Amazing Chocolate Praline Bark & Christmas Decor

I'm pretty excited to share with you with a recipe I just made last night!  It's soooo good!  Buttery like toffee, sugary like pralines and rich with chocolate....it's delicious and so easy to make!

I've made versions that are very similar to this --thanks to Shareen!-- but I just kind of winged this recipe with what I had and it turned out scrumptious! 

I was trying to make something to give to my husband to take to work today for his fellow med students.  I wanted to use ingredients that I had on hand, because it was a very cold, rainy night last night and I really didn't want to get back out to the grocery. I was just fine in my snuggly home that I do not take for granted!

 I wanted to make something that I don't usually make, but something incredible! 

This chocolate praline bark really fit the bill!   We were both surprised at how addicting these little things are.

I must say though, I made all of them to only eat 2 tiny pieces!  It was very bittersweet to give all of these yummies away, although I do LOVE baking for other!  Especially at Christmas-time!  

It's a time for giving.

These little goodies would be perfect gifts to package up!  Simple and easy with everyday ingredients.  You can really add whatever candy you want on top, but whatever you do you must use the pecans!  We both agreed that they not only make the house smell unbelievably cozy while baking, but they really make this candy over the top!!

I hope this chocolate praline bark gives you a new idea to add to your baking-palooza  this holiday season!

(Enjoyed my fire this morning, and isn't this little gingerbread tea pot adorable!?  I love him:)

Christmas-Time Chocolate Praline Bark

 1 sleeve graham crackers

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed well

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 c. pecans, roughly chopped

1/2 c. white chocolate chips

2 squares chocolate "bark"/candy coating, chopped

1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.  Spray with cooking spray.

Lay out the graham crackers right next to each other on the sheet pan.

In a saucepan, melt butter and sugar together and bring it to a boil for 2 minutes.  Take off the heat; add vanilla.

Pour mixture over the graham crackers.  Spread with spoon if you need to reach all the corners.

Sprinkle pecans evenly all over the top and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt chopped chocolate bark carefully. (I did it in the microwave).  I melted in 30 second intervals, stirring in between to avoid burning.  When bark is melted, add chocolate chips.  Stir until melted and heat a few more second in microwave if you need to.  Please remember chocolate burn easily.

(I did add a tiny smidgen of corn syrup here to give the chocolate a gloss. Optional.)

When the praline bark comes out of the oven, wait a few minutes, then sprinkle white chocolate chips all over and drizzle with melted chocolate.

Refrigerate to harden up faster.  Will only take about 30 minutes.

Break your yummy candy into shards to resemble bark.  Store tightly and enjoy!

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I wanted to share with you a bit more of my Christmas decor! I decorate my home to my taste...something that's cozy-classic with a bit of whimsy!

He's my very favorite little birdie!  Gotta love the hat!

I got these stockings last year at an antique&gift shop.  I thought they were cute!

The basket is for our Christmas cards we receive.



I Simply Remember my Favorite Things....Coca Cola Birthday Cake and Christmas!

Happy Birthday to Mr. Cozy!!!

We celebrated with his parents by each enjoying a slice of  coke cake --as we call it--which is a long standing favorite birthday cake with some cinnamon hazelnut coffee!  It was a perfect night of catching up with family that doesn't get to visit too often.  It started by going out for a nice dinner and coming back to our place for a delish dessert by the cozy Christmas tree.  We both felt blessed!

Here are my (favorite!) Christmas dishes.  They are Johnson Bros. Old Britain Castles Pink Christmas Green Tree. 

I came across 4 salad/dessert  plates in T.J. Maxx with my Mom a couple years ago and grabbed them.  Never thinking I'd run across anymore.

October of that year Mr. Cozy and I went to Asheville, NC for our 5th Anniversary and I randomly stumbled upon 6 more of them in an adorable store in Hendersonville, NC!  I was thrilled!  So now I have 10 of those plates!  I usually use them for dessert. 

