Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six yummy chocolate recipes to help you through the day, including Buckeyes and Chocolate Truffles. Enjoy!
DECADENT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
I'm not sure where I found this yummy recipe, but it's one of those super-easy desserts that is decadent and tastes like it took forever to make
14-16 oz tub silken tofu
16 oz package chocolate chips
1 T vanilla
1 T maple syrup, optional
Melt chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside. Place tofu in blender. Pulse once or twice to start breaking it down. With spatula or wooden spoon, scrape melted chocolate chips and vanilla into tofu in blender, along with maple syrup, if using. Blend on low setting until chocolate and tofu are completely mixed, maybe 30 seconds. Pour into 4 bowls and let cool.
Note:If you prefer, you can use carob chips in place of the chocolate chips.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This is also from about.com, from their baking and desserts guide.
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whipping cream
6 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/8 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons sour cream
Flavorings (add to your individual taste), such as almond, orange, or coconut extract, or liqueurs such as Amaretto, Framboise, etc.
For Dipping:
3/4 pounds white chocolate (not candy coating), chopped
3/4 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped
For Rolling:
Cocoa powder
Finely chopped nuts
Coconut
Crushed Oreo cookies
Grated chocolate
Bring cream and butter to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium; stir until butter melts. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into as many bowls as you want separate flavors (I split it into thirds and make mint, almond, and raspberry), and add flavorings until you reach desired flavor. (Aw, shucks, you have to keep tasting it here to get it right!) How much you add depends on how many flavors you are making, and the strength of the flavoring you add. When I split it into thirds, I start with about 1/2 tsp of flavoring per batch. Refrigerate mixture until firm enough to be molded, about 1 hour. Line 2 large cookie sheets with foil. Using about 1-2 tablespoons of truffle mixture for each (depending on desired size), form into balls and set on sheets. Refrigerate 2 hours, or freeze for 30-60 minutes.
Dipping/Rolling:
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (I usually microwave mine!) Remove from over water. Using a fork or candy dipper, dunk a truffle in white chocolate, tilting pan, if necessary. Tap against side of pan to to remove excess chocolate. Alide truffle off fork and onto clean foil-lined cookie sheet. Wipe fork clean. Repeat process with as many truffles as you want coated in white chocolate (this amount of chocolate will do half the batch). Freeze for 15 minutes to set chocolate coating. Reheat remaining white chocolate to 115F over simmering water. Repeat dipping process to give truffles a double coating of white chocolate.Refrigerate to set coating, about 30 minutes.
Line another cookie sheet with foil. Melt bittersweet chocolate in top of clean double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (Again, I do this in the microwave.) Using dipping process described above, dip remaining truffles into bittersweet chocolate, dipping each truffle only once. Refrigerate truffles about 30 minutes.
If desired, reheat both chocolates and drizzle opposite color chocolate over completed truffles, to give them a fancy finish.
To Roll:
If you prefer rolling truffles in a coating to dipping them, simply put the desired coating (see suggestions above) in a small zippy bag, add one or two truffles, seal, shake and remove. (Some items, such as coconut, make require some pressure, and are better rolled on a plate.) Put on foil-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate truffles about 30-60 minutes.
Makes about 50 truffles, depending on size.
May be kept, refrigerated, for about 3 weeks -- if you can stay away from them that long!
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES
This one is from page 56 of the January/February 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 25 truffles
The recipe begins, "This recipe offers an introduction to making ganache, a combination of cream and chocolate used for candy fillings, cake frostings, and pastry glazes."
To view this online, click here.
5 oz. dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
7 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 Tbs. whiskey or liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Kahlúa, optional
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Combine dark chocolate and milk chocolate in large heat-proof bowl.
Combine cream and corn syrup in medium saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee granules until dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate, and stir gently until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.
Add whiskey, if using, and stir 1 to 2 minutes with spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate mixture begins to thicken. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Fill small plate with confectioners’ sugar, fill small bowl with cocoa powder, and line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Dip hands in confectioners’ sugar.
Roll small lump of chocolate mixture into 1-inch ball, then roll in cocoa powder. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, dusting hands with confectioners’ sugar to keep truffles from sticking. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This one is from the February, 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times
Makes 40 1-inch truffles
This recipe begins, "Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa."
To view this online, click here.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
WHOOPIE PIES
Here's another recipe from the baking and desserts guide from about.com
This recipe begins, "Want to make someone smile? Just offer them a Whoopie Pie. It's a cookie. It's a cake, but I can't think of it as a pie. It's also known as the official treat of Maine. Typically, it's top and bottom are chocolate cake with a middle fluffy frosting often made with marshmallow fluff. These days you can find fancier versions made of Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin and/or Gingerbread Cake both with a cream cheese frosting filling.
"You'll note that I've included both a from-scratch cake and a cake mix recipe on this page. You could also make yours with a more traditional buttercream frosting. Personally, I prefer the taste and texture of the marshmallow cream frosting," according to Carroll Pellegrinelli, the Baking/Desserts guide.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Yield: Makes 8 individual servings
Ingredients:
From Scratch Whoopie Pies
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk*
Filling
1 cup butter, softened
7-ounce jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake Mix Version
one 18-ounce chocolate or Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil or softened butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
Preparation:
For From-Scratch Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg. Slowly add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Ending with the buttermilk. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into rounds on prepared baking sheet. You should be able to get 16 cakes. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks for cooling. Cool completely.
