Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods, and Bark

 Okay firstly, the fact that the word rods is in my title made me giggle like a 12 year old boy.  " She said rods"  I know, but that is what they are, so that is all I have to say about that.

The rods.

I used up a lot more sprinkles than I thought I would, but they tasted great.

 This is the second time I made these.  I made them a few weeks ago with Pork Chop and his friend, you know the one, the one who says any play date without a baking craft is just not good enough.  So I was tired, I was also making something else, whoopie pies I think, it is all a blur now.  And it was not a hit, it was okay.  I mean they turned out really great and tasted super yummy, it was just a big mess and my kid lost interest after 3 pretzels and the other kid shook sprinkles all over the floor.  So yeah, fun but not great.

I mixed them all together.

 So this time I wanted to make something for Pork Chops last hockey game of the season.  They are in last place I think, but you know what?  This is the first year for them playing actual positions, last year it was just a free for all.  But apparently in other leagues they play positions from the beginning.  What do I know, I am just excited when I know which way they are supposed to be skating.  So you know, I am there for support.  I even scream and yell and stuff, usually at the wrong time, but I am there.  And I try to bring treats, so that totally makes up for it.

 I feel sort of horrible though, this year I have my part time job so I miss a lot of the games.  I gave up on practices last year as they are as early as 6am.  I told Hubby that if we had a girl I would be the one taking her to early horseback riding lessons or something, but we had a boy so it was his job.  Forget the fact that most of the kids have their moms there, I try not to think about it.  Anyway, I have missed some games and feel horrible about it, I tell Pork Chop how proud I am of him and what not.  He seems okay with it, I tell him it is bonding time for him and daddy.  Not sure he buys that, can you tell I feel guilty?

I hate working with white candy melts, no matter what I do they always get lumpy.  Now if I knew how to get my microwave on half power we might have a chance.  But that would mean I would have read the stupid instructions and that isn't going to happen.

   So for this last game, which I am missing again, I wanted to make something.  But it had to be small, as Hubby and Pork Chop hate handing things out.  I always get stuck handing things out and I feel stupid.  One mom even made a comment about how it must be nice to have time to bake things. I just smiled and said something about how I don't always get to bake.

That showed her.

Anyway this is easy, they are cheap ( that's what she said!) ( I have been dying to say that, and it wasn't even a good one, darn it) and Hubby can just give them to the coach to hand out.  So it is a win win all around.

Make sure the chocolate sets a bit or the sprinkles just drop off.

 To start, you just melt the chocolate you want to use. I went with white because I wanted to use coloured sprinkles and felt it would show more.  I thought about how much I hate working with white chocolate and then did it anyway.  I mean it doesn't have to be smooth when you cover it in sprinkles, so whatever.  Just melt the chocolate and put it in a deep bowl, or like I saw on other blogs, in a cup. I like the bowl as it was easier to catch the drips.

I bury the pretzel and leave it while I dip another one.

 Then I put the sprinkles in a 8x8 cake pan.  I chose to use chocolate jimmies because I like the taste and then I mixed in some shamrock sprinkles, because it was St. Patrick's day after all.  This makes it easier to roll the pretzel without getting the sprinkles everywhere. That is the plan, which did not work when Pork Chops friend decided to shake the darn pan all over the place and sent sprinkles flying.  So in theory it works, just don't let a hyped up 7 year old near it.

So take a pretzel and dip it as much or as little as you want in the chocolate, then tap it a lot on the side of the bowl to get the extra off.  Also you want the chocolate to start setting a bit as once the sprinkles are on they can sort of slide off if it is too runny.

Just leave them to dry.

 So once dipped and what not, put the pretzel in the sprinkles and roll it around to cover.  I let it sit while I dip another pretzel, then place it on wax paper to set up.  I have the fan on high as it is super crazy hot here right now, which is nuts since there was snow just a week or so ago.  I mean it's Canada, I remember having to be in snow pants and boots in April when I was a kid.  I am not complaining, except for the heat when I am working with chocolate.