My parents gave me 10 mugs last year as part of my Christmas (thanks, Mom!) and now I'm set for dessert and coffee during the holiday season! 

The pattern is so pretty and delicate.  It's an vintage/antique pattern and that's probably why I like it so much.  I am very much into a red and green Christmas with lots of old fashioned and nostalgia mixed in.  To me, there is nothing cozier than that!  :)

Back to the yummies!
Have you ever had a Coca Cola cake before?  It's something that's apparently a Southern favorite, but I'd never heard of it before I celebrated a birthday with my husband.

This is one of his most requested birthday cakes that he grew up asking for.  It's usually made in a sheet pan with a delicious, drippy chocolate-y icing.  But I wanted to make it look just a little more special this year by making it into a layered cake.  I found this equally delicious, less drippy, recipe online that's just right!  Everyone agreed it was so good, even my mother-in-love, and it's her cake recipe!

This decadent cake is made with Coke but tastes like an incredibly rich chocolate cake. There's also lots of chocolate, melted marshmallows and buttermilk to make an incredibly moist cake.

Topped with toasted pecans and chocolate shavings for a look that's totally birthday worthy!

The icing recipe I used is one that's perfect for a layered cake.  It has a more firm consistency than a recipe I have for a sheet cake.  That one is poured over the cake while still warm!  (Mmmm, I'll have to share that soon!)

This icing recipe is heaven.  It's difficult not to taste test from the bowl too often!

I mean, doesn't it look like a whipped chocolate cloud?

Sigh!

Just in time for the festive parties and gatherings, this cake would be a show stopper on a chilly December night with a hot cup of coffee or a frosty glass of milk!

Whatever you do today, remember the true reason for this wonderful holiday, Christmas.  It's the birthday celebration of our Savior and my Lord, Jesus Christ!

Why not make a cake for His birthday?

Coca Cola Cake

2. c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

1 1/2 c. small marshmallows

1/2 c. oil

1 c. Coke(any brand)

1/2 c. low fat buttermilk

2 eggs,set out for 30 minutes if possible

3 Tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla extract

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Sift dry ingredients together.

Melt butter, marshmallows, oil and Coke.

Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients.Add buttermilk, vanilla and eggs.  Beat well.

(Notice my new stand mixer hard at work for me!)

Pour batter into 2 well greased and floured (I like baking sprays) 8" pans.

Bake @ 325 degrees for about 40-45 minutes or until set and toothpick come out clean.

Coca Cola Frosting

(This is my modified version of what I found on Relish. com.  The exact proportions of chocolate and sugar may vary according to your own taste.) 

1 c. butter (2 stick)

1/4 c. Coke

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. cocoa powder

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted

1 lb. powdered sugar, sifted

1 c. pecans, toasted

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Cream butter in bowl using a mixer until smooth.

Add Coke and vanilla.  Mix on low speed until smooth.

Add cocoa powder and chocolate.  Mix 'till smooth and scrape down sides of bowl.

Beat in sugar 1/2 c. at a time on low.  Keeping mixer on low, beating until very smooth.

Icing is best made one day ahead.

                                                                                                                                                                

The night before, I assembled the cake once cooled. I spread a very thin layer of icing (don't have a picture) on the cake to seal in the moisture and it helps icing the rest of the cake much easier next day. 

Refrigerate the cake overnight.

(In between the layers I put icing and some of the toasted pecans.)

Ice the cake smooth, then for a whipped looking effect, use the back of a spoon to makes swirls all over the cake!

Ganish the top with toasted pecans or stir in them in the icing.

Here's my old fashioned, traditional Christmas tree that we love!
(There will be more decor pictures to come:)

Merry Christmas!!!

Patti's 1880s Settlement Sawdust Pie

(Don't you want a piece??)

