Candy making

I think I'll stick with jewelry making.  My attempt at Sea Salt Caramels didn't go so well.  I think the main problem was the lack of a candy thermometer.   I gauged the temperature by eye and a meat thermometer which in the end caused a hard rock caramel.  Oh well, it was something I have always wanted to try, so I gave it my best.  No pictures of that disaster recorded.

 I did, however, succeed at Peppermint Bark. I combined several recipes and came up with one that worked for me.   This is what I came up with:

18 oz of semi sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate chips- a bag and a half

18 oz white chocolate chips
3 boxes of candy canes, crushed
1/2 TS of peppermint extract

• Crush candy canes in a plastic baggie, set aside 1/4 of the pieces.
• Prepare TWO cookie sheets with wax paper.  I sprayed the cookie sheet with cooking spray so the wax paper would adhere better and didn't slide around.
• Melt the semi sweet chocolate in a glass bowl. You could use a double boiler, I opted for the microwave. If using the microwave, total cooking time is 6 minutes.  First, melt on 50% power level for 3 minutes.  STIR.  Then put it back in for another 3 minutes.   
• Add 1/4" teaspoon of peppermint extract.
• Spread chocolate on cookie sheet in even layer.  Put in refrigerator for approximately one hour.  I took it out after 45 minutes because I'm impatient.
• Melt white chocolate chips.  Same technique as above.
• Mix in 1/4" teaspoon peppermint extract AND 3/4" of the crushed candy canes.
• Spread over chilled dark chocolate.  This white chocolate layer is lumpy, so be patient and spread to the edges as best you can.
• Sprinkle the top with remaining crushed candy canes.
• Chill until hardened (about 4 hours or overnight), then break apart into bite size pieces.
• Will keep in fridge for 5-6 weeks.

 I think it came out pretty darn good! I packaged the bark in some festive tins and shared it with my neighbors.  Now that all my baking and candy making is done, I need to get back into the studio to work on pending orders and design some NEW ones! Stay tuned!