Anyway, once they are set enough move them into a box or like I did put them into a cake pan and put them in the fridge.  I did this so they would be hard before I started packing them.  I just got the cheapest cookie bags I could at the bakers warehouse.  I also got the pretzels there too.  They came in a bag of 20 for about $2, the only issue was about 3 or 4 in every bag were broken.  This was no problem, either you just dip the broken bits, or like I did crush them up, mix them with the left over chocolate and put them in a silicon mold to make bark.  See two treats for the price of one.  Anyway, just put the pretzels in a bag and tie with ribbon and send to the hockey game with your kid.  Then be the best mom ever, or the one who obviously has too much time on her hands. (No snark there at all right?!)

The bag was a tight fit, I only tied up the kids because I didn't want to put staples in theirs.

I stapled the ones for my friends, because I am the lazy kind of baker.

Some of the left over pretzels that I smashed.

 I have to say that these are one of the tastiest things ever, and there are lots of people making these I am sure, but Love from the Oven is the one that reminded me to make them.  I love that by just changing the sprinkle or sugar you use you can match any holiday or theme.  Have fun and try to not to cover your floor in sprinkles, you don't want to actually have to clean after this or something.  Who has time for that?

And then you mix it all up

And try to get it in the mold.  I had flash backs of the stupid oreo bark and again said next time I would use a food processor to get smaller pieces.  I will forget you know that right?

They kind of look like soap, what can you do?  They still taste good.

Pot of Gold Chocolate Cups

I know I'm a dork, but I want to say "top o the morning" when I see this, or anything St Patrick's day related.  Having chocolate and ice cream would so make my morning.  And I just thought that if you cover it in Irish Cream it would be a really good morning, if not a blurry one, if you know what I mean.

  So I did a few St. Patrick's day related things before it got crazy around my house.  Pork Chop had been sick, home for 3 days and on some heavy medicine.  Hubby had not been feeling great, and I was just feeling run down.  My mood is getting a bit better, but I am still not 100% back to how I want to feel.  The weather is super crazy nice now, so it has to get better. Right?

  Anyway I made these cute chocolate cauldrons last week, and I swear I took pictures of them in the mold and what not, but cannot find them now.  So I am going to blame Hubby, he had to of done it, or a leprechaun.  I think Hubby is the more likely culprit, but you know, I have been wrong before.  (Don't tell Hubby!)

 So basically, I was at the baking warehouse buying a 50 pound box of candy melts, yes 50 pounds.  Which I dropped in the parking lot, right beside my car.  And then I spent about 10 minutes trying to lift it up again and get it into the back seat.  Good news, it did not open.  Bad news, I think my wrist gave out.  All was fine the next day, but I was so upset when I dropped it, what a waste of chocolate that would have been if it had opened.  Anyway, I saw this mold and thought "I need that"  Which I totally did, and you know  I don't ever say that about anything that I may not use.

  So I got the mold and the very next time I was working with candy melts, which was not long after, I tried it out.  The mold is on one sheet of plastic, so you have to cut it in half.  Then I half filled one side with melted candy melts and sort of moved it around.  Then I put the second half of the mold on and clipped it together with cloths pegs.  Then I rolled it all around to make sure the mold was covered on the sides and bottom, I left the top open.  Then I popped it into the fridge for a few minutes, then pulled it out and rotated it again then let it set up for good in the fridge.  It worked out well, there was a bit of leakage which you can removed with a hot knife.  I then put some chocolate mint ice cream in it, because it is green and it's what I had.  Then I ate it.

  Pork Chop wanted the little hat I used in the picture.  I actually picked up that hat in a pack of four at the dollar store.  I had no intention of using it for this, I wanted it so I could use it as a base to make a cute steam punk top hat.  But I had four so I let Pork Chop have one, on the condition that he let me take his picture.

This is the best one because he did not want to stop what he was doing, and kept making faces.  I even told him  I would be putting it on the blog, that just got angry faces, he was in no mood for pictures. Please ignore the fact my steam punk outfit is still sitting in my living room, it is too heavy to move to the basement again, so there it sits until it is finished.

This is our fairy door, for the tooth fairy.  I told Pork Chop that if he was bad and didn't let me take a good picture the leprechaun's would use it and come and pain his toes green or something.  He did not buy it.  He does have a tooth coming out, so at least he still believes in the tooth fairy.  Although he has a plan to catch her, he is mean like that.

So have a great St. Patrick's day, drink a green beer for me.  Hubby and I have a date night, we are going to the home show, without Pork Chop.  This is the first time ever without him.  His Uncle is coming to watch him while we have some adult time. And by adult time, I mean we will be out, and talking about Pork Chop the whole time.  Sigh, I love that little man.

