chocolate Posts

27Jan
0

Things You Can Dunk In Chocolate

Recently I made a trip to Max Brenner’s in New York City. It’s a really crowded place right below Union Square that smells exactly like the chocolate river in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory must have. You walk in and you are almost knocked off your feet by the smell of glorious, untouched, amazing chocolate.

If you’ve never been here, I ask, WHY NOT!? It’s an amazing centralized holy ground for chocoholics in the tri-state area. If you can dream it, the chocolate man can do it. Max Brenner is so proud of his chocolate he actually puts a drawing of himself on the napkins. You’d have to be really confident and really love your product to have it wiped on you from other people’s faces. But he is rightly proud. This is some of the best chocolate I’ve ever had.

Just typing this makes me want to go there and see the chocolate flowing through the pipes (yes, I said pipes) from one end of the store to the other and order the most amazing fondue.

They bring it to you in huge vats of either milk, white, or dark (or all three if you’re feeling up to it!) with a plethora of things to dunk in it, shove in your mouth, and wipe on those Max Brenner napkins.

Posted by kristing in chocolate and tagged with , , , ,
17Nov
0

Would Nutella Taste Good on That?

Just thinking about what to write for today’s post about Nutella is already making me salivate. Nutella newbies are always wondering what they can do with this dreamy chocolate hazelnut spread. Well for starters, anything that you typically put chocolate on will taste a billion times better with Nutella. If you’ve ever seen their commercial, the company tries to sell it as an additive to breakfast. I don’t think Nutella is a very healthy way to start the morning, but it will taste phenomenal on bread, bagels, waffles, pancakes, French toast, crepes, muffins, etc.

But we all know that sweet and salty go together better than  Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Nutella and pretzels? Match made in heaven. Potato chips? Absolutely. Just don’t choose BBQ. That’s just weird. Stick with plain. Another favorite combination of mine is to make a sandwich out of Nutella and raspberry preserve. It’s like dessert for lunch. Probably isn’t very healthy at all now that I think about.

And while we’re on the topic of sandwiches, spread some peanut butter on one side with banana slices and you have pure delight for lunch. Add it to mixtures that call for chocolate, such as brownies and cakes. It will make a wonderful substitute. Everything tastes good with a little Nutella love, except meat and fish…

Posted by KristenM in chocolate, Creative Ideas and tagged with , , ,
04Aug
0

Hello Panda Biscuits Are a Taste of Something Different

Recently, I’ve discovered that a nearby deli sells Hello Panda biscuits, a Japanese brand with adorable pandas imprinted on these flavor-filled biscuits, doing random cute things like playing tennis. I’d call them more a cookie, with their various fillings of three different flavors; chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. Each is just as delicious as the next.

Finding these kind of treats is always a delight. Not everyone sells them and most certainly not if you live in a small town. But in a big city where there’s lots of imported goods, Hello Panda biscuits/cookies/whatever delicious word you want to call them, can be found in delis and bodegas here and there if you know where to look.

That’s the joy of imported candy and cookies. The foods from both China and Japan are always so different, yet delicious. They have fun packaging whose contents are not always easily discernible, but it’s never turned me away from trying something new.

They really are a delicious concoction of a cookie filled with sweet icing, almost like a pastry version of Gushers. And in my searches online for more, I came across someone who had a brilliant idea of eating them as cereal by pouring them in a bowl with milk. I think I know what I’m doing for breakfast tomorrow.

Posted by KristenM in chocolate, cookies and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
09Feb
0

The Truth About Dark Chocolate

dark chocolateWhat is the truth about dark chocolate? That it’s delicious? Well, yes it is, but I was referring to its health benefits. Is it as healthy as people make it seem and should I be eating it every day? Lets get to the bottom of this chocolaty mystery. Because chocolate comes from plants, it has many of the same benefits as dark vegetables, i.e. antioxidants. Dark chocolate actually contains 8x the amount of antioxidants found in strawberries!

