FESTIVE SEASON 2013-2013: Festive easy and fast white chocolate bars with dried fruits

A simple but delicious and very presentable little sweet treat to offer as a gift to friends and family this Festive season or to have at home and treat yourselves and your guests any time! Without too many ingredients or a complicated preparation these mini bars will prove to be the stars of the Holidays! Very easily, if you prefer, the dried fruits can be replaced by various toasted finely chopped nuts or to combine the two for a richer flavour

From "Cook Book" magazine of "ETHNOS" newspaper

Ingredients (for 8 pieces):
360 gr. of good quality white chocolate, cut in small pieces

100 gr. of dried apricots, finely chopped

100 gr. of dried prunes, finely chopped

200 gr. of dried raspberries (or cranberries)

2 large sheets of waxed paper

Method:

Melt the chocolate with the bain-marie method in low heat (or for a few seconds in the microwave) and when it is done add in the mixture the dried fruits and stir thoroughly so to spread the mixture evenly.

Lay at the bottom of a shallow oven pan the first sheet of the waxed paper and empty the chocolate mixture. Smooth the surface of the mixture carefully with a spatula so to spread evenly in the pan and cover with the second sheet of paper.

Transfer the pan in the fridge and leave for at least 1-2 hours or until the mixture is chilled and firm.

Take out of the fridge, cut the mixture into square pieces or bars and transfer on a serving platter. If it is meant as a gift then transfer the bars into a nice, Christmas-theme square box and the easy, fast and not expensive sweet treat is ready to be offered!