This incredible slice of Sawdust Pie, is from a favorite local restaurant that is known for their over-the-top seasonal decor, 2 in. pork chops, "mile high" meringue pies and I also think their sawdust pie!   This beloved eatery is Patti's 1880's Settlement in the small yet charming, lakeside town of Grand Rivers, Ky.  

I've had this recipe for a few years now and every time I make it I remember just how good this pie really is!          

Being filled with graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pecans with a mound of fresh whipped cream and sliced bananas, this pie is good for a decadent breakfast or delicious dessert!  I tend to think of it more in the fall, but it's warm flavors are always welcome in my tummy. :)

Patti's (as us locals call it) is known for their amazing Christmas decor!  My Grandmother and I recently went there as tradition for her birthday, and they had the Christmas up and decorated it's all it's glory!  This is just a glimpse of some of the decor over the window in just one of the many rooms. I think the theme in this room was the nativity scene.

My Grandmother and I have always been very close.  She means so much to me and I love that she wanted to spend her birthday celebration at Patti's just the two of us!    

It was a day of fun!  The food (my delicious Kentucky Hot Brown with homemade potato chips and sawdust pie), the gifts, the Christmas atmosphere, all the chatting and laughing, and most importantly the company made this day one I won't forget.  I just had to share a piece of it with you!

If you live too far away to visit Patti's, then you should at least make this incredible Sawdust Pie!!!

Patti's 1880s Settlement Sawdust Pie

7 egg whites, whipped 

Add

1 1/2 c. pecans

1 1/2 c. sweetened coconut

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 c. sugar

Did I mention this is so easy to make?

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Mix all together well.  

Pour into 9 in. deep pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  

When cool, top with whipped cream and freshly sliced bananas.  (Both are a must!)

Enjoy!

I'm linking up with:

Giving Thanks and Pear Cobbler with Blueberry Crumble

Recently, I made this pear cobbler with blueberry crumble again and just had to take a few pictures right out of the oven to remind you of how yummy it is!

 

I've been making this Tyler Florence inspired cobbler for a few years now.  In fact it was one of the first few posts on my blog!   Delicious in the fall, you can dot this dessert with blueberries or cranberries.  I think this is an elegant looking cobbler and one that it a bit unique, for the pears are only halved to see their curvy shape!

The recipe is in the previous post, or you can find it in "Tyler's Ultimate" cookbook.

I love November, my Friends!  Not only is it the beginning of the best baking season of the year (yay!) but it's a month to specifically remember and thank the Lord for all of the blessings He has given us. 

Psalm 100:4

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name."

 

Beef Stew Savory

Do you guys like my new darker hair color in my profile pic?  I love it! I've found that I like changing to a richer hue for the holidays, and I'm feeling more festive already!!!  This time of year is my very favorite--it has been all my life.  I'm like a child in that I still get so excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas!  There's nothing wrong with that, right?? :)  

This stew recipe is delicious!  It's a recipe that my mother-in-love has made for years, and we've always enjoyed so much.  I've added just a couple of things to suit our taste perfectly.  This is a hearty stew that is comforting and filling.  It's quite perfect to come home to simmering in the crock pot on a chilly day to warm you up!

I love using tender and juicy leftover pot roast if I have that (a trick from Mom), but if not it's okay because cooking in the crock pot gives you that tender falling apart meat and allows all the herbs and spices to blend together deliciously.

On this beautiful night I'm thinking I'll have to make this again soon, but for now I'll just curl up on the couch and enjoy my coffee!  

Happy November everyone!!!

Beef Stew Savory

1 1/2 lb. stew meat

1 Tbsp oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 can tomato soup

1 beef bouillon cube, and 1 c. water

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 c. ketchup

5 dashes Worcestershire sauce

3 medium carrots, chopped about 1 in. pieces

2 celery stalks, chopped

4 medium potatoes, chopped about 1 in. pieces

Brown beef in oil over medium high heat in a dutch oven. (Try not to crown pan, and brown in two batches if you have to.)  