So what do these antioxidants do for the body? Dark chocolate is known to help heart disease, lower blood pressure, and lower cholesterol. Eating a small amount everyday can keep your entire cardiovascular system running smoothly. Other benefits include a yummy taste, increased endorphin production (which gives you pleasure),  serotonin (which makes you happy), and theobromine and caffeine (which give you energy).

But wait, isn’t chocolate full of fat? Yes there is fat, but only 1/3 of chocolate is bad fat. The rest is fat that your body needs. However, and this is a big however, dark chocolate still contains a lot of calories. In order to receive the benefits of chocolate without gaining a potbelly is to limit your intake. You shouldn’t be eating more than 3.5 ounces a day.

You should also be eating pure dark chocolate so forget the caramel, nougat, and peanuts. It’s also a misconception that you should drink a glass of milk with your chocolate. The milk can actually prevent the antioxidants from being absorbed. Too much of anything can be bad for you, so enjoy your dark chocolate in moderation!

Posted by KristenM in chocolate and tagged with , , ,
18Jan
0

Spread the Nutella Love

nutellaToday I want to talk about the absolute awesomeness that is Nutella. It’s not a cookie. It’s not a candy, but it’s part chocolate and it’s 100% delicious. Nutella is a chocolate and hazelnut spread made by the Italian company Ferrero. If you’re unfamiliar with Nutella, perhaps you’ve eaten a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. That yummy chocolate hazelnut filling in the middle of the candy is the same thing as Nutella.

Since Nutella is a spread, there are about a million ways to eat it. Now I will share with you all the yummy foods you can spread half a container on or what to mix it with:

  • Bread (just about any type will do)
  • Bananas/Apples
  • Bread Sticks
  • Peanut Butter Sandwich
  • Croissants
  • Bagels
  • Waffles/Pancakes/French Toast
  • Rice Krispie Treats
  • Cupcakes
  • In an Ice Cream Cone

My favorite way to eat Nutella? Right out of the jar with a spoon! And for the record, I don’t trust their commercial talking about how you can make it part of a well-balanced breakfast. If you’re brave enough to read the nutritional facts (which I do not recommend!), you’ll see it’s propaganda! If you’re looking for a yummy dessert, open a jar, grab an entire loaf of bread, and prepare for chocolaty goodness.

Posted by KristenM in chocolate and tagged with , , , ,
15Sep
0

How to Sneak Dessert Into Your Breakfast

We’re constantly trying to sweeten up our breakfast foods. We add syrup, sugar, fruit, you name it — I will admit, I’m guilt of dipping my bacon in syrup, whether or not I also have pancakes or waffles or French toast — all in the name of satisfying our sweet tooths. Here are a few delicious ways to get your sugar rush on before noon:

Oreo pancakes

There are a few ways to go about this one, but I recommend just crumbling the cookies into the batter, and not just throwing whole ones in (like whatever company came up with this monstrosity).

Choco-Strawberry Smoothie

There’s just something about the way chocolate and strawberry taste together, especially when it comes to ice cream. If you’ve ever gotten a chocolate or strawberry milkshake from a fast-food place, chances are you’ve detected a hint of one in the other. That’s because a lot of the time all the shake flavors are pushed through the same dispenser, and there’s always that little bit of whatever the last flavor dispensed was, left to come out when a new flavor is called upon. At any rate, it’s delicious, and basically what a choco-strawberry smoothie tastes like.

Chocolate Croissant

The word “croissant” just screams “breakfast” (it actually means “growing,” but oh well). You can of course eat one anytime, but it makes you feel strangely giddy, like when you eat French toast for dinner.

Posted by JessG in Breakfast, chocolate and tagged with , , ,
14Jul
0

No Fuss No Muss: No Bake!

No-Bake Chocolate CookiesFor city dwellers living in apartments, those just starting out with furnishing their own dwellings, or anyone who considers him- or herself allergic to the kitchen, it can be difficult to find opportunities for easy baking.

