As much as I love to cook, there’s nothing more gratifying than having my kids helping me in the kitchen. It’s fun to involve them in every aspect of preparation, from menu planning, to shopping, to chopping (with dull knives of course); they’re excited every time we let them play in the kitchen. And nothing lights up their little eyes like chocolate! When my wife brings out the chocolate, it’s a race to the kitchen. Of course we’re not quite brave enough to tackle anything fancy, but something simple like Rocky Road is a great project for kids.

Chocolate can be a little finicky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Heat it too quickly and the fat will actually separate from the cocoa, leaving you with a sticky, oily mess. Cook it too long and it’ll scorch a kitchen nightmare that you’ll never forget. The trick is to melt the chocolate over slow, steady heat. This process is called tempering and it’s an essential part of working with chocolate. One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to use a double boiler (sometimes called a bain-marie). Simply take a pot and add a couple inches of water and bring it to a low boil. Put your chocolate into a heat-proof bowl and set it over the steaming pot. The steam gently melts the chocolate without the risk of separation or burning.

HERE’S HOW WE MAKE OUR ROCKY ROAD:

12 ounces milk chocolate chips

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

½ cup Brazil nuts

2/3 cup mini-marshmallows

Using the method described above, temper the chocolates, stirring gently to combine. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the nuts and marshmallows. While the mixture is still warm, pour it into small baking cups or simply make small islands on a sheet of waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm then try and keep the kids away! Feel free to substitute Brazil nuts for your favorite nut or mix in other ingredients like dried fruit or candy pieces. Enjoy!

Article by Food Editor Hans Rueffert. Photography by Amy Rueffert.