For Cake Mix Recipe
Mix ingredients in a bowl with a electric mixer to just moisten. Then, on medium for 2 minutes until well combined. Finish by following the above baking instructions.
Filling Instructions -
Cream the butter and marshmallow fluff. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
To Assemble Whoopie Pies -
Place a couple of tablespoons of filling on the flat bottoms of half of the pies. Top the filling with the flat bottoms of the other pies.
Notes in the Margin:
*Don't have buttermilk? Take a glass mixing cup and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the cup with milk. Stir and use instead of the buttermilk.
BUCK-EYES
My mom made these and passed them out for Christmas presents in 1989. It’s amazing that any of them made the trip home; they are incredibly good.
This recipe, as well as the next one (Chocolate Truffles) can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking, which will be updated in the near future.
1 lb. butter or margarine, room temperature
2 lb. peanut butter, room temperature
2-3 lbs. confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
2-12 oz. packages of chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin (4 oz.)
Mix butter & peanut butter. Add vanilla. Blend well. Mix in confectioner’s sugar. Boil into small balls & refrigerate several hours. Melt chocolate chips & paraffin in top of double boiler. With toothpicks in each peanut butter ball, dip ball into melted chocolate, leaving spot on top of peanut butter balls undipped, then place on wax paper to harden. Try not to eat in one sitting!
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…
8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 C heavy cream
cocoa powder for dusting (see note)
Put the cream & chocolate into a pan & heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth & glossy, then pour into a bowl & chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.
NOTE: My daughter-in-law added: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.” Addicting.
Showing posts with label Vegan Chocolate Truffles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegan Chocolate Truffles. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Monday, February 16, 2015
Meatless Monday
It's another Meatless Monday. Enjoy!
EXTRA-CREAMY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
This comes from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 56. It begins, “The subtle heat of cayenne pepper and cinnamon add a little kick to this extra-thick chocolate dip. A touch of cream helps the chocolate set in about 15 minutes and eliminates the need for tempering (bringing it to a certain temperature) in order for it to set.” Makes 12 chocolate-covered strawberries in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
4 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate
5 Tbs. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, optional
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
12 large, long-stemmed strawberries or other dippers
Line baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Fill medium saucepan with 1 inch water, and bring to a boil.
Place chocolate, cream, cinnamon (if using), and cayenne (if using) in nonreactive metal bowl that fits snugly in saucepan over water. Remove saucepan from heat, place bowl on top, cover, and let chocolate melt 3 minutes. Remove bowl from saucepan, and stir chocolate 1 minute, or until completely melted.
Hold 1 strawberry by stem, and dip halfway into chocolate. Gently scrape some chocolate from 1 side of strawberry (to avoid chocolate “foot”), and place scraped side down on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strawberries and chocolate. Chill 15 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving.
nutritional information Per Chocolate-dipped strawberry: Calories: 73; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Sodium: 3 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 5 g; Gluten-Free
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This comes from the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.” Makes 40 1-inch truffles.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
This recipe, as well as the Vegetarian Lasagna are from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
28 oz. can tomatoes (note)
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
2 T honey
1 T vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/4 – 1/2 lb. grated cheese
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything except cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!
Note: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of tomato sauce.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
CRANBERRY PIE
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking, which is for sale on Amazon.com. (To buy a copy of it for your Kindle or tablet, click here.) My dad sent this recipe in a letter dated “18 No 79”. He wrote, “Here is a recipe for a pie. 1st the way it was in the paper and the way I made it.”
2 T cornstarch
1 C sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C hot water
1 C raisins
1 T butter
2 C cranberries
Pie crust
Blend 1st four ingredients & cook in double boiler until thick. Add next 3 ingredients & cook 10 minutes. Put in pie shell & bake at 450 degrees for 20-30 minutes, covering pie with foil for the first 10-15 minutes. (Crust can be any kind you want, whether double crust or simply a bottom crust.)
VARIATION
2 Tbls cornstarch
3/4 C honey + 1/4 C molasses
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C hot water
1 C raisins
1 T margarine
1 1/2 C cranberries + 1 C canned cranberries (kind with berries in sauce)
Pie crust
Make as above.
EXTRA-CREAMY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES
This comes from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 56. It begins, “The subtle heat of cayenne pepper and cinnamon add a little kick to this extra-thick chocolate dip. A touch of cream helps the chocolate set in about 15 minutes and eliminates the need for tempering (bringing it to a certain temperature) in order for it to set.” Makes 12 chocolate-covered strawberries in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
4 oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate
5 Tbs. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, optional
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
12 large, long-stemmed strawberries or other dippers
Line baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. Fill medium saucepan with 1 inch water, and bring to a boil.
