Unfortunately for my husband, I wasn't born with a sweet tooth-I was born with what I like to call a salty-fatty tooth (mmm, chips...) But I do like to make him sweet treats every once in a while. We're trying to save money this year, so I decided that in lieu of a gift for Valentine's Day, I'd give him what he really wants.
And what my man really wants is really simple (whew). He wants chocolate. He's not too picky about the kind of chocolate, though he prefers it dark, and he'll eat it plain, with fruit or with nuts. So when he's out skiing with his buddies the Saturday before Valentine's Day, I'm going to make him a box of chocolates. Here are the recipes I'm going to put in it.
Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles (recipe follows)
These peanut butter-pretzel truffles satisfy your craving for something sweet and salty.
Active time: 15 minutes | Total: 2 hours | To make ahead: Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
1/2 cup crunchy natural peanut butter
1/4 cup finely chopped salted pretzels
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)
Combine peanut butter and pretzels in a small bowl. Chill in the freezer until firm, about 15 minutes. Roll the peanut butter mixture into 20 balls (about 1 teaspoon each). Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper and freeze until very firm, about 1 hour. Roll the frozen balls in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
Makes 20 truffles.
Per truffle: 64 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 1 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrate; 2 g added sugars; 2 g protein; 1 g fiber; 53 mg sodium; 65 mg potassium.
Tip: To melt chocolate, microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted. Or place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.
Chocolate-Dipped Gingersnaps
A sprinkling of crystallized ginger and dried cranberries makes these easy, chocolate-dipped gingersnaps festive.
Chocolate Nut Bark
Use your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark.
Chocolate Crunch
Crunchy wheat cereal, pretzels and almonds coated in bittersweet chocolate makes an addictive sweet-salty snack.
Chocolate-Covered Brownie Bites
Dip bite-size pieces of brownie into melted chocolate for an easy treat to satisfy your chocolate craving.
By Carolyn Malcoun
When associate editor Carolyn Malcoun came to Vermont to attend New England Culinary Institute, she knew she didn't want to work in a restaurant but knew that she wanted to do something in the food industry. Luckily she discovered EatingWell, where she's able to combine her love of food and writing.
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