How awesome is this!!!!
Jan21
My Chocolate Show Stopper
How awesome is this!!!!
Category Archives: TenaciousM Indulgence
Jan16
Texas Pecan and Chocolate Pie
Because it’s Friday and as an homage to my home state, you get the pecan pie of Texas and luscious chocolate which make excellent partners in this rich dessert.
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup all purpose flour
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (or more) ice water
Filling
4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces, lightly toasted
Preparation
For crust:
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in processor. Using on/off turns, process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 tablespoons ice water over mixture. Process just until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry. Gather dough into ball. Flatten into disk. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
2. Preheat oven to 325°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1 inch; fold under and crimp decoratively. Set aside.
For filling:
1. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly.
2. Whisk brown sugar, eggs and salt in large bowl to blend. Whisk in corn syrup and chocolate mixture. Sprinkle pecans over unbaked crust. Pour filling over pecans. Bake until crust is golden and filling is puffed, about 55 minutes.
3. Cool pie completely on rack.
Jan15
Chocolaty Cookies N Cream Parfaits
Rich, Dark, and Handsome… With dark chocolate richness, and sweet, crumbled cookie-ness. Enjoy!!
Ingredients
(Makes about 6 servings in 6 ounce glasses, or 4 servings in 10 ounce glasses)
Ingredients:
16 fl oz whipping cream, cold
2 tablespoons sugar
2 (16 ounce) tubs all natural Belgian chocolate pudding*, divided use
24 all natural chocolate-vanilla sandwich cookies*, crushed into chunky consistency
1 (1ounce) square semi-sweet chocolate, to shave for garnish
Directions
1. In the bowl of a mixer (or using a hand-held), add the cold cream and begin whipping; once thickened slightly, sprinkle in the sugar and finish whipping just until stiff peaks form; set aside for a moment.
2. In medium-large bowl, add 2 cups of the chocolate pudding (reserving the remaining pudding) and begin adding the whipped cream to it in several increments, gently folding in to keep a fluffy and light consistency, as this is the “chocolate mousse” part of the dessert; once all whipped cream is incorporated, set aside and prepare glasses.
To Assemble (for 6 servings in 6 ounce glasses):
Begin by adding equal amounts of the crushed cookies to the bottom of each glass (about 3 tablespoons), next a layer of chocolate pudding (about 3 tablespoons), and next a layer of the “chocolate mousse” (about 3 tablespoons); repeat this process again for each glass, with another layering of crushed cookies, then the pudding, then the “chocolate mousse”, finally finishing with a final sprinkling of crushed cookies and a decorative dollop of “chocolate mousse”; garnish by shaving a little of the semi-sweet chocolate square with a vegetable peeler over the tops of each glass; refrigerate until ready to serve, or serve immediately.
To Assemble (for 4 servings in 10 ounce glasses):
Follow assembly instructions above only increase the quantity of each layer to about 5 tablespoons in order to fill each glass.
Jan10
OREO Cheesecake
If it seems like a shame to crush the OREO Cookies before you get to eat them, one bite of this delectable cheesecake will change your mind. Enjoy!
25 min prep
6 hr 25 min total
Makes 16 servings
Ingredients
36 OREO Cookies, divided
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) brick cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
Instructions
1. HEAT oven to 350°F.
2. CRUSH 26 cookies finely; coarsely chop remaining cookies. Mix crushed cookies with butter; press onto bottom and 2 inches up side of 9-inch springform pan.
3. BEAT cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in chopped cookies. Pour into crust.
4. BAKE 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.
Jan7
Mile-High Chocolate Pie
OK, I love the Dallas Cowboys, but I am also a fan of Peyton Manning and he just happens to play for the Denver Broncos in “The Mile-High City.” So, I thought this recipe would be apropos for my chocolate and football fans.
Yield: Makes 10 servings
To get a super-light mousse, you’ll need to properly fold together the whipped cream, egg whites, and melted chocolate.
Ingredients
1 pie crust, homemade or store-bought
4 large egg whites
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
10 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (do not exceed 71% cacao), chopped, plus more shaved with a vegetable peeler for garnish
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cups heavy cream, divided
1 cup coarsely crushed chocolate wafer cookies (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers), divided
1/2 cup crème fraîche
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Special equipment: A 9″ pie dish
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line pie dish with crust; crimp edges decoratively. Fully bake pie crust according to recipe or box instructions. Let cool completely.
