Archive for chocolate

journey to the center of the cookie

2012/04/18 at 00:00 · Filed under caffeine, cake/cookies/cupcake, chocolate, dessert, food, retail

once in a while, i love a big warm soft chewy chocolate chip cookie and trader joe’s journey to the center of the cookie is all of that in one. coming in a frozen pack of two these jumbo cookies have to be nuked for 65 seconds and then it is chocolate gooey goodness! it’s a BIG cookie so you have to share it with someone – hopefully with someone with equal passion for soft warm chocolatey goodness!

be careful about two things – one, you can’t eat it when it’s hard – definitely not out of the package. also, if you leave it out for a while, it will harden so you’ll have to re-nuke it. second, after you take it out, it looks so good that you want to just gobble it up but it is HOT! so to not burn yourself, break off a piece, blow on it to cool a little and take a small bite at first to test the temperature. remember, you want to enjoy it – not have a painful lasting memory of it. enjoy!

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shop at Trader Joe’s in your city

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chocolate chip banana pecan pancakes

2012/03/10 at 00:00 · Filed under bread/crackers/muffin, chocolate, cooking, cooking tips, food, fruit/vegetable-sweet, grains/oats/wheats, healthy, lactose-intolerant, nuts, recipe, tv/web, vegetarian

m was being adventurous and found this chocolate chip banana pecan pancakes recipe. i’ll admit i was skeptical bcuz i’ve never been a fan of the chocolate and banana combo.

but these pancakes combines the flavors and textures of the ingredients perfectly so you have some melted chocolate, soft warm banana and crunchy pecans with each bite. skip the whipped cream and syrup on this one – it’s so tasty with just the right amount of sweetness that you don’t need anything else!

it’s a wonderful – and healthy – way to start the morning (or weekend afternoon)!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose 100% whole wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • a pinch of sea salt*
  • 3/4 cup skim milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large banana, diced
  • 1/2 cup miniature semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup chopped raw pecans
  • cooking spray
  • walnuts, optional

Preparation

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set bowl aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the skim milk, melted butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet ingredients, being careful not to over mix the batter. Gently fold in the banana, chocolate chips, and nuts.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

Top with additional banana slices and walnuts, if desired.

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original recipe from allrecipes.com: Chunky Monkey Pancakes

Prep note:
* If the butter you are using is salted, do not add salt to the mix otherwise the pancakes will taste too salty!

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dip into the bourgeois pig

2011/06/17 at 00:00 · Filed under architecture/interior/design, cheese, chocolate, food, location, restaurant, us: NY

years and years ago, i went to a swiss fondue restaurant with friends and went home hungry. perhaps it was the cheese we chose or the food we were given to dipped with … i don’t remember but i had vowed never to do it again. the bourgeois pig, however, changes all my opinions about cheese fondue.

the decor of the bourgeois pig is awesome. friends arrived just before they opened and watched the staff pull open the bars to the wooden gates to the windows. you see stained glass windows and a dark lounge, with a belle epoque atmosphere. i felt like i should have been wearing a chic hat and a shiny dress for dancing. the tables maybe a little small for a lot of food but an order of fondue is meant for 2 people. don’t follow the online menu because it isn’t up to date. i was so looking forward to trying the curry fondue but the waitress told me that it has been off the menu for a year!

regardless, the cheese fondue we did have was great. we shared the mushroom fondue with gruyere and emmenthaler with roasted wild mushrooms – and – the french onion fondue with guyere, caramelized onions, beef broth & thyme. each fondue order came with bread, roasted potatoes, vegetables and fruit. i also ordered a bruschetta sampler. my favorite was the brie with strawberries and mint. even though we so wanted to try the sweet fondue (choice of various chocolates, dulche con leche or peanut butter), we just too full to enjoy it. we will just have to go back!

