Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark

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Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark, Say What? Yes. It's happening.

Can I (Emily, here!) get a woot woot for easy, fast, and absolutely amazing recipes? This bark is going to make you want to do the happy dance. No lies. I included it in the Halloween Recipe series because a) cravings hit when handing out candy to trick-or-treaters so better entertain your tastebuds with something fabulous, b) if you're going to a party - read: not a frat party - and want something sweet & savory to bring along that's not the norm, these are perfect, and c) I'm eating this during Halloween time, and therefore it belongs in the Halloween Recipe series. Plus, if you've ever had chocolate spiders or haystacks, these taste like the deconstructed version (with an addition of popcorn of course, because really, why not?).

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This recipe brings all of the Great Vibes because it's ...

5 ingredients
ready to eat in under 30 minutes
sweet
savory
crunchy
rich
decadent
versatile

Why love bark? Sometimes yumminess doesn't have to be complicated. Chocolate bark as a base sets you up for recipe success every time. Think of the options: nuts & seeds, dried fruit, other types of chocolate, peppermint for the holidays, etc.

Ingredients & steps after the jump ... 

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Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark

Ingredients ::

+ Pretzels (gf, v)
+ Popcorn (homemade with olive oil)
+ Peanut Butter (unsalted, organic)
+ 1 bag of Chocolate Chips (gf, v)
+ Salt (Pink Himalayan Sea Salt) 

Recipe ::

  1. Make popcorn - follow instructions on the bag or microwave 2 tbsp - 1/4 cup organic popcorn kernels with 1 tbsp olive oil in a glass container with vented lid until it is more than 5 seconds between popping (about 4-5 minutes, depends on microwave; you can also do this on the stove).

  2. Melt chocolate in a bowl, in a double broiler or microwaving on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until all of the chips have melted.

  3. Spread melted chocolate evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon mat.

  4. Cover with crushed pretzels & popcorn.

  5. Drizzle with peanut butter.

  6. Place in refrigerator or freezer to harden.

  7. Break into pieces, and enjoy! Xx.

Notes::

Stores well in the refrigerator or freezer. Will be more melty in a warm room.

Notice in my ingredients where I've written organic and where I've written vegan. If these things are important to you, I encourage you to do the same. Finances, availability, and personal consumer choice can impact purchase decisions. My hope is that you closely follow the recipe, but make allowances where necessary -- my feelings won't be hurt and your taste buds will still have a party. Promise!

+ What are your favorite bark toppings?

P.S. Use the hashtag #thegreatvibesguide for anything that makes you feel like doing the happy dance or expressing your imperfectly perfect self.

P.S.S. Did you know you get a free Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

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It's going to be Halloween in 17 days (!!!!!!!)! If you can't tell, I'm (Emily, here!) beyond excited. Not only is Halloween my favorite holiday, but it's also the eve of my birthday ... and this birthday is a big deal. Woot woot! Since my sugar detox a few weeks ago, I've been introducing sugar back into my diet. I'm fortunate enough to have access to natural sweeteners and fruits, so I've been consuming sugar, all natural to processed, about 90/10 (I have no way to prove this, so I'm just estimating here ... remember what we said about being Superwoman). It's been amazing to see the large effects on my mental state even in small doses. Not seeing how sugar affects your body? I've got you covered.

But let's get back to Halloween. Here's the thing...

I don't believe in Halloween without candy.

I just don't.

It seems cruel to the tastebuds - and the soul - not to drop some sweetness on there in the months leadingup to the beloved holiday season. I've written before on my feelings of foods called "cheats" -- ugh what a hard way to live life -- so today's recipe comes from a place of Good Vibe-ing TREATS! They said trick or treat, and I'd much rather have a yummy-in-my-tummy treat than deception, thank you very much ;) .

Peanut butter cups are beyond nostalgic for me; the amount I've eaten is a testament to the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate being a winning one. I've plans to turn them on their heads over the next several months, but for now, we begin with the base recipe.

This recipe brings all of the Great Vibes because it's ...

less than 5 ingredients
easy peasy to make
features the classic pb & chocolate combo
rich
chocolatey
sweet
filling

The best part is it's functionality. Don't have a full bag of chocolate chips? Melt what you have and adjust the number you make. Not into using the microwave? Use a double broiler to melt your chocolate. Not a fan of or allergic to peanuts? Swap it out for any other nut butter or coconut butter if allergic to all. Not supposed to or don't want to eat sugar? Leave it out. Yes, there will be differences in flavors or consistency with some of the above changes, but I promise you won't be sacrificing the Great Vibes with those changes.

Notice in my ingredients where I've written organic and where I've written vegan. If these things are important to you, I encourage you to do the same. Finances, availability, and personal consumer choice can impact purchase decisions. My hope is that you closely follow the recipe, but make allowances where necessary -- my feelings won't be hurt and your tastebuds will still have a party. Promise!

What is it we love so much about this recipe? Chocolate is good for the soul, and if it's high quality chocolate, can pack a punch in regards to antioxidants and illness fighting power. Peanuts can get a bad rep, but they are high in protein, stocked with Vitamin E and B6, help you lose weight, and loaded with heart-healthy, waist-line-friendly, monounsaturated fats. Don't fear fats, babes. It's not the 80s. Here at The Great Vibes Guide, we choose all natural pb (aka nothing in it but peanuts) to maximize the bennies and yum factor. If you're using sea salt at the end, get ready for the blissful joy that is balancing pH levels, stabilizing blood sugar, getting a complex, sweet flavor, as well as getting a healthy dose of sodium - which is a necessary mineral for sustaining life.

Ingredients & steps after the jump ... 

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
the below amounts are estimates, adjust where necessary

Ingredients ::

+ 1 bag Chocolate Chips (vegan, gf)
+ 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (made only of peanuts, no extras)
+ 1/2 cup + Powdered Sugar (vegan)
+ Optional: Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Recipe ::

  1. Pour about half of the chocolate chips into a microwavable bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until all of the chips have melted.

  2. Place about 1/4 cup of peanut butter into a bowl.

  3. Add powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time to the peanut butter, stirring until the peanut butter can be rolled between your fingers and is no longer runny (like the inside of a store-bought peanut butter cup).

  4. Line a mini muffin tin with cupcake liners.

  5. Pour chocolate onto the liner until the bottom is completely covered.

  6. Scoop a heaping teaspoon (and more if desired) of the peanut butter mixture onto the chocolate base.

  7. Repeat step 1 if running low on chocolate.

  8. Completely cover peanut butter with chocolate.

  9. Sparingly crack salt, if using, over the still slightly melted tops.

  10. Place into refrigerator (or freezer, if you're impatient like me) to set.

  11. Pull from the refrigerator once set -- your finger no longer gets covered in chocolate when you touch the top.

  12. Grab one, tear off the wrapper, pop in mouth, and enjoy! Xx.

  13. Keeps well in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer.

+ what's your favorite Halloween candy? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook, and we just might make it for a feature :)

P.S. While you're curious about all things Great Vibes, I invite you to use the hashtag #thegreatvibesguide for anything that makes you feel like doing the happy dance or expressing your imperfectly perfect selves.

P.S.S. Did you know if you sign up for the newsletter you get a free Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable of the dirty dozen and clean fifteen? Yeah ... we're going there.

P.S.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?