Peppermint. Dark chocolate. White chocolate. Those flavors together just scream winter and holidays and good times. It’s hard to believe that I went so many years without tasting this delightful combination, but ever since I did, I’ve been hooked. Love it.

In the past few years, I’ve made a delicious (and easy!) Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark, created some simply irresistible Deconstructed Peppermint Bark Cookies and a decadent Chocolate Peppermint Pie. There was also a chocolate peppermint roulade, which I must have never blogged about. In any case, I wanted one more to my chocolate peppermint list: Peppermint Bark Coated Pretzels.

Oh, these are divine. They take all the goodness of regular peppermint bark and wrap it around a small, salty pretzel. A little crunch, a little sweet, a little salt … oh what a combination.

Make up a batch of these babies and give ‘em away this week. Or, maybe just eat them yourself. They are amazing.

Peppermint Bark Coated Pretzels

9 oz dark chocolate, chopped into pieces
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2 cups mini pretzel twists
3 oz white chocolate
1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Melt the dark chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Once it’s fully melted and smooth, stir in the peppermint extract. Then drop a few pretzels in at a time, using a skewer or fork to flip and then fish out. Set the chocolate covered pretzels on a sheet of waxed paper to harden.

Once the chocolate is hardened, melt the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Drizzle over the pretzels and then sprinkle with the crushed peppermint. Let harden completely and then package for giving … or just devour them yourself.

Saturday was going to be a busy day. I knew that before I went to bed on Friday. Will had a birthday party to go to. We had plans of getting a Christmas tree (which didn’t happen … who knew that tree sellers would close before 7 p.m. on a Saturday, two weeks before Christmas. Sigh.). There was cleaning to be done and organizing. But I woke up wanting scones in a bad, bad way. So I made them anyway.

The interesting thing about scones is how unbelievably easy they are to make. You sift (I use a wire whisk – it makes sifting a breeze), beat and stir a little. Then you pat it all down and slice the dough into wedges. It takes 10 minutes, max.

But I have to admit, scone dough can be a little confusing. It’s dry and crumbly in a way that can make you so uncomfortable. You can’t help but wonder if it’s really moist enough to bind together. Even as someone who has made scones in the past, I find myself wondering if it’s just not going to work this time. But the key is to trust – trust that the crumbly dough will hold together once you pat it down and cut it … and really. It will.

I used to only make drop scones – the ones in perfectly deformed mound shapes. The first scones I ever ate came in that shape, so I stuck with it. But honestly, wedge shaped ones are just easier, especially if you use a pizza cutter to slice them. And the wedge shapes are so pretty too.

And one last thing: if you think scones are dry, spit-stealing little hockey pucks, then you’ve never had a good, just-made scone. Sure, they do get that way after a few days. But freshly baked, the crunchy outside gives way to a soft, warm interior. They aren’t sweet like a muffin, instead taking on a more biscuit-like flavor that’s enhanced with the shots of sweet and tart from the mix-ins. With coffee, a scone is just divine.

Honestly, I blame my slight obsession on the Meyer Lemon Scones on In Good Taste. They got me thinking about buttery, rich, soft but dense scones … and I just had to have them. Not that I regret it. I love these scones … and they are perfect for Saturday mornings, even if it’s a busy one.

Raspberry White Chocolate Scones
yields 8 scones
recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
2 large eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup frozen raspberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter using two knives. Stir in the chocolate chips and raspberries. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the heavy cream and whisk some more until fully combined.

Make a well in the center of the dry mix and pour the egg mixture in. Use a rubber spatula to gently stir until just combined. It will be dry and crumbly and won’t hold together well.

Turn out the dough onto a floured cutting board. Using well-floured hands, pat the dough into an 8 inch circle, about 3/4 inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to slice into eight wedges.

If desired, brush the tops of the scones with 1 tbsp of heavy cream and sprinkle with course sugar.

Transfer the wedges to the prepared baking sheet and cook for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Serve immediately. These are best eaten within two days. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

What I’m Cooking With: a large and a medium-sized metal mixing bowl, a silicone spatula from Williams-Sonoma for stirring, Circulon 11-by-17-Inch Metal Cookie Pan, a KitchenAid® Utility Whisk, a pizza cutter and parchment paper.

