Amano Artisan Chocolate

In December I was a lucky winner from Blake Makes. What did I win? Amano Chocolate! Who wouldn't love to win chocolate????

Just look at that gold wrapper! I felt like Charlie Bucket..."Cause I've got a golden ticket. I've got a golden chance to make my way. And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day."

I received a 2 ounce bar of the Amano Jembrana chocolate. Jembrana is a handcrafted dark chocolate (70% is the minimum percentage of cocoa to be exact!). This chocolate is so good. I just let it sit and melt on my tongue, savoring it as it filled me with chocolaty goodness! And for those of you out there watching what you're eating, 1 square has only .44 Weight Watchers points! A nice treat to savor!

Thanks to Blake Makes and Amano Chocolate for allowing me to try this chocolate...it was a wonderful experience!

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients:

1 pkg (20 oz.) Oreos
2 pkgs. (ea. 8 oz.) cream cheese
1 pkg. (1.5 lb.) chocolate flavored almond bark

Directions:

Using food processor or blender, crush Oreos. Beat cream cheese in mixer and add crushed Oreos. Beat until desired consistency. Freeze for a couple of hours and then roll into small balls. Melt chocolate bark in microwave and drop balls into melted chocolate. Place balls on waxed paper for chocolate coating to set. Drizzle with vanilla flavored almond bark if desired. Enjoy!!

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

Ingredients:

1 box Chocolate Chex cereal
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 T. butter
3 T. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup vanilla or white chips

Directions:

In a large microwave-safe bowl, pour cereal (original recipe called for 8 cups, but I used entire box); set aside. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper (I used my Silpat).

In a 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup on high 1-2 minutes until smooth, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour over cereal, stirring until as evenly coated as possible. Microwave on high 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Spread on baking sheet. Cool 10 minutes (or longer). Break into bite-sized pieces.

In small Ziploc bag, melt vanilla chips in microwave; knead until smooth. Drizzle over snack. Let cool until set. Store in an airtight container.

Yield: 16 (1/2 cup) servings

* From the Fall 2008 Taste of Home Cooking School