I am so sorry not to have Part Two of my story about “Christmas Elegance” for you today, but something came up last night and I just wasn’t able to get it written. Actually part of it was written but my pictures weren’t taken and I had too much on my plate and not enough time to do it justice. I am hoping to have it tomorrow.
BUT…in the meantime I decided to share my favorite Chocolate Mint Cookie Bark with you. This has become my favorite recipe of the Christmas season, although it’s delicious any time of the year. I was going to share it with you anyway… just hadn’t planned on it being today…
I am going to copy the complete post that I did for it last year with a tutorial full of pictures. It is pretty fool proof and absolutely delicious. I always take some to the Post Office and the clerks at the window know what’s coming when they see me bring in little goodie bags!
BELOW IS THE ORIGINAL POST FROM LAST YEAR… AND NO, I’M NOT HAVING THAT PARTY AS IT TALKS ABOUT IN THE POST…
Disclaimer:
There are no dolls in this post…no sewing and no fabric…but I did use a pair of scissors to open my chocolate chips… Does that count?
It’s getting to be that time of year when things get hectic and it’s no different at my house. I have a big party I’m planning for the Married Couple’s from my church and I’ve been busy with all kinds of things for it. We’re having it in a banquet room at a local restaurant so we don’t have to cook, but I have to get this place looking festive for Christmas. I have most of the things done, but I always like to make some homemade goodies for their treat bags. That’s what I’ve been doing today… making cookies (6 dozen so far) and this recipe I’m sharing with you today… Chocolate Mint Cookie Bark… I hope you’ll try it. It’s SO good and it only calls for 4 ingredients…
CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIE BARK
8 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips
6 oz of white chocolate chips (Nestle’s Premier White is what I used)
2 TBSP peanut butter
10 Oreo cookies (I used the mint ones)
Now, don’t laugh at my pictures. My lighting was from my stove light and it’s a bit yellowish. I was working quickly so my pictures aren’t like ones I’d submit to “Taste of Home”… they are just “regular” pictures, done quickly as I worked.
You have to work fast when you make this so it’s best to have it all measured out ahead of time.
Place 5 Oreo cookies in 2 separate baggies and crush up into small pieces… I just used a heavy spoon to smash them up. They do get sort of gooey inside the baggie.
I take them out of the baggies and put them in 2 separate bowls so it’s quicker to add them to the melted chocolate chips…
Have your 2 TBSP of peanut butter ready… (It’s NOT 1/3 cup PB…I just have it sitting in a measuring spoon…)
Have a piece of wax paper about 18″ long spread on your counter.
Place the two different flavored chocolate chips in 2 separate glass bowls. Starting with the semi-sweet chocolate chips, microwave them in 30-40 second increments, stirring with a spoon, until the chips are melted. I usually have to do it 3 or 4 times to get them all melted.
Here are the semi-sweet chocolate chips as they are almost melted…
Quickly add the crushed Oreo’s to the semi sweet chocolate chips and stir… then spoon the chocolate mixture onto the wax paper
skipping spaces like you would if you were making a checkerboard.
(I’ve made this enough times that I go ahead and put the white chips in the microwave as I’m putting the blobs of semi-sweet chips on the wax paper.) Then take the white chocolate chips bowl and place it in the microwave in 30 second increments until they are melted. Next add the Peanut butter to it, stirring quickly. It sort of turns a bit yellowish.
Then add the crushed Oreo’s to it and quickly spoon it out onto the wax paper in between the chocolate blobs…
Next take a butter knife and drag it from top to bottom then back up and then back down down and then up and then back down…pulling in different directions…
That’s what gives it that marbled look….
Slide a flat cookie sheet or a stiff cutting board under the wax paper and place it in the frig until it hardens. Then just break it apart. I managed to make 3 batches of this bark in about 45 minutes.
