" file!! Thank you!

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  14. Cleo--Lulu *would* have pecans and she'd call them PEA-CANS. :) Glad you like the marbling effect. :)

    Julie--Adding bacon and sour cream and a stick of butter to this would make it especially Southern! Ha! It IS pretty, though, and I think that almonds would be wonderful with it.

    Dru--It's pretty yummy!

    NurseJudyMac--And it can be done with different colored chocolates, as Dave mentioned. :) It's fun to do, too!

    Kaye--Hope you enjoy it!

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  15. Chocolate pecan bark...oh my. And Dave...chili peppers, YES--but bacon? Well, why not? That will be my New Year's resolution: This year, I resolve to try chocolate with bacon.

    Julie's book is, let me say now, simply terrific. Everything a book should be, all wrapped up in irresistible. I AM itching to see Ollie feed Peter Everett Sergeant an oleander salad, though!

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  16. Elizabeth...
    Brilliant photos!!! Great recipe as well!

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  17. Whoop Whoop... Liz, i did it... I have a plate full of marbleized chocolate Bacon Bark all ready to go to the neighborhood card game tonight. i will be blogging the results soon, but a huge success (we have two sets of new neighbors, great chance to see how open minded they are).

    Thanks for the idea. The marbling worked great

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  18. And it's up and posted... What a great idea!

    http://yearonthegrill.blogspot.com/2011/02/chocolate-bacon-bark-new-twist-on.html

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