2. Whisk egg whites and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water until sugar dissolves and egg whites are warm but not hot, 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until cool, tripled in volume, and stiff peaks form (the tips of the peaks won’t fall over when beaters are lifted from bowl and turned upright), about 6 minutes.
3. Stir chopped chocolate and butter in a large bowl set over same saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth, 4–5 minutes; set aside.
4. Beat 2 cups cream in another medium bowl until medium peaks form (cream should be soft and pillowy), 5–6 minutes.
5. Gently fold egg whites into warm chocolate mixture until fully incorporated (work quickly to prevent chocolate from turning gritty). Gently fold in whipped cream just until no white streaks remain; do not overmix or mixture will deflate. Spoon 1/2 cup chocolate mousse into bottom of prepared pie crust; spread evenly over bottom of crust. Sprinkle 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons crushed chocolate wafers over mousse. Top with remaining mousse, mounding in the center to create a dome. (The point is to add height, not to spread out evenly to edges.) Chill pie.
6. Beat remaining 2 cups cream, crème fraîche, and salt until medium-stiff peaks form (when the beaters are lifted from the cream, the peaks will hold their shape but the tips will fall over). Top chocolate mousse with whipped-cream mixture, following the same rounded dome shape. Chill pie for at least 4 hours or, covered, for up to 3 days. (It will slice best if chilled overnight, allowing mousse to set properly.)
7. Garnish pie with 2 tablespoons chocolate wafers and chocolate shavings. Slice pie using a clean, dry knife; wipe between slices to ensure clean, elegant pieces.
Jan6
Dark Chocolate Pie With Cocoa Nib Praline
Another chocolate on steroids recipe that you will LOVE! Cocoa nibs (bits of roasted shelled cocoa beans) are available at specialty foods stores or chefshop.com.
Yield: Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Crust
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
Cocoa nib praline
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon (packed) golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 cup cocoa nibs
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Chocolate filling
2 1/4 cups whole milk, divided
6 large egg yolks
2/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Scharffen Berger or Valrhona)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Preparation
For crust:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish.
2.Mix melted butter, sugar, and salt in medium bowl. Add flour and mix until well blended. Press dough onto bottom and up sides of prepared dish; crimp edges decoratively. Bake crust until golden brown and cooked through, about 18 minutes. Cool crust completely on rack. Maintain oven temperature.
For cocoa nib praline:
1. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Stir in cocoa nibs and chopped pecans. Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake until mixture spreads and is deep golden brown, about 18 minutes (mixture will flow together into 1 piece on baking sheet). Remove from oven; cool completely on sheet.
2. Break praline into irregular pieces or shards. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store airtight in single layer at room temperature.)
For chocolate filling and topping:
1. Bring 2 cups milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan; remove from heat. Whisk egg yolks, brown sugar, vanilla, and remaining 1/4 cup milk to blend in medium bowl; whisk in cocoa powder and cornstarch until smooth. Gradually whisk in hot milk mixture. Return mixture to saucepan. Whisk constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils.
2. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and butter; whisk until melted and smooth. Pour filling into cooled pie crust. Refrigerate until filling is cold and set, about 4 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)
3. Using electric mixer, beat cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
4. Cut pie into wedges. Serve with whipped cream and praline pieces.
Jan3
Yummy Flourless Chocolate Cake
Chocolate lovers will adore this dessert. The edges and top develop a delicately crisp crust while the center remains moist and fudgy.
Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
Prep Time: 20 min
Ingredients
6 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
1 1/2 cup(s) semisweet chocolate chips (or 8 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate)
6 large egg yolks
6 large egg whites
1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees; with rack in center. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Place butter and chocolate in a large bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until melted; cool slightly. Whisk in yolks.
2. In another bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar; beat until stiff and glossy. Whisk 1/4 of whites into chocolate mixture; gently fold mixture into remaining whites.
3. Pour into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until cake pulls away from sides of pan and is just set in center, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Serve dusted with confectioners’ sugar.
