Recipe Swap Wednesday-Help With Your Diet

A while back when I posted our Christmas pictures, I had a request or two for more information on the treats that we made. And since it is the season of New Years Resolution Diets, I'm now going to share with you. But no worries. The pictures are totally calorie free. What you do with the following information.....well, that's up to you.

First off we have the Peppermint Bark. I'd always been curious about it and had wanted to make it, but was too chicken. But my good friend Hairyshoefairy walked me through it and it was fun. And not super difficult. It's one pound of starlight mints crushed to oblivion to two pounds of white chocolate. Melt the chocolate, add the mints and pour out onto a wax covered cookie sheet. Poof! It's done. And yummy.
Even the girls got in on the action.
This picture I took at the beginning, before I realized that we were gouging holes into my kitchen table and not getting very far with our wooden rolling pins. Shortly after, I found CG's hammer and took our party to the floor. Lolly was rather offended when I wouldn't let her have a turn with the hammer. But Dexter loved licking up the dust that had escaped onto the floor.

Next, Chocolate Dipped Cinnamon Bears. Buy the cinnamon bears and dip them in chocolate. Complicated, I know. But again....yummy.
Mmmmmm......Mint Oreo Chocolate Truffles.
Last fall Lolly's preschool teacher generously shared one of these with me as I was picking Lolly up from school. And I craved them until I finally made them in December. They're that good.

Step 1: The filling. A package of mint Oreos that have been crushed mixed with 8 ounces of softened cream cheese. I used low fat to make myself feel better about it. Then roll it into tiny balls and stick in the freezer to harden up for dipping. Or, stick them in the fridge if they don't fit in the freezer.

Step 2: Dip them in chocolate. And enjoy. Also, keep refrigerated. That was the only problem I had because the rest of the treats didn't have to be refrigerated. So if anyone has a recipe for similar magicalness that doesn't need refrigeration, please feel free to pass it on.

And, finally, the English Pecan Toffee.
I got this recipe a few years ago from Dandelion Mama's blog and have made it every year since. But I only make it once a year because you use a pound of butter. Yes, a pound. You can find the recipe here. It's amazing!

Also, we made chocolate dipped pretzels. With Christmas sprinkles. Until I ran out of sprinkles. Anyway, to make those buy pretzels and then dip them in chocolate. Ta Da! And. I'm pretty sure pretzels are a health food so that one has to be diet friendly.