Title: Chocolate Cashew Coconut Clusters
Categories: Cookie
Yield: 4 Servings

		MM BY HELEN PEAGRAM
2		Ups unsalted cashews
1	lb	Semisweet chocolate, chopped
		Into 1/4-inch pieces
8	oz	Shredded dried coconut

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Toast the cashews on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until uniformly golden brown. Cool the nuts to room temperature. Toast the coconut on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges. Cool the coconut to room temperature. Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until completely melted and smooth, about 5 to 6 minutes. transfer the melted chocolate to a 4-quart bowl. Add the cashews and coconut. Use a rubber spatula to stir until the cashews and coconut are completely coated with chocolate.

Immediately portion the mixture by heaping tablespoons (approximately 1 1/2 ounces) for each cluster, onto waxed paper. Allow the clusters to harden at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for 30 minutes, until firm enough to handle. Store the clusters in a tightly sealed plastic container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

WHITE AND DARK CHOCOLATE DOGWOOD BARK

3 cups pecan halves 6 ounces white chocolate, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees . Toast the pecans on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. remove the nuts from the oven and set aside to cool at room temperature until needed.

Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium

heat. With the heat on, place the white chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until completely melted and smooth, about 4 minutes. Transfer the melted chocolate to a 1-quart bowl and set aside. Thoroughly wash and dry the top half of the double boiler.

Heat 1 inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. With the heat on, place the semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Use a rubber spatula to stir the chocolate until completely melted and smooth, about 6 minutes. Transfer the melted chocolate to a 4-quart bowl. Allow the chocolate to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before proceeding. Add the pecans to the bowl of melted semisweet chocolate. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the pecans until combined. Pour the chocolate pecan mixture onto a nonstick baking sheet with sides and use a rubber spatula to spread evenly. drizzle the white chocolate, one tablespoon at a time, over the entire surface of the chocolate pecan mixture.

Use a rubber spatula to spread and blend the white chocolate into the surface of the chocolate pecan mixture creating a marbleized effect

(be careful not to overblend which would diminish the marbleized effect). Allow the mixture to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the bark is hard, about 1 hour. Remove the baking sheet from the refrigerator and transfer the bark to a cutting board. Use a cook's knife to cut the bark into irregular pieces. Refrigerate in a tightly sealed plastic container until ready to use.

BAKERS' DOZEN MARCEL DESAULNIERS SHOW #BD1A23

From: Helen Peagram Date: 02-08-98 (18:17) Doc's Place Bbs Online. (280) Cooking

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