Dec31
Chocolate Teas
Jamaican Chocolate Tea Recipe
Chocolate Tea is the Jamaican version of what’s better known in other parts of the world as hot chocolate. This recipe uses all-natural ingredients and there’s nothing like the authentic taste of real chocolate. The smoky flavour of raw chocolate balanced with creamy sweetness is comforting to me. In Jamaica chocolate tea is usually enjoyed at breakfast time, but if your live in a cold climate it’s perfect for enjoying near a fireplace any time of day. The grated chocolate won’t dissolve completely and will separate if not stirred. So sip and stir… sip and stir. Yummy!
Ingredients
Serves 4
2 cups Water
2 cups Milk
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Pimento Leaf (or 5 Pimento Berries)
1 pinch Ground Nutmeg
3/4 cup Raw Chocolate, grated
2 pinches Salt
1/3 cup Condensed Milk, or sweeten to taste
Directions
1. Combine water and milk in a medium-size saucepan
2. Add cinnamon stick, pimento, nutmeg and chocolate and bring to a boil, stirring for 5 minutes
3. Stir in salt and lower heat to a simmer; stir in condensed milk to sweeten
4. Remove cinnamon stick and pimento
5. Pour chocolate tea into mugs using a small strainer Enjoy!
Hot ‘N Spicy Chocolate Tea
Ingredients
1 cup 2% milk
1 cup water
2 Lipton® Cup Size Tea Bag or Decaffeinated Tea Bags
1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Directions
1. Bring milk and water just to a boil in 2-quart saucepan. Remove from heat and add Lipton® Cup Size Tea Bags. Cover and brew 2 to 5 minutes.
2. Remove Tea Bags and squeeze; stir in remaining ingredients. Sweeten as desired.
Chocolate Chai Tea
A wonderfully sweet chocolate chai. Makes your tea a little more exciting.
Ingredients:
Servings: 4
1 cup water
2 tea bags, black
1/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons (6 tablespoons total)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups milk
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
couple grains salt
whipped cream (optional)
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat; add tea bags. Cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags.
2. Stir in sugar and cocoa. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Add milk, vanilla, spices and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes. Do not boil. Strain, if desired. Pour into warm mugs. Garnish each with whipping cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg, if desired.
Dec30
Flourless Chocolate Cup Cakes with Whipped Cream and Berries
These cupcakes are super rich and gooey- you will need a fork to eat them. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
11/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups fresh berries, washed and dried, plus more for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. First up, melt your chocolate and butter in a sauce pan until smooth. Then add the warm mixture to a bowl with the sugar and blend with a mixer until incorporated. I recommend bittersweet, but dark chocolate would be awesome too!
3. Next up, add the eggs one at a time mixing after each one.
4. Then add the vanilla and mix and the cocoa powder and mix.
5. Almost done! Put the batter into an oiled and cocoa powder dusted cupcake tin and bake at 350 F for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool, gently remove cupcakes and arrange whip cream and berries.
Dec22
Chocolate Espresso Tart
Better than a box of chocolates, this dessert is triply indulgent. The cocoa shell forms a crisp rectangular foundation for two amazing fillings. creamy, tangy mascarpone cheese and generous rosettes of silky-smooth espresso-flavored chocolate ganache.
Ingredients
8 ounce(s) bittersweet chocolate (preferably 61 percent cacao), chopped
1 1/4 cup(s) heavy cream
2 tablespoon(s) good-quality ground espresso beans
1 cup(s) all-purpose flour, plus more for parchment paper
3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1/3 cup(s) unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup(s) sugar
3/4 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoon(s) heavy cream
1 1/2 cup(s) mascarpone cheese
1 large egg
Directions
1. Make the ganache: Put chocolate into a medium heatproof bowl, and set aside. Bring cream and espresso to a boil in a small pan. Pour through a fine sieve over the chocolate; discard solids. Let stand 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
2. Make the tart shell: Sift flour, salt, and cocoa powder into a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the cream. Shape dough into a thick rectangle; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper to a 16-by-6-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Press dough into a 14-by-4 1/2-inch rectangular flan frame set on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Trim dough flush with top edge. Prick all over bottom of shell with a fork. Bake until firm, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold.
4. Put ganache into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (such as Ateco No. 828).
5. Smooth mascarpone cheese over bottom of tart shell with an offset spatula.
6. Pipe ganache rosettes, one next to the other, on top of mascarpone to cover. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 day.
NOTE: To turn out smooth ganache every time, make sure the mixture is at room temperature before whipping. Any warmer or colder, and its cream is likely to seize or become grainy.
Egos & Buffaloes 