Food & Recipes

This post is in partnership with Teasia Tea, however, as always opinions are 100% my own.

Teasia Teas

If you have followed me very long at all you know that I collect coffee cups. It started when I was traveling a lot and just sort of morphed into collecting mugs. While most of them are associated with a trip, some of them have been gifted to me by friends, family members, and of course partnering with some of my favorite brands. But today we are going to be talking about what’s been filling my cups daily, which is of course TeasiaTeas. Don’t let the name fool you, because they have coffee too!

Their coffee comes from different regions, which allows you to pick different flavors to try. There are eight varieties from Africa and one of them is from Kenya AA which is one I received. Kenya AA is a full body and rich, strong flavor with a pleasant acidity. Fragrant floral aroma with a winey finish and berry and citrus overtones. Which makes for the perfect cup of afternoon coffee for this house!

Another Africa Coffee that I received was the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe which is known as some of the highest quality Arabica coffee beans in the world. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe has a high-quality unique fragrance and distinctive flavor with bright acidity with an exotic flavor of spice and herbs and clear floral notes.

Asia Region

Their Asian Region has 6 flavors to choose from including: Bali Blue Moon, Indian Monsooned Malabar, Papua New Guinea, Timor, Sulawesi Toraja, Sumatra Mandeheling, and Yemen Mocca Sanani.

Central America Region includes 3 blends Panama Boquette, Honduras, and Nicaragua Segovia.

South American Region

Their South American Region includes 7 coffee varieties including: Brazil Fazenda, Colombia Huila, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala Antiqua, Mexican Chiapas, and Peru Decaf. I received a bag of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe which is grown at high altitudes in rich volcanic soil in the Antigua district of Guatemala, these beans are distinguishable by its medium body and subtle milk chocolate undertones. This one was my favorite of the three coffees I tried, but they were all delicious.

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About Teasia Tea & Coffee

At Teasia, we strive to work with our suppliers to promote both coffee and teas of the highest standards.

We roast all our beans in small batches using the most advanced (and environmentally friendly) technology available to develop the unique characteristics and flavor profiles of each coffee bean. Our Artisanal Roaster takes his time, which includes hours of coffee tasting, to develop the target taste profiles for each single-origin bean that we offer. The final result is are small batches of carefully roasted coffee beans that are always smooth and never bitter. All freshly roasted beans are then packed and sealed within the next couple days to ensure maximum freshness and quality.

Get social with Teasia Teas!

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This post is in partnership with Power AirFryer Ovens, however, as always opinions are 100% my own.

Deceiving Thoughts About Power AirFryer Ovens

If you are anything like us, before using an Air Fryer of any kind we just knew that the food would be tough and dry. We expected the food to be bland, boring, and more like shoe leather, than anything juicy. But, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, after trying french fries cooked in the Air Fryer, I was hooked.

First Thoughts can be Deceiving

As you can imagine after being hooked with Air Frying, when I had the chance to check out the Power AirFryer Oven, I knew it had to be a life-changer. Cooking in the Summertime is hard, because of the hot humid weather we have here in Missouri. By the time we get home from work, figure out what we want to eat the last thing we want to do ever is deep fry something, or heaven forbid the oven comes on. Since January we have been working on eating healthier and changing our lifestyle so that way we are around for our new grandbaby that will be here sometime in November. So one of the things we have done is kicked processed foods out the door, while we do have cheat days, for the most part, we stay away from processed foods.

We have ditched the oil and have been using an air fryer for several months that I purchased, but I had one complaint. I could only cook one thing in that air fryer and with the Power AirFryer Oven we can cook more than one thing and supper is on the table in generally under 30 minutes. Not only saving time but also money by cutting down on electricity usage as well as cooling costs.

Save More Money

Another added bonus by purchasing a Power AirFryer Oven is that in the 7-in-1 Power AirFryer Oven you can do the following:

• air fry
• bake
• sauté
• grill
• roast
• dehydrate
• rotisserie (which doubles as a place that you can cook skewers on)

Just And be careful when you unpack your box, game changer in your kitchen of your Power AirFryer Oven (I might be speaking from experience on that one!)