Place chocolate, cream, cinnamon (if using), and cayenne (if using) in nonreactive metal bowl that fits snugly in saucepan over water. Remove saucepan from heat, place bowl on top, cover, and let chocolate melt 3 minutes. Remove bowl from saucepan, and stir chocolate 1 minute, or until completely melted.
Hold 1 strawberry by stem, and dip halfway into chocolate. Gently scrape some chocolate from 1 side of strawberry (to avoid chocolate “foot”), and place scraped side down on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strawberries and chocolate. Chill 15 minutes or up to 24 hours before serving.
nutritional information Per Chocolate-dipped strawberry: Calories: 73; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Sodium: 3 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 5 g; Gluten-Free
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This comes from the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.” Makes 40 1-inch truffles.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
This recipe, as well as the Vegetarian Lasagna are from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
28 oz. can tomatoes (note)
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
2 T honey
1 T vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/4 – 1/2 lb. grated cheese
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything except cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!
Note: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of tomato sauce.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
CRANBERRY PIE
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking, which is for sale on Amazon.com. (To buy a copy of it for your Kindle or tablet, click here.) My dad sent this recipe in a letter dated “18 No 79”. He wrote, “Here is a recipe for a pie. 1st the way it was in the paper and the way I made it.”
2 T cornstarch
1 C sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C hot water
1 C raisins
1 T butter
2 C cranberries
Pie crust
Blend 1st four ingredients & cook in double boiler until thick. Add next 3 ingredients & cook 10 minutes. Put in pie shell & bake at 450 degrees for 20-30 minutes, covering pie with foil for the first 10-15 minutes. (Crust can be any kind you want, whether double crust or simply a bottom crust.)
VARIATION
2 Tbls cornstarch
3/4 C honey + 1/4 C molasses
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 C hot water
1 C raisins
1 T margarine
1 1/2 C cranberries + 1 C canned cranberries (kind with berries in sauce)
Pie crust
Make as above.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Friday Recipes
Finally – Friday! Here are some yummy recipes to get you through the weekend. Enjoy!
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This comes from the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.” Makes 40 1-inch truffles.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
RANGE-TOP MARGHERITA-STYLE PIZZA
This is from the FamilyTime newsletter. It starts off, "Toasted whole wheat bread is seasoned with oregano and topped with tomatoes, melted mozzarella and fresh basil for an impromptu classic 'pizza'." Serves 2; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 5 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 slices Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
2 medium plum tomato, thinly sliced
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut up
6 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Spray the top of each bread slice with the cooking spray and sprinkle with the oregano.
Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the bread slices, oregano-side down, and cook until they're lightly browned. Turn the bread slices over.
Top the bread slices with the tomatoes and cheese. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with the basil.
Easy Substitution: Also delicious with Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain 15 Grain Bread.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a chilled salad of cooked brown rice, chopped cucumbers and olives in a light red wine vinaigrette. For dessert, serve fresh fruit topped with light whipped topping and chopped walnuts or pecans.
CHICKEN DINNER IN FOIL
Left to my own devices, I'm a vegetarian. However, I know many people love meat, which is why I've included this, as well as other meat recipes on occasion. This one comes from Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, About.com's Home Cooking expert. She writes, "Cooking meals in foil packets is nothing new to campers. The method also works quite well in your home oven. This particular version is one of the most flavorful you'll ever taste, although there is nothing exotic about it. Measurements, ingredients, and serving sizes are all easily adaptable, and it's easy enough for even the most basic cook." Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Non-stick aluminum foil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 medium red potatoes, scrubbed clean or peeled
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, unthawed
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1-1/2 to 2 cups fine-shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions (scallions)
1/4 cup bacon bits
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 F. Tear off 6 sheets of non-stick foil, approximately 15- x 12-inches.
Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise so they are about 1/2-inch thick. Season on both sides with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, sage, paprika, and black pepper. Set aside.
Slice potatoes into rounds about 1/4-inch thick (see Notes). A mandoline slicer works perfectly for this chore, and it goes fast. Have the remaining ingredients opened and ready to go.
Set up a production line by spreading out each square of foil next to each other. Spray the centers of the squares with butter-flavored oil. Place potato slices in the center, with each slice overlapping halfway, to the length of the chicken breasts. This will be your base to build upon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the seasoned chicken breast halves on top of the potatoes and follow with the broccoli. Spoon the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the broccoli. Top broccoli with Cheddar cheese, green onions, and bacon bits.
Fold up the foil sides and fold the edges down to make individual sealed packets, leaving about 1 inch of air-space at the top. Place the packets on a heavy rimmed baking tray (jelly roll pan).
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the chicken breasts. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve the packets on a plate and let guests open them at the table. Alternatively, you can remove the foil and slide the stacks onto a plate to serve.
A side salad and artisan bread make perfect accompaniments.
Notes:
• It is important that the potatoes be sliced evenly and thin. Otherwise, they will not cook through.
• Cream of celery, chicken, or cheese soups may be substituted for the cream of mushroom soup, as well as low-fat and low-sodium varieties. Spoon the soup on straight from the can.
• You may substitute skinless, boneless chicken thighs for the chicken breasts. Increase the baking time to 45 to 50 minutes.
• Frozen mixed vegetables of your choice may be substituted for the broccoli.
