Layered Peppermint Bark

Hello! Here's a very holiday-ish recipe for one of our favorite Christmas candies! We made this for the first time a few years ago, and it's turned into an annual tradition. :) You can make it as a fun treat for your family or you could put some in a pretty box or tin and use it as a gift for a dear friend. :)

Layered Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. white chocolate (either chips or bar)

• 1 lb. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

• 2 tsp. peppermint extract

• crushed candy canes

Okay, so this recipe couldn't be simpler. :) I have made quite a lot of this candy and have kinda modified several recipes to the results I like. 

First of all, let me give you a very helpful equivalent to keep in the back of your head: 

1 cup of chocolate chips = 6 oz. 

I was constantly having to go use those equivalent calculators, until I read this recently. 

1. Melt your dark chocolate in a double-boiler. (or if you don't have one, you can be like me and make your own. Simply take a medium sized pot, fill it with water and set your smaller pot (the one the chocolate will go in) in there when it's boiling.

Tip #2. We've been making Peppermint Bark for our Coastal orders for the past few weeks. Several times as I was melting my chocolate (for some reason it's only happened with the white chocolate..) it wouldn't melt down well, and would get terribly grainy. So, after it happened again today, I Google searched my issue. And guess what? Apparently it's common enough in candy-making. When that happens they say the chocolate has "seized". It's caused by the chocolate coming in contact with water. Which makes complete sense, because I'm using a double-boiler and I'm sure I've had a few splashes make it into the pot before. 

2. Once the chocolate's melted, add in 1 tsp. of peppermint extract. Stir it in well, but you don't want the alcohol evaporating, so try not to keep it on the heat for too long. 

 

3.Then get a cookie sheet and put parchment paper on it. Spread the chocolate out evenly all over the pan. Stick in the freezer for a couple minutes to let it set.

4. Do Step 1 and 2 with the white chocolate, this time spreading it on top of the dark chocolate layer.

5. Sprinkle on the peppermint candy pieces and stick the tray in either the freezer or fridge.

6. Once the chocolate's set, remove from freezer and here's the fun part. Take a hammer and brake up your peppermint bark into whatever size pieces you'd like! =D (if you don't wanna risk the hammer ordeal, just brake it by hand. ;) 

Since this candy is so quick to make, I always seems to forget to take pictures of the process. :P But here are some of the final product! :)

 

Mmmm.....doesn't it look scrumptious??!! ;)

Until Later,

Sarah

Oh Snap! Bethany King Edition

 Today I'm interviewing Miss Bethany King from Bethany King Photography. :)

Hey Bethany! Thanks for being with us today.

Okay, let's get started:

 

How did you get started into photography? And how old were you?

I became interested in photography as a teenager. In high school and college, I was always the one with the camera taking embarrassing pictures. When I was a child I spent hours and hours looking at my parents' old albums, and I think that's what really inspired me to do the same. I love to print out my photos and put them in albums, and I have so many albums from all stages of my life, with every sort of embarrassing haircut and fashion faux pas from the last twenty years or so. My one regret is not writing down everyone's name in the pictures--you'd be surprised at how quickly you forget people's names.

What was your very first camera?

Hmm, my very first camera? I think I had a Fisher Price camera as a child! I remember that it was blue, long and skinny. Does that count?  

 

Who or what inspired you to take up this hobby?

My husband was my main inspiration-he really encouraged me to pursue photography as a career and follow my passion. He believed in me even when I didn't. My two kids, Miles and Stella, are also a major source of inspiration for me.  

 

What kind of equipment are you using right now?( camera,flashes,lens,etc.)

 I shoot with a Canon 7d. I try to use natural light when possible, but I do have a Vivitar flash with a Gary Fong LightSphere that I use in low light conditions. I mainly use a 28-135mm lens and a 50mm lens. I also have an older Konica Minotla 5d body that I use as my "back-up" camera. I've got a few lenses for that body, but my current favorite is the Lensbaby 2.0, which produces dreamy, soft focus photos.

 Are you self-taught, or have you had classes?

A little bit of both. I am mainly self-taught, but I have taken some classes to learn the basics. I took my first photography class in college.While I feel that experience is the best way to learn, and just lots of practice, classes helped me to better understand my camera. My latest challenge is to master studio lighting-I'm trying to teach myself using the internet, books and practice.

 

What is your favorite subject to shoot? (landscapes, profiles, artistic shots, candid moments,etc)

I love shooting people! Kids are so fun and make great subjects, but they are also quite the challenge. My kids are probably the most difficult subjects because they are so sick of me sticking my camera in their faces. My ideal portrait session is with someone who is creative and flexible, who is willing to try out my whacky ideas and who has a few whacky ideas of their own.

 

Do you have any professional experience?

Yes! A few years ago I decided to start my own photography business. I launched Bethany King Photography in 2009, after my family and friends convinced me that I was talented enough to make something of my photography hobby. I shoot kids, families, couples, singles, weddings, engagements, bar mitvzahs...I'm up for anything.

  What is your method for getting new tips, techniques, or new information?

The internet is my favorite way to get new information, for sure. I follow a few very talented photographers online, and I am always getting new ideas and inspiration from them. I also have photographer friends that I share tips and techniques with.   

 

Do you, or have you sold your work?

Yep! I sell my work via my business, Bethany King Photography. I sell prints, canvas wraps, cards, albums, etc. However, as a photographer in a time when digital images are so prevalent, I try to focus on selling my time and and creative energy rather than paper or prints. Sure, people may want prints for their walls at home, but they also want to be able to post their shots to facebook, on their blogs, or send to their families in an email. My business model is a little different than other photographers in that I have a slightly higher session fee, but you get all of your high-resolution images after the session and you are free to do whatever you want with them (except sell them). I really think that this is what people want with their photos. I'm not going to charge you $200 for an 8x10 print.  

 

Show me one of your favorite shots you've taken. (I know it's a tough question.....)

That is tough! Here is one of my favorites from a recent engagement session that I did. This was shot at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. 

 

Which of these would you label the photographer side of yourself as: Passionate, a wanna-be,
obsessed, artistic, avid, a newbie, a photo-holic, or a die-hard?

Definitely artistic!  

 

For how many years have you been interested in this sphere of art?

For as long as I can remember! But I really became passionate about it about 5 years ago.   

 

Now for the big question: is it Canon or Nikon? (or neither :P)  ;)

Canon for the win! 

 

And the last one..... 

 

Why do you love photography, and what is your purpose for doing it? :) 

At the risk of sounding like a cliche, I use my photography as my artistic outlet, and as my way to be creative. 

 

 Bethany King is a photographer from Northern Virginia. Bethany lives with her two kids and husband in Falls Church, VA. She is left-handed, loves ice cream and chocolate, and hates ice, celery and carrots. She once had a pot-bellied pig named Hercules as a pet. Check out her website at Bethany King Photography or like her on Facebook at here.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! This was so much fun! Thanks for taking time to do this with me, Bethany. :)

~Sarah

 

p.s. Coming up: Layered Peppermint Bark Recipe and Pictures!! :D

Is it "kahr-mul" or "kar-uh-mel" ?

It's the time of year for things like....

.Caramel!!!!

car·a·mel 

noun   

\ˈkär-məl; ˈker-ə-məl, ˈka-rə-, -ˌmel\

-a firm chewy usually caramel-flavored candy

 I pronunce it more like "kar-uh-mel".

*sigh* I have to say, this candy is one of my favorites in the fall! What about you all? What things remind you of this season? :)

-Sarah

p.s. If you haven't entered the Movie Quotes contest, please click here and enter!