Archive for ‘chocolate chatter’

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

By , 5 May, 2012, No Comment

My daughter Morgan loves cooking and having a slight intolerance to gluten I had some of these cookies mixes ready in the cupboard.  I’m not sure if you have tried it yet but instagram is my new fave friend and have found any excuse to snap away.  What a great excuse than get Morgan cooking up a batch of gluten free chocolate chip cookies while I click away with my I phone.

 

 


Morgan had a fab time making these, although the kitchen suffered a minor explosion or what at least resembled one in the process.  The result spoke for themselves, the chocolate chip cookies didn’t last very long especially when accompanied by a cool glass of milk, very nice indeed.

Morgan used Bob’s Red Mill chocolate chip cookie mix, it was very easy to make all you need to add to the mix is butter or margarine, 1 egg or egg replacement and 2 tbsp water.  The cookies were absolutely delicious, sweet and chewy just the ones you get freshly baked in the shop.  I already have another mix in the cupboard ready for next weekend. They do have a website www.bobsredmill.com so check that out, it has a whole host of recipes to try out.

 

 

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Big Lebowski Inspired White Russian Truffles

By , 22 January, 2012, No Comment

White Russian Truffles

I am a bit of a party freak and love themed events, any excuse to dressed up and relive my youth I’m there.  Recently a friend asked for some ideas on a “Big Lebowski” themed party, obviously being the party queen she came to the right place.  Now if you haven’t seen the film I would recommend sitting down with some of these white Russian truffles and catching up with some popular culture viewing.

The white Russian is a favourite of Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, the main character of the film. It seemed only fitting as one of the main ingredients of a white Russian is cream to concoct a truffle recipe inspired by the cocktail.

White Russian Truffle
1 3/4 lb of Milk chocolate
1 cup Whipping cream
1/4 cup Kahlua

Chop 1lb of chocolate into fairly small pieces (to aid melting) and place into a large bowl.
Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil.  Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate pieces. Gently stir until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Add the Kahlua to the chocolate mixture then set aside and refrigerate until firm.
Grate the remaining chocolate and set aside.
When the chocolate truffle mixture is firm roll into bite size balls and roll in the remaining grated chocolate then lay on a baking sheet or tray.  Return the balls back into the fridge to firm up.
If the truffles are left at room temperature they soon start to squidge up, I personally like mine a little harder and eat them straight from the fridge. Enjoy.

If you fancy a cocktail to go with your white Russian truffles then why not stick with the theme and have one of these…

White Russian Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Kahlua
3/4 oz Whipping Cream

Mix the vodka and Kahlua together then float the cream on top, mine always ends up looking a mess but hey ho, it still tastes good.  Add ice if desired.

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Gross Earthworm Halloween Party Food

By , 9 October, 2011, 2 Comments

My preperations have begun, and the hunt for some unusual Halloween party food is well underway. My first find is a treat for kids and grownups alike, a gelatine earthworm recipe I found on http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/halloween-party-food.html . This is a really great site and has loads of recipes not just for halloween but loads of ocassions….it has promptly been added to my favourites list.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (6 oz) purple gelatin (raspberry or grape work well)
3/4 oz. unflavored gelatin
3 C. boiling water
3/4 C. whipping cream
green food coloring, as needed
100 plastic straws

Instructions: 1. In a medium, heat safe mixing bowl, stir together plain and flavored gelatin powders.

2. Pour boiling water over, stirring until gelatin is fully dissolved.

3. Allow gelatin to cool til only slightly warm.

4. Stir whipping cream into the gelatin mixture. Stir in green food coloring (you’ll probably need 10 drops or more) until your gelatin gets that purpley-brown-grey color of earthworms.

5. With your 100 straws fully extended and snug in your chosen container, pour the gelatin mixture over the straws, filling the container.

6. Cover container and chill at least 8 hours. You can make them and store them this way up to two days in advance of your Halloween party.