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eat at The Bougeois Pig in east village, ny

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david burke’s can o’ cake

2011/06/08 at 00:00 · Filed under baking, cake/cookies/cupcake, chocolate, cooking, dessert, egg, food, location, restaurant, tv/web, us: NY

after reading just desserts nyc review of fishtail’s can o’ cake, we had to try it. first a plate of spatulas covered in chocolate arrive at our table for us to lick. then the waiter comes with a serving cart with several silver tins and other items. the waiter takes a plate of ice cream scoops (one per person) and a tin container of whipped cream from the cart to our table.

next, the waiter opens a large tin of cake. he then pours salted caramel sauce on the cake and spreads it all over the top of the cake. next he pours a vanilla creme anglaise over the cake. next he sprinkles crushed heath bar all over the top of the cake. then, he tops the entire cake with rice pearls. finally, the waiter brings the complete cake to the table and serves each person a huge piece of cake. the rest of the cake is left at the table for you to finish at your leisure.

to complete our own dessert plates, we each add a scoop of ice cream and a scoop of whipped cream. oh … my … goodyness … the chocolate molten cake is rich, chocolate decadence. the toppings kick up the cake to a higher level – especially the toffee and the rice pearls. we had a fun time eating as much of the cake as we could! it is supposed to serve 6 but we were a party of 5 but we still had more than half of the cake to bring home – not that we’re complaining. it was choc-o-licious!

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eat at Fishtail by David Burke in midtown, ny

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CAN-O-CAKE FOR TWO

for valentine’s day last year, david burke shared with the village voice the recipe for his infamous can-o-cake so we can make it at home! yum!

CAKE

Ingredients

  • 4 oz or 8 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 oz or 8 tbsp bittersweet chocolate
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 oz or 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1-1/4 oz or 2 tbsp cake flour

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, melt the butter and chocolate over a double boiler. While the butter and chocolate are melting, whip together the eggs and sugar until the mixture doubles in volume. Add the melted butter and chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk in the flour, and pour the mixture into a cookie tin 6.5″ in diameter x 1 3/4″ tall.

Bake in the oven for approximately 10 minutes. (The center should still jiggle.)

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TOPPINGS

Ingredients

  • vanilla ice cream
  • caramel cream cheese frosting (recipe to follow)
  • whipped cream
  • rice pearls
  • crumbled toffee bar or granola

Preparation

Top the cake with any of the following toppings while it’s still hot:

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CARAMEL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 lbs cream cheese
  • 1.2 lb butter
  • 1/2 lb confectioners sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup caramel

Preparation

In a mixing bowl, cream all ingredients together until smooth.

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15 healthy snacks under 150 calories

2011/05/19 at 00:00 · Filed under bean/soy/tofu, bread/crackers/muffin, chocolate, food, healthy, nuts, sauce/gravy/dressing, snacks/appetizers, tv/web, vegetable/fruit-savory, yogurt

it’s hard not to grab for greasy chips and empty calorie pretzels for a snack. but here are some healthy alternatives:

  1. 1/4 Cup Guacamole With 1 Sliced Medium Red Bell Pepper (140 Calories)
  2. 1 Cup Strawberries Dipped in 1 Tablespoon Melted Semisweet Chocolate Chips (115 Calories)
  3. An 18 Rabbits Bunny Bar (120 Calories)
  4. 2 Kavli Golden Rye or Wasa Fiber Rye Crispbreads With 2 Tablespoons Hummus and Cucumber (120 Calories)
  5. 45 Pistachios (148 Calories)
  6. Medium Apple With 1 Level Tablespoon Natural Peanut Butter (143 Calories)
  7. 3 Finn Crisps With 1 Ounce Herbed Goat Cheese (140 Calories)
  8. 2-Percent Greek Yogurt (130 Calories)
  9. 1 Nori Seaweed Sheet With 2 to 3 Ounces of Reduced-Fat Tuna Salad or Wild Salmon Salad (90-110 Calories)
  10. Cheese and Crackers (105 Calories)
  11. 15 Tamari or Marcona Almonds (150 Calories)
  12. 1 Cup Snap Peas With 3 Tablespoons Hummus (106 Calories)
  13. 1 Packet Plain Instant Oatmeal Sprinkled With Cinnamon and 6 Crushed Almonds (142 Calories)
  14. Medium Pear and an 8-Ounce Glass of Unsweetened Almond Milk (136 Calories)
  15. 1 Dr. Kracker Pumpkin Seed Flatbread With 1 Babybel Light (150 Calories)

