2-on-Tuesday: Jeweled White Chocolate

Here's a super quick candy presentation to dazzle your guests. They don't need to know it only took you a few minutes in the microwave to create! Just smile and say, "I'm so glad you like it!" To be sure you'll have a couple of grumblers who'll argue White Chocolate is not chocolate, at all. They're correct. But, the real white chocolate lover doesn't give a flying fig! Enjoy!


Jeweled White Chocolate

1 or 2 bags of Hershey's Premiere White morsels
Dried Fruit (I used Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries and Craisins)
*optional: 1 tablespoon of Crisco
Reynold's Genuine Parchment non-stick (in the foil and plastic wrap aisle)

• Melt white chocolate chips (and Crisco) in a microwave-safe container in increments of 1 minute and stirring after each minute. Really watch those chips! As soon as they start to melt, just stir for the remaining chips to melt. You truly don't want to rush this and ruin the batch.
• I use a mixing bowl with a handle for ease of removal and stirring. And, the Crisco keeps the "chocolate" velvety and shiny.
• Pour onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, smooth out and, then, rap the cookie sheet on the counter top to release any hidden bubbles.
• Sprinkle the dried fruit mixture on top of the melted "chocolate." I chop the apricots into smaller bits.
• Allow to set. You can rush this part by placing the cookie sheet in the freezer until the "chocolate" sets.
• Break the "chocolate" into shards to be shared and store in an airtight container or tin lined with parchment.

Another way to enjoy this treat is to use any topping your family and friends will love, like mini M&Ms or crushed Oreos or nuts or crushed peppermint for Christmas! Be sure to check out Coffee Bean Crack, which basically uses the same techniques used in this recipe!

2-on-Tuesday: Coffee Bean Crack!

Sifle, a boy in the Calcutta Blind School,
is pictured on the front of the bag
of our Do Good Blend

Several years ago, I looked for easy recipes that were quick and portable to be served to the evangelists, band, AV teams, Crunk Crew, reps and Tennessee missionaries when every restaurant in the locale was full of youth groups after the evening service of the Tennessee Youth Convention.

One of the easiest recipes is Coffee Bean Crack. To be honest I never knew what to call it until recently when someone at a church function returned to the bowl asking to take another hit!



Coffee Bean Crack
(Candy for Adults)

1 bag each of Hershey's Chocolate Chips (mix or match to your taste Premiere White, Semi-Sweet, Special Dark, Milk Chocolate. My fave is the dark & milk mix!)

1 Tablespoon Crisco Shortening (this keeps the choco shiny & smooth)

Do Good Coffee Whole Beans or ground by Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co.

**optional: 1-2 tablespoons or sleeve of dry, instant coffee

• Empty 2-3 bags of Hershey's Chocolate Chips into a microwave-safe bowl
• Add Crisco
• Heat chips and shortening until just starting to warm-up. Stir.
• Take your time. Back into microwave for small batches of time until the chips melt even as you stir them. Suggestion: Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. 30 seconds. Stir. 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until just melting. (It's at this time I would stir-in the dry instant coffee.)
• Pour melted chocolate into cookie sheet lined with foil or baking parchment and spread.
• Rap the cookie sheet on the cabinet to work out any bubbles hiding in the melted chocolate.
• Take handfuls of Do Good Coffee Whole Beans (and/or ground) and sprinkle across the top of melted chocolate, rap onto the counter a few more times and let set or pop into the fridge for a quicker set.
• When hardened break the Coffee Bean Crack into small shards and keep in a tin or airtight container.

Tips: 

• The Premier White chips take longer to melt than the other chips. 
• My old microwave was almost 30 years old and took 7 minutes for popcorn. I'm guessing yours will melt much faster, so really watch those chips. It can burn quickly and seize up, ruining the batch. 
• If you're really patient, melt the chips over a double boiler. Just remember that any water droplets accidentally falling into the chocolate will cause the mixture to seize ruining the whole batch.

This is so easy to whip up when all of those holiday parties begin to stack up in the calendar!

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co. (whole or ground beans) is the official roaster for Calcutta Mercy Ministries and is available in 3 different roasts - Do Good Blend, Kira Ikawa & Ruli Mountain. Coffee may be purchased from me at $15 per bag or online... Click here. The proceeds from each bag will feed 40 people in Calcutta/Kolkata, India!

~"Sam"