How to make peppermint bark for the holidays

Watch how easy it is to make yummy peppermint chocolate bark. First, line a 12 by 15 inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, grease the paper with butter or cooking spray. Put peppermint candy in a ziploc bag and coarsely crush with a rolling pin. Place coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate and vegetable shortening in a metal bowl that will nest in a sauce pan. Heat one inch of water in the sauce pan to steam. Stir occasionally until the mixture melts and is smooth. Remove the bowl from over the pan. Transfer 1 1/4 cups of crushed peppermint candy into a strainer and sift fine dust into the chocolate. Stir. Then, stir in the remaining peppermint chunks. Spread on the baking sheet and let candy stand at cool room temperature until completely firm. Remove candy from the pan by lifting out the parchment paper. Place your peppermint bark in a pretty tin, and you have a homemade Christmas gift for friends and family. Or, enjoy the peppermint bark yourself!