Great features of the Power AirFryer Oven

The cord is 3 feet 8 inches (44″) long which allows me to use it on top of the cabinets and move it around depending on what else I’m doing in the kitchen.

The Rotating Rotisserie Spit and the oil drip tray are perfect for tender, juicy results every single time. My only complaint is that a whole chicken is too big for the both of us, so we have to plan meals around leftovers. Which is really a good problem to have right?

Get Cooking with Litehouse Foods

I partnered with Litehouse Foods back when I brought you the BBQ Food Lovers Guide, and fell in love with their products. But I had mentioned that I wanted to try all of their herbs, so they sent me a collection of their herbs to try out. I will say, that I am hooked and wanted to give you a little bit of backstory as to how this partnership came to be. Since there are only two of us in our house now, we don’t have to cook nearly as much as we used too. But we cook at least one meal a day and I was thrilled when Litehouse Foods decided to send me their Herb Kit. So I got to planning out my idea, and asked for Brady’s help.

Just look at the freshness of those spices, and with such a wide variety I was able to purge all of my older spices. Did you know that most herbs/spices expire in just 2-4 years and I had some as old as 2011 in my cabinet. (YIKES!) But for the record the picture I am about to show you was still “Good” as far as terms of being expired. So my question to you is which would you rather eat?

After having Litehouse Herbs in my cabinet for almost a month, I can tell you that I prefer Litehouse over any other brands because they are Easy to Use, Gluten free, have no preservatives, and are Non-GMO but best of all they taste amazing. Now, back to my cabinet redo. 🙂 We made a stair-step shelf using pieces of boards that Brady had from other projects. Then we spray painted it white, and placed it into the cabinet. It cost a total of $1 (for the spray paint) and looks amazing! But best of all is that I can actually see the spices and pick them up easily while cooking.

One of the first spices I tried was their Guacamole Herb & Spice Blend and let me tell you I won’t ever make guacamole any other way. It has the perfect amounts of red onions, cilantro, lemon peel, tomatoes, red chili, garlic and of course cumin and they are all freeze dried so they taste great. One bottle of Litehouse Guacamole Herb & Spice Blend makes 4 batches of guacamole and you only have to add 2 avocados, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3 tsp. fresh lime juice and 1/4 cup of the Guacamole Herb & Spice Blend. Mix and serve with chips or include it in your taco night.

Now to round out this wonderful partnership, I wanted to be sure that you knew about the Raise the Salad Bar Promotion.

• Contest: Join Litehouse, Fresh Express and NatureSweet tomatoes in our mission to Raise the Salad Bar! Enter to win a year’s worth of salad and $100 worth of salad prep swag.
• Recipes: Top quality ingredients for a top shelf salad – check out these delicious recipes for inspiration!
• Promotion: Greens, tomatoes and dressing are essential ingredients for any top shelf salad. Purchase any two Fresh Express Blends, Litehouse 13 oz. spoonable refrigerated salad dressings, and NatureSweet 10.5 oz. Cherubs® Tomatoes 2/$5 or 2/$6 at grocery stores nationwide (May 9-22, 2018)
• In-Store Availability:All three brands can be found in the produce department, with Litehouse dressings and Fresh Express packaged salads found in the refrigerated produce department.

I received an Anova Precision Cooker in order to try it in my kitchen, however, all opinions are 100% my own.

Cooking with the Anova Precision Cooker

Cooking is a vital part of the human life. We have to eat, right? Introducing the Anova. This is a culinary tool that every person needs in their kitchen. According to them “it’s all about precision.” Say hello to easier cooking in your life!

Technology

The really cool thing about the Anova is that it is very tech savvy. Really? YES! In fact, the Anova has its own Android and iOS apps. It can connect to WiFI and Bluetooth. These features make the Anova a dream to work with in the kitchen. If you’ve never used an app to help you cook before, you’re in for a real treat.

Sous Vide

This is a technique of cooking that can make your food amazing. Using the Anova, you can use the Sous Vide technique and create amazing food right in your kitchen. This technique of cooking makes your food flavorful and very juicy. Essentially, when you’re cooking Sous Vide, you place the food in a sealable bag and cook in a water bath. While I’m new to this way of cooking, I found it pretty refreshing and quite easy. I’m already busy, but this makes my life super easy.

