Chocolate Thin Mints Candies

I love these. I love to have one after a meal, or just a snack. I think they are pretty low in fat and calories and pack a lot of punch. I will never buy them again because I have spent a fortune on a package and can make them so cheaply.

1 box of icing sugar/powdered sugar

2 or 3 tsp peppermint extract

2 or 3 tbls water

70% 0r higher dark Chocolate.

Put most of the sugar in a bowl, hold a bit back if you are going to roll them flat. Add the peppermint and the water. mix.  It will become like a lightly sticky dough. Think of making bread dough. If you need to add more water then do so. If its to messy and sticky add more sugar.  You will see the consistency start to come together.

When its mix you can put more icing sugar on a board or counter and then roll flat (just like a dough) then use a cookie cuter, small glass or what not and cut out piece. Or you just make them into little balls and either press flat or just leave in a small ball shape  (or drop shape even) Place on a greaseproof sheet/wax paper. Let sit for a few hours to dry (turn over to dry both sides ) or better yet, leave over night.

In a dutch oven or easier yet, in a measuring cup melt the chocolate. Put the measuring cup in the microwave on medium and melt slowly.  Pour a thin layer of the chocolate over the mint.  I either spoon it on, let it dry, flip it and put it another layer on the back, or if you have balls, drop them in and roll them around and leave them to dry.

Once they are dry you can store them in an air tight container. That easy.

Natasha’s Banana Bread.

A friend gave me this recipe. I doubt she would mind my sharing it.

Banana Bread.  ( This is more like a cake. But its an American treat. Eaten with a cup of coffee for a snack. )

Preheat oven to 350f. ( In the UK I use around 180c with a fan assist oven)

In a food processor or mixer add

3 large bananas  ( I have added more)

1cup sugar   Blend the two well

Add in 1/2 cup butter and  2 eggs  mix some more

Then add 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), 1/2 tsp salt

mix really well. It will be thick

Add in 1 tsp vanilla extract. and/or almond extract.  (please don’t ever buy vanilla flavouring. Its crap. Cheap. You get what you pay for)

Mix again until well blended.

Then take your baking pan. Loaf pan (probably 2 of them) or a cake pan and pour it in.

a  5″ x 9″x 3″ loaf should take an hour to an hour and a quarter depending on your oven. I use a cake pan and it takes about 35 mins.

The thing with baking is knowing your oven. Mine seems to run hot. I usually turn in a bit lower. I also check it earlier then it states on a recipe. To check it to see if its done take a tooth pick (cocktail stick) or a clean knife and if it pulls out clean its done. It should be golden brown.