7. Remove straws from their container (cutting or ripping a disposable container away is easiest).

8. With hot tap water running, place batches of 4-5 straws under hot running water for a couple quick seconds.

9. Remove “worms” from their straw casings, pressing with fingers. Set on waxed paper to set up.

10. Repeat until all worms are removed.

12. Chill, covered, on waxed paper at least 2 hours.

13. Serve in a chilled bowl, as pictured. Then watch all the kids gobble up this fun Halloween party food.

Recipe taken from http://www.divinedinnerparty.com

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Halloween Chocolate Box

By , 1 October, 2011, No Comment

I love Halloween it’s a great time to get in the kitchen with the nippers and get making all kinds of goodies.  Chocolate is of course a Halloween favourite and you can buy some really great, themed chocolate moulds perfect for making your own Halloween chocolates to adorn your party table.

When making halloween chocolates the trick is to get the presentation just right, and this year I have been looking for a great way to give to my party guest my popping candy truffles and I stumbled acros a fantastic site full of halloween printable goodies, including these mini coffin boxes.

http://www.ravensblight.com/Box.htm

I really looking forward to making these. I’m going to add some truffles inside and maybe a few jelly worms just for effect. Halloween is a great opportunity to revert back to beeing a child, this is going to be our first Halloween party in Qatar and I want to make it really special for everyone. I’m having a little trouble with finding decorations out here but www.ravensblight.com has saved my skin, all I need is to top up on the printer ink and we are well away.

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Marmite Chocolate Bar Review

By , 3 August, 2011, No Comment

Marmite Very Peculiar Chocolate Bar

On my last visit back to the UK my good friends Mr & Mrs Brooks had a treat in store for me and the hubby.  With a grin they produced a very peculiar chocolate bar…. a Marmite Chocolate Bar… now as a Marmite and chocolate advocate it would have been criminal of me not to try the unusual treat.

Marmite Chocolate Bar (not the best picture)

 

Marmite Chocolate

Marmite Chocolate

Naturally it had to pass the sniff test and yes it smelt wonderfully creamy and sweet with a sinister twist of Marmite,it had passed and I was suitably intrigued.  My hubby nonchalantly chomped a piece and claimed his cold had effected his sense of taste so couldn’t tell if it was good or bad!  That was it I had to bite a piece and although the chocolate wasn’t the best quality in terms of snap and all the other usual tell tale sign s of a quality product, I loved it.  The milk chocolate marmite concoction was delicious kind of slightly salty which actually probably made the the marmite chocolate bar taste better. My Marmite hating friend even admitted to liking the chocolate so the boffins at Marmite HQ have a possible convert …you never know!

I probably wouldn’t buy it as an occasional treat however as a stocking filler or gift for a Marmite lover or hater it is well worth the giggles.  It has got me thinking about playing around with my truffle mixture and see if I can make a home version that works as well as the shop bought bar.  I can feel a kitchen session coming on!

Watch this space for my chocolate marmite treats, lol.

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Mocha Milkshake

By , 31 July, 2011, No Comment

Mocha Milkshake Recipe

The weather in Qatar to say the least is sunny, it was a skin blistering 47 today!  I decide to cool myself off with a mocha milkshake.

I used to have the Krups Nescafe Dolche Gusto machine which had a delicious mocha coffee pod but I had to part ways with my beloved coffee machine because I can’t find anywhere that sells the pods out here! When I move back to blighty it will be one of the first purchases I make.  I have to admit that I’m a little coffee spoilt in Qatar, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops here sampling all sorts of wonderful concoctions.

Back to  my thirst quenching mocha milkshake without the Krups Dolche Gusto machine. Not to worry though where there is a will there’s a way…and I was in the mood for Mocha hit.  So I got out my trusty blender and a rather well used caffettiera, …a quick blitz and voila I was sipping on my delicious mocha milkshake.

Ingredients:

1 generous scoop of vanilla
1 shot of espresso
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
Method:

Pop everything into the blender and whizz away until blended thoroughly. Pour into a glass and enjoy.  If you want to vary the milkshake use a different flavoured ice-cream, Chocolate or coffee flavoured would work really well.

The result you get is a really thick and creamy milkshake, if you want to be really indulgent add a squirt of cream and chocolate shavings on top, perfect!