• Prepared stuffing may be substituted for the potatoes.
• I do not recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces for this recipe. Although I normally prefer skin-on, bone-in chicken for flavor and moisture retention, this method and cooking time will not be long enough to render the fat and cook the chicken completely. If you increase the cooking time, the vegetables will lose texture integrity and become mushy.
• As you can tell from reading the method, this recipe is easily multiplied. The ingredient amounts are easily adjustable to suit your own tastes.
• The foil packets work just as well in a covered grill.
• Be careful of steam when you open the packets. If you use commercial chicken, you will notice it releases a lot of water. This is because commercial chicken is enhanced. You may wish to open one end of the packet and drain any excess liquid before serving.
CRUSTLESS BASQUE QUICHE
With tons of taste but little fat, this light and luscious quiche is the perfect choice for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Serve with fresh fruit salad.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/843.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/12.shtml
Ingredients
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 medium Roma tomatoes, juiced and chopped (about 3/4 cup)
6 ounces ham, OR Canadian bacon, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped, from a jar, patted dry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 cup nonfat half & half
1 cup egg substitute
1 cup mozzarella cheese, reduced fat, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch glass pie pan with non-stick spray. Dust the bottom and sides of the pan with the breadcrumbs and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and saute until beginning to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ham and bell pepper. Spoon into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Place the cornstarch, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl; slowly whisk in the half and half to blend. Whisk in the egg substitute and pour the mixture into the pan. Top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and set. Let the quiche rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top, if desired. Cut in wedges and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 480 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
ROASTED APPLE AND WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from TheKitchen, and can be viewed online here. Serves 4.
3 pounds winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 cups unsalted vegetable broth
Garnish
1 medium sweet-tart apple
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, combine the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme, and allspice. Spread the vegetables/fruit on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until tender, about 40 minutes.
Puree the roasted vegetables/fruit with the vegetable broth. If using an immersion blender, this may be done in a large pot. If using a food processor, this may be done in batches, transferring the puree to a large pot as you go along.
Place the pot over medium heat and simmer until warmed through. If a thinner consistency is desired, add water or more broth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To serve, garnish with thinly sliced or diced apples. (Sliced apples may be pan-fried in a little butter or olive oil until golden.)
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This comes from the February 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.” Makes 40 1-inch truffles.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
nutritional information Per Truffle: Calories: 45; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 19 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
RANGE-TOP MARGHERITA-STYLE PIZZA
This is from the FamilyTime newsletter. It starts off, "Toasted whole wheat bread is seasoned with oregano and topped with tomatoes, melted mozzarella and fresh basil for an impromptu classic 'pizza'." Serves 2; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 5 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 slices Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
2 medium plum tomato, thinly sliced
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut up
6 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Spray the top of each bread slice with the cooking spray and sprinkle with the oregano.
Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the bread slices, oregano-side down, and cook until they're lightly browned. Turn the bread slices over.
Top the bread slices with the tomatoes and cheese. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with the basil.
Easy Substitution: Also delicious with Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain 15 Grain Bread.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a chilled salad of cooked brown rice, chopped cucumbers and olives in a light red wine vinaigrette. For dessert, serve fresh fruit topped with light whipped topping and chopped walnuts or pecans.
CHICKEN DINNER IN FOIL
Left to my own devices, I'm a vegetarian. However, I know many people love meat, which is why I've included this, as well as other meat recipes on occasion. This one comes from Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, About.com's Home Cooking expert. She writes, "Cooking meals in foil packets is nothing new to campers. The method also works quite well in your home oven. This particular version is one of the most flavorful you'll ever taste, although there is nothing exotic about it. Measurements, ingredients, and serving sizes are all easily adaptable, and it's easy enough for even the most basic cook." Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Non-stick aluminum foil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 medium red potatoes, scrubbed clean or peeled
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, unthawed
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1-1/2 to 2 cups fine-shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions (scallions)
1/4 cup bacon bits
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 F. Tear off 6 sheets of non-stick foil, approximately 15- x 12-inches.
Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise so they are about 1/2-inch thick. Season on both sides with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, sage, paprika, and black pepper. Set aside.
Slice potatoes into rounds about 1/4-inch thick (see Notes). A mandoline slicer works perfectly for this chore, and it goes fast. Have the remaining ingredients opened and ready to go.
Set up a production line by spreading out each square of foil next to each other. Spray the centers of the squares with butter-flavored oil. Place potato slices in the center, with each slice overlapping halfway, to the length of the chicken breasts. This will be your base to build upon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the seasoned chicken breast halves on top of the potatoes and follow with the broccoli. Spoon the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the broccoli. Top broccoli with Cheddar cheese, green onions, and bacon bits.
Fold up the foil sides and fold the edges down to make individual sealed packets, leaving about 1 inch of air-space at the top. Place the packets on a heavy rimmed baking tray (jelly roll pan).
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the chicken breasts. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve the packets on a plate and let guests open them at the table. Alternatively, you can remove the foil and slide the stacks onto a plate to serve.
A side salad and artisan bread make perfect accompaniments.