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read article on Yahoo! Shine from Glamour Magazine: 15 healthy snacks under 150 calories

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food for beauty

2011/04/07 at 00:00 · Filed under bean/soy/tofu, beverage, caffeine, chocolate, education, food, fruit/vegetable-sweet, healthy, nuts, retail, vegetable/fruit-savory, vegetarian, yogurt

i’m not big on makeup so i’ll have to depend on food and genes to not look frightful when i leave the house! so Women’s Health provided some “beauty products” from the supermarket. similar to the previous lists of healthy foods, it’s another reason to eat more good stuff!

1. Blueberries and pomegranates

These fruits protect you from fine lines and dryness. Plus, their high vitamin C content keeps your skin nice and plump, says Glassman

2. Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate can help protect your skin from sun damage and amp up blood flow to your tissues, keeping skin nourished and glowing. Look for chocolate that’s at least 70 percent cacao (it has more antioxidants), and stick to one ounce a day.

3. Spinach

Spinach can help fight inflammation and free-radical damage – precursors to fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps eyes stay healthy and bright. Spinach is an all-star source of vitamin A (beta-carotene), which helps speed up skin cell turnover and keeps skin supple, says Marmur. (And from this beta-carotene, your body generates its very own retinol, which makes skin firm and resilient.) For variety, swap spinach for kale, collard greens, and Swiss chard – all of which have similar look-pretty powers.

4. Walnuts

Eating just one ounce of walnuts will supply you with your daily dose of the nutrients (namely omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E) that are responsible smoother skin, healthier hair, brighter eyes, and stronger bones. Other top nuts include hazelnuts, pistachios, and almonds.

5. Yogurt

Eating one cup of plain low-fat yogurt provides half the calcium needed for strong nails and teeth. Plus, eight ounces is packed with two grams of zinc, which helps calm skin inflammation, treat rosacea, and prompt regeneration of cells.

6. Tomatoes

Tomato (whether sliced, diced, stewed, or simmered), helps protect skin against damage from the sun and other environmental factors thanks to its key ingredient, the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene is actually highest in cooked tomatoes. Healthy fats aid the body’s absorption of lycopene and other nutrients, so eat one serving of tomatoes a day with a drizzle of olive oil, a splash of vinaigrette, or a slice of avocado.

7. Kiwis

A single kiwi has nearly all the vitamin C you need in a day. It can help stimulate collagen synthesis, repair damage to skin-cell DNA, and keep blood vessels and hair follicles strong.

8. Edamame

Isoflavones in soy foods (tofu, soy milk, and edamame) can ease inflammation and stave off collagen breakdown, leaving skin with a more even tone and fewer wrinkles. A serving per day is both safe and helpful.

9. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash

These orange wonder veggies contain a bonanza of beauty-boosting beta-carotene, which your body converts into skin-smoothing retinol, thereby helping to protect your skin from past and present sun damage.

10. Green tea

Antioxidants, called catechins, in green tea can help prevent certain skin cancers and stave off sunburns. Drink two cups a day. If you aren’t into tea, try sprinkling green matcha powder (which has the highest concentration of catechins) into a yogurt parfait or homemade smoothie.

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read article on Yahoo! Health from Women’s Health: Beauty From the Inside Out

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a little fun for the new year

2010/12/31 at 00:00 · Filed under chocolate, cooking, dessert, food, fruit/vegetable-sweet, ice cream/sorbet/froyo, junk food, nuts, recipe, retail

do you remember the days of waiting in line for Mister. Softee and when it’s your turn, you ask for a soft serve with a chocolate shell. then you watch the ice cream man dip the soft serve in some chocolate liquid and then hand it to you. even though it was just a few seconds since he dipped it in the liquid sauce, when you bite into it, the chocolate is hard and crunchy!

well, now you don’t need to wait on line. YUM!

