Robyn's Sweets: November 2012

I posted this recipe last year, but am reposting due to it's popularity on pinterest. I had no idea my blog had gotten pinned over 90 times from this little bit. So this time, I've put it back up with my new watermark and very clear step-by-step directions.

PEPPERMINT BARK - ROBYN STYLE

So, I love peppermint flavors. Peppermint mocha? Yes, please. Peppermint lifesaver? Always. Peppermint Bark? So divine.

I learned this recipe from the internet a while back. It basically is a quick candy, which makes it super easy for a gift. But I'm not a big fan of using candy canes or peppermint starlight mints like most people suggest. So I use my happy little cheaty method.

This happens to be a favorite of my out-of-town uncle and so I make it every time he comes into town to visit my Grandparents. So, every few months or so.

I start with one package of Almond Bark Coating. You can find this in most grocery stores around Christmas time. When it's not Christmas, it's a little more difficult to find it. However, if you're willing to say, drive to 8 different stores in the off season, you will eventually find it. Or, you could use Candy Melts, though they usually cost twice as much per ounce. Me, I'm a driver.

You also need decorative sugars and peppermint candy oil.

You'll need a microwave safe bowl, a pot holder, a spatula, a spoon, a cookie sheet and parchment paper.

So, rundown:

One 24 oz. package Almond Bark (or equivalent amount of candy melts)
Peppermint candy oil (NOT EXTRACT)
Colorful Sugars (I use seasonal ones... pastels in spring, fall colors in Autumn, etc)

Microwaves safe bowl
Pot Holder
Spatula
Spoon
Cookie Sheet
Parchment Paper

Spread the parchment paper on the cookie sheet and sprinkle some of the decorative sugars on top. Set aside.

Break the Bark into 3 chunks of four squares. I break it once along the length and then in the middle.

Melt one 4 square in the microwave safe bowl for a minute on half power. This is VITAL. If you do it on full power, you scorch it.

Remove and stir. Add two drops of peppermint oil. If fully melted, pour in place. Use the spatulas to ensure you get it all out of the bowl.

Repeat until all your chunks are melted and poured in. Two or three drops of the candy oil per 4square. Once it's poured onto the cookie sheet, you can shake it a little to even it out or spread it with the spatula.

Sprinkle with the sugars. The oil provides a perfect amount of peppermint without the pain and drama of crushing candy canes or, God Forbid, starlight mints. Starlight mints need diamond tips to shatter, swear.

I used to do the whole package at once, but the edges sometimes scorched. DO NOT SET IN FRIDGE OR FREEZER. I've learned an ugly lesson from this. You have to let it set at room temperature. If you set it in the freezer, it will be difficult to break and it will sweat later.

Once it's set, you can break it up into chunks and then place it in your container, in this case, a little cardboard treat box:

So, yesterday began my vacation orgy. That sounds kind of dirty, when I fact I simply mean I have a gluttonous 10 days free from work and responsibility.

Yesterday has been planned since January. See, my mom, the great, is a Quilter (Capital Q). She's also a Quilt Instructor with a special interest in the History of Quilting. Every time these words come from her mouth, I swear they are capitalized. So the International Quilt Festival in Houston is a particularly enjoyable event for my mother. I liken it to Star Wars Celebration for me. Except, Mom doesn't dress up like a quilt, and much to my disappointment, the security guards are not storm troopers.

TJay and Silent Rob at Celebration III. (Or C3P0 as we call it) See how complete enjoyable I find be arrested by storm troopers?

So, I went along with her, because I actually enjoy conventions in general. And I appreciate the fact that quilting is an art form. And there are thousands of shops that want to take my money. Lucky for them, I can be quite foolish.

This quilt show was particularly exciting for me because I got to ride public transportation.

You're confused, right? It's okay, I do that to people. I live in a giant sprawling metropolis with one of the most pathetic excuses for public transport ever. Buses don't really run outside of the downtownish zones. Nothing goes to suburbia unless it's at a "park and ride" and so, as a Suburban child, I never got to ride buses.

And then, I started to get Jury Summons. And they let you ride for free, so I'd go to a park and ride in the morning or Catch a ride into work with a family member who worked downtown.

Wait, there's another important part I may have mentioned before. I have no sense of direction. This is part of a visual-spatial learning disability which also effects my ability to do math. And, frankly, downtown Houston scares the crap out of me. The minute I pull my car into that tightly compacted grid surrounded by tall buildings, I begin to hyperventilate. I white knuckle the steering wheel, and I'm almost always muttering a prayer the entire time. Once I break free and whoosh away from Louisiana Street to I-10 and freedom, I relax. It's exhausting.

SO!!!! If it involves downtown, the buses are my best option. I don't have to drive; I can walk and navigate better.

That's probably why I love Public Transport. Also, I spent a day in DC riding the Metro rail around the different areas for fun. It was great. And LA was dirtier and weirder, but also, great system.

And thus, when we decided to park and ride to the convention center, I almost cried with happiness.

And I forgot to take any photos of us busing it. Which makes me a little sad.

When we got to the con (That's Convention for you non-conners) we glanced around and headed to the shops. Then after a few moments, I had guilt for not enjoying the art part, so we headed back to the Expo to view the quilts. You can't photograph a vast majority of them. Also, they're quilts and while I appreciate the time and effort they took, I'm not often wowed by them.

And before I go all gallery here, I'd also like to say I pretty much hate all painted quilts.

No, seriously, hear me out, I might channel my mother...

Quilting is an old tradition, several thousand years old. Piecing together something to make something new is part of an ancient and beautiful tradition. Taking a giant piece of fabric and painting a picture on it is part of a different tradition. Sure once you quilt it together it's technically a "quilt" but it's also a big stupid shortcut you took.

So when all these people are ooing and awwwing over some lady's watercolor painting of flowers that she machine quilted I'm like "Next."

So, I didn't take a ton of pictures, because there was just SO MUCH painted and printed fabric crap.

And now, without further ado... a pictorial of my quilt show experience.

Here is the only product I photographed. So I could go order it online when I win the lottery.

Anyone with 60 bucks to blow on me is welcome to go to http://www.summerskycreations.com/index.html and buy me the complete pattern and kit to make this is welcome to do so. I mean... OTTERS! Seriously. And it's all pieced. Raw edge applique around the face and so CUTE.


This is made from twist ties. The story attached said the woman made it while suffering from an illness that caused her to lose her vision. It was interesting.

Those hexes and yoyos are smaller than my thumbnail. Are you freaking kidding me? I ran out of patience looking at it, I'd kill someone if I tried something like this.

There was an exhibit about women and suffering. I know I said I didn't enjoy painted quilts, but there is some mixed media in the following set that I was still moved by on an art level. And as a chick. I tried to photograph the labels and stuff, too, to give the artists credit where it's due (i missed a few.)

Click placard photos to see full description

This piece captured what I feel is the underlying truth of my college years

The next exhibit was the Hoffman Challenge.They give you a fabric and have you design a quilt around it. The fabric was lavender. So it was a giant mess of purple crap and I about died happy. Here are some of my favorites.

The whole thing was overlaid with a shimmer tulle. It looked underwater. So pretty.

Oh the color love.

SO PRETTY

This next piece was part of a black and white challenge. There were a significant number of political pieces here, but this one drew me. Dragons! I LOVE DRAGONS!!!!