My favourite holiday treat for the last few years has been candy cane peppermint bark. Costco makes a really good version, but you can buy it from basically any bakery or chocolate shop, or prepackaged in many stores. It is made from white and milk chocolate, mixed with peppermint extract and candy cane chunks, hardened in thin layers and then broken into smaller pieces. It’s so simple and so delicious. It’s a holiday staple.
Unfortunately, it’s also full of refined sugars that are bad for your skin, teeth, and digestive functioning, among other things. I believe in moderation, and that unhealthy treats are okay once in a while, especially around the holidays. But I like candy cane peppermint bark. A lot. I often want to eat the whole box of it. That means I needed a healthier version of this delightful treat that is guilt-free. After a couple of tries, I nailed what I think is a tasty, better-for-you recipe for candy cane peppermint bark. It still features chocolate and the distinct peppermint favour– keep reading to learn how to make it yourself!
You’ll need plain (or vanilla if you don’t mind the added sugars) greek yogurt or cultured coconut. I went for greek yogurt since it’s more affordable and easier to find in Newfoundland. You’ll also need peppermint/mint extract, pure maple syrup, dark chocolate, and pomegranate seeds.
Start by melting down the chocolate in a double boiler (this will keep it from burning on). Meanwhile, combine 3 cups of yogurt with 1/3 of a cup of maple syrup, stirring until smooth.
Add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract to the yogurt mixture, 1/4 teaspoon to the chocolate, and toss 1/4 teaspoon with the pomegranate seeds.
Next, spread out the yogurt mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Drizzle on the chocolate and, if you want to, mix it through. Top it with as many pomegranate seeds as you like, pressing them down into the yogurt with your fingers or the back of a spoon. Place the tray in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.
And there you have it! Of course, this recipe doesn’t taste exactly like traditional candy cane bark, but I really like it. It’s light, sweet, and the pomegranate seeds add a level of freshness. It doesn’t leave you feeling icky and bloated after you’ve eaten some. I like this replacement for a classic Christmas treat, and I hope you do too! Let us know if you make some yourself and send us your photos on Instagram or Facebook, @twowildtides.
Happy holidays,
char
Tibbs Eve– As far as I know, Newfoundland and Labrador is the only place in the world that celebrates Tibbs Eve, and trust me, we celebrate. We celebrate hard. The word ‘Tibbs’ evolved from the word ‘tipsy’, yes, as in drunk. Basically, us Newfoundlanders and Labradorians love to get drunk on Christmas Eve Eve, because its the time we all get together as friends before the family-devoted days of Christmas. Tibbs Eve is generally not a formal event, it’s a night at the bar (or in the shed) so the dress code is pretty casual.
Christmas Day– after the shenanigans of Tibbs Eve (and the potential Christmas Eve hangover) its time for a day of laughter with family and delicious food. My family usually goes to my grandparents’ house for Christmas dinner and we like to dress up and act classy before we stuff our faces with turkey.
Boxing Night– you might want to be fancy, but you’ve got to stay warm too. Pair a pretty dress with a cute and cozy coat. Of course I needed another excuse to wear my teddy bear coat!
New Year’s Eve– most people go to formal parties for NYE. My friends and I prefer to ring in the new year at the cabin. I love that we just sit around, chat about the year gone by, and celebrate as the clock strikes 12. It’s laidback and relaxed, so lowkey attire is the go-to. Jeans, Blundstones, cozy socks and a scarf, plus the 
The day started with chugging a tall glass of water. Which was great, as I was feeling a touch hungover. Then I drank another glass of water, this time with lemon and ginger. I never knew there was such an easy way to juice fresh ginger, just grate the ginger and then squeeze the juice out of the pulp with your fingers. It was so easy! I expected it to be gross, but it tasted so good and really woke me up (hangover=gone). I’ll be drinking this most mornings from now on!
For breakfast, Nicole had chia seed pudding with mango-lime puree, topped with banana and granola. I’ve made chia seed pudding many times, but never with coconut milk. The coconut milk made the pudding set much faster than almond milk, which is what I normally use, so breakfast was ready in 30 minutes rather than having to prepare it the night before. The mango-lime puree was simple and delicious. Overall this was a tasty, filling, and healthy breakfast that energized me for the whole day.
I was pretty excited about lunch. The 
Throughout the afternoon, I got lots more work done and sipped more herbal tea. I’m a big green tea drinker anyway, so having this much tea wasn’t anything new for me. I finally dug into the aromatic muffins I made in the morning and they were scrumptious. You’d never guess they are healthy! I was even told, “they’re the best muffins you’ve ever made.” Thanks, Nicole– I’ll be saving this recipe to use again and again! Like her, I may or may not have eaten three.
I’m someone who enjoys cooking but has trouble coming up with creative meal ideas, so learning a new recipe for supper was awesome. This twist on a Nicoise salad with chicken and a soft boiled egg was really tasty and made for a balanced meal. I’ve always had trouble getting soft boiled eggs right (who likes runny egg whites? Yuck!) and Nicole’s directions helped me nail it– a soft centre with perfectly cooked whites. The chicken, potatoes, and green beans were tasty too.
