Rachel Jane Macauley

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Recipe: Date Night In #1 – Ritz Cracker Mendiants

I’ve been so excited to share this with you! As part of my New Years Resolution, I am cooking through a whole cookbook. I looked and looked trying to find the perfect cookbook to choose. Finally I settled on Date Night In, by Ashley Rodriguez, creator of NotwithoutSalt.com.

After reading the introduction and browsing her site, I knew it was a match. I love her careful attention to detail and the stunning photos with stories are a huge draw. My plan is to cook every recipe in this book. I will be blogging the process, although not 100% sure I will post every recipe (there are 120!) but you’ll start seeing a lot more from this amazing cookbook.

Here goes nothing!

Recipe # 1 Ritz Cracker Mendiants

These Ritz Cracker Mendiants caught my eye right from the initial browse of this book. I thought to myself “I can’t make something that beautiful.” I made this recipe as a quick leap of faith to see if I was getting in over my head, and let me tell you: it was easy!

Once they were finished, I had the biggest smile on my face. I made that and it looks like it could be in a store. (P.S BF approved, Drew loved them too!)

 

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Ingredients for Ritz Cracker Mendiants:

  • 1 cup of bittersweet/semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon of canola oil
  • 10-15 (I actually got 20) Ritz crackers
  • 1/4 cup of roasted/salted cashews ( I also split them in half)
  • 2 hand fulls of dried cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon of coca nibs (I skipped this)
  • Flake salt

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl mix the chocolate chip and the canola oil. Melt the chips over a double-boiler or microwave. If you are using the microwave, be careful not to burn the chocolate. I checked the chips every 12-15 seconds. It seemed pretty repetitive, but trust me – it burns so easily. Stir well between checks.

Once the chocolate is melted, drop a Ritz into the melted chocolate and make sure all sides are covered. Then place the ritz on your fork and tap it on the side of the bowl or gently slide off excess chocolate. Place on the parchment paper and top with cashew, cranberries and flake salt. Repeat until the chocolate or crackers are gone. I ran out of chocolate first.

Tip: You could honestly use just about any topping here. Any dried fruit/nut combo with salt. Maybe candied ginger or a drizzle of honey. All amazing things!

Thanks for following along this journey with me.

 

Love,
Rachel xo

Comments

  2. I love, love, love Ashley’s cookbook! Just wait until you make the pulled pork sandwiches. Your life will be forever changed.

    Reply

    • I know, I was trying to be “outside the box” on my new years resolution this year. I think this was a good choice! Loving the recipes so far.

      Reply

  9. After all these year, that Andy Griffith is still spot on – that’s a Gooood Cracker! (From my experience, Ritz are practically magical when it comes to making things in the kitchen.) This cookbook is new to me, so I will have to check it out. These turned out beautifully, Rachel, and I love the goal you’ve set for yourself, too.

    Reply

  11. These look so great! They look so professional! You did such a great job! I’m not sure the last time I had a ritz cracker, maybe I have a reason to have one now! Happy date night in!! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply

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