...Holiday {Winter} S'mores

Inspired by a warm-weather Christmas and a new fire pit at Mary Martha's house, Little Annie concocted an idea: holiday s'mores. Similar to regular campfire s'mores, holiday s'mores have marshmallow, graham crackers, and the smokey flavor of fire. However, what sets these apart from our summertime favorites is the substitution of peppermint bark for the milk chocolate. Hold onto your hats, folks, this is gonna get crazy.

Mary Martha's version: homemade peppermint bark

After Little Annie's suggestion to make holiday s'mores over the new fire pit, Mary Martha stumbled across a BHG recipe for peppermint bark on Pinterest. Success! Holiday s'mores would become a reality!

Ingredients needed: milk chocolate {candy bar or chips work fine}, chocolate candy coating {Wilton's from either a craft store or at the grocery store seasonally}, white candy coating, and white chocolate baking squares {or chips}, and candy canes.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Melt the milk chocolate with the chocolate candy coating {chop coarsely with a serrated knife first}. Pour into the foil lined pan, smoothing out with a spatula {shake pan if necessary to create an even layer}.

Sorry about the green lighting. We had the festive under-cabinet lights illuminating our handiwork.

Next melt the white chocolate with the white candy coating.

{Note: recipe suggests using a new pan. We did not. This would have ensured the white chocolate stayed white. Ours instead came out a little gray/tan. Taste was not affected.}

Pour the melted white chocolate over the chocolate in the pan. Use a small spatula to swirl them together.

Crush two or three candy canes into smaller pieces {your choice whether you want a fine dusting or some larger chunks}. Warning: do not attempt to smash whole candy canes in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Result below:

Instead, please use this tip from Mary Martha's genius hubby: break candy candes into smaller pieces with hands first, then wrap in a towel or other cloth item {we used a cloth napkin} and smash with a ladle or other utensil.

Result:

Finally, sprinkle candy cane pieces over chocolate.

Chill final product for at least 30 minutes before cutting and enjoying.

...blogging.

Introducing Mary Martha and Little Annie, two sisters divided across the US, united by DNA and a love of doggies, Montana and all things {un}complicated. Mary Martha is a high school teacher in the Southwest, veteran blogger, a woman of limited time yet of crafting spirit (Martha isn't her real name...Stewart anyone?). Little Annie is no orphan, but she is an attorney in the Mid-Atlantic. She is new to blogging, a corporate stooge who likes the doings of Martha, but has not the time nor the patience.

Through this blog we will present at least two different perspectives on a shared topic, including food, practical home solutions and anything that may strike our fancies. We hope to inspire the professional modern woman who endeavors to strike the balance between Hillary Clinton {Little Annie} and June Cleaver {Mary Martha}, while maintaining a sane grasp on her professional and personal realities.

P.S. For anyone who is suspicious of any political slant, we are both registered independents.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!