Down to Business

Now, down to the business of how the Anova works. It works with any pot, which is awesome. You can attach the Precision Cooker to any pot or any size. You set the temp and time in the app. Of course, you also follow the simple interface of the Precision Cooker. Soon enough you’ll have food perfected to your level of doneness.

Finally, you don’t have to overcook your food on accident. The Precision Cooker from Anova allows you to ccook everything perfectly. It gets done, just like you like it, every time.

* I partnered with Blackstone to bring you this post, however, as always opinions are 100% my own.

BBQ Essentials from Blackstone

Summer is almost upon us and that means lots of us are firing up the grills, griddles and smokers instead of heating up the house. With the Memorial Day being right around the corner, it is time to get your BBQ Essentials in order so you will be ready for your big cookout.

Why a griddle you ask?

Simple, The Blackstone 17″ Table Top Griddle station is compact and convenient.

It is perfect for cooking burgers, hot dogs, steaks, stir fry, sautéing mushrooms and onions, bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, and so much more. The “H” style burner provides even heat distribution for optimal cooking across the whole griddle.

Easy Clean up!

Simply wipe it off with a paper towel after use and be ready for the next meal! The Blackstone 17” Tabletop Griddle is perfect to take to any event or occasion or using at home, no matter what you are grilling the griddle is the perfect addition to any BBQ Lovers Kitchen.

Must Have Blackstone Products

Don’t forget to check out their Professional Grade Tool Kit to accompany your griddle. It includes 2 Squeeze Bottles, 2 Metal Spatulas, 1 Chopper/Scrapper and 1 Griddle Cookbook that includes lots of yummy recipes for you to try on your new Blackstone Griddle. Preparing food will be a piece of cake with these tools and it will also help your keep your grill in tip top shape!

Pick up a griddle cover as well so your griddle isn’t out in the elements, and because it is a cover and carry it will make transporting your new griddle even easier. Plus, it will be protected from rust and other damaging environmental issues when not in use.

Now that Brady has a Blackstone Product, he is planning his outdoor kitchen area and wants to include a few more of their products. Blackstone has a wide variety of products available including a full size griddle in a variety of sizes, a tailgating griddle (that includes a grill) and of course the tabletop griddle. No matter what product you go with, Blackstone will help you bring your love of food, family and outdoor fun together as one.

Be sure to get social with Blackstone too! #BlackstoneGriddle

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Brady finally got to get his @blackstoneproducts griddle out of the box. Tomorrow I get the treat of #bbq, someone forgot to lay out the steak for tonight. Oops, but the plus side is that he had the chance to season it, so it will be like cooking on #castiron #ad #foodie

A post shared by Heidi Spears-Gray (@lifewithheidig) on Apr 17, 2018 at 4:37pm PDT

BBQ Lovers Gift Guide

Spring is just right around the corner and here at the LWH (Life with Heidi) household we are gearing up for more outside time as well as spending time with family and friends. Being empty nesters means we have more spare time than we used to and finding the extra money to do things we have always wanted to do is becoming a priority. While we don’t love where we currently live, it does provide a roof over our heads. So instead of hating things, we are taking the time to fix up things that we do love. Our first project is something for Brady who LOVES to BBQ and smoke foods year around but especially in the Spring and Summer. So I partnered up with a few of my favorite brands and we are talking about all things BBQ.

Kitchen Tongs

The first necessity of manning any grill, smoker, fryer or anything in between is a good pair of kitchen tongs. But not just one pair, go for a set I promise your BBQ King will thank you for it! We picked these ergonomically designed kitchen tongs that are specifically crafted to relieve stress on the hands and promote joint health. They are incredibly comfortable and simple to use and the silicone tips will ensure that you’ll be able to cook with a newfound confidence on the grill! They even have a 5 Star Rating on Amazon but what is even better is that the company Integrity Chef gives back every time a product is sold. They donate to cure one child in a third world country such as Ghana to help save them from waterborne parasites and give them a healthy future! Every Integrity Chef purchase DRAMATICALLY changes the course of a precious child’s life and we’re proud to give back to these communities on our customers’ behalf!