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How to Melt Chocolate

By , 23 July, 2011, No Comment

How to Melt Chocolate

Chocolate can be very sensitive to overheating and will seize into a lumpy grainy mess.  You get the same result if the chocolate comes into contact with moisture, steam or even just a drop from a spoon. When melting chocolate I always ensure the bowl I use is completely dry and I only use a silicone spatula not a the wooden type to stir the chocolate.

You can melt chocolate over simmering water, in the microwave or a specialist chocolate bath, but these are generally used by professionals or extreme enthusiast for tempering chocolate.  As a beginner I would recommend the ban marie method, melting the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water, just because you are in complete control and you get used to the feel of the chocolate.

  I often use the microwave to melt chocolate and do so in a bowl at 10 second intervals or there abouts depending on the quantity of chocolate I’m melting.  White chocolate can be a little tricky to melt in the microwave as it has a tendency to burn very easily so if you are at all worried just opt for melting over boiling water instead.

One last tip,  try not to over stir your chocolate as it melts or you will trap air into it, not a problem if you are making sauces or things but if you are making your own chocolate treats the air bubbles can cause imperfections in your finished product

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White Chocolate Truffle Recipe

By , 16 July, 2011, No Comment

White Chocolate Truffles

Who doesn’t love a chocolate truffle, a luxurious treat and a cinch to make. My husband loves white chocolate and this White chocolate truffle recipe is something to satisfy his sweet tooth.

He can almost guarantee that birthdays and Christmas there will be a white chocolate truffle treat from the children.

When I make truffles I usually just heat chocolate in the microwave however I find that White chocolate has a tendency to misbehave when I heat it in the microwave so I simply heat the wet ingredients and pour over the white chocolate. This method seems to work better for me but you can by all means melt your chocolate in the microwave just be sure to check it at regular intervals to make sure it hasn’t seized and burnt in a white chocolate mess, lol.

Ingredients:

200g white chocolate, chopped into pieces
25g butter at room temperature
180ml whipping cream
Icing sugar for rolling finished truffles

Method:

1.  Break the white chocolate into small pieces and place into a large bowl
2.  In a saucepan heat the cream and butter until just boiling then pour over the white chocolate pieces. Stir untill all of the chocolate has melted and the fully incorporated into the cream.
3.  Let the mixture cool a little then using an electric whisk beat until the mixture starts to thicken, this can take a good few minutes, so a hand whisk is probably out of the question!
4.  Cover the mixture and pop into the fridge until chilled and firm. Again you need to have the patience of a saint to make this recipe, it smells so good but it can take a few hours for the white truffle mixture to set.
5.  Once the white truffle mixture has set shape into balls and roll in icing sugar.

Alterations: Like most chocolate truffles you can coat them in a variety of different ingredients, from chopped nuts, cocoa powder or simple dip into melted chocolate to create a crisp shell…a great contrast to the soft white chocolate truffle filling.

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What is a cacao nib?

By , 27 April, 2011, No Comment

Cacao nibs are not very sweet, in fact they have a bitterness to them and are nothing like chocolate we all know and love. They do have a wonderful chocolatey flavour and although the cocao nibs won’t melt in your mouth like chocolate they do have a great crunchy texture.

You can use cocoa nibs sprinkled on fruit salads, ice-creams or yogurts to add a nice crunch or on ontop of cupcakes and muffins, the sweetness brings out the chocolatey ness of the cocao nibs.

Photo By wonggawei - flikr

What are cocoa nibs?

Cocao nibs are bits of fermented, dried, roasted and crushed cacao beans. They are used in the process of making chocolate, when crushed and combined with sugar you have a rough chocolate. Nibs are hailed as a bit of a health food because of its antioxident properties and have become a really popular ingredient for raw food inthusiasts.

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Gluten Free on a Shoestring Blog

By , 26 April, 2011, No Comment

I recently discovered that my daughter is effected by too much gluten in her diet and so I have made it my mission to try to adapt the foods we love as a family to suit her better.

I discovered a wonderful blog called gluten free on a shoestring and was delighted to find some really tasty looking chocolate treats you can make.  This is a must blog for anyone who wants to cut out the gluten in thier diet.

I think that you will love the look of the double chocolate cookies, go take a look.

The blog is called

Gluten Free on a Shoestring — Making gluten-free enjoyable…and affordable..

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