I had meant to be traveling this week, but sometimes things don’t go the way of the plan, so I am in Boston. I had intended to take these Chocolate Chip Toffee Bit Biggie Cookies with me on my trip — you know me, the Queen of just randomly handing out cookies — but again, still at home. The cookies are still delicious (a twist on my usual Biggies) with a lovely crunch of toffee bits. As with the Biggies, shareable in size but they have to be this big for the texture to be this perfect.
As you know, I tend to experiment a bit with flavors (no kidding, really?) and one thing that I have been experimenting with lately with freeze-dried fruit powders… in other words, freeze dry lemon or orange peel, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, or even peaches, and then make a powder out of them. I don’t actually go through all that work — I buy the already made powders. They are often marketed as a way to am up the flavors of smoothies or as an ice cream ingredient. They are very flavor packed and I like them. Stay tuned this summer as I play with some in drinks.
For Easter this year, I decided to try adding powders to white chocolate to make fudge. I also added technicolor sprinkles, which is so not like me, but you know, the strawberry looked a little “Pepto Bismol” flavored (it’s not!) so I had to do something. These are good, not great, but I’ll let you be the judge.
I don’t make candy all that often. Yes, of course, fudge and chocolates at various time, and nut brittle now and again, but rarely candy. But for once, I decided to have a go at making these soft caramels with espresso, whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream. They definitely don’t taste overly boozy though and to be honey, I think all the alcohol burned off in the making process. They are gluten free and nut free but definitely not sugar or fat free. They are, however, delicious.
I’m not one for making a log of candy really…. sure fudge and truffles around Christmas and the like, but rarely candy, so this “Nuts About You” Sea Salt Peanut Brittle is a bit unique for me. It’s a very American thing. But it turned out well and makes a great Valentine’s Day present. Just watch your teeth — this stuff is hard!
Now that the Christmas Cookies are done, I’m focusing on making some other treats for Christmas. Up this time: Holiday Chocolate Peppermint Bark. “Bark” is such a strange term for this type of candy. Then again, so are “brittles”. Historically it comes from chocolate barks looking like yes, the bark of a tree. Peppermint and white chocolate really don’t, but I am going to go with it anyway. And no matter what it is called, it is delicious.