Blackstone Products

When it comes time to BBQ we all know that the grill is one of the best products to have, but the outdoor griddle from Blackstone has been on Brady’s want list for a long time. Blackstone are the experts when it comes to outdoor griddles and they allow you to have foods like stir fry, cheesesteaks and even breakfast foods ready whether you are camping, tailgating, or even hosting a BBQ in your back yard. The Griddle is a flat heated surface that is used for cooking and it is easy to clean making it the perfect addition to our BBQ Lovers Guide. The Blackstone 17” Table Top Griddle is Compact and convenient and perfect to take on the go. With 268 square inches of griddle cooking surface, the “H” style burner provides even heat distribution. Simply wipe the Blackstone 17” Table Top Griddle with a paper towel after use and be ready for the next meal. But you should pick up the Professional Griddle Accessory Toolkit too because it has everything you need to help you keep your griddle looking it’s best.

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6 QT. Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker

Now, I know you are all thinking, wait a minute I thought she said BBQ Lovers. I did. But sometimes Mother Nature decided to have a fit here in Missouri and the weather turns out not so hot for a BBQ. But this 6 QT. Programmable Cook and Carry Slow CookerCrock-Pot®  is a must-have in any Indoor or Outdoor BBQ Cook’s Kitchen. Why? Because this beauty is the perfect way to take your slow-cooked meals on the road making spilled food a thing of the past. The on-the-go hinged locking lids and carrying handles allow you to travel with food a breeze and you can kick those pesky plastic containers to the curb. But I think my favorite part is the removable oval stoneware that can double as a serving dish. It even has an automatic feature that switches to warm after the food has completed its cook-time. Winning! Bring on the slow cooked ribs, while I prefer them on the smoker, the next best thing is walking in and having dinner on the table in a matter of minutes.

Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick 11 inch Square Grillpan

The  Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick 11 inch Square Grillpan is another must have for a BBQ food lover like Brady. It allows you to cook on a “grill” indoors without having another special machine cluttering up your kitchen cabinets. (You know the one I’m talking about!) But we will talk more about that one later, one of the reasons you should pick this one up is because it is dishwasher safe*, made of heavy-gauge aluminum construction which allows you to get an even heat and it is hard-anodized for durability. Did I mention it was nonstick? it has three layers of nonstick coating two layers provide durability while the final layer offers an easy release of your food. You can even place it in the oven for finishing off your dishes and it comes with Calphalon’s full lifetime warranty.  *It is recommended that you hand wash it and use nylon, wooden, or plastic safe utensils.

Eatsmart Precision Elite Food Thermometer

Brady swears by using a thermometer for checking his meats although he can usually tell you whether it is done or not just by looking at the meat. But the Precision Pro Thermometer takes the guesswork out of it for even the best BBQ Chefs. EatSmart is a household staple in our house because they have innovative kitchenware and each piece is affordable. The EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Food Thermometer allows users to easily grill or roast food to just the right internal temperature. Cooking foods to proper temperatures destroys any harmful bacteria, cutting down on foodborne illnesses and ensures enjoyable meals that have been cooked to perfection. Designed for professional and home cook alike, the Precision Pro Food Thermometer is a “must-have” for  BBQ-ing.

It even includes a built-in temperature guide on splash-sproof casing, measures temperatures from  -40F – 450F in Celsius or Fahrenheit with a resolution of 0.1-degree F. The Illuminated blue blacklit LCD display makes it easy to read and batteries are included. Pick up yours from Amazon today!

Litehouse Foods

With BBQing comes lots of yummy food and I for one enjoy a good salad with almost any meat Brady decided to grill. But one of my all-time favorite brands to keep on hand is the Litehouse Foods because they have amazing products but the taste out of this world. I’m extremely fond of their freeze-dried herbs which allows me to season my food without a lot of extra additives or preservatives. We always have Garlic, Dill, Basil, and Cilantro on hand, but I just added the Guacamole & Spring Onion to the list. Honestly, I would love to add their whole line to my spice cabinet eventually! But the other things that I keep on hand is their Cole-Slaw dressing because it has just the perfect amount of tangy vs. sweet.

