Chocolate Raisin Nut Clusters

March 24: National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day

This blog post is dedicated to our New Jersey friend Gary B. who, whenever we went out with him and his wife to dinner and a movie, would get a bucket of buttered popcorn and a box of chocolate-covered raisins to eat—even if he already had a big meal. His habit of combining popcorn and Raisinets has influenced us, as we now like to eat something sweet with our salty snacks.

We no longer live in the Garden State but still watch a matinee in the local theaters once in a while and eat popcorn and candy. On some Saturday evenings, we laze around the house and watch videos and also eat microwaved popcorn with a side of homemade chocolate raisin nut clusters. They are an amped-up version of Gary’s favorite movie theater treat.

Our double-dating days with our friends may be over because of the distance now. But Gary can still enjoy this easy recipe with his family in their huge home theater. And we can all treat ourselves to chocolate raisin nut clusters on National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day!

Recipe

(Adapted from Food Network)

Ingredients

• 8 ounces chocolate, dark or milk, melted
• ½ cup peanuts, unsalted
• ½ cup raisins

Directions

Line a cookie pan with waxed paper. Set aside. In a large bowl, melt the chocolate (over a double boiler or in the microwave according to the directions on the package). Stir until smooth. Add the peanuts.

Stir in the raisins and coat everything well. Use a small scoop to drop a cluster on the prepared pan, leaving ample space between each candy. Refrigerate to set until firm. Peel the clusters from the waxed paper. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

• This is a very versatile recipe. Exchange the peanuts for pistachios, macadamias, cashews, etc. Use golden raisins or dried cranberries.
• Instead of dropping clusters on waxed paper, spoon them into mini cupcake or candy papers for an elegant presentation.

Baguette

March 21: National French Bread Day

We celebrated Highlander’s birthday while touring Paris, France, many years ago. Before heading out of our hotel to go sightseeing, we ate croissants, brioches and other breads for breakfast. But our favorite was the classic baguette, a long loaf of French bread with a crusty exterior, which was served with many meals at the cafes and restaurants throughout the day. It tasted so delicious, especially when smothered with creamy French butter!

We still like to buy baguettes and fresh artisan breads at the local grocery store’s gourmet bake shop. But for our blog, we decided to try the “dough only” cycle on our bread machine and bake baguettes in our own oven because Islander has an old form pan that she wanted to use (both our bread machine and the form pan were acquired in our newlywed year).

Whether starting from scratch or taking a shortcut with a bread machine, try baking a baguette for National French Bread Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Oster)

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• 1 teaspoon softened butter (or margarine)
• 2 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ teaspoons regular active dry/bread machine/quick-acting active dry yeast

Directions

In the container of the bread machine, place the water, butter or margarine, flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Set the machine to “French” and “dough only” cycles. Press start and wait until the cycle is complete.

Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into two or three balls. Place the balls in well-greased bowls or pans that are large enough for the dough to rise. Cover with a damp cloth or greased plastic wrap.

Put the dough in a warm, draft-free place, such as an oven. Let them rise until doubled in size (about 1-2 hours). Remove from the pans and roll out to form a long loaf shape. Sprinkle corn meal on a greased French bread form pan or baking sheet. Lay the dough on the pan/baking sheet, cover with a damp cloth or greased plastic wrap and return to the oven. Let them rise again until doubled in size (about another hour). Remove from the oven. Meanwhile, preheat it to 375 degrees F.

Brush a little milk on top. Cut diagonal slits on top of the dough. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven. Cool slightly before slicing.

Notes

• We bought our baguette form pan from Wilton before the item was discontinued. However, Amazon.com sells a variety of French bread pans.
• Search our blog for other Franco-inspired food recipes.

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

Mid-March: National Corn Dog Day

March Madness is upon us! Spring into action and make mini corn dog muffins for watching all those basketball games on TV. They are just as easy to pop into the oven as well as pop into your mouth for a “slam dunk” snack.

According to Wikipedia, “National Corn Dog Day is a celebration concerning basketball, the corn dog (usually a hot dog sausage coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter), Tater Tots and American beer that occurs in March of every year on the first Saturday of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship” (usually in mid-March).

Make some mini corn dog muffins for March Madness basketball game days and on National Corn Dog Day.

Recipe

• 1 box Jiffy brand corn muffin mix
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• hot dogs

Directions

Generously spray or grease a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. In a bowl, combine the corn muffin mix, egg and milk. Beat until the batter is smooth. Scoop into the wells of the pan no more than halfway or the batter will engulf the hot dog pieces.

Slice the hot dogs into ¾ – 1 inch pieces. Place in the middle of the corn muffin batter in the pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven. Let cool in the pan for another 10 minutes before removing them (run a toothpick around the edges to loosen, if necessary). Yield: Approximately 2 ½ dozen.

Notes

• We used Eckrich brand bacon and cheddar flavor smoked sausage. We like the taste and they conveniently come in a six pack, which is enough to make for this recipe. Slice them into 4 or 5 pieces.
• Try our tater tots wrapped in bacon recipe to go with the mini corn dog muffins for a full March Madness meal.
• See more recipes for something similar: UK and USA Pigs-in-a-Blanket for National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day on April 24 and Coney Island Hot Dogs and Chicago Hot Dogs for National Hot Dog Day on July 20.