Almond Bark and Chocolate dipped Cherries

I know these are not AMAZING recipes and they don't really stretch the culinary limitations that you so badly want to push, but they are my favorite candies around the holiday's. I have a big party coming up on Saturday so I am getting them ready for everyone :)

What are some of your favorite recipes around the holidays, any home made family candies that you love? Growing up my mom, sisters, my grandma and me would all stand around the kitchen counter making cookies and candies and all sorts of goodies! They really is nothing better in the world than that time spent with the women in our family.

So tonight we're going to go back in time and make it happen!

Almond Bark:

2 cups                               Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate Chips
2 cups                               Slivered, Blanched Almonds

Melt your chocolate down, either in a double broiler or a microwave, and add in the almonds. Stir until everything is evenly coated and pour out onto a cookie sheet. Make sure it has raised edges or else it'll pour over. Take a rubber spatchula and spread it so that it's even across the pan. 

Let cool. 

Break into pieces and bag up for gifts or simply put it in a plastic container. 

Store in your garage or somewhere cool in the house where it wont melt.

Dipped Chocolate Cherries (2 days)

1 jar                 Maraschino Cherries pitted

1-2 cups          Milk Chocolate

Drain the cherries from the liquid and set liquid to the side. Let the cherries completely dry.

Melt your chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and set to the side.  

Dip the cherries in the chocolate by using a toothpick and only dip them up to the hole. Don't cover the hole. PLace the dipped cherries on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Set somewhere cool to dry.

The second day, fill the cherries with the juice you set aside with either an eye dropper or some other fancy thing. Dip them a second time but covering the hole this time. Remove the toothpick and dab a bit of chocolate over the hole. Let sit in cool place till dry.

There ya have it! One of these day we'll get back to making real food, but for now I'm craving my sweets!

Mahalo Family