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Friday, October 22, 2010

Chocolate Nut Bark: National Nut Day

October 22 is National Nut Day as opposed to Chocolate Covered Nut Day on February 25. I posted about Goobers last February.  Nuts seem naked without chocolate, and I've posted all kinds of chocolate/nut recipes over the past few years.

So I was thinking what would be a little different, but easy to make! I'm all about easy. Since I just posted about Chocolate Pumpkin Bark the other day, I figured why not Chocolate Nut Bark. I've made all kinds of chocolate barks over the years. Barks are simple, yet look and taste so professional.  They're easy and delicious!

You can change up the Chocolate Nut Bark,  by using different chocolate --or combination of chocolates-- and different nuts.  Nut barks make great presents for the holidays or any time.  There's no real science to this. You can decide how thick or thin, how much chocolate to nut ratio. The ingredients below are only suggestions. :-) I also like macadamia nuts or walnuts in Nut Bark, especially with dark chocolate!

Chocolate Nut Bark

12 ounces chopped  chocolate (semisweet, milk, bittersweet) or 2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts)  -- more for later to dust (grind these or really smash them)

1. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the nuts and combine loosely.
3. With a spatula spread the chocolate evenly on a parchment lined 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining finally ground nuts.
4. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. When the bark is hard, break into pieces.

How easy is that!

Happy National Nut Day!!

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