Pretzel Bark

Pretzel Bark (slightly adapted from Kraft Recipes, Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes, Servings: 10+)

Ingredients

·         1 cup chopped pretzels

·         3 pkg. (4 oz. each) Semi-Sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces

Directions

1.      Place chocolate pieces into a microwave-safe bowl.  Put in microwave for 30 seconds, then stir.  Repeat until chocolate is melted.

2.      Stir pretzels into chocolate; spread onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet.

3.      Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.  Break into pieces

I loved this chocolate bark!  The recipe is so easy and quick.  I served it as part of a Progressive Dinner in my neighborhood and it went fast. In fact, there were a couple of people politely arguing over the last piece.  Even though this is made with semi-sweet chocolate, it tasted a bit more like dark chocolate. The original recipe calls for pecans in addition to the pretzels, but I opted not to use them because my husband is not a huge fan of nuts and I wasn’t sure if any neighbors had nut allergies.  This is a definite keeper in my dessert box!

Crazy Dipped Pretzel Rods

Crazy Dipped Pretzel Rods (from AllRecipes, 30Minutes)

    

I liked these, but my husband – not so much.  I used semi-sweet chocolate morsels and holiday sprinkles.  I think that he is used to the chocolate covered pretzels that are completely smothered while these are only partially covered.  I might try white chocolate next time with mini chocolate morsels – maybe more chocolate will win him over!

Ingredients

·         1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

·         1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

·         16 pretzel rods

·         Mini Morsels and/or sprinkles

Directions

1.    Line baking sheet with wax paper.

2.    Microwave 1 cup morsels and vegetable shortening in small, dry, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; stir. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

3.    Dip pretzel rods about 3 inches into melted morsels, tilting bowl to easily dip. Use side of bowl to remove excess. Sprinkle with morsels or sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Strawberry Margarita Squares

Strawberry Margarita Squares (slightly adapted from Kraft Foods, 24 servings, Time: 6 hours)

Ingredients

·         1 ¼ cups  crushed pretzels

·         ¼ cup margarine, melted

·         1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

·         1 cup  pureed strawberries

·         ½ cup  lime juice

·         1 tub  (8 oz.) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed

·         1 cup  sliced fresh strawberries

Directions

1.      Mix pretzel crumbs and butter in 13x9-inch pan; press onto bottom of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

2.      Combine condensed milk, pureed strawberries and lime juice in large bowl. Gently stir in COOL WHIP; pour over crust.

3.      Freeze 6 hours (or overnight). Remove from freezer about 15 min. before serving; let stand at room temperature to soften slightly. Serve topped with sliced strawberries.

Another picnic favorite!  I thought it had a little too much of a lime flavor, so I suggest cutting the lime juice down just a tad.  I used sugar-free Cool Whip and it didn’t sacrifice the flavor at all – plus it cut down on calories and fat!

I suggest using a food processor or blender to crush the pretzels.  I put them in a bag and used a rolling pin, but one of the pretzels popped a hole in the bag, causing a mess.  Be sure to clean out the electric machine of your choice before pureeing the strawberries!  I put a cup of strawberries to the side of the dessert and let guests top their own bars, some also topped with Ready Whip.  Everyone loved it no matter how they ate it!

Isaacs – various locations throughout Central PA

 I was introduced to Isaacs about 5 years ago and have been in love with it ever since.  There was a time a few months ago when I became very disappointed with them – they changed the recipe for their pretzel rolls so that they were no longer vegetarian – but about 1-2 months ago they changed the recipe back to vegan/vegetarian.  Now, they have a special place in my heart once again.  This is one of the only restaurants where I will actually order a vegetarian burger – I have never had any issues.

            At Isaacs, they start you out with a small dish of pickled cucumbers, carrots, and cauliflower.  Crunchy and dilly, very good!  My usual order at Isaacs is the Ruffled Salad with a black bean burger and Ancho Chili Ranch dressing on the side.  The salad is topped with tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, shredded cheese, and croutons.  They definitely do not skimp on the fixins!  The black bean burger is pretty tasty on its own, but the ranch dressing kicks it up a notch!  Every salad is accompanied by a small pretzel roll.  These are delicious – soft, chewy, not buttery or salty, just yum!

            I don’t think that I’ve ever had a miss at Isaacs (other than the aforementioned pretzel recipe change).  I have had the Black-Eyed Susan (my usual salad on a cheddar wrap) and the Mexican Sunflower (my salad on a pretzel roll) – I see a theme here.  Good vegetables + safe vegetarian burger + pretzel rolls or cheddar wraps = one clear winner in my mind.

            Now, the desserts – fantastic!  This past time we ordered the Fudgie Wudgie – this thing is huge!  The fudge brownie is soft, warm, and delectable.  The ice cream topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, and chocolate chips just adds to the deliciousness.  We have also had the Chocolate Lovin’ Spoon Cake – only get if you love chocolate, the Toucan Brownie Nest – not a huge fan because I don’t like caramel or cheesecake, but my husband and stepfather love it, and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie – two of my favorite things in one!

            If you happen to be in central PA, check out Isaacs.  It definitely has my stamp of approval!

Brandywine Brewing Company - Greenville, DE

Love, love, love this restaurant.  We go at least once every two months (and we don’t repeat a lot of restaurants).  I’ve had a few of their plates, but this time I chose a sandwich that was on Special – not so good – I forget what it was called, but the sauce on it just didn’t work.  And, actually, they took my favorite sandwich off of the menu (grilled vegetables with goat cheese, yum, yum).  I definitely recall their Hot Soft Pretzels – so tasty – and apple mustard is delish (the hot horseradish was too hot for me – I don’t like the feeling of my sinuses being cleared with one quick taste).  I do recommend this restaurant for vegetarians because they have a number of options and great service.  Not to mention a full beer selection!

http://www.bbctavernandgrill.com/




9/8/2011 Update:

On our most recent trip to BBC, we decided to get the Hot Soft Pretzels as an appetizer.  Very chewy, but not buttery (like an Auntie Anne's pretzel).  That plays well with the two specialty mustard sauces - the apple mustard is very good, not too much of an apple flavor and not too much of a mustard flavor.  The horseradish sauce was hotter when we had it a year ago (or my taste buds are changing).  I can still only take just a little bit, but the horseradish isn't enough to burn my nostrils :-)

I decided to have the Warm Goat Cheese and Spinach Salad as my entrée.  The goat cheese is in multiple pieces, which I like (as compared to one big piece in the middle).  The salad came topped with candied walnuts, sundried tomatoes and cranberries, and some red onion.  All of these helped add a good crunch factor to the soft spinach and goat cheese.  The dressing was surprisingly tasty.  I'm not a fan of maple, but mixed as a maple sherry vinaigrette - yum!

For dessert, I shared the Lava Cake with Strawberry Sauce with my husband.  Overall, tasty, warm, and full of chocolate - just what I need at the end of a good meal!