Chocolate-Covered Sardines

How did we end up with five pink shiny cans of sardines from Trader Joe’s?  That you can ask my 2-year old daughter and official grocery shopping assistant.  Unfortunately, while I do enjoy almost every variety of canned seafood (anchovies, oysters, kipper snacks…), sardines is at the bottom of the list.

I was trying to remember which friends of mine like sardines, when it struck me… I still didn’t have a Dirty Santa gift to bring to an annual reunion/gift exchange happening the very next day!  My little Sofia, you are a genius!

The sardines were in and of themselves a beautiful gift. but I paired them with two small free-trade chocolate bars and tied them together with a couple of pretty ribbons.  Then, I disguised the little guys in a simple brown paper bag lined with tissue paper and tied on a crocheted snowflake.  Elegant and understated to contrast the bold fishy sweets tucked inside.

Over the last few years, it’s become tradition for a couple of people to bring a good gift, to keep things interesting and competitive – and this one was looking like a winner from every angle.  In fact, it was the first one snagged! (By my lifelong friend and neighbor Elizabeth.)

Watching her confident smile drop into confusion and finally giggles & hoots – priceless.

Chocolate-Covered Sardines

2 cans sardines
2 small bars of chocolate
2T coconut oil

1. Drain the sardines and rinse well.  The olive oil would contrast with the chocolate.

2. Melt chocolate and coconut oil together.

3. Hold sardines by the tail and dip.  Arrange on a pretty platter.

*Perfect for company!  (Good luck not eating them all yourself!)