Peppermint Bark

Before Christmas, I was leafing through a catalog and came across peppermint bark. I’d never had it before, though I do like peppermint, especially Bob’s Sweet Stripes — the soft melt-in-your-mouth kind. It sounded good — chocolate and peppermint. What’s not to like?

I didn’t even have to go looking for a recipe. In the attempt the sell the candy, the copy writer told in luscious detail how the company made it: melting chocolate bark, flavoring it with a drop or two of peppermint oil, then layering on vanilla or white bark, also with peppermint oil, and finally layering on crushed mints.

Why buy theirs and wait for it to ship when they’d just told me how to make my own?

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PEPPERMINT BARK

1 package chocolate bark

peppermint oil or extract

1 package vanilla or white bark

soft peppermints, crushed

1. Melt chocolate bark in the microwave, according to package directions. When smooth, stir in peppermint oil to taste and spread on baking pan covered with parchment paper. Chill for a bit.

2. Melt vanilla bark, add peppermint oil and spread on top of chocolate bark. While still soft, sprinkled with crushed peppermint, pressing the pieces into the bark.

3. Chill until set, then break into bite-sized pieces.