Thankfully, there is the no-bake chocolate cookie which requires only a saucepan, a spoon, and a stove! Purchase wax paper to allow your cookies to cool properly, but you can easily substitute a plate or a clean countertop as your equipment and kitchen accessory constraints might require.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups white sugar1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a surface. Let cool until hardened.

Posted by EricaD in chocolate, Dessert Ideas and tagged with , ,
14May
0

Food Porn Fridays: Chocolate-Shelled Chocolate Mousse

chocolate mousse

Welcome to our new feature, Food Porn Fridays!

The end of the week is not a time for recipes and articles — it’s a time for blue jeans. And porn. Food porn, anyway. Look forward to a new delicious (and sensuous) pic every week, exploring that delicate junction where food meets art, and art meets temptation.

Our first picture comes from Lunch with Front Studio, a blog authored by — appropriately — architects. Missing the chocolate mousse? It’s inside that intricate and hypnotizing chocolate shell.

It almost looks too pretty eat. But we’d like to put that theory to the test.

Posted by Sarah in Cakes, chocolate, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Food Porn Fridays, Photos and tagged with , , , , ,
14Apr
0

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

ice cream sandwichesWhen we saw these heart-shaped ice cream sandwiches on MarthaStewart.com, it wasn’t the strawberry filling that got us — it was the hearts. But whether you’re likewise as cheesy or simply into DIY-ing some strawberry goodness, these treats are sure to please!

Ingredients (for 24 sandwiches)

  • 2 1/2 pints of softened strawberry ice cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temp.
  • 2 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp. milk
  • extra flour for dusting

Instructions

  • Mix cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking flour in medium bowl.
  • In an electric mixer, cream vanilla extract, butter, and sugar. Mix in eggs and milk.
  • Add cocoa powder mix and combine on slow speed. Scrape sides of the bowl to make sure everything is mixed.
  • Shape dough into two disks, using half of the dough in each. Wrap using plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Roll dough on a surface dusted with flour using a spatula to prevent sticking.
  • When dough is 1/8 inch thick, cut with heart-shaped cookie cutters (or any shape you want!).
  • Chill cookies for 30 minutes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Create holes on cookies using a fork.
  • Bake 12-15 minutes, until firm. Once the cookies are cool, move them to a wire rack with half of the undersides facing up.
  • Spread 1/2-inch layer of ice cream on underside-up cookies, then create sandwiches using the other cookies.
  • Harden in freezer.

These sandwiches will last for 3-4 days in the freezer when stored in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Posted by Sarah in chocolate, Cold Desserts, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Recipes and tagged with , , , ,
05Apr
0

Deep Fried Cadbury Eggs

fried cadbury eggs

Considering their relevance to Easter, Cadbury eggs are surprisingly sinful. But if all that chocolate and rich creamy filling aren’t making you feel guilty enough — or if you just have some extra eggs left over — it’s probably time to do some deep-frying.

Read on to learn how to make Deep Fried Caramel Cadbury Eggs, as depicted on Culinary Concoctions by Peabody.

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 frozen Caramel Cadbury Eggs
  • 1 real egg (from a chicken, not Cadbury!)
  • 4 cups cooking oil
  • 1 1/4 cup flour
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon golden syrup
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Heat cooking oil on medium heat in a deep skillet. Oil is hot enough when a pinch of flower will sizzle (not smoke) on the surface.
  • Mix egg and milk; beat.
  • Combine everything else in a different bowl. Pour in egg mixture slowly. Beat until batter is smooth.
  • Dip Cadbury eggs into the batter.
  • Fry for 2 or 3 minutes, or until eggs are golden brown and crispy. Absorb extra oil by placing on paper towel.
  • Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Posted by Sarah in chocolate, Creative Ideas, Dessert Ideas, Holidays, Recipes and tagged with , , , , , , ,
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