Notes:
• It is important that the potatoes be sliced evenly and thin. Otherwise, they will not cook through.
• Cream of celery, chicken, or cheese soups may be substituted for the cream of mushroom soup, as well as low-fat and low-sodium varieties. Spoon the soup on straight from the can.
• You may substitute skinless, boneless chicken thighs for the chicken breasts. Increase the baking time to 45 to 50 minutes.
• Frozen mixed vegetables of your choice may be substituted for the broccoli.
• Prepared stuffing may be substituted for the potatoes.
• I do not recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces for this recipe. Although I normally prefer skin-on, bone-in chicken for flavor and moisture retention, this method and cooking time will not be long enough to render the fat and cook the chicken completely. If you increase the cooking time, the vegetables will lose texture integrity and become mushy.
• As you can tell from reading the method, this recipe is easily multiplied. The ingredient amounts are easily adjustable to suit your own tastes.
• The foil packets work just as well in a covered grill.
• Be careful of steam when you open the packets. If you use commercial chicken, you will notice it releases a lot of water. This is because commercial chicken is enhanced. You may wish to open one end of the packet and drain any excess liquid before serving.
CRUSTLESS BASQUE QUICHE
With tons of taste but little fat, this light and luscious quiche is the perfect choice for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Serve with fresh fruit salad.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/843.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/12.shtml
Ingredients
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 medium Roma tomatoes, juiced and chopped (about 3/4 cup)
6 ounces ham, OR Canadian bacon, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped, from a jar, patted dry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 cup nonfat half & half
1 cup egg substitute
1 cup mozzarella cheese, reduced fat, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch glass pie pan with non-stick spray. Dust the bottom and sides of the pan with the breadcrumbs and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and saute until beginning to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ham and bell pepper. Spoon into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Place the cornstarch, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl; slowly whisk in the half and half to blend. Whisk in the egg substitute and pour the mixture into the pan. Top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and set. Let the quiche rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top, if desired. Cut in wedges and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 480 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
ROASTED APPLE AND WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from TheKitchen, and can be viewed online here. Serves 4.
3 pounds winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 cups unsalted vegetable broth
Garnish
1 medium sweet-tart apple
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, combine the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme, and allspice. Spread the vegetables/fruit on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until tender, about 40 minutes.
Puree the roasted vegetables/fruit with the vegetable broth. If using an immersion blender, this may be done in a large pot. If using a food processor, this may be done in batches, transferring the puree to a large pot as you go along.
Place the pot over medium heat and simmer until warmed through. If a thinner consistency is desired, add water or more broth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To serve, garnish with thinly sliced or diced apples. (Sliced apples may be pan-fried in a little butter or olive oil until golden.)
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Valentine's Day Yummies
Valentine's Day is one of those days that seem to call for something special, whether it's flowers, cards, a day at the spa, or food. While I can't help you with the first three options, I can give you a few ideas for yummy food that might just fit the bill.
Some of these recipes are from different emailing lists that I'm on, while others are foods that I've made for so many years that I'd be at a loss as to where I first found them. Those recipes from emailing lists, etc. will be so labeled.
DECADENT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
14-16 oz tub silken tofu
16 oz package chocolate chips
1 T vanilla
1 T maple syrup, optional
Melt chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside. Place tofu in blender. Pulse once or twice to start breaking it down. With spatula or wooden spoon, scrape melted chocolate chips and vanilla into tofu in blender, along with maple syrup, if using. Blend on low setting until chocolate and tofu are completely mixed, maybe 30 seconds. Pour into 4 bowls and let cool.
Note:If you prefer, you can use carob chips in place of the chocolate chips.
TUXEDO STRAWBERRIES
This recipe is from About.com. I originally found it in their Today email, but it was originally posted in the candy emails (http://candy.about.com). I love about.com, since you can find different email lists on all sorts of stuff.
According the the candy email, "Tuxedo Strawberries are beautiful strawberries decorated with white and dark chocolate to resemble tiny tuxedos. They are the perfect candy for Valentine's Day, weddings, showers, or any romantic occasion. Be sure to check out the photo tutorial with step-by-step instructions showing how to make tuxedo strawberries.This recipe calls for candy coating, which stays hard at room temperature and provides a nice shine. You can use real chocolate and white chocolate if you prefer, but it has a tendency to get soft at warm temperatures, so either keep the berries chilled until serving, or consider tempering the chocolates."
1 lb large strawberries
12 oz chocolate candy coating
12 oz white chocolate candy coating
1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil or waxed paper and set aside for now. Wash the strawberries and dry them carefully, as excess water can interfere with the dipping process.
2. Melt the white chocolate candy coating in the microwave, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
3. Dip a strawberry into the white chocolate until it is almost submerged, but leave about 1/2-inch of undipped berry at the top. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess white chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in white chocolate.
4. Place the dipped berries in the refrigerator to set the white chocolate while you prepare the dark chocolate for dipping. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
5. Once the white chocolate is completely set on the berries, take one berry and dip it into the dark chocolate at a 45-degree angle, so that the chocolate covers one side of the berry on the diagonal. Now turn it in the opposite direction and dip the other side on a 45-degree angle. The final result should be a berry that has a white "V" of chocolate showing through a darker outer coating.
6. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in dark chocolate.
7. Now it's time to give your berries bow ties and buttons. To pipe these on, you can use a piping bag fitted with a small round attachment, a paper cone, or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Whichever method you choose, spoon some melted chocolate into your tool of choice. Make a bow tie by drawing two connected triangles at the top of the white V. Below this, place two or three dots for buttons. Repeat until all of your strawberries are decorated.
8. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to set the dark chocolate, for about 10 minutes. Your Tuxedo Strawberries are now ready to eat! They will keep in the refrigerator for several days, but I think they are best soon after they are made. If you do save them for 2-3 days, expect to see some condensation on them as they come to room temperature.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This is also from about.com, from their baking and desserts guide (http://baking.about.com).
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whipping cream
6 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/8 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons sour cream
Flavorings (add to your individual taste), such as almond, orange, or coconut extract, or liqueurs such as Amaretto, Framboise, etc.
For Dipping:
3/4 pounds white chocolate (not candy coating), chopped
3/4 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped
For Rolling:
Cocoa powder
Finely chopped nuts
Coconut
Crushed Oreo cookies
Grated chocolate
Bring cream and butter to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium; stir until butter melts. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into as many bowls as you want separate flavors (I split it into thirds and make mint, almond, and raspberry), and add flavorings until you reach desired flavor. (Aw, shucks, you have to keep tasting it here to get it right!) How much you add depends on how many flavors you are making, and the strength of the flavoring you add. When I split it into thirds, I start with about 1/2 tsp of flavoring per batch.Refrigerate mixture until firm enough to be molded, about 1 hour. Line 2 large cookie sheets with foil. Using about 1-2 tablespoons of truffle mixture for each (depending on desired size), form into balls and set on sheets. Refrigerate 2 hours, or freeze for 30-60 minutes.
Dipping/Rolling:
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (I usually microwave mine!) Remove from over water. Using a fork or candy dipper, dunk a truffle in white chocolate, tilting pan, if necessary. Tap against side of pan to to remove excess chocolate. Alide truffle off fork and onto clean foil-lined cookie sheet. Wipe fork clean. Repeat process with as many truffles as you want coated in white chocolate (this amount of chocolate will do half the batch). Freeze for 15 minutes to set chocolate coating. Reheat remaining white chocolate to 115F over simmering water. Repeat dipping process to give truffles a double coating of white chocolate.Refrigerate to set coating, about 30 minutes.
Line another cookie sheet with foil. Melt bittersweet chocolate in top of clean double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (Again, I do this in the microwave.) Using dipping process described above, dip remaining truffles into bittersweet chocolate, dipping each truffle only once. Refrigerate truffles about 30 minutes.
If desired, reheat both chocolates and drizzle opposite color chocolate over completed truffles, to give them a fancy finish.
TO ROLL:
If you prefer rolling truffles in a coating to dipping them, simply put the desired coating (see suggestions above) in a small zippy bag, add one or two truffles, seal, shake and remove. (Some items, such as coconut, make require some pressure, and are better rolled on a plate.) Put on foil-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate truffles about 30-60 minutes.
Makes about 50 truffles, depending on size.
May be kept, refrigerated, for about 3 weeks -- if you can stay away from them that long!
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES
This one is from page 56 of the January/February 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 25 truffles
This recipe offers an introduction to making ganache, a combination of cream and chocolate used for candy fillings, cake frostings, and pastry glazes.
5 oz. dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
7 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 Tbs. whiskey or liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Kahlúa, optional
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
1. Combine dark chocolate and milk chocolate in large heat-proof bowl.
2. Combine cream and corn syrup in medium saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee granules until dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate, and stir gently until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Add whiskey, if using, and stir 1 to 2 minutes with spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate mixture begins to thicken. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Fill small plate with confectioners’ sugar, fill small bowl with cocoa powder, and line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
5. Dip hands in confectioners’ sugar. Roll small lump of chocolate mixture into 1-inch ball, then roll in cocoa powder. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, dusting hands with confectioners’ sugar to keep truffles from sticking. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.
Vegan Chocolate Truffles
This one is from the February, 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 40 1-inch truffles
Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1. Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
2. Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
3. Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
WHOOPIE PIES
Here's another recipe from the Baking/Desserts emailing list from about.com.
Want to make someone smile? Just offer them a Whoopie Pie. It's a cookie. It's a cake, but I can't think of it as a pie. It's also known as the official treat of Maine. Typically, it's top and bottom are chocolate cake with a middle fluffy frosting often made with marshmallow fluff. These days you can find fancier versions made of Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin and/or Gingerbread Cake both with a cream cheese frosting filling.
"You'll note that I've included both a from-scratch cake and a cake mix recipe on this page. You could also make yours with a more traditional buttercream frosting1. Personally, I prefer the taste and texture of the marshmallow cream frosting," according to Carroll Pellegrinelli, the Baking/Desserts guide.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Yield: Makes 8 individual servings
Ingredients:
From Scratch Whoopie Pies
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk*
Filling
1 cup butter, softened
7-ounce jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake Mix Version
one 18-ounce chocolate or Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil or softened butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
Preparation:
For From-Scratch Recipe -
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg. Slowly add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Ending with the buttermilk. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into rounds on prepared baking sheet. You should be able to get 16 cakes. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks for cooling. Cool completely.