 

Bella Sun Luci

Bella Sun Luci brings international flair to any table with their three marinades. We have enjoyed having the Sun Dried tomatoes on hand for Italian meals but eh the Marinades will soon be put to good use on some outside grilling inspired menus we have planned. They even included a container of Cucina Italiano Risotto with Sun Dried Tomatoes that will be perfect with our steaks, chicken, or even pork. Whether BBQing outside, baking, broiling, or frying your meat inside these three unique flavors will have you and your guests begging for more of these delicious flavors. I found a few of these yummy products in our local grocery store in the produce section, so keep your eyes peeled because they are a must have for all of your BBQ needs and beyond.

Capresso Iced Tea Maker

A BBQ isn’t a bbq without something cold to drink and with the help of the Capresso Iced Tea Maker– we have iced tea ready in no time at all. You can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, or you can make it just in time and serve it as soon as it is done brewing. I love that it is a gorgeous design and you can brew a refreshing pitcher of iced tea at the touch of a button. Then, you can serve iced tea can be served and stored in the beautiful glass pitcher. When we get our outside grilling area done, this is one of the appliances that will live in our outdoor kitchen. But in the meantime it is a kitchen appliance that I use everyday.

Stuart & Co. has some amazing rubs and BBQ Sauce that EVERY BBQ lover needs to try. While we haven’t been able to try all of the deliciousness that was delivered, we have enjoyed a few meals with the BBQ Sauce on the side ex. wings. Brady absolutely fell in love with the Bitchin’ BBQ sauce from Stuart & Co and I preferred the Cherry Bomb BBQ Sauce. But I can’t wait for the ribs to be served up this summer because with the Smokey’s house Spice blend they are sure to be out of this world delicious. Stuart & Co has lots of yummy things to include at your next BBQ including beef jerky, potato chips and of course these one of a kind flavors. Michael the founder of Stuart & Co has done an out of this world job creating wonderful products that take your BBQ skills to the next level. All products are available for purchase through EatLoveGive.com. A portion of all our proceeds are donated to a different charity every month, so you know you’re shopping for a good cause. Which makes the deal even sweeter, try them all, I promise you will love them!

Cookbooks

If your house is anything like mine having a new idea for the old stand-bys is a must. That is why I loved the Texas BBQ that included Platefuls of legendary flavor that you can get only in Texas until now. The South’s Best Butts is Brady’s favorite because cooking pork butts is one of his favorite things ever to BBQ. Both are patiently waiting for Mother Nature to let Spring finally arrive so we can break out the work gloves and get our BBQ area ready for the spring. But there is a bit of a “travel” things included so I’m boycotting for a southern BBQ Vacation this summer. I loved that they are both under $20 which makes them budget friendly and allows you to give one to a friend and keep one for yourself.

Maverick Industries

One can never have to many gadgets and thermometers for BBQing, just ask Brady who is now up to about 10 thermometers. Maverick Industries has several to choose from but his favorite as of right now is the Pocket Knife Thermocouple Thermometer + 3 tools. It is new to the market and in Brady’s words, “It has all the tools you will ever need.”

Four Roses Bourbon has been in the making since 1888 and has a crisp taste that is perfect for making your favorite BBQ sauce with. While I’m not an expert in the kitchen or at the grill Brady has me covered and he has some great recipes planned out to help us bring in the Spring/Summer if the weather here in Missouri would cooperate. It has a soft and smooth finish which makes it perfect for mixing in for your favorite cocktail. I even have a few recipe ideas in the works to make our first BBQ of the season go off without a hitch.

Char-Broil Great Book of Grilling

Char-Broil, one of the oldest grill brands in North America, has collaborated with Pennsylvania publisher Fox Chapel Publishing on a new cookbook and how-to guide for those who loves preparing meals in the great outdoors. Driven by tradition and six generations of family ownership, the Char-Broil team has packed Great Book of Grilling: 300 Tasty Recipes for Every Meal with hundreds of easy-to-follow grill recipes that will have family and friends licking their fingers. With over 300 recipes I’m ready for Mother Nature to allow us some Spring Weather so we can bust out the Grill, Griddle & seasonings to create the perfect meal!