YUMMY!! Now if I can just keep my hubby out of it! (I just caught him coming out of the kitchen with a smile on his face, so anybody want to guess what that means???)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Today is George’s first day of chemo, isn’t it? That’s going to take all your time. The sooner it begins, the faster it will be over and George can begin recovering from the treatment. It helps so much that you have a good doctor and a good hospital. It’s hard to think of really nice things to think about this experience, but you will find them if anyone can. Remind us of George’s schedule. Oh, I did think of something — I run into cancer survivors everywhere and a lot of their stories make mine look like kindergarten. Meeting them makes my day, even now, 3 years later.
That bark always looks so good. I spend the day before Christmas Eve making rolls. If I made the bark, how far in advance could I make it and how should it be stored to keep it at its best for Christmas Eve? It would be such a nice thing to add to our table.
Hi Marilyn,
Yes…today is the day…it seems like this is the day I have been waiting for since that horrible biopsy report back at the of September. ..but then it also seems like the day I never wanted to get here because I didn’t want all this to start.
It doesn’t matter now…we got here at 8:00 this morning, got the blood tests, got him started on the pre meds and the chemo will actually start in a minute. They said it would 5 1/2 hours of Chemo then we’ll be done for today.
When we walked in the door my hubby said let’s just think of this as a day at the spa… :o)
Oh you could absolutely make the bark ahead of time…I can’t say exactly how long it would kept in the frig because mine never lasts…but I’m guessing for 2 weeks easily…
If you try it you’ll be a hit! Notice I said “you’ll” be a hit!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, I absolutely LOVE this recipe! You are the one who introduced me to it and I have made it over and over! It never fails to disappear! I have made it with my granddaughters and they had a great time doing it! Clean up is so easy and no baking involved, which is great! I’m the kind of cook that looks at a recipe and wonders how messy the kitchen is going to get, and this is a piece of cake, well, candy, to clean up!
Marilyn, I keep mine in the refrigerator until just before serving. You can make it weeks in advance of serving, in fact, I’m making some today!
My prayers are with you both, Jeanne and George, as you start treatments. The good thing is you will be in Carbondale, and not far from home!
Hi Linda,
Oh I’m so glad you could tell Marilyn how long you’ve made the bark in advance
I told her mine never lasts too long. I’m glad you enjoy it so much.
Thanks so much Linda,
Yes, being just 20 minutes from home is nice…I would hate to think of going to St Louis every week for this.
Blessings, Jeanne
Prayers for you both today….
Recipe looks delicious….thanks for not stressing yourself out with trying to keep up with the blog. You have alot on your plate these days.
Blessings.
Hi Becky, this recipe IS delicious! Maybe a little too delicious.
I was a little stressed out last night but it was something involving my mom. ..my sister is coming in today…
Thanks so much Becky,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thinking and praying for you both on this important Tuesday. It’s a lot to deal with today.
I’m glad George’s chemotherapy takes place near by so he can adjust at home and not have to add a long driving trip.
I am at the end of my 4th year cancer free and just had my yearly checkup yesterday. I thank the Lord everything checked out clear. My young nephew is struggling with stage 4, now going on his 3rd year of chemo and surgeries. He’s doing real well considering. My wish for the world is a cure for this terrible disease.
I love your mint bark and plan on making it this year. Just looking at your pictures makes me crave it!! So yummy!! Anything with peanut butter and chocolate in it is great!!
I finally found some inexpensive white bookcases for my doll room and while they aren’t exactly what I wanted, they’ll work. If I don’t get this renovation started, it’ll never get accomplished! Today, it’s time to start moving my piles of dolls and keepsakes out of the way!
Hi Paula,
There’s no turning back now… now let’s just get this over and done with!
Congratulations on your wonderful news about being cancer free for 4 years! I bet when you get a good report like that you can hardly stand it!!!
I’m so sorry about your nephew…what a trooper he must be with all he has gone through.
I’m right there with you on the chocolate and peanut butter combination.
