Chocolate-Covered Pretzels: Redux

***Note: this is a reposting of an entry from last year. Those of you new to these parts may not have seen it before, and those who have might still like seeing it again! I'm planning on making some new ones this weekend but I didn't want any of you to miss out on the chance to try them yourself before Valentine's Day, just in case I completely flub the deadline! Enjoy!***

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I've got to admit that I've never been a big celebrator of Valentine's Day. I'm all for chocolate, but not the cards and flowers and hearts and pink and whatnot.  I'm just not that girlie I guess. Case in point: What I want for Valentine's Day? Private obedience training for the little dog. That's how you win my heart.

However, it's a co-worker's birthday this week (Happy Birthday Sue!) and I thought I'd make her a treat that ties in with Valentine's Day.

You only need three ingredients for this - pretzel rods, candy melts, and nonpareils (or any other topping that suits you).  I bought the melts and nonpareils at the bulk store for just a couple of dollars, and the pretzels were about 3 dollars for an entire bag.

You'll start be melting the "chocolate" in a double-boiler to keep it from burning. It stays soft for quite a while so you have lots of time to work with it. I had read about melting it in the microwave but all I ended up with was half blackened, half melted pink discs and a house that smelled like burnt marshmallows. 

Dip a rod into the melted chocolate - about halfway up - and spin it around to get an even coating. You then should wait a minute or two to let it cool a bit before adding the nonpareils. You can roll it directly into the nonpareils if you want a heavy coating, but I just held the rod over the bowl and sprinkled them by hand until I got the coverage I was looking for.

Here is my tester.  Looking good!

You will then need to set them down somewhere to cool. Our solution (thank you Tom) was to hang them over the edge of a dinner plate with a coffee mug sitting on the undipped end to weigh it down.

I ran out of nonpareils with two rods left so I improvised with crushed honey-roasted peanuts. Not as pretty but they still taste good. I also tried rice krispies (they looked like mini clubs) and chocolate chips (too heavy, wouldn't stick). 

Here are my finished pretzels. Pretty, hunh? And the mix of sweet and salty is always a winner.

 

  

I bought some long cellophane gift bags and put two pretzels in each, tied up with some pink and white ribbon. 

  

I'm loving these so much! Considering how easy they are to make I think I might whip some up the next time I need to bring a snack or a dessert to a get-together.

Did you try out any new Valentine's recipes this weekend? Try to burn the microwave up melting chocolate?  Was that just me?

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Linking up here this week!

Winter Warmup: Beef Vegetable Stew

It's getting colder here in Ontario - below freezing nearly every day this past week and into the weekend. Sounds like a perfect time for some hearty beef stew loaded with fresh vegetables.

My mother-in-law is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation right now. It's difficult because you want to help so much but there isn't much you can do - so I do what I can by sending over food that is high in nutrition, and that is easy to keep down.

I want to share the recipe with you because I think you'd like it too.

You'll need:
1/2 lb stewing beef cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup flour
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped (I used broccoli slaw)
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 cup kale, chopped
1/2 large can diced tomatoes
beef stock (about half a carton or 2 cans)
salt
pepper
oil
spices

Mix 1/4 cup of flour with pepper and toss the stew beef until well coated. In a large saucepan heat some oil and brown the meat, then remove to a plate for later.

In the same pan add the onion and garlic, cooking until soft. Add the rest of the flour, stir, and heat for 30 seconds. Pour in some of the beef stock, stirring until the pan is deglazed.

Add the rest of the beef stock and bring to a boil. Return the meat to the pot along with the carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes. Add more beef stock if necessary. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add the kale and season to taste. I used oregano, basil, greek seasoning, and coconut aminos. You could also add parsnips, potatoes, corn, or just about any vegetable you have on hand.

Serve with crusty bread or crackers. This recipe makes at least 6 large servings.

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I'm linking up to these great parties this week!

Cuba January 2013

Hola! We had an awesome time in Cuba. AGAIN. This is the third time we've been in 3 years. Previous to our first trip I was never very interested in vacationing there. But I've been won over. Probably because of the laid back attitude (once you're out of the airport - man, they are serious!) and the gorgeous beaches.

We arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon, which worked out perfectly. There was only a 20 minute wait for our room to be ready, the buffet was still open for lunch, and it was still sunny and hot. We changed our clothes, grabbed a drink, and found a couple of poolside loungers to relax in.

When we got to our room we were shocked to find out that we'd been upgraded to a VIP room. Hammock on the balcony, baby! And a free bottle of rum to take home. All I had mentioned to the girl at reception was that we were return guests and could we have a second floor room - I didn't expect that at all.

Since this was our second trip to the same place we didn't have any plans to go on excursions off the resort. The week was all about relaxing. Usually I over-plan our days so I only get around to reading maybe half a book, but this week I read the two books I brought with me and started re-reading another one that I'd brought specifically to leave behind. We brought about 10 paperbacks with us that we didn't want anymore, to leave on the bookshelf in the lobby. It was hilarious to spot our books later in the week being read by other guests.

We spent our mornings hanging out on the beach, and our afternoons by the pool. We also walked down the beach several times to another hotel to exchange money at the bank. The rate was much better than at hotel reception and we needed the exercise anyway. The buildings at the other hotel were prettier than ours, but their beach wasn't much to speak of, so I'm glad we chose the one we did.

While at the other hotel we wandered through the marketplace and Tom was fixated on buying one of these wooden scorpions.

I think they're disgusting. Lovely workmanship, but the subject? Yuck. He settled on buying a wooden crab instead and plans to hide it in his co-worker's drawer to scare him. Boys!

Part of the fun of vacation is having your room straightened for you each day and trying to guess what towel animal will be waiting for you when you come back from the beach. Our housekeeper favoured swans, but she found a different way to display them every day.

(Side note: on a cruise a few years ago our cabin steward left a towel dog one day and then a towel monkey suspended from a hanger the next. Tom thought it was the dog again and said, "What kind of sick person would hang a dog by its paws?!" It still makes me laugh.)

We managed to go horseback riding twice during the week - once for an hour with a couple who had never ridden before, and then again on our last day for a longer two-hour ride. We rode along the road, down some trails, and then along the beach. I think Tom got the same horse both days because he (the horse) would just suddenly wander off the path and start eating leaves. And each time he would get scolded by the trail guide, but I swear that horse had a smirk afterwards.

On the first ride, after stripping off the leaves, he even carried the branch with him for the rest of the ride - like a proud puppy. And my horse kept walking along leaning his head on Tom's leg - because he would scratch behind the horse's ears. I think we need to get horses!

The nightly entertainment didn't start until 9:45 each evening and we were only able to stay awake a couple of times. Such oldsters. One of the best nights was "Cuban night" when they told the history of Cuban art through dance. The dancers were so good! And the costumes were gorgeous. Tom decided he needs one of those flamenco jackets.

We did get to Playa Pilar, the star of the area, but it was an overcast and windy day so we only stayed for a couple of hours. The highlight was our taxi ride back to the hotel - check out this 1957 Oldsmobile. And the proud owner. He kept petting the dashboard every time he talked about it. Since Tom is a mechanic he really wanted to discuss it more, but alas, our Spanish isn't strong enough (yet).  New Year's Resolution - practice more often!

It was so great to re-unite with staff from last year, and to make new friends - Hi, Maria! - that we can't wait to go back again. Is it bad that I'm already checking out prices?

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