Ingredients

  • 1 banana cut lengthwise
  • 1 big round scoop ice cream
  • Reese’s SHELL
  • almond slivers

Preparation

In a bowl, put banana on the bottom. Scoop ice cream on top of the bananas.

Squeeze Reese’s SHELL on top of ice cream. Watch it harden in a matter of seconds!

Sprinkle almond slivers on top of hardened chocolate peanut butter shell. Enjoy!

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purchase Reese’s Shell Topping (Chocolate & Peanut Butter) at your local supermarket or on Hershey.com

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super moist 2-layer chocolate cake

2010/12/25 at 02:00 · Filed under baking, cake/cookies/cupcake, chocolate, cooking, dessert, egg, food, retail

i received wonderful gift of a cake mix and cake pan for the holidays. it was the perfect gift since i was in charge of dessert for today’s dinner! the mix was a chocolate layer cake mix from Thomas Keller’s restaurant: ad hoc. the recipe was super easy to make – cake mix with 2 eggs, vegetable oil, milk and boiling water. i learned from a previous recipe that cakes are super moist if you substitute butter or margarine with oil. so i knew this cake would be would be super moist — and it was!

i’ve never made a 2-layer cake before so i didn’t know what it took. i have new respect for those who made them, as well as those who decorate cakes. after i covered the first layer with buttercream, i placed the second layer on top and coated the second layer and the sides of both layers with buttercream. however, after a few minutes, the top layer started to slide and then it started to break so i flip it. the new top layer wasn’t slipping so i decided to let it sit for a while before i frosted the top layer. that was a good decision. i was able to frost the top of the cake a half hour later and the cake looked fine!

super moist chocolate cake and sweet buttercream. yes, it was a decadent dessert. good thing christmas is only once a year! hope everyone had a wonderful holiday dinner!

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purchase Thomas Keller’s products at Williams-Sonoma

eat at ad hoc or other Thomas Keller restaurants

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rocky mountain chocolate factory

2010/07/15 at 04:00 · Filed under chocolate, food, food presentation, kids, location, retail, us: WA

sadly i am allergic but i can still appreciate good looking food, especially when it comes to sweets! so here’s a triple threat: chocolate, candy and fruit on presentation as a piece of art: candied apples. yum!

but this place isn’t just candied apples – it’s crazy chocolates, ice cream, caramel popcorn, nut brittle and so much more … like … wedding favors!

chocolate on glassware, champagne bottles, fruit, pretzel. you name it! love it!

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buy chocolates at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in seattle, wa or online

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chocolate (orange) rice pudding

2010/04/15 at 02:00 · Filed under caffeine, chocolate, cooking, dessert, food, fruit/vegetable-sweet, lactose-intolerant, recipe, rice/noodles, tv/web

i still have leftover arborrio rice from making rissoto so i wanted to find new recipes to use it. so i was excited to see this sweet recipe from giada. m loves rice pudding and i love chocolate so i thought it would be a fun dessert!

the arborio rice becomes so soft and creamy. with the chocolate it is sweet and yummy!

the chocolate and orange is very specific flavor combo that one either loves or not. next time, i may try it without for a wonderful chocolaty rice pudding.

Ingredients

  • 5 cups skim milk, soy milk or water
  • 2/3 cup Arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons orange zest (from 1 medium orange)
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons orange or coffee liqueur, optional
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation

In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine the milk or water, rice, sugar, and orange zest. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean and add the bean to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and discard the vanilla bean. Stir the cocoa powder and liqueur (if desired) into the mixture. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Spoon the rice pudding into serving bowls. Cover and refrigerate for 2-1/2 to 3 hours and up to 1 day ahead.

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original recipe from Giada at Home: Chocolate Rice Pudding

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