And we have a Winner!!

So totally nothing to do with this post, just picked some pictures I had on my computer.  Here is Pork Chop at Great Wolf Lodge.  He got the choice between this and a big party, he chose well. Although I still did a family party, it was no where near as much work.

 Just a super quick post to announce the winner of my give away.  I have been dealing with being a little sick, and so is Hubby and now poor Pork Chop is bad.  But apparently a bunch of kids from his school are sick, so there are a few of them not getting to enjoy the March break.  Poor things.  But that means I get to cuddle and not be on the computer too much, so I will just announce the winner, and put in a few pictures to share, because what is a blog post without pictures, even if they are not relevant at all.

So I used Random .org and I was given the number 10.  I was so happy because all the entries managed to get the right answer, which is amazing, I chose a hard question.  I will go easier on you all next time!  So the winner is !

Dorthy at Crazy for Crust, and this totally means she has to make something with this stuff and show us.  So Dorthy I will email you, and thanks all for entering!

Pork Chop after going under water, he is all "look what I can do"  then I think of that Mad TV creepy kid and want to call him "Stewart"

Try to ignore the flab, no one, and I mean no one over the age of 10 looks good in a bathing suit.  And if you are a freak that does, I hate you, on a superficial level that is.

See how nice he looks, and almost cute?

Well he is evil deep down, he gets that from me.  So I cannot be too mad.

Home Made Marshmallows, Three Ways.

My only pick, because I suck, but there is a lot of info here, I promise.

 Before we get started I want to remind you all to enter my give away that I have going on.  

So this will be the second time I have made marshmallows, and then covered them in chocolate.  It also makes it the second time I have used my candy thermometer, you know, the one I got over 10 years ago ( or something) and never used?  So I really wanted to go big, and I figured as long as I was going to have everything out to make them, I might as well experiment and try different flavours.  I didn't do any progress pictures because my last post had them, so you can check them out here. 

  I  spent a Friday evening with Pork Chop making these. I made these a few weeks ago, but you know, being on time with my posts is not something I do. Also I have to admit doing things in advance really works for me as I am as of today way behind so having back up posts helps a lot! Anyway  he was all set to help, then decided X Box was more interesting.  I was okay with that, because I was working with boiling sugar and it made me nervous to have him in the kitchen.  So it all worked out.  And he again asked to try one, and again spit it out. But I am not surprised, I made him try a small one, saving the big ones for me.

So my plan of action was this, I was going to make vanilla bean, coffee and Irish cream flavored marshmallows then dip them in chocolate.  I was also going to try and make them all a normal size.  Just keep in mind I said try, because some of them were still monsters.  But they tasted really good!

So to start off, I used the same Martha Stewart recipe I used last time and just sort of tweaked it.  Also I used my kitchen aid and the last time I thought I was burning the motor out as it slowed down near the end.  Turns out that the marshmallow was just so sticky that was slowing it down, the motor was fine.  So just in case you worry, it's all good.

  So I used this basic recipe then did my own thing, sort of.  The Irish cream ones were tricky and I will totally use the concentrated flavor next time.  But I will tell you what I did and whatnot as I go.

Marshmallows

Adapted from Martha Stewart

-2 1/2 TBSPs unflavoured gelatin ( this worked out to be 3 envelopes for me)

-1 cup water, split

-1 1/2 cup white sugar

-1 cup light corn syrup

-1/4 TSP salt

-1 TBSP Flavor of choice

-icing sugar for dusting

So I did exactly what I did in this last post for my vanilla bean marshmallows, I just upped the vanilla bean paste to 1 1/2 TBPS, so you got a bit more of it.  I think if you use fake vanilla you should use less, but the paste is perfect this way.  

When making the marshmallows, I would follow the directions as I put them before, melt the gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Then melt the sugar, corn syrup, salt and water until the sugar is dissolved,  then heat  until they reach the right temperature.  Then whisk them all together until they are about triple in volume.  Then add the flavor you are using.  I found that the motor speeds up with the flavor then slows again as it thickens again.

For the coffee marshmallows I just added 1/2 TBSP of this  flavoring oil.  I did not want the flavor to over power the marshmallow, so you may want more or less.

