Summertime Sun-Kissed Chocolate Almond Bark

The first time, it happened by accident. Our mom ordered some chocolate covered almonds, but they arrived a package of gooey-melty glob. We stuck the whole bag in an ice chest. Once it firmed up, we broke it into pieces. It was actually tasty -- and that is what gave our mom the idea. She tried it, and it quickly became a summertime favorite. Here is how we do it.

Sun-Kissed Chocolate Almond Bark

Ingredients:

• 30-ounce bag of raw almonds

• 3 10-ounce bags of chocolate chips (we use dark)

• 3 gallon-sized zip bags

Instructions:

Divide the almonds between three zip bags. Add one bag of chocolate chips to each zip bag.

Disperse the chocolate and nuts as best as you can, then flatten each bag out on a baking sheet.

Place the baking sheets in the sun. We put ours out on a picnic table.

Let the sheets sit in the sun until the chocolate is fully melted -- the time will vary depending on how warm a day it is.

Next, work the melted chocolate into the nuts as evenly as you can. Then, flatten the bag back out and put it in the freezer just until set -- about half an hour.

Once the chocolate is fully set, break the bark apart in the bag and serve. For prettier bark, serve just the larger pieces and save the little bits for ice cream topping.

We have a piece of this chocolate almond bark most mornings with our coffee. It's the perfect way to start a day on the homestead.