Tag Archives: Entertaining

Feb18

Grilled Dark Chocolate, Pomegranate & Almond Butter Sandwiches

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If you could just give me a moment…alone with this sandwich, I’d appreciate it. I am a loyal fan of grilled sandwiches, especially of the cheese variety. But, this sandwich is great especially for my readers who have to watch their dairy intake. You can’t keep a girl from her bread though. #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM I give you the grilled dark chocolate, pomegranate and almond butter sandwich. Your taste buds will thank me!

Grilled-Pomegranate-Almond-Butter-and-Dark-Chocolate-Sandwich-minimalistbaker.com_

Yield: 2 Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
4 slices whole grain crusty bread
2 Tbsp dairy-free butter (Earth Balance) or olive oil
4 Tbsp roasted salted almond butter
4 squares dark chocolate (dairy-free for vegan; don’t exceed 70% cacao)
2-3 Tbsp pomegranate perils

INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Butter the outsides of four slices of bread, then slather the inside of two slices with almond butter. Next add two large squares of chocolate on top of the almond butter and top with pomegranate arils. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side up and place the sandwich in the skillet.

Push down with a heavy spatula to compress. Gently flip when the bottom is browned and crusty – about 2-3 minutes. (be careful not to burn) Cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side. Serve immediately.

Feb17

Chocolate Shoofly Pie

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Chocolate Shoofly Pie

Chocolate Shoofly Pie is a moist, delicious pie with a gooey bittersweet chocolate bottom to it. This is the most authentic in flavor that I’ve ever tasted. Serve this pie with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and a hot cup of coffee or tea, snuggled up by the fireplace with someone you love.

Ingredients

1 (9 inch) pie shell
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter flavored shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 cup unsulfured molasses
3/4 cup cold water
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl, mix together flour and brown sugar. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for topping the pie.
3. In a large bowl, combine egg, molasses, cold water, and remaining crumb mixture. Mix thoroughly. Dissolve baking soda in boiling water and add to molasses mixture. Mix well.
4. Spread chocolate chips across bottom of pastry-lined pie pan. Pour filling over chocolate chips. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until filling is set.

Feb16

Chocolate Napoleons Recipe

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Chocolate Napoleons Recipe

Ready for flaky layers of pastry overstuffed with a decadent chocolate filling? Good, because these Chocolate Napoleons are so delicious that you just might need to make more than one per person!

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min.
Bake: 10 min.
MAKES: 12 servings

Ingredients
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 cups cold milk
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
2 packages (3.9 ounces each) instant chocolate pudding mix
TOPPING:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Directions
On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a 12-in. square. Cut into twelve 4-in. x 3-in. rectangles. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 9-12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a small bowl, whisk milk and sour cream until smooth. Add pudding mix; whisk for 2 minutes or until blended. Refrigerate for 5 minutes. To assemble, split each pastry in half. Spoon pudding mixture over bottom halves and replace tops. Combine confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth; drizzle over top. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Serve immediately.

Feb14

Israeli Chocolate-Coated Orange Peels

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Often when you drop in at someone’s home in Israel, the hostess will set these out for guests.

Israeli Chocolate-Coated Orange Peels 2

3 oranges
2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, finely chopped, divided
2 teaspoons canola oil
Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.

2. Scrub oranges well, and cut in half. Scoop out the flesh and reserve for another use. Place the shells in a medium bowl and cover with cold water, keeping them under water with a small plate or lid. Let soak for about 4 hours or overnight, replacing the water once.

3. Cut each shell in half, and place in a large heavy saucepan. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Drain and repeat the process. When oranges are cool enough to handle, cut into strips about 1/4 by 2 inches. Return the strips to the saucepan, add sugar and 1 cup water.

4. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost gone, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (Watch closely toward the end of cooking.) Add the lemon juice and stir to coat the strips. Drain the strips in a sieve. When they are cool enough to handle, spread on the prepared baking sheet.

5. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chocolate and place the remaining chocolate and the oil in the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water. Stir just until melted, remove double boiler from heat, then add the remaining chocolate, stirring until melted.