Then the big mistake was the Irish cream ones.  I had about 1/4 cup of the real stuff left over from all the other Irish cream things I had made.  So I thought that and 1 splash of vanilla would be perfect.  But once I added it to the marshmallows the mix was so liquid like and I panicked, so I sprinkled in another  pocket of gelatin powder, and that didn't thicken it up at all.  But I figure it would take time to thicken so I went with  it.  I found it very fluid and it was like a syrup going into the pan. 

I left all three pans out over night, the coffee and vanilla bean were perfect.  The Irish cream was thinner and I think I lost a lot of the air.  Also it really stuck to the pan as I guess the liquidity of it pushed the powdered sugar around and it stuck to the pan.  So I had to pull it out and it was still tasty.  It had a spongy texture, not as light as the rest.  So it was a fail in that sense, but it tasted boozy, so you can sort of forgive it right? I know booze makes everything right, so that is what I say.  Next time I would replace the water I dissolved the gelatin in with the booze, or at least half and half water and booze.

Anyway, I also found an easier way to cut and dust the marshmallows.  I used my pizza cutter again then with an extra cake pan filled with a cup of icing sugar I pulled them apart and tossed them in there.  Then just shook them off.  It was much easier than the way I did it last time.  I took each piece and rolled it one at a time, so you know I learned something.

I then just dipped them in melted candy melts, and for the coffee ones drizzled with white candy melts, and the Irish cream got green candy drizzle of coarse.  I left the vanilla bean ones with just plain chocolate. I had so many I brought lots to both works, I gave some to my son's tutor and some to my friend who is pregnant and needs sugar. I also sent some to work with my hubby, you for the very first time tried something I made, and liked it! I know the world may stop turning.

So I think this opens up a lot of options for me, I may even tint my marshmallows next time, you know, just because I can.  Again sorry for the lack of pictures, I think I was so excited with them all I just forgot to get more.

Bunny Cake Pops and a Give Away

That guy on the left is giving the other guy the stink eye!

 I love to read other blogs and find things that I must absolutely have.  I mean when was the last time a blogger showed you something and you got it and you didn't like it?  Never that's when!  So when I was reading The Sweet Adventures of Sugar belle, I knew I so needed the little pixie dust shakers she showed.  I mean up until that point I had been using a pain brush and I was just all willy nilly shaking disco dust all over my house.  It was what I had, so I went with it.  So glad I got these. So is Hubby who is against glitter covering our house.  But what does he know.

  Anyway when I was finished ordering I thought, I would love to do a give away and wondered if Karen would like to host one.  And it was late at night, and I was tired so I sent her a quick email saying I had a blog and would she like to donate for a give away.  I forgot about it, and within a day or two she emailed me back.  Not only was she willing to host a give away, she visited my blog.  MY BLOG!!!! And she said she would send me something that would be cake pop related so that it would go with my blog.  People, she visited my blog! I know, I'm a dork.

Another great Target find.  I cannot wait till they come to Canada, they better be as good as the ones in the states.

  So what did the amazing Karen send me to give to you? Well you have to wait until the end of the post to see.  But I made my treats with the same things today, so you may guess it.  But if you do, don't tell, that would ruin the surprise!

So to get ready for Easter I thought I would make some cute bunny cake pops.  I also wanted to make some simple cake balls, because as much as I love my co workers, the balls are much faster.

To start I had Hubby make me a box cake mix, in chocolate, because really, chocolate is the best.  Hubby made it for me because I was working, and he did a good job.  Just don't tell him. Then the next night  I crumbled it up and mixed it with enough canned frosting to make it stick together.  Not too much or you will have trouble rolling and forming it.

It looks like dirt, but it's not.  You will have to trust me.

I got this super cute silicon pan at Target last spring when I was in Florida.  Can I just say it was the trip of a lifetime, and my Mom is the best for taking me and Pork Chop, and I want to go again.  Over and over again!  Okay sorry, off track there.  So I got this pan, and used my cake ball sized ice cream scoop to put some cake ball mixture into it, then pressed it down with my fingers.  The ice cream scoop was the perfect size.  I then froze them and rolled the rest into regular cake balls.

These are the regular cake balls, but I put spring sprinkles on them, so that totally makes them spring cake balls.  They also sort of look like boobs with weird nipple shields.  I cannot believe I just typed that, guess it's better than saying it out loud right?