Oh I hope your bookcases work out for you. It will make it so nice in your doll room to have things back in order and all organized. I hope you have a productive day.
Blessings, Jeanne
Thinking of you and George. Glad this is finally happening. Sooner it starts the sooner it will be a distant memory.
Giraffe is up and twinkling. Tree in it’s box, but there is hope it may appear today. We had frost here this morning. COLD for us.
Hi Joy,
I’m trying to be strong like you shared with me in that email. At first you sort of took me by surprise but I really needed that…so thank you.
Yes..the sooner we get this going the sooner it will end.
Sounds like Christmas is happening at Joy’s house!
Blessings, Jeanne
I missed seeing that George will be having the treatments close to home. That’s wonderful. I won’t be making the candy until closer to Christmas so guests will eat it and not me. Thanks for thinking of us. We’re certainly thinking of you and George.
Thank you Susette,
We are so glad we had this new Cancer Institute so close to home.
I know exactly what you mean about not having that cookie bark around so you aren’t tempted. I have actually made it before and put it in the frig…WITH tape on the box so I wouldn’t get into it! Yikes!
blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
A day at the Spa… that made me chuckle. I’m glad to hear George is cracking jokes. Staying strong and Keeping positive is a must. I’m happy to hear your sister is there for you and your mom. Having her around will be a blessing I’m sure.
Your recipe looks and sounds yummy. I think I’m going to give it a try but closer to Christmas because I have zero will power. I loved the disclaimer on the post “There are no dolls in this post…no sewing and no fabric…but I did use a pair of scissors to open my chocolate chips… Does that count?” Very funny.
Jeanne I’ve told you before but I’ll say it again. I continue to lift George, you and your lovely family up in prayer. I pray your day goes quickly and that all goes well.
Hugs
Ingrid
Thank you Ingrid,
I’m a bit late getting to your comments…it got busy as the day went longer…
George did very well and he’s sleeping now, which surprises me as they said the combination of drugs he was given would wire him probably all night and he’d probably sleep all day tomorrow. So that’s a good sign…
The day did go quickly as a friend stopped by and got to visit with him. She even brought him some chicken and dumpling soup and bread… we chatted and the time really flew by.
After we got home and I got him all settled in and got a few things in order, I went over to my mom’s to see my sister. It IS good having her home.
If you have no will power it’s best not to make it early…seriously this stuff could be deadly to most diets! It’s that good!
Thanks so much for your prayers…
I mailed off your slip yesterday…
Blessings, Jeanne
My thought are with you and George today…. I am ten years Cancer free!! I am also glad you are close to home it will make it much easier. I love this recipe, I think I will give it a shot… thanks so much!!!
Hi Robin,
Congratulations on your big cancer conquer! It was a very nice place and they were all so very nice to us there… we certainly picked the right place… I just know it.
Chocolate Mint Cookie Bark for EVERYONE! I hope you like it. I have a friend that I made some for one time and she said her kids said, “WHERE DID THAT STUFF COME FROM THAT YOU BROUGHT HOME?” She said they loved it and had to have the recipe… That’s when I did the blog post on it I think…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, the day is about over now, and I’m hoping everything went well for you and George. Just think, that’s one treatment behind you. The candy looks good, and like Linda, I look for recipes that don’t mess up everything in the kitchen. I also like recipes that don’t take a bunch of ingredients that don’t get used up. I’m thinking I could get extra chocolate to melt and dip the leftover Oreos in. This would be a good one to take along to one of the gatherings that happen this time of year. Everyone likes homemade candy.
HI Carolyn,
Yes, the day is over and my hubby is snoozing away… things went very well and I am relieved like you said…that’s one treatment down!
If you like easy, this recipe certainly fills the bill on that end. The first time you do it you’re thinking…oh, am I doing this right? gotta hurry… but the next time it’s a piece of cake… it’s very easy and super good!
I hope if you try it, you like it…
Blessings, Jeanne