Failproof Bark For Foodies

For the past couple of years, I've given barks and brittles away to friends and neighbors.  They are pretty easy and the kids seem to enjoy adding the ingredients!  Pretty simple concept, melt your chocolate (white, dark, milk) and throw in your nuts, peppermint, chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows....you get the idea.  Crack it up and it's ready to be given!  Tons of variations and looks and tastes fancy.  Here is our favorite:  Chocolate-Orange Hazelnut Bark

• 1 navel orange
• 8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2/3 cup hazelnuts, skins removed, coarsely chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions
1.Line a small (9-by-13-inch) baking sheet with aluminum foil; refrigerate. With a vegetable peeler, remove zest from half the orange. With a sharp knife, cut zest into very thin strips, each about an inch long.

2.Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted and completely smooth. Mix in half the zest and hazelnuts. Immediately, pour onto prepared baking sheet; with a flexible rubber spatula, spread into an 8-by-10 inch rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. (To help spread chocolate, tip baking sheet up and down.) Sprinkle with remaining zest, nuts, and coarse salt.

3.Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. To serve, break into pieces. To store, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate, up to 2 weeks.
(recipe and photo from Martha Stewart.com)

Have a wonderful weekend!