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Ingredients 

egg shaped marshmallows (I found mine at Aldi)

12 oz Wilton light or dark chocolate candy melts

lollipop sticks

Easter sprinkles

Directions –

Line a large baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.

Pour the Wilton chocolate candy melts into a microwave safe dish and heat in 30 second increments, stirring occasionally.

Once the chocolate is melted, take one marshmallow egg at a time and insert a lollipop stick into the base. Remove and dip into the chocolate about 1/2 and inch. Stick back into the base of the marshmallow and then place the marshmallow on the baking sheet.

Repeat with the desired number of marshmallows.

Once you have the lollipop sticks in the marshmallows, place the baking sheet in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.

Reheat the melted chocolate following the directions above.

Carefully dip the marshmallows into the chocolate using a spoon to completely coat them. Gently tap the excess chocolate off the marshmallow and place on the baking sheet.

Sprinkle with sprinkles.

Repeat with all the marshmallows.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Author: Heidi

Ingredients

• egg shaped marshmallows I found mine at Aldi
• 12 oz Wilton light or dark chocolate candy melts
• lollipop sticks
• Easter sprinkles

Instructions

• Line a large baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.
• Pour the Wilton chocolate candy melts into a microwave safe dish and heat in 30 second increments, stirring occasionally.
• Once the chocolate is melted, take one marshmallow egg at a time and insert a lollipop stick into the base. Remove and dip into the chocolate about 1/2 and inch. Stick back into the base of the marshmallow and then place the marshmallow on the baking sheet.
• Repeat with the desired number of marshmallows.
• Once you have the lollipop sticks in the marshmallows, place the baking sheet in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
• Reheat the melted chocolate following the directions above.
• Carefully dip the marshmallows into the chocolate using a spoon to completely coat them. Gently tap the excess chocolate off the marshmallow and place on the baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with sprinkles.
• Repeat with all the marshmallows.

St. Patty’s Day White Chocolate Dipped Wafers

Saint Patrick’s Day, Desserts and I go way back and when Liz was in elementary school and I was a classroom teacher we used to bake upwards of 50 cupcakes for her to celebrate with her friends, and then of course my student’s got to celebrate as well. But now days we spend the day celebrating with her and Austin and we usually take the time to make some fun treat together for us all to enjoy. Each year I try to come up with a new St. Patty’s day inspired treat to make and this year we are celebrating with these fun St. Patty’s Day White Chocolate Dipped Wafers.

Ingredients-
1- 9 oz package Vanilla sugar wafer cookies
1- 10- 12 oz package white chocolate melting wafers or chips.
Sprinkles of your choice. (Shamrock and green sugar sprinkles pictured)
*Optional- green food dye

Directions-
1. Melt chocolate, following directions on the package*
2. Prepare a large pan or tray with parchment paper.
3. Dip wafer cookies into the melted chocolate and allow to drip until evenly coated, just over halfway up the cookie.
4. Place cookies on the prepared pan or tray.
5. Put sprinkles of your choice on the chocolate before it dries.
6. Allow to cool, about 10 minutes or until chocolate is set.
*Optional- You may add a drop or 2 of green food dye to the chocolate after it is melted for an even more festive look.

Print Recipe

St. Patty's Day White Chocolate Dipped Wafers

Author: Heidi

Ingredients

• Ingredients-
• 1- 9 oz package Vanilla sugar wafer cookies
• 1- 10- 12 oz package white chocolate melting wafers or chips.
• Sprinkles of your choice. Shamrock and green sugar sprinkles pictured
• *Optional- green food dye

Instructions

• Directions-
• Melt chocolate, following directions on the package*
• Prepare a large pan or tray with parchment paper.
• Dip wafer cookies into the melted chocolate and allow to drip until evenly coated, just over halfway up the cookie.
• Place cookies on the prepared pan or tray.
• Put sprinkles of your choice on the chocolate before it dries.
• Allow to cool, about 10 minutes or until chocolate is set.
• *Optional- You may add a drop or 2 of green food dye to the chocolate after it is melted for an even more festive look.