Halloween “Boo Bark” Recipe

A Sweet ‘n Scary Treat

This week fall blew into Austin with temperatures in the 90s falling to the jaw-dropping 40s in mere minutes! With the temperature shifts there’s no doubting Halloween is officially in full gear – our favorite time of the year! There’s no better way to enjoy the sweet days of fall than with a slice of this wickedly tasty Halloween treat!

Foodie Tips:

❤ If using white chocolate try incorporating orange candy melts to create your own culinary masterpiece. Here’s a fun video on how you can make your own special chocolate swirls!

❤ The suggested ingredients (below) are super flexible. Use as many or as little as you prefer. Just ensure you have more chocolate than treats to ensure a good Boo Bark bond.

Time To Prepare:

About 2 hours (includes time for the Boo Bark to rest in and out of the fridge).

Ingredients:

16-24 Ounces  |  Chocolate

Assorted Candies To Your Liking Including:
Candy Eye Balls (the eyes make the Boo Bark come to life!)
Candy Corn
M&Ms (you can create your own design here!)
Halloween Themed Sprinkles
Halloween Oreos, Sliced
Snickers Candy Bars, Sliced
Take 5 Candy Bars, Sliced

What To Do:

1. Line a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with parchment paper. Make sure to include extra paper on the sides so that the chocolate doesn’t touch the pan.

2. Gather and prepare your ingredients.

3. If using Oreo cookies, scatter a few in the prepared pan.

4. Melt your chocolate. Place your chocolate into a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring often. Be careful not to overcook/burn the chocolate. Once it’s smooth enough to pour it’s ready!

5. Pour the chocolate into the prepared pan, working from the center outward. The Boo Bark edges do not need to be uniform.

6. Top the Boo Bark with your chosen candy decorations. Lightly press any larger pieces to ensure they bond with the chocolate.

7. Place your Boo Bark in the fridge for about an hour to set/harden. Remove from the fridge and let rest for about 30 minutes. Break the bark into bite-sized pieces with a knife and enjoy!

Check out some of the other Halloween-inspired ideas here at the Home Style Austin blog or on our hand-curated Halloween Pinterest Board!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty

Email: JoePaul@KW.com
Mobile: 512-222-3302
Web: JoePaulReider.KW.com

Recipe: Chocolate Bird’s Nests

A Springtime Favorite

These chocolate nests are easy to make – and kids are likely to join in on the fun, too!

This no-bake recipe takes just 3 ingredients and your finished nests will make perfect treats to wrap-up a dinner with friends… or they make great gifts – just toss them into a treat bag!

Foodie Tips:

❤  Use your favorite melting chocolate for this recipe. I used milk chocolate morsels and dark chocolate is next on my list.

❤  To fill your nest you can pick from an array of sweet egg-like objects – jelly beans, malted milk balls, Cadbury mini eggs, or M&M candies. I used pastel colored chocolate covered almonds – they had a good egg shape and great taste!

Ingredients:

5 Cups  |  Chow Mein Noodles
2 Cups  |  Chocolate Morsels
24 – 36  |  Candy Eggs

What To Do:

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate for 1 minute. Remove from oven and stir with a spatula. Return to microwave and heat then stir in 30-second intervals until things are well melted. Don’t let the chocolate boil!

2. Add the noodles into the melted chocolate and stir everything with your spatula until well coated.

3. Using an ice cream scoop transfer mounds of the chocolate noodles to a parchment-lined baking tray. Before the chocolate rests, shape the mounds into nests with a fork or your spatula.

4. Place your candy eggs into the nest and let everything rest until cool and hard.

5. Transfer your nests to a serving platter or individual plate.

Yield: About 10 – 12 nests. Enjoy this chocolate bird’s nest recipe!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

Email: JoePaul@KW.com
Mobile: 512-222-3302
Web: JoePaul.KWRealty.com

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes – there’s more than 50 recipes here on the Home Style Austin blog!

Recipe : How To Make The Best Ice Cream Sandwich

We All Scream!

After eating one of the best cookies my neighbor Helen introduced me to I knew what was next – I had to turn the cookies into something extra special. A homemade ice cream sandwich.