Psst! One more thing. Check out my latest posts at Tablespoon: How to Eat Pomegranate and Homemade Soups for Chilly Winter Days

Here’s a few ideas:

Boxes/Tins

Use for brownies and cookies. Wrap them in parchment or place in a sealed bag before putting into the box or tin. This is best if you are giving one type of treat. (Shown: Ikea, $2.99 for a set of three)

Treat Bags

Use for cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, scones or even small loaves of bread. Some candies could also be contained in treat bags. Tie with a pretty ribbon or seal with a nice metallic sticker. These are best for holiday party favors or for packaging inside a larger basket or bag. (Shown: Michael’s, price varies)

Buckets/Baskets

Use for small cookies, chocolate covered pretzels or candies that are sealed in treat bags. Tie a ribbon around the top of the bucket. Use larger baskets for a mix of treats such as several types of cookies and confections. Buckets are best for gifting one type of treat in a smaller portion.  (Shown: Target, $1)

Ribbons

Use to dress up treat bags, baskets, buckets and cookie jars. Thin ribbons are best for treat bags, while medium to wider ribbons can be a nice touch for buckets and baskets. (Shown: Michael’s and Target, prices vary)

How do you package your holiday treats?

Before it does though, I wanted to tell you about a great organization that brings a little something extra to the lives of people who are down on their luck. While it might not fill a clear-cut need, I think something that brings a smile to faces fills an absolute need of delivering a little happiness … a little feeling of being special … to people who really need it.

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Lydia Walshin of The Perfect Pantry at the BlogHer Boston conference. She is a food writer and founder of Drop In & Decorate, a Rhode Island-based, tax-exempt nonprofit organization. This organization provides support for cooking decorating events held around the country and abroad, with the cookies produced being donated. This year, the nonprofit has support from some major companies who are making it easier than ever to just drop in.

What’s it all about? Here’s the basics, direct from Lydia:

The idea behind Drop In & Decorate is simple: bake some cookies; gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, your worship group or book group to decorate the cookies together; donate the cookies to a nonprofit agency serving basic human needs in your own community. It’s a simple idea in a complicated world, and  something anyone can do.

If you’d like to host your own Drop In & Decorate® event, Pillsbury and Wilton would like to help. Pillsbury has donated 50 VIP coupons, worth $3.00 each, off any Pillsbury product — including sugar cookie mix, icing and flour — to be distributed, first come, first served, while supply lasts, to anyone who plans to host a Drop In & Decorate event (max. 5 coupons per person). And we’ll include a Comfort Grip cookie cutter, donated by Wilton, while our supply lasts.

Write to lydia AT ninecooks DOT com for more info on how to get your free coupons and cookie cutters.

It’s such a simple thing: to bake and decorate cookies. But it can mean so much. If you are looking for something charitable to do as a family, group or school this holiday season, check into Drop In & Decorate.

1. Organic Style: Organic Style has a variety of eco-friendly suggestions from trees to journals to chocolates. They were nice enough to let me sample their Heavenly Chocolate Trio, which were delicious (especially those almonds). But do heed the warning on the site that although the chocolates are shipped overnight, weather conditions could cause them to arrive melted, as most of mine did. My husband was home when the shipment arrived, so the meltage happened enroute. If this is a concern, avoid the perishables.
2. Soda Club: Chances are, this one won’t arrive by Father’s Day, but they will end an email letting dad know it’s coming if you order. This is totally cool — it’s an easy, counter-top make-your-own soda kit . . . perfect for the gadget-loving dad.
3. Fair Trade Coffee: Does your dad love coffee? How about some fair trade coffee and a French press. With the French press, you just add hot water and let the coffee brew and then press it. Save energy and get a tasty cup of coffee. Check out this site for a list of where you can get fair trade coffee.

Well, stop-scrambling and get buying! There are a lot of great options out there for the eco-friendly dad. Over the next three days, I will tell you about some of the coolest, Earth-conscious gifts you can find.

Today, I’m highlighting a few TLC items for the hardworking pops in your life.

1. Goatboy soaps – These all-natural soaps are made from goat’s milk in Connecticut. The small batch process all started in an attempt to help the owner’s son have a soap that didn’t irritate his ultra-sensitive skin. And they come in a variety of manly scents too. The soap is supposed to be great for dry or irritable skin (it’s working for me, so far). Available online and at some farmer’s markets in Connecticut including the Sandy Hook Village Farmer’s Market on Sunday.
2. Every Man Jack Beginner’s Luck Kit – It’s surprising how much comes in the Every Man Jack Beginner’s Luck Kit. Shave gel, face wash, face lotion, body wash, and three body bars — plus a small bag to hold it all. The scent? A fierce mint. The products are made from vegetable extracts, not chemicals and things you cannot pronounce. Each container has it’s own wacky question like “Will this make me look like a model?” and tongue in check answer “Sure — if you are one.” They also each say “Please recycle.” Take it as a good sign . . . men’s face care with a conscience. Available at Target and through the link above. See above for a photo
3. 100% Recycled Envirope Hammock – After a hard day of yard work, there is nothing more relaxing than laying in a nice hammock and reading a good book. This white hammock is 100% recycled and comes mostly from old soda bottles. Get the family size so the kids can climb on with dad too . . . You know . . . Hop on Pop. Available online.

Check back tomorrow for more gift ideas . . .