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Tag Archives: chocolate

Gearing Up

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Not too much to say today. Just gearing up for the week. I’ve got some yummy things in store!  For starters, I’m talking about the world’s greatest Penne ala Vodka recipe! I’m also thinking about a chicken salad sandwich, linguini and clam sauce, and a cool glass of fresh-squeezed ginger lemonade. Should be a great week!

Not to mention that I’ll be facing off with the Baked Alaska this week. To be honest, I’m not even sure that I like Baked Alaska. For me, this is all about conquering the beast that ravaged my 13 year old soul. Ok, so maybe I’m over exaggerating a bit. But, I WILL defeat my old foe. That’s right! We’ll see who’s wearing the daddy pants come Wednesday!

Actually, I began my Baked Alaska mission today. I’ll be finishing it tomorrow. But, I don’t want to give too much away until Wednesday’s post.  We’ve got some other people working on their own Baked Alaska creations and I want to give everyone a chance to finish before I post! There’s still time to get in on the fun!  Check out www.epicurious.com or www.foodnetwork.com for some Baked Alaska recipe ideas!

I’ll just leave you with this…

A Love Letter

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Dearest Lindt Excellence Intense Orange Chocolate,

There are no words to express the way I feel about you. I remember the first time we met, as if it were yesterday. Do you remember? We were in the Clearwater Beach Rite Aid. The date was March 14, 2010. I saw you. You saw me. It was kismet. I brought you home and our love affair began.  Your luscious chunks of candied orange and slivers of crunchy almonds were so irresistible to me. We moved quickly, but feelings like this have no limit on speed. And, so it is. Our pure and simple love, as bittersweet as your chocolatey self. I am a respectable married woman.  It is unseemly for me to be seen consorting with someone other than my betrothed. Alas, my heart belongs to you, darling Lindt Excellence Intense Orange Chocolate. I will shout it from the rooftops.  I love you, Lindt Excellence Intense Orange Chocolate!  I love you.

Until later, my love. Until later.

The Thin Mint Predicament

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Upon waking this morning, I thought, “Man, I could really go for a Thin Mint cookie right about now.”  (Seriously, that’s the kind of stuff I wake up thinking about.) So, I strolled downstairs and opened the freezer to retrieve a cool, crisp Thin Mint cookie. But, wait! Where were my Thin Mints? Had my freezer been burgled in the night? Perhaps someone was just playing a cruel trick on a sleep-deprived mother? I couldn’t possibly have eaten all of the Thin Mints. Or had I?

Oh, no!

I had.

No, no, no! And that’s how it begins…the hunger anger reaction.  I could feel my pulse quickening.  Dizziness set in.  I rushed to the front door, threw it open and shouted, “GIRL SCOUTS!”  No response.  I tried whistling.  No response.  I tried singing, Make new friends but keep the old… My voice nervously cracked. One is silver… Nothing. And the other is gold?

No girl scouts appeared at my door.  No. Thin. Mints.

Unless…

Yes, that’s it! I could make my own.  I mean, I was a girl scout many ages ago.  I should be able to figure it out. So, I promptly threw on my old green uniform, sash and all, and decided to give it a try.

Thin Mint Cookies

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) Butter, softened
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp Peppermint Extract
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Salt

For the Glaze:

  • 2 cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips
  • 8 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1 tsp Peppermint Extract

Mise En Place

Directions

For the Cookies: Beat softened butter and sugar, until creamy. Add egg and peppermint extract and beat to combine.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt.  Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat until blended.

Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a cylinder on a lightly floured surface. The cylinders should have a diameter of about 1.5 inches. Wrap each cylinder in wax paper and refrigerate for a few hours.  About 30 minutes before baking, put the wrapped dough into the freezer.

When the dough is well chilled and firm, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cut the cylinders into thin slices (between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch thick).  Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

For the glaze: Melt 1 cup of the Chocolate Chips with 4 Tbsp of butter  and 1/2 tsp of Peppermint Extract in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  Stir.  Heat for another few seconds if necessary until smooth.  Dip both sides of each cookie into the glaze.  Put the glazed cookies on a cooling rack, set over a piece of parchment paper. Repeat with the other cup of chips and remaining butter until all cookies are glazed. Refrigerate until the glaze has completely set.

Thin Mints

Enjoy your homemade Thin Mint cookies!

** This recipe is an adaptation of the recipe found here, modified based on comments made in the recipe reviews. Initially, I chose to use a mix of semisweet chocolate and mint chips for the glaze, based on comments that the cookies weren’t minty enough.  Personally, I feel that the mint chips make  the glaze a bit too sweet. The flavor just didn’t seem right to me, so I tried the glaze again, using semisweet chocolate with a bit of peppermint extract.  Perfect!!  I edited the recipe to include the new and improved glaze.  Enjoy!

A Spicy Chocolate Cake

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Like chocolate cake? Like spicy food?

Then, I’ve got the recipe for you!

I can take no credit for this one, other than following the recipe and taking a picture of the result.  But, it was so delicious, I wanted to share the recipe with you. I made this cake a couple months ago for some dinner guests.  My husband was apprehensive, thinking I’d been saying ‘Chocolate Chili Cake’. I guess the idea of ground meat and kidney beans in his chocolate cake wasn’t appealing. But, rest assured.  There are no meat or beans in this cake…just dense, chocolatey goodness with just a little bit of heat.  Trust me, it works!

Flourless Chocolate-Chile Cake by Daisy Martinez

Flourless Chocolate-Chile Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Raspeberries

I added a chocolate ganache glaze and fresh raspberries to give the cake a little finish. To make a basic ganache, put 4 ounces of semisweet chocolate in a bowl. Bring 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp of heavy cream to a boil and immediately pour over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate completely melts.  Spread over the cake.

Sneaky babies...they're everywhere!!

Takeout for dinner tonight.  Tomorrow I will run my first 5k ever, for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!  Think Pink!!

The Gourmand Mom

Good food, seasoned with a dash of life