What’s even sweeter is that after thinking about the best way to form my ice cream (aside from just smashing it between two cookies), I stumbled across a common kitchen item that did the trick exceptionally well – a Mason Jar lid. Check out the recipe details below!

Foodie Tips:

❤  The awesome cookies I’m referring to are Dad’s Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookies. After I ate my first bag, I knew what I had to do – order a 3 pound box! That’s how I roll.

❤  While I was tempted to use a flavored ice cream (butter pecan, strawberry, chocolate, etc…) your cookie will likely set the table (so to speak) for what flavor to choose. I used good ol’ fashioned vanilla as my cookie’s taste was the hero of this show.

Ingredients: 

2 Handfuls  |  Your Favorite Cookie (homemade or otherwise)
1 Carton  |  Your Favorite Ice Cream
To Dip  |  Chocolate, Melted (optional)
To Decorate  |  Sprinkles (optional)

Directions: 

1. Turn your Mason Jar lid (the outer ring and removable insert) upside down. Using a spoon press ice cream into the lid; you can thicken it up a bit for an extra tasty treat. Note: I didn’t let my ice cream thaw in advance; I used it straight from the freezer and it worked just fine.

2. Once filled, push the mason jar insert out from the outer ring to remove the round-shaped ice cream. Using a blunt knife you can easily saw and pry the mason lid off from the ice cream. Presto! Place the ice cream on the bottom side of one of your cookies. Top with another cookie and place your sandwich on a plate or storage container then into the freezer. Repeat this process until you are all out of cookies or ice cream or resistance! Freeze cookies good and chilly (about 30 minutes).

3. Decorate your cookies to your liking. I dipped mine in some fresh melted chocolate. I returned my sweets to the freezer for a few minutes more then served them. They were delicious! And a perfect menu item for your next gathering.

I hope you enjoy these awesome bites!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder and Foodie
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies Treats

❤  Valentine’s Day 2014 Featured Post  ❤
Snap  ❤  Crackle  ❤  Pop  ❤  Yowza!

You’re sure to score points when you put a creative twist on this time-honored favorite. These treats are super-easy to make and super-fun to decorate. Let’s see why …

Tips:

• Like soft treats? These treats will impress you if consumed within 24 hours of your pressing.
• For a thicker treat, press your marshmallow mixture into a 9″ x 13″ pan. For a thinner treat, press into a 11″ x 17″ pan.
• For a quick and tasty shortcut for melted chocolate, use Ambrosia brand Chocolate Flavored Bark Coating (a.k.a. bark coating) – we found ours at our local HEB Grocery. It’s available in chocolate bark and white bark.
• Just because these treats are perfectly-shaped for Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean that they aren’t delicious all year round!

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons  |  Unsalted Butter (my family’s favorite is Falfurrias Brand Butter)
1 Package (10 ounces)  |  Marshmallows
6 Cups  |  Kellogg’s Brand Rice Krispies Cereal
Your Favorite  |  Chocolates, Melted
Assorted  |  Decorations (sprinkles, crushed peppermints, strawberries, etc.)

Materials:

Medium-Sized Pan
Spoon To Stir
Large Mixing Bowl
Wax Paper
Baking Sheet (see size recommendations above)
Cooking Spray
Cookie Cutter (we used a heart-shaped cutter)

What To Do:

1. Melt the butter in a medium-large pan over low heat.

2. Raise the heat up a bit to medium heat and add the marshmallows. Stir until melted – do not let them boil or burn.

3. Pour your marshmallow mixture into the rice krispies and stir until well blended.

4. Using a spatula or spoon pour the mixture into a baking sheet lined with wax paper and press flat.

5. Let cool then cut your treats into your desired shapes. Spray your cookie cutter (or hands) with cooking spray will help prevent sticking.

6. Decorate your treats. Let your creativity impress their eyes and their appetite!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Valentine’s Day? Visit our post called “Valentine’s Day The Home Style Way” for our ideas for how to make your day extra special at home. We’re pairing our favorite appetizer, main course, desserts and wine along with some great “at-home” movie recommendations sure to melt hearts.