6. Roll each orange strip in sugar, then dip half of each peel into the chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Place in the freezer for a minute or two to let the chocolate set. Remove from the freezer and let them sit for several hours until they are firm.

Feb13

Chocolate-Filled Wontons

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These little treats look like traditional wontons. To achieve the look, fill wonton wrappers with chopped chocolate, fold in half and fry in oil. Dust with confectioners sugar if desired.

Chocolate-Filled Wontons 1

Yields: 24

Ingredients

24 wonton wrappers
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup(s) (3 ounces) finely chopped milk chocolate
2 1/2 cup(s) vegetable oil

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Brush edges of each wonton wrapper with egg and place 1 teaspoon chocolate in center. Fold wrappers in half over chocolate and press edges firmly to seal. When oil is hot (an extra wonton wrapper should sizzle and float to top when added), fry wontons, four at a time, until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes, flipping occasionally.

Feb13

Over The Hump Old School Sound Check-The Stylistics

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Betcha By Golly Wow, and Happy Thursday!!

The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. Wikipedia

Feb12

Chocolate Is My Kryptonite: Chocolate Baklava Recipe

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Too good to be true, right? I’ve been cooking for years, and baklava remains a favorite. I recently discovered a recipe that adds my chocolate and all is right with the world. Most folks find one piece of this rich dessert very satisfying, so this recipe feeds many people.

Chocolate Baklava

Prep Time: 20 min.
Bake Time: 50 min.
MAKES: 50 servings

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces, 14-inch x 9-inch sheet size) frozen phyllo dough, thawed
1-1/4 cups butter, melted
1 pound finely chopped walnuts
1 package (12 ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

SYRUP:
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

1. Butter a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Unroll one package of phyllo dough; cut stack into a 10-1/2-in. x 9-in. rectangle. Repeat with remaining phyllo. Discard scraps.

2. Line bottom of prepared pan with two sheets of phyllo dough (sheets will overlap slightly). Brush with butter. Repeat layers 8 times. (Keep dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel until ready to use to prevent it from drying out.)

3. In a large bowl, combine the nuts, chocolate chips, sugar, cinnamon and lemon peel. Sprinkle 2 cups over top layer of phyllo.

4. Top with four layers phyllo dough, buttering each layer. Top with 2 or more cups nut mixture. Top with four layers phyllo dough, buttering each layer; top with remaining nut mixture. Top with the remaining phyllo dough, brushing each layer with butter. Drizzle any remaining butter over top.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut baklava into 1-1/2-in. diamonds. Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, combine the syrup ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Pour over warm baklava. Cool completely in pans on wire racks.

Feb11

Chocolate Florentine Slices

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Florentine-Slices-recipe_3Florentine-Slices-recipe_1

These Chocolate Florentine Slices are a delicious sticky gooey dessert topped with delicious (you guessed it!) chocolate. #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM enjoy!

Serves: 36 persons
Timing Facts Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups corn flakes or 100 g
1 tablespoon lemon zest
¾ cup sultana or 120 g, golden
1 cup almonds or 125 g, slivered
¾ cup glacé cherries or 120 g, chopped
¼ cup glacé mixed peel or 40 g, chopped
1 tin NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk or 397 g
400 g dark chocolate

Preparation

Combine the cornflakes, lemon rind, sultanas, almonds, glace cherries, mixed peel and NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk in a bowl.

Press into a 23cm × 33cm greased tin, lined with baking paper. Bake in a preheated 170 °C oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to set in the tray and then transfer on to a wire rack, upside down, to cool completely.

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Set aside to cool slightly, and then spread over the underside of the Florentine. Cool, chocolate side up on the wire rack until set and cut into pieces.

Feb10

Chocolate S’mmoralist

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Like all the names of the desserts at Sugar, this one is a play on a literary work (André Gide’s The Immoralist). The campfire favorite is made at once more refined and more scrumptious: Meltingly soft, homemade marshmallows are caramelized atop tender, crumbly chocolate sablé cookies. You will need to use a stand mixer to prepare the fresh marshmallows, and a kitchen blowtorch to caramelize them. #chocolatefriendsofTenaciousM enjoy!

