Chocolate Holiday Tree
Perfect treat for this time of year. You can modify it to suit your needs, this is just how I learned to make it from my mother.
Equipment:
In small saucepan melt all but 2 ounces of the semisweet chocolate chips, stirring frequently. (I recommend over med-low heat to reduce chances of burning). Once the chocolate is melted into a creamy liquid, add coconut, raisins and nuts and mix thoroughly. The mixture should be very thick and lumpy.
Using a long piece of wax paper (probably about 18-24" long or so) and the spoon or spatula begin to make "x"s on the paper using the chocolate mixture. There should be one large X and each one getting progressively smaller until the final one is just a small mound or dob rather than an X. (For me this is about 5 "x"s). Use the spatula to flatten the surface out a bit (because they will stack one on top of the other) and make sure there are no thin or weak spots. You can transfer this paper to a board, cookie sheet, or other flat surface to place in the fridge and cool. You do NOT want these to bend during the cooling process or after. In the freezer this process only takes about 10-15 minutes to cool until hard.
When you are ready to assemble the tree melt the remaining chocolate in the small saucepan (its okay to use the same one as a little of the old mixture won't hurt it any). You want it to be thick and creamy, a little lumpy is okay. This will be your glue to assemble the tree.
Prior to stacking the X's you can choose to sprinkle them with powdered sugar in a sifter (tapping the sides works pretty well). This is to give the appearance of snow. This can also be done after assembly, but it is harder to get certain areas.
Carefully remove all Xs from the wax paper. Put the largest X on a pie tin or other small portable FLAT surface. Place a healthy dob of the melted chocolate in the middle of the largest X. Stack the next largest on top of that X turning it so that the branches of the second X fill the gaps of the first X (alternating). Repeat the process with the dobbing and stacking, each X getting smaller until it's just the little mound on top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if you haven't already.
Transfer your tree to the fridge until it's ready to be eaten. Allow it to cool prior to eating or the Xs will fall apart. Break branches off to eat.
Suggestions and Modifications: if you don't like coconut or raisins find other things to use. This such as toffee bits, dried fruit bits, cereal or anything else to give it a thick and lumpy texture should work. Milk chocolate can also be used if that suits your tastes better.
TRY WHITE CHOCOLATE WITH A FEW DROPS OF GREEN FOOD COLORING FOR A PARTICULARLY FESTIVE APPROACH!