Do you have any kitchen quirks? What about your partner or roommates?
Maybe you are wondering what I mean by a kitchen quirk. Basically it’s anything that drives your significant other batshit crazy.
I’ll offer some examples:
– Always sticking produce stickers on the counter despite your husband’s pleas not to (my long-time readers will get this, if you don’t, see Part 1 and Part 2)
– Loading the dishwasher in a very specific way (spoiler alert)
– Only wanting the cutlery drawer to be perfectly stacked with everything facing the same direction
– Organizing the fridge or pantry in a certain way and insisting that it’s kept in this precise order
– Debating with your partner/roommate about whether certain foods should be refrigerated or not
– Turning cans so that the label always faces the same way, are arranged by alphabet/colour/etc
I like to think of myself as a recipe creating tornado and I frequently drive Eric nuts because he is so much more organized than I am. When you are with someone for almost 15 years you learn every one of their little (and big) quirks. Day by day….by day.
Want to know what Eric’s biggest kitchen quirk is?
Aside from me, it’s the dishwasher.
The guy has a thing for dishwasher organization. It’s his pride and joy. And it’s actually impressive, the dedication that he puts into carefully loading and stacking the dishwasher every day. He has refined his technique over the years too, always improving. Impressive. At first glance, you might think that he’s just a normal guy unloading or loading the dishwasher, but you’d be wrong, very wrong. He is not normal. Eric has been trying to enlighten me with his genius dishwasher short-cuts ever since we got together. I stubbornly refused for years until I recently discovered how amusing it is to see him so proud when I use his “tricks”. He beams with pride.
My sister was over yesterday and after dinner we got talking about how her husband/my brother-in-law insists that the dishwasher is loaded in a certain way. Hmm sounds familiar. So began a hilarious conversation with us and the guys talking about how a dishwasher should be loaded. She said, “Steve will actually UNLOAD the dishes that I have loaded and then reload the machine!” Well, that rings a bell. I hear Eric tinkering away with unloading and reloading my dishes every night. He also has a system of loading my measuring spoons (because I typically use about 20+ on any given day of recipe testing). We have a dishwasher with a narrow top tray for cutlery and he has created this whole system of how to load the measuring spoons and other utensils so that they don’t collect/pool any water…right down to which direction they face for optimum drying. Like I said, not normal…but impressive.
I should also mention that we had a 10+ year ongoing debate about whether ketchup should be refrigerated or not. I said that, yes, ketchup should be refrigerated and he always said it shouldn’t (just a personal preference on his part). One day I pointed out the label which reads “Keep refrigerated” and it’s been in the fridge ever since! Case closed. Mystery solved. He finally gave in (even if it’s perfectly fine at room temperature).
Of course, this story wouldn’t be complete without Eric weighing in on my biggest kitchen quirk.
Without even blinking an eye he said, “chaos.”
Nailed it. Martha would so not approve of my kitchen ways.
Ok, it’s your turn to spill the beans. What are your kitchen quirks? What about your partner or roommates’ quirks?
Crazy Good Coconut Oil "Chocolate" Bark
Yield
20 pieces
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
15 minutes
Total time
This homemade chocolate is made with just a few essential ingredients - virgin coconut oil, cocoa or cacao powder, and pure maple syrup. (Feel free to use whichever liquid sweetener you prefer). The virgin coconut oil replaces the cocoa butter found in traditional chocolate so while it needs to be kept in the freezer, it’s a great way to sneak some coconut oil into your day. You can also use any toppings you'd like - dried fruit, nuts, + seeds all work lovely. It melts much faster than regular chocolate, so be sure to keep it chilled until ready to enjoy. I prefer it straight from the freezer.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup raw hazelnuts
- 1/4 cup raw almonds
- 1/3 cup large flake dried coconut
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
- 1/2 cup cocoa or cacao powder, sifted if necessary
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon smooth almond butter, optional
- pinch fine sea salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300F. Line a 9" square pan or a small baking sheet with two pieces of parchment paper, one going each way. Set aside.
- Add hazelnuts and almonds on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet and add the coconut flakes and spread out. Continue roasting the nuts and coconut flakes for another 3-4 minutes, or until the coconut is lightly golden. Watch closely to avoid burning - coconut burns fast!
- Place hazelnuts on several sheets of damp paper towel. Wrap the hazelnuts and rub them vigorously with the paper towel until the skins fall off. It’s ok if some skins don’t come off. Discard the skins and roughly chop the hazelnuts and almonds.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the coconut oil over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa (or cacao) powder, maple syrup, and almond butter (if using) until smooth. Add a pinch of sea salt to taste. Stir in half of the almonds and hazelnuts.
- With a spatula, spoon the chocolate mixture onto the prepared parchment-lined pan or sheet and smooth out until it's about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle on the remaining nuts and all of the coconut flakes. Place into freezer on a flat surface for about 15 minutes, until frozen solid.