Chocolate S'mmoralist

Ingredients

Marshmallows
1 1/4 cups water, divided
1 1/4-ounce package unflavored gelatin
4 tablespoons powdered sugar, divided
2 cups sugar
12 tablespoons corn syrup, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sablé cookies
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

For marshmallows:
Place 1/2 cup water in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes.
Line 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving overhang. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons powdered sugar over plastic wrap. Combine remaining 3/4 cup water, 2 cups sugar, and 6 tablespoons corn syrup in heavy small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil without stirring until thermometer registers 230°F, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, about 14 minutes (time will vary depending on size of pan). Stir in remaining 6 tablespoons corn syrup and vanilla.
Transfer sugar mixture to heavy-duty stand mixer with paddle attachment. Add gelatin mixture. Beat on low speed until mixture turns opaque, about 5 minutes. Beat on medium-high until mixture is cool and forms soft white peaks, about 15 minutes. Spread evenly in prepared dish. Dust with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Let stand at room temperature at least 8 hours to set (marshmallow will be soft). Cover; refrigerate. (Can be made 2 days ahead.)

For sablé cookies:
Using electric mixer, beat butter in medium bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat until blended. Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt; beat just until blended, adding water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is too dry. Form dough into ball; flatten into rectangle. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Cut dough into 2×4-inch rectangles. Transfer rectangles to prepared sheet. Bake until puffed and beginning to crack, about 9 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack to cool (cookies will become crisp as they cool).

Line another large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir chocolate in double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Spread over parchment on prepared sheet. Run fork up and down length of chocolate, forming ridges. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Break chocolate into large irregular pieces.

Place 1 cookie on each of 6 plates. Cut marshmallow into six 2×4-inch rectangles. Transfer marshmallows to sheet of foil. Using blowtorch, brown tops of marshmallows. Invert 1 marshmallow, brown side down, atop each cookie. Brown top and sides of marshmallows on cookies. Arrange chocolate pieces decoratively atop marshmallows and serve.

Feb9

Chocolate Triple-threat Cookies

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Prepare to abandon all restraint when you try one of these cookies, made with melted chocolate and chocolate chips in the batter and layered with a chocolate ganache filling.

Chocolate Triple Threat Cookies

Yield: Makes 16 sandwich cookies
Prep And Cook: 50 Minutes
Chill And Cool: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes

Ingredients

Cookies
10 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into chunks
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 tablespoons flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans

Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Preparation

1. Make cookies: Put chopped chocolates and butter in a metal bowl and set bowl over (not touching) simmering water in a pot. Cook, stirring, until melted, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. Whisk eggs, sugar, espresso powder, and vanilla into chocolate mixture. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture until evenly mixed, then stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Wrap dough airtight and chill until firm enough to hold its shape, 50 to 60 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make ganache: Put chopped chocolate and cream in a medium metal bowl and set bowl over (not touching) simmering water in a pot. Cook, stirring, until melted, then let cool. Cover and chill, stirring occasionally, until firm enough to spread, about 1 3/4 hours. If ganache becomes too firm to spread, transfer to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for a few seconds to soften, stir.
4. Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 2-tbsp. portions of dough onto sheets, spaced about 1 in. apart. Press dough to flatten into even 1/2-in.-thick rounds. Bake until cookies no longer look wet and you can feel a slight crust on top, about 10 minutes (don’t overbake); switch position of baking sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool on sheets on racks.
5. Generously spread flat sides of half of cookies with ganache and top with remaining cookies. (You may have a little leftover ganache.)
Make ahead: Dough and ganache, up to 2 days, chilled. Filled cookies, up to 2 days, chilled, or 2 months, frozen. Serve at room temperature.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per sandwich cookie.

Note:
The cookies are most irresistible if they’re still soft after baking; test-bake one to judge how long they take in your oven.