Turn heat down to medium and add garlic and onion.  Saute until transparent.  Salt and pepper.

Stir in soup, bouillon cube and water.  Add herbs, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

Transfer to the crock pot set on low heat.  Add the carrot, celery and potatoes.  Add more water if needed and more salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer on low heat for 6-8 hours.  Enjoy with warm rolls and a salad! 

Serves 6

FYI:

(For some reason I've been having a lot of trouble linking up with other parties. :o(  I'm not sure what's going on...it says that my tag is broken and can't be accepted....that is why I haven't joined any this week. )

 

Warm and Gooey Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

 Have you noticed that some of the messiest desserts are the most delicious ones?  Well, this dessert certainly fits the bill!  I'm in love with these ooey, gooey s'more bars!  If you like the classic campfire s'mores than you'll love these toasted marshmallow topped bars that are incredibly easy to make.  They only require 5 ingredients!   

These bars will go fast at any gathering--I've made them for movie nights with friends--but I find they're especially perfect this time of year!   Graham cracker-cookie crust is a nice base for the melting milk chocolate and finished with the marshmallows that will stretch and pull as you cut yourself a slice.  

These sure are a *love* recipe out of my kitchen, so I hope you all like them, too!!!

(Going to my parents for a campfire this weekend. Yay!)

Blessings,

Leslie :)

Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5) Sugar Cookie mix

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

(I usually crush my own.)

1 c. butter, melted

3 c. milk chocolate chips

(I didn't have milk choc. chips, so instead used broken Hershey bar and semi-sweet morsels.)

4 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, mix cookie mix and cracker crumbs . Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms.  

In ungreased 13x9 in pan, press dough evenly.  Bake 18-20 minutes until set.

Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust.  Let stand 3-5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt.  Spread evenly over crust.

YUM!

Set oven control to broil.  Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate.  

Broil with top 4-5 inches from heat for about 30 seconds or til marshmallows are toasted.  (Watch closely, for they will brown quickly!)

Cool for 10 minutes, and eat while still warm.  Store tightly covered.

Enjoy every gooey bite!

I'm linking up with:

The Gift!

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4

This is just one of the wonderful scriptures that come to mind as I'm telling you this story of how God used a thoughtful and generous person in my life to remind me of just how much He knows me.  He loves me. 

He loves us.....

God truly cares for even the small details in my life.  Really.  This shouldn't be a revelation after years of serving Jesus Christ as my Lord, but there are times in my life that He-- as any loving father-- wants to surprise us with something that we never expect.

Anyone who knows me very well at all knows that my husband and I have been struggling for years trying to have a family.  

(No, I'm not pregnant (yet!) so that's now what this blog post is about...but I assure you that day is coming!)

We have been blessed with a beloved baby girl in Heaven that we'll spend eternity with!

I'm not extremely open about this subject, because it's a very personal and delicate issue between my husband and I. It's huge that I'm sharing even this with you all right now, for this is something I can't help but feel very emotional about.  Wanting children is part of the core of my being.  I wanted to share this with you, just to give you all a bigger picture of why this story is just so special to me.  The past 5 years have been filled with the most extreme highs and lows in my lifetime.  I won't candy coat that there have been many hard times my husband and I have encountered together in our short married life, but I can still confidently say with a shadow of a doubt that, God is still good!!!

I'm a very optimistic person, and all of you who know my parents know that I was born that way!   I love my family and I love my husband and have an amazing life with them...I love cooking, baking, beautiful days, snowy days, holidays, I really love life!  Everyday is not an easy one, and the past 5 years there have been more bad ones than good.  Thankfully, I serve a God who not only knows my future but also has plans for me.  Awesome plans, that are better than we had ever dreamed about.  When you follow Christ and seek Him for guidance in your life, and tell Him that "my life is for Your glory"... I believe that He will turn the plans we envision for our life into something far better than we could ever hope for.  I want my life to be a testimony of the Mighty God I serve!