 So after an hour or so in the freezer I took the pan out, and popped the bunny heads out and kept them in the fridge.  I worked 3 at a time and they held together well.

So cute right?  What if I made marshmallows in the mold and they would be like peeps, only better!

I sort of feel bad, but not really. They can't feel anything.

Once I was ready I melted white candy melts, and added paraffin crystals to make it thinner.  Then I dipped the lollipop stick into the melts, then stuck them into the bunny head.  And yes I know that sounds horrible, but remember it is cake, not a real bunny.   Then I dipped the whole thing and tapped off the extra candy melts.  I dragged the back of the cake pop on the side of the bowl to take off the extra drips then laid them on wax paper.  I let them dry while I dipped the regular cake balls.  Then I dipped them again so the cake ball mixture would not show through the candy melts.  This also covers any cracks that may happen.

Oh white candy melts, how I hate you!  Why won't you melt all nice like your chocolaty brother.

This is after only the first dip, you can see some of the brown showing through.  And that is not acceptable!

I then had to let them really dry, I put the fan on in the room.  Because if you want to decorate them they need to be dry.

By now I was getting tired, so I was just going to try making something cute.

When I was ready I took my Amereicolor food writing pens.  ( this may be a hint as to something I am giving away!)  And I started to draw, like a 4 year old.  As you will notice I have no artistic ability so I just did a few then gave up. It had been a long night, there was a play date going on, and a certain friend may have showered my floor with sprinkles.  So I did a few, took a crummy picture and called it a night.

I know.

I suck.

These are all I did, except I didn't show you the one where I tried to draw a bow on it and it looks like a really big blob of nothing.

I bet Pork Chop would have done a better job.

Okay, I know Pork Chop could have made these better.

So to give these away I would usually pack them in little cake pop bags and tie it with ribbon, and add a cute tag or something.  As it was they went in a plastic container and went to work with me the next day.

No one at work cared, they ate them and the regular balls like crazy.

Best part?

My friend saying "Oh my God!  I love your balls!!"  She said it really loudly and in front of other people sort of, and I just laughed and told her she had to think about what she said.  She blushed, and it made my day.  And yes, I am so a 12 year old boy, sue me!

That right there is an amazing prize!  Edible ink pens, lollipop sticks and sprinkles.

So now, on to the most generous give away from Karen's Cookies.  ( whom I have ordered from twice, and the shipping here to Canada is really reasonable, not like some places.)

Karen sent me a whole set of Amerecolor food writer pens, the best ones out there!  And some cake pop sticks and some super cute spring sprinkles.  Do you know how hard it is going to be for me to send those sprinkles away, because I don't even have them? Well do you?  Well I may cry a little at the post office, just saying.

So here are your rules and the rest, and yes I know it is a wordy bunch of rules, but from what I have read to do a contest in Canada there must be a skill testing question, and you know, I don't want to be sued over a blog contest okay.  ***7+7+?*** this is the skill testing question!

There are a four ways you can enter, the first is to just leave a comment with the answer to the skill testing question, 7+7=?

For additional entries: Please leave a separate comment letting me know what you did with the answer to the skill testing question for each one.

-visit Karen's shop and tell me what you like best in the shop
-become a follower of my blog and let me know, and if you are already a follower let me know
-become a fan of my face book page and let me know, and if you already are, again just let me know


Other info:
This is open to international readers, Canadian (except Quebec, sorry) and USA readers.  Prize was supplied by the amazing Karen at Karen's Cookies.  I am not being compensated in any way, but I love her stuff!  The contest will close on March 12, 2012 at 12 noon Toronto time.  As  I have to approve all comments any comment that hits my mail box before noon will still be published and counted, even if I cannot publish them until after the time. The winner will be chosen on March 13, 2012, and will be listed on this blog and will have 48 hours to get in contact with me.  So please leave me a way to contact you when you comment. If the winner does not contact me within the 48 hours I will choose another winner.  All winners will be chosen by Random.org. Any entries that do not have the answer to the skill testing question will not qualify.  So I will count all qualifying entries starting at the top and working down.  The winner will be responsible for any duty that they may incur when the item is shipped to them.  The value of the prize is approximately $30 US.  Good luck all.
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