Monday, December 17, 2012

Monday Menu: Peppermint

When you think of Christmas what comes to mind? Probably the iconic red and white striped candy known as peppermint. Peppermint is a great flavor to add to your next holiday event menu, whether your event is a wedding or a small family gathering. The taste of peppermint can take you back to holidays as a kid when life was simple. Here at Cloudland Station we believe renewal comes when we take time together to enjoy simple things. Take time to enjoy the simple things this holiday.
 

Peppermint Bark 
 Peppermint Bark is a easy and delicious treat to offer your guests. Serve as a dessert option or give them a take-home favors. 

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds white chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 12 large candy canes
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil

Directions

  1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment, and set aside.
  2. In the top of a double boiler, melt white chocolate, stirring constantly.
  3. With a chef's knife or meat tenderizer, cut or pound candy canes into 1/4-inch pieces.
  4. Stir pieces of candy canes and peppermint oil into the melted chocolate. Remove from heat, and pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; spread evenly. Chill until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces, and serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Peppermint Crumble Bar
How a about a chocolate and peppermint in a crumble cake bar?


Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)
  • 1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.
  3. Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.
  4. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.
  7. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
White Chocolate Peppermint Blossom

Another take-home favor option is cookies with a hint of peppermint. 
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 box white chocolate instant pudding (3.5 ounces)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 package Candy Cane Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
  • Additional sugar for rolling, if desired
Instructions
  1. Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add pudding mix and blend until combined. Add white chocolate and mix until mixture is smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in baking soda and flour. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.
  2. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place about 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl for rolling, if desired. (Cookies will be a little crunchy on the outside with the sugar, if you use it.)
  3. Scoop one tablespoon balls of dough and roll in sugar, or just place on cookie sheet. Bake 7-9 minutes until bottoms just begin to get golden. Remove from oven and immediately press an unwrapped Peppermint Hershey’s Kiss on top. Do not move pan until Kiss is cooled, or it will collapse.
  4. Cookies can be frozen for later consumption, if desired. Place in a ziploc bag between layers of paper towel for best results when freezing.

Peppermint is a great holiday flavor to add to your holiday event menu. If you are hosting a wedding around the holidays, consider a peppermint flavored wedding favor. Holiday party dessert bars would not be complete without a peppermint treat.

Check back on Wednesday for a update on the Celebration Barn and some wedding inspiration.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)
  • 1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.
  3. Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.
  4. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.
  7. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/peppermint-crumble-bars/#sthash.H9DpMSpn.dpuf
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)
  • 1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.
  3. Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.
  4. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.
  7. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/peppermint-crumble-bars/#sthash.H9DpMSpn.dpuf
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)
  • 1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.
  3. Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.
  4. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.
  7. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/peppermint-crumble-bars/#sthash.H9DpMSpn.dpuf
Peppermint Crumble Bars
Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups white chocolate peppermint candy (like Andes peppermint bits)
  • 1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter, sugar, and flour together until crumbly.
  3. Press a little more than half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 lined baking dish.
  4. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 1 cup of the white chocolate peppermint candy and the sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Pour over the crumb crust in the dish.
  5. Sprinkle the remaining crumble and white chocolate peppermint candy evenly over top.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges begin to just barely brown.
  7. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
- See more at: http://www.somethingswanky.com/peppermint-crumble-bars/#sthash.H9DpMSpn.dpuf
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