For Cake Mix Recipe
Mix ingredients in a bowl with a electric mixer to just moisten. Then, on medium for 2 minutes until well combined. Finish by following the above baking instructions.
Filling Instructions -
Cream the butter and marshmallow fluff. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
To Assemble Whoopie Pies -
Place a couple of tablespoons of filling on the flat bottoms of half of the pies. Top the filling with the flat bottoms of the other pies.
Notes in the Margin:
*Don't have buttermilk? Take a glass mixing cup and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the cup with milk. Stir and use instead of the buttermilk.
BUCK-EYES
My mom made these and passed them out for Christmas presents in 1989. It’s amazing that any of them made the trip home; they are incredibly good.
1 lb. butter or margarine, room temperature
2 lb. peanut butter, room temperature
2-3 lbs. confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
2-12 oz. packages of chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin (4 oz.)
Mix butter & peanut butter. Add vanilla. Blend well. Mix in confectioner’s sugar. Boil into small balls & refrigerate several hours. Melt chocolate chips & paraffin in top of double boiler. With toothpicks in each peanut butter ball, dip ball into melted chocolate, leaving spot on top of peanut butter balls undipped, then place on wax paper to harden. Try not to eat in one sitting!
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…
8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 C heavy cream
cocoa powder for dusting (see note)
Put the cream & chocolate into a pan & heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth & glossy, then pour into a bowl & chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.
NOTE: My daughter-in-law added: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.” Addicting.
Some of these recipes are from different emailing lists that I'm on, while others are foods that I've made for so many years that I'd be at a loss as to where I first found them. Those recipes from emailing lists, etc. will be so labeled.
DECADENT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
14-16 oz tub silken tofu
16 oz package chocolate chips
1 T vanilla
1 T maple syrup, optional
Melt chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Set aside. Place tofu in blender. Pulse once or twice to start breaking it down. With spatula or wooden spoon, scrape melted chocolate chips and vanilla into tofu in blender, along with maple syrup, if using. Blend on low setting until chocolate and tofu are completely mixed, maybe 30 seconds. Pour into 4 bowls and let cool.
Note:If you prefer, you can use carob chips in place of the chocolate chips.
TUXEDO STRAWBERRIES
This recipe is from About.com. I originally found it in their Today email, but it was originally posted in the candy emails (http://candy.about.com). I love about.com, since you can find different email lists on all sorts of stuff.
According the the candy email, "Tuxedo Strawberries are beautiful strawberries decorated with white and dark chocolate to resemble tiny tuxedos. They are the perfect candy for Valentine's Day, weddings, showers, or any romantic occasion. Be sure to check out the photo tutorial with step-by-step instructions showing how to make tuxedo strawberries.This recipe calls for candy coating, which stays hard at room temperature and provides a nice shine. You can use real chocolate and white chocolate if you prefer, but it has a tendency to get soft at warm temperatures, so either keep the berries chilled until serving, or consider tempering the chocolates."
1 lb large strawberries
12 oz chocolate candy coating
12 oz white chocolate candy coating
1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil or waxed paper and set aside for now. Wash the strawberries and dry them carefully, as excess water can interfere with the dipping process.
2. Melt the white chocolate candy coating in the microwave, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
3. Dip a strawberry into the white chocolate until it is almost submerged, but leave about 1/2-inch of undipped berry at the top. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess white chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in white chocolate.
4. Place the dipped berries in the refrigerator to set the white chocolate while you prepare the dark chocolate for dipping. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
5. Once the white chocolate is completely set on the berries, take one berry and dip it into the dark chocolate at a 45-degree angle, so that the chocolate covers one side of the berry on the diagonal. Now turn it in the opposite direction and dip the other side on a 45-degree angle. The final result should be a berry that has a white "V" of chocolate showing through a darker outer coating.
6. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and scrape the bottom of the berry against the lip of the bowl to remove excess chocolate that might pool around the bottom of the berry. Place the berry onto the foil-lined baking sheet, and repeat with remaining berries, until all have been dipped in dark chocolate.
7. Now it's time to give your berries bow ties and buttons. To pipe these on, you can use a piping bag fitted with a small round attachment, a paper cone, or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off. Whichever method you choose, spoon some melted chocolate into your tool of choice. Make a bow tie by drawing two connected triangles at the top of the white V. Below this, place two or three dots for buttons. Repeat until all of your strawberries are decorated.
8. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to set the dark chocolate, for about 10 minutes. Your Tuxedo Strawberries are now ready to eat! They will keep in the refrigerator for several days, but I think they are best soon after they are made. If you do save them for 2-3 days, expect to see some condensation on them as they come to room temperature.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This is also from about.com, from their baking and desserts guide (http://baking.about.com).
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whipping cream
6 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/8 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons sour cream
Flavorings (add to your individual taste), such as almond, orange, or coconut extract, or liqueurs such as Amaretto, Framboise, etc.