So anyways, God has not forgotten about my hearts desire to have children, and last week He reminded me of that by showing us that He knows and cares about even the smallest things that we care about.  The things that we can live without.  The things that are definitely trival in the grand scheme of things. 

...Because He wants to pour His love on us.

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October 9th, I put as my Facebook status, 

"You all can have your new iphones, but all I REALLY want is a candy apple red or buttercup yellow Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a glass bowl!!  One day..."

Simple! No biggie, really!  Just saying that I've basically been pining to have one for years now, but I don't want to complain because I have a fine hand mixer. (Fine as in okay, as in, gets very hot when mixing meringue or anything else for over 3 minutes.) With Mr. Cozy in Med school, needless to say, our funds don't really give us everything we want.  

Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father that will supply all my need according to HIS riches in glory! (Phil. 4:19)

I have never prayed for a mixer, I have never even asked for a mixer (from anyone at all!) and I haven't put much thought into dreaming about one when I knew there was no need to wish for something so trivial.  Although my mind would occasionally wonder, how much easier and even more fun would it be to bake in a kitchen with a beautiful stand mixer, like on Dessert First or Barefoot Contessa?! :) After all, I do consider myself an avid baker and would get so much good use from something as wonderful as that!!!

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October 13th.  I got off work late that night, as I always do on Thursdays.  When I pulled into my driveway it was dark outside and I was making sure all my little kittens were okay as they frolicked around me.  

What was by the back door?  What was in this enormous box?  Did Mr. Cozy order, I don't know....a book?  A whole lot of them?? Umm...confused.

I'm actually on the phone with him as I'm walking up to the house.  He has no idea what the box is.  It says Bed, Bath & Beyond and looked like some postal service dropped it off.  Weird, I thought.  I tell him and he still doesn't know!  I'm getting a little excited just from the mystery of it all.  I open the door and put him on speaker just so I can bring the box in.  It's heavy! VERY heavy!!  I wasn't expecting to have so much trouble trying to get it through the door!  Hmmm.

I open it up and stand amazed.  It looked like another box inside with the picture of a Kitchen Aid stand mixer?!!  I'm squealing, and I'm sure he thinks I'm frightened when in fact I'm quite the opposite. Mind you, there is no return address, note, name, or any facts whatsoever to link back to the giver of this gift. 

This is unbelievable.  I open the box to find a Candy Apple Red, Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a glass bowl!!!!!!!!

Ok.  "Oh, Honey!!  I love you, thank you!!!!"

How can we afford this right now?

"It's not from me.  Seriously...I'm confused.  I know nothing about this!" he claimed with sincerity.

Hmmm.....I'm baffled  and thrilled at this point and so is he!  After getting off the phone with him, we both call our parents.  I'm pretty sure that mine probably wanted to surprise me with an amazing gift of my dream mixer!

No. They were excited, but clueless. Really.

(Friends, trust me I know my hubby and parents well enough to know they're telling the truth, and they were!)

To this day, we have no idea who the very wonderful person is that secretly sent me my heart's desire, a Kitchen Aid stand mixer!  We do know, however, that God used that person to restore hope.  He gave me something I thought I would probably have to wait years before getting--and I would've been okay with that--but He had other plans, better plans than I had for myself!  Miraculous!  

This gift felt like a big, warm hug.

I only hope that one day we can do the very same thing someone in need, or want.  I'm assuming this person doesn't want us to find out who they are.  What a huge gift, this humble and kind person gave to me. God knows who you are and will bless you in return!  THANK YOU!

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So there you have it, Folks.  Thanks for listening to my story!  I'm excited to bring you recipes with help of my new mixer!  It seriously takes baking to another level of joy!!!

God works in mysterious ways!  

See how it sparkles on my counter?

Have a blessed Autumn weekend!

~Leslie

I'm linking up with: