KISSing in the Christmas Kitchen: Day 3

NOTE: Christmas is a busy season: it's full of special events, visits with friends and family, and lots of entertaining. It's also a lot of work. It's easy to let things get out of hand, which is why I have a few strategies for KISSing (Keep it Simple, Silly) in the kitchen at Christmas time. This week I'm sharing 5 of my quick-and-easy kitchen ideas for the holidays.

Chocolate-dipped Apricots

These are super easy to make, and they look beautiful mixed in a plate or bowl of assorted Christmas cookies and treats.

Ingredients:
dried apricots
merckens chocolate wafers (dark or light, according to your preference -- I prefer dark in this instance as they have a but more punch to the flavour and I like the darker colour.)

Instructions:

Melt the chocolate wafers in a small jar placed in a pan of hot water. You don't want to overheat the chocolate, just met it until it's smooth, with no lumps remaining. [You could also use a microwavable mug and melt them in the microwave ... but I like to use a jam jar and do it this way because my mom always did, and because I have a history or burning chocolate in the microwave].

Chocolate wafers in a small mason jar,
warming in a water bath.

Dipping the apricots

Using a pair of tongs, pick up a dried apricot by one end and dip it into the chocolate until it is about half to two-thirds of the way submerged. 

Finished apricots drying

Then place it on a sheet of waxed paper to cool and dry.  I sometimes dip them a little unevenly, so the back side (the side that will lie on the waxed paper) is a little more covered in chocolate than the front.






Allow the chocolates to set. I'd probably allow about 15 minutes before removing them from the waxed paper.  You can speed this up by popping them into the freezer for a few minutes if you're in a hurry.  If you want, you can use the little paper candy cups (you know, the ones that look like tiny muffin wrappers) to present them, but I usually just tuck them into mixed plates of cookies au naturel.