Anything cake is good

The holidays get me in the baking spirit... Or maybe it's the fact that I'm too cold to go outside and would rather be cooped up by a stove. Regardless, I have found the best bark. I know a lot of people are into peppermint chocolate bark, but peppermint ain't everyone's thing. HOWEVER I know what IS everyone's thing-- cake.

The author of "How Sweet Eats" posted a recipe that had me drooling instantly... And feeling alright that my birthday isn't until June. Cake batter bark is the answer to all of the world's problems, at least my own.



For one batch of bark (enough to fill 4-5 nice sized gift bags) you'll need:
2 bags of white chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)
1 bag of dark chocolate chips (at least 70% cacao, preferably)
1 tsp. yellow or white cake mix
Sprinkles to top

(You can also use chocolate bars, but in my case, finding white chocolate bars in Moscow, Idaho is more difficult than you'd think.)

*Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
*Melt dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. If you choose to microwave, be cautious as it can burn easily. Put the chocolate in for 60 second intervals, stirring after each time. Stirring will also help move the heat around and expedite the melting process.
*Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the wax paper and smooth it out.
*Freeze for 20 minutes
*While the dark chocolate is freezing, melt the white chocolate.
*Mix in 1 tbs. of cake mix to the white chocolate... And then stop worrying about what you'll do with the opened box of cake mix. 1 tbs. (even 2 or 3) will not affect a cake. But, if you're so worried, you can always add in flour to make up the difference. Or, you can make cookies out of the mix and not need all of the package, anyway. Are you so worried, though? You're about to have great bark, come on!
*Take the dark chocolate out of the freezer, pour the white chocolate on top and shake sprinkles all over. You can't have enough sprinkles, so go crazy. Just make sure you do it before the white chocolate starts to harden.
*Freeze the bark for another 20 minutes. When it's ready, break that bad boy into a million little pieces and have at it. Or, get candy baggies and make gifts for people; the choice is yours.

It's the season for giving, but it's also the season of weight gain... So make sure there's enough for you.

Happy holidays!

For more recipes from How Sweet, visit
www.howsweeteats.com

As the semester simmers...

I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.
I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.
I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.

I can't believe I haven't written on here since September. I think about this blog weekly and know I should, but then I look at the clock, realize it's time for bed and think:
I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.
I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.
I promise I will write a new blog entry this weekend.

My absence boils down to the fact that I'm trying my hardest to get a 4.0 this semester. Getting straight A's is hard work and time consuming (forgive me for my lack of awareness, I'm a rookie to the "cry when I get a 'B'" thing). I'm not really sure how close I'll get to my goal or even why I'm so motivated to do this now-- now that I'm out of chances to receive a scholarship or really boost my GPA. Regardless, I'm going for it!
But this weekend is THE weekend. I've got a recipe you can all add to your gift baskets for the holiday; I sure did... and gave them to teachers that can perhaps aid in my 4.0.
Oh yeah, I'm that student.