1. All this week we’ll be coming up with easy food gifts that you don’t have to make with your oven. The first one up is this super simple peppermint chocolate bark. Click through to read how to put it all together! As always, check labels (or company websites) to make sure the ingredients you use are vegan. Bark Supplies a 24 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 tsp mint extract 4-5 candy canes parchment or wax paperBark Instructions Line a rimmed flat baking sheet with the parchment/wax paper. In a double boiler (or, if you’re unequipped like me, a small pot inside a large pot filled 1/4 with water) melt your bag of chocolate chips with the mint extract, until it’s consistently smooth and creamy. Be careful to stir slowly - if you do it too fast the chocolate will seize up and become hard. (Not that I’ve ever done that or anything….) Meanwhile, crush the candy canes with a hammer or in a food processor/blender. When the chocolate’s melted, pour it into the baking sheet. Spread it out carefully until the whole pan is filled. Sprinkle the top with the crushed candy cane. If you want to keep the top very flat, lay another piece of parchment/wax paper on top and roll it with a rolling pin. Freeze for a few hours, at least one hour. How I packaged these bark pieces: Break the bark into small pieces. Wrap in tissue paper, then tie it up with twine. Get some small gift boxes - I got mine from a craft store in the baking aisle. Before assembling, write your message on the box - I carved “to” and “from” stamps myself, but you could just as easily draw/write it out. Put the bark in the box, then tape it shut with some washi or decorative tape. Make sure to keep the bark in the freezer until you plan to give it away. Hope you like this little project, and find it easy enough to make! :)
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    All this week we’ll be coming up with easy food gifts that you don’t have to make with your oven. The first one up is this super simple peppermint chocolate bark. Click through to read how to put it all together!

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    December 17, 2012
  2. rich chocolate peanut butter cream this makes a great dessert or breakfast that you can serve all at once or keep it throughout the week. consider it a mix between a mousse and a pudding - thick, creamy, and very chocolatey. serve with fresh fruit and/or nuts at the end of a big meal with friends - perfect! blend together until smooth and creamy: 1 package firm silken tofu, 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup unsweetened chocolate chips, 2 tbsp dutch-processed cocoa powder, 2-3 tbsp sweetened peanut butter, a dash vanilla extract, a small pinch sea salt, and a scant dash of cayenne.(make sure to read labels for milk ingredients when buying cocoa/chocolate chips, as always.) chill in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight. serve very cold to four to eight people, or store in your fridge for 1-2 weeks.
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    rich chocolate peanut butter cream

    this makes a great dessert or breakfast that you can serve all at once or keep it throughout the week. consider it a mix between a mousse and a pudding - thick, creamy, and very chocolatey. serve with fresh fruit and/or nuts at the end of a big meal with friends - perfect!

    1. blend together until smooth and creamy: 1 package firm silken tofu, 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup unsweetened chocolate chips, 2 tbsp dutch-processed cocoa powder, 2-3 tbsp sweetened peanut butter, a dash vanilla extract, a small pinch sea salt, and a scant dash of cayenne.(make sure to read labels for milk ingredients when buying cocoa/chocolate chips, as always.)
    2. chill in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight.
    3. serve very cold to four to eight people, or store in your fridge for 1-2 weeks.

    May 28, 2012
  3. i just turned 25, and i was served this gorgeous chocolate cake for my birthday this wednesday. the secret to any good chocolate dessert is using dutch-processed cocoa powder - the flavor is deeper and richer and it tastes better with less sugar. use this recipe for a good chocolate cake every time!
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    i just turned 25, and i was served this gorgeous chocolate cake for my birthday this wednesday. the secret to any good chocolate dessert is using dutch-processed cocoa powder - the flavor is deeper and richer and it tastes better with less sugar. use this recipe for a good chocolate cake every time!

    April 13, 2012