food

Forget presents and eggnog–our favorite thing about the holidays is Christmas baking! Add a homemade touch to your gift-giving this year and treat your friends and family to packages of chocolate bark. Break the bark into pieces and place them a cellophane bag tied with a festive ribbon and you’ve got yourself the perfect hostess gift. Or, place chunks of bark in decorative bowls for guests to enjoy at your holiday gathering. Everyone who tastes this treat will rejoice at the amazing combination created by chunks of crystallized ginger and salty nuts. Yum, yum!

Yield: About 0.5 kg (1 lb.)

475 mL (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
75 mL (1/3 cup) pistachios, shelled and lightly crushed
75 mL (1/3 cup) macadamia nuts, lightly crushed
160 mL (2/3 cup) dried apricots, quartered
6 quarter-sized rounds crystallized ginger, thinly sliced
Pinch or two coarse salt

Line small baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate chips in medium bowl over saucepan of simmering water, stirring constantly, until smooth. Pour melted chocolate onto foil, spreading with spatula until approximately 2/3 cm (1/4 in.) thick. Scatter nuts and apricots over chocolate. Sprinkle with ginger and salt. Chill until chocolate is firm, about 30 minutes. Peel off foil. Break bark into irregular pieces.

Find more ideas and tips in our Holiday Survival Guide:
Holiday Bucket List for Couples
How to Host a Kick-Ass Christmas Party
Delicious Cocktail Recipes
In-law Etiquette
Turkey Dinner 101
Hilarious (and Helpful!) How to Roast a Turkey Video
Staying Home For The Holidays
Sweet and Salty Chocolate Bark Recipe
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