Our Christmas Treats: Recipe Five: Dip Everything in Chocolate!

It's getting late in the game and, if you're like me, that's just how we roll.  Don't panic and don't give up.  Don't worry about anything labor intensive like sugar cookies that take three hours to chill or fudge that may or may not set up!  Bake up a box of brownies and cut them out with Christmas cookie cutters and then find what you can and dip it in chocolate!  Everything tastes better dipped in chocolate!  It's fast and easy, too.  I always use almond bark because it's fool proof and that's what I need!  Throw a small spoonful of shortening in with about six squares of almond bark and cook it for two minutes in the microwave.  (use a plastic bowl if you can.  ceramic bowls are PIPING HOT when you try to get them out of the microwave!)  Using a whisk to stir this is fastest and gets any leftover lumps out.  Here is a list of things that we would (and have) dip in chocolate and call it dessert!  Add some of your own ideas!

• Candy orange slices
• Oreo cookies
• Peanut butter crackers (two ritz crackers sandwiched together with peanut butter... these are amazing!!)
• Drizzled on popcorn
• Peanuts
• Pretzels
• Coffee Beans
• Fruit (I would dip these last minute because the juices from the fruit tend to react with the chocolate and things get watery)

Sprinkle any of these with colored sugar to make them sparkle.  Good luck!