- Once frozen, break apart into bark. Store in the freezer until ready to eat. I don't recommend keeping it out on the counter long because it melts fast.
Tip:
Tip: To make this nut-free, simply omit the almond butter, hazelnuts, and almonds. It will still turn out just fine! You can try adding toasted sunflower seeds on top for a little crunch.
Enjoy!
Is there anything that’s original on your site? Every recipe seems a copy from another blog. There seems to be no authentic creativity on your part.
Great post! I wish I had a dishwasher.. first world problems…My quirk is definitely washing the stove and sink after you use them! You washed the dishes so why does everyone I leaveOh with forget to wash the sink! I am a bit of a tornado in the kitchen myself but I never forget to wash the stove and the sink :)
It sounds super good! Ingredients that I love! It gives me a lot of ideas! Thank you!
http://www.nuevabarato.com
OMG This looks delicious!
If you cooked for me every day, I would happily clean the kitchen for you, and probably not mind the chaos. (Too much… I’m the neat one, and my husband is the chaotic one, lol.)
Hi Angela,
I made this last night for a dinner party and it got gobbled up in no time – every last crumb! It was delicious.
This is probably the twentieth recipe of yours that I have made (I got your first cookbook for my birthday) and I have loved every one. About to try number 21 today (pecan pumpkin butter). I just wanted to say thank you for creating such healthy, inspiring, and accessible recipes.
Oh, and my kitchen quirk: lining up everything just so in glass jars in my pantry. The one that drives me crazy: when my boyfriend puts just-washed wet dishes on top of already dry dishes! : )
Haha for us it’s the dishwasher also! As well as recycling. I like to keep the recycling on the porch in a bin but he always put things to recycle RIGHT NEXT TO THE SINK. I don’t know why but it frustrates me having empty bottles next to the sink. Haha still love him to death though.
Happy Spring Angela! Since Easter is approaching, and i am newly betrothed to a vegan lifestyle, one thing that i miss terribly is a festive egg bread with maybe some dried fruits that was always included in my traditional upbringing. Any chance you may post something like holiday vegan bread or rolls ? Would love it immensely….
❤️,
Gia
Okay, so I’m the one rearranging the dishwasher. My DH will unload it but after 15 years, he just piles the dishes on the counter above the dishwasher so it only has to be loaded once. LOL He also leaves crumbs everywhere. I can walk into the kitchen and tell you that he had toast and how many pieces he had by the crumbs he leaves on the end of the island. He is an incredible sous chef and chops all the things for me, preps ingredients and such because my biggest quirk is I have a terrible propensity for sharp object accidents. I get in a hurry and injure myself so he takes it upon himself to do the chopping/shredding/etc. For that, I’ll clean up his toast crumbs.
Loved this post so much – hilarious!! Also, by far the BEST OSG dessert I’ve tasted yet! Thank you, Angela!! Cannot wait for cookbook number 2!!!
Made this last night and I’m blown away at how easy it is to make my own chocolate! I used some local raw honey in place for the maple syrup and sprinkled in some uncooked quinoa, which added an extra bit of crunch! I didn’t really have to spread it out though, it was runny enough to do that on it’s own. Thanks for the recipe!
I can’t wait to try this recipe! As always, the pictures look beautiful. I think I might add goji berries or some other dried fruit to the toppings for some color.
Thank you for the recipe Angela!!
I simmered the coconut oil with medical marijuanna at a very low heat for 30 minutes and then followed the recipe exactly. It turned out beautifully, tastes delicious and very effective!
Thank you Angela it’s just delicious! I tried some with pecan nuts and some others with salt. Quick easy to prepare, and for sure it will astonish my guests this weekend! ;)
I just went walking , hiking for 2 hours to get in shape , and hell ya ! I’m gonna make myself some healthy chocolat bark !!
Merci Angela xxx ★♡
With love from Montréal, Québec
Brigitte Estelle
BAHAHHAHA….the produce stickers on the counter and loading the dishwasher….I thought I was reading about myself. I throw the dishes in there any which way and then hubby gets home and rearranges it ALL! It’s just a long-running joke now that I am the worst dishwasher loader in history.
Yum!!!! I’m training myself to like dark chocolate and this was the perfect start!!!! I didn’t have hazelnuts so I used chopped craisins and dried blueberries and it was really delicious! I just got your cookbook as well and have been reading it like a novel at night! Thanks for another great recipe!!!
My husband and I are the opposite of you and Eric! My husband leaves glasses on the counter ABOVE the dishwasher which drives me insane and then when he actually does put items in the dishwasher, he loads it like he’s in someone else’s house so I have to rearrange the glasses every time. Also he opens mail and leaves it on my chopping surface which grosses me out. I have no quirks (except sometimes I forget to fill the brita and occasionally wash the cat food can lid and hide it under a pile of dishes). Hey, no one’s perfect!
This looks amazing!
This was SO incredible!!! One of the best “chocolate” barks I’ve ever had! Thanks for the recipe, Angela.