Halloween Bark
Yesterday, I was doing an interview for some client work. 30 minutes, me and a stranger in a corporate conference room. I asked how her morning was going, and she said she was having a hard day. Then she said, "When I go home at night, there's my daughter and a new puppy to play with, and I remember what matters. This is just work." She teared up a little and, since my tear ducts are connected to everyone else's, I teared up too.
I thought of her today, making this CRAZY sugar-packed Halloween treat. I had one of those days that makes me feel nuts--"home" with the kids, but forcing Loretta to take a nap so I could make my conference call in time, distracted and anxious, wishing the day had 12 more hours in it but wanting it to end all at the same time. Then Wyatt came home from school, the promised Halloween treat-making ensued, and I HAD to stop what I was doing, be present to them, and remember what really matters.
Of course, it all matters, even the small stuff we're not supposed to sweat. Don't you hate it when people tell you not to sweat the small stuff? If you're sweating it, it's probably big. But there are some things that matter more than others--my seven-year-old sidling up and rubbing my back, my preschooler snuggling with me in the morning, destroying the kitchen by smashing up peanut butter cups and getting chocolate everywhere. The rest? It's just work.
Halloween Bark
Adapted from Bon Appetit. You could, of course, use so many other things on top of the chocolate--nuts, coconut, different kinds of candy bars, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit. This, clearly, favors the preferences of children, for whom absolutely nothing can be too sweet. I won't tell you how much I ate after they went to bed last night. All candy bars are the "regular" size--not king size or mini.
1 pound bittersweet chocolate chips
2 Butterfinger bars, cut into irregular pieces
3 Heath bars, cut into irregualr pieces
8 peanut butter cups, cut into 8 wedges each
3 oz. high quality white chocolate, chopped
couple handfuls Reeses's Pieces
Line a baking sheet with foil. Heat chocolate chips in a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until melted and warm (not hot) to the touch. Pour chocolate onto foil; spread to 1/4" thickness (about a 12"x10" rectangle). Sprinkle with butterfingers, toffee, and peanut butter cups, making sure everything sticks to the melted chocolate.
Melt white chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until melted and warm (not hot) to the touch. Remove from heart. Dip spoon into chocolate, wave from side to side over bark, creating zigzag lines. Scatter Reeses's Pieces over, making sure it sticks.
Chill bark until firm, about 30 minutes. Cut or break bark into irregular pieces.
October 21, 2010
Reader Comments (13)
Those lambs. I love bark!
And one more thing I love that your tear ducts are connected to everyone elses. My favoritebark is chocolate with marshmallows. Love, Plain Rocks for Tear Ducts Jane
This is brilliant. (Completely evil, because I would eat so much of it, but brilliant.) Every year there are a slew of "use up leftover Halloween Candy" recipes and I always look at them and think "yeah, but I would never EAT that." But this looks almost elegant. You could even freeze it and give it as gifts later, so long as none of your candy is blatantly Halloweenish, which most wouldn't be after it was chopped. Love it!
I completely understand the need for both more and fewer hours in a day. I feel that way every afternoon when I'm rushing to get dinner ready and wishing my husband would just get home already.
Delicious! We'd eyed this recipe in Bon Apetit and have it bookmarked...but after seeing yours we need to make this asap!
i have the same universal tear ducts...you know that. :) this halloween bark would be major trouble for me in my house. seriously.
Love that about you too, Bethany. Very much.
This is fabulous!!! I love bark and this is perfect for Halloween!
sounds good--enjoy it and many other treats like it for me. Embarking on a paleo challenge for 30 days (no sugar, dairy, grains or legumes), ends the day before Thanksgiving. It will probably be the Thanksgiving I'll be most thankful for in many years past.
i saw this in bon appetite...i can't wait to make this!
Hi Sarah,
I’m a friend of Emily’s (Hi Emily!) and have been following In Praise of Leftovers for a while now. I’m finally getting up the courage to post a comment. (That’s because I’m the epitome of a ruminator…which I actually learned from you at one of your presentations.) I just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog. The recipes are wonderful! I’ve now tried several of them and have received nothing but good comments from my family…the true test of any recipe. Your posts are beautifully written and your children are adorable!
Lori, hello!! I'm so flattered that you stuck your neck out in this part of cyberspace to say hello. Thanks for the compliments--I couldn't be happier that you're enjoying reading the cooking from here.
Yay, Lori!
Love this idea!! Will be the perfect dessert after my pumpkin fondue and squash mac n cheese!