Birch Bark Pretzels

Oh so good, Birch Bark Pretzels!  Crunchy, salty, sweet and beautiful. Voila! 

I think natural birch bark is so beautiful - look at this gorgeous bark peeling away from the trunk at our cottage in northern Michigan.  I like to replicate birch bark in chocolate and serve these pretzel rods at parties, football tailgates or anytime in the Fall when a sweet portable snack enhances the fun. 

These birch bark pretzels have been particularly popular when I bring them to euchre night.  They are perfect for a card party, because your hands don't get sticky.  Make a batch and then tell me if they were a hit...

To make my famous Birch Bark Pretzels:

Pour the contents of 1 bag of white chocolate morsels into a glass bowl and melt in the microwave for 30 seconds. Repeat in 10 second intervals, as necessary. Stir after each microwave session. Be careful not to burn chocolate by over microwaving  Stir until smooth. Dip 2/3 of each rod into melted chocolate, turn to coat and then allow to harden, resting on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. 

Once you have dipped 10-12 rods, melt 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chips for 30 sec in another container. Then dip a fork into the melted semi-sweet chocolate and make drizzles back and forth across the white. 

The result looks a lot like birch bark and tastes delicious. Allow to harden for a few minutes in the fridge and then serve in a stack like logs. Yum!

Birch Bark

I love the natural beauty of birch bark.  Look at the gorgeous "new" layer of white birch on a tree I found on our property - the old layer of bark was unraveling off of it naturally.

I would never peel bark from a birch tree, but I have had hunting for pieces of bark on the ground.  When I have enough, I plan to piece it together and cover a picture frame or a large matchbox.  It will be a "custom designer touch" that I made myself.

I blogged about an easy chocolate dipped pretzel recipe that mimics birch bark here.  

Garden Art

The garden stores are full of garden art - reflecting balls, statues and the like.  But my tastes run toward adding more natural objects to add interest in a garden.  Can you see the birch branch leaning on the brick wall?  I found in on a walk near the cottage and brought it home to add a little texture.  

A few years ago, I planted a climbing hydrangea and placed a small dark green tuteur around it for support.  It is finally "taking hold" and showing some interest in climbing, so I have coaxed the longest runner off of the top of the tuteur and over to the birch branch.  My hope is that it will continue up onto the wall (and beyond) with some garden clips and ties.

I'm not sure if it translates in this photo, but the white birch looks beautiful in contrast to the mulch, green leaves and dappled light.  *sigh* Summer is here and I love it.