Happy Halloween! Yes, I consider the whole month of October to be Halloween.

I feel giddy when the Halloween candy and decor swamp the store aisles. 

Then, when November hits… I feel like part of me died.  Dramatic, I know.  But true.

Why can’t I be a kid again?  Seriously. 

Fact: I never really eat or enjoy packaged candy bars.  Buuuuut… if M&M’s count, then I just lied big time.  And if chocolate covered peanuts count, then I lied again.  

There is a Food Mart in downtown Springfield that sells the best double-dipped chocolate covered peanuts I have ever had. They were a special treat when I was little. And I still get them everytime I am home. 

Here is a super quick recipe to make your own chocolate covered peanuts, almonds, walnuts, raisins… in like ONE minute. 

Use any kind of nuts or chocolate you like.  I like using raw almonds and walnuts.

TIP: Make sure the chocolate is very good quality! This is key. Since the chocolate is the only ingredient in the coating, it must taste great.  

Chocolate Covered Almonds and Walnuts

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup raw walnut halves
• 12 ounces (more or less) of good quality milk chocolate, melted (I use milk chocolate chips)

Directions:

- Melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals in the microwave.  Stir until just about melted. 

- Mix in the nuts and toss until the nuts are coated completely in chocolate.  Spread out on a sheet pan with parchment paper.  You can individually separate the nuts or keep them in small clusters.

- Cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens.  Take them out and you may need to break some up if individuals nuts stuck together 

- For double-dipped nuts = repeat this process again by dipping the hardened chocolate-covered nuts in more melted chocolate and let harden again.  (this is a VERY SMOOTH MOVE, my friend)

Variations: Try melting a bag of Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chips and then toss in the nuts.  Mindblowing.

This chocolate candy beats any packaged, processed candy. hands down.