For Dipping:
3/4 pounds white chocolate (not candy coating), chopped
3/4 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped
For Rolling:
Cocoa powder
Finely chopped nuts
Coconut
Crushed Oreo cookies
Grated chocolate
Bring cream and butter to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium; stir until butter melts. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into as many bowls as you want separate flavors (I split it into thirds and make mint, almond, and raspberry), and add flavorings until you reach desired flavor. (Aw, shucks, you have to keep tasting it here to get it right!) How much you add depends on how many flavors you are making, and the strength of the flavoring you add. When I split it into thirds, I start with about 1/2 tsp of flavoring per batch.Refrigerate mixture until firm enough to be molded, about 1 hour. Line 2 large cookie sheets with foil. Using about 1-2 tablespoons of truffle mixture for each (depending on desired size), form into balls and set on sheets. Refrigerate 2 hours, or freeze for 30-60 minutes.
Dipping/Rolling:
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (I usually microwave mine!) Remove from over water. Using a fork or candy dipper, dunk a truffle in white chocolate, tilting pan, if necessary. Tap against side of pan to to remove excess chocolate. Alide truffle off fork and onto clean foil-lined cookie sheet. Wipe fork clean. Repeat process with as many truffles as you want coated in white chocolate (this amount of chocolate will do half the batch). Freeze for 15 minutes to set chocolate coating. Reheat remaining white chocolate to 115F over simmering water. Repeat dipping process to give truffles a double coating of white chocolate.Refrigerate to set coating, about 30 minutes.
Line another cookie sheet with foil. Melt bittersweet chocolate in top of clean double boiler over simmering water, stirring until candy thermometer registers 115F. (Again, I do this in the microwave.) Using dipping process described above, dip remaining truffles into bittersweet chocolate, dipping each truffle only once. Refrigerate truffles about 30 minutes.
If desired, reheat both chocolates and drizzle opposite color chocolate over completed truffles, to give them a fancy finish.
TO ROLL:
If you prefer rolling truffles in a coating to dipping them, simply put the desired coating (see suggestions above) in a small zippy bag, add one or two truffles, seal, shake and remove. (Some items, such as coconut, make require some pressure, and are better rolled on a plate.) Put on foil-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate truffles about 30-60 minutes.
Makes about 50 truffles, depending on size.
May be kept, refrigerated, for about 3 weeks -- if you can stay away from them that long!
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES
This one is from page 56 of the January/February 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 25 truffles
This recipe offers an introduction to making ganache, a combination of cream and chocolate used for candy fillings, cake frostings, and pastry glazes.
5 oz. dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
7 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 Tbs. whiskey or liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Kahlúa, optional
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
1. Combine dark chocolate and milk chocolate in large heat-proof bowl.
2. Combine cream and corn syrup in medium saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee granules until dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate, and stir gently until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Add whiskey, if using, and stir 1 to 2 minutes with spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate mixture begins to thicken. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Fill small plate with confectioners’ sugar, fill small bowl with cocoa powder, and line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
5. Dip hands in confectioners’ sugar. Roll small lump of chocolate mixture into 1-inch ball, then roll in cocoa powder. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, dusting hands with confectioners’ sugar to keep truffles from sticking. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.
Vegan Chocolate Truffles
This one is from the February, 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 40 1-inch truffles
Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa.
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1. Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
2. Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
3. Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
WHOOPIE PIES
Here's another recipe from the Baking/Desserts emailing list from about.com.
Want to make someone smile? Just offer them a Whoopie Pie. It's a cookie. It's a cake, but I can't think of it as a pie. It's also known as the official treat of Maine. Typically, it's top and bottom are chocolate cake with a middle fluffy frosting often made with marshmallow fluff. These days you can find fancier versions made of Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin and/or Gingerbread Cake both with a cream cheese frosting filling.
"You'll note that I've included both a from-scratch cake and a cake mix recipe on this page. You could also make yours with a more traditional buttercream frosting1. Personally, I prefer the taste and texture of the marshmallow cream frosting," according to Carroll Pellegrinelli, the Baking/Desserts guide.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Yield: Makes 8 individual servings
Ingredients:
From Scratch Whoopie Pies
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk*
Filling
1 cup butter, softened
7-ounce jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake Mix Version
one 18-ounce chocolate or Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil or softened butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
Preparation:
For From-Scratch Recipe -
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg. Slowly add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Ending with the buttermilk. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into rounds on prepared baking sheet. You should be able to get 16 cakes. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks for cooling. Cool completely.
For Cake Mix Recipe
Mix ingredients in a bowl with a electric mixer to just moisten. Then, on medium for 2 minutes until well combined. Finish by following the above baking instructions.
Filling Instructions -
Cream the butter and marshmallow fluff. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
To Assemble Whoopie Pies -
Place a couple of tablespoons of filling on the flat bottoms of half of the pies. Top the filling with the flat bottoms of the other pies.
Notes in the Margin:
*Don't have buttermilk? Take a glass mixing cup and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the cup with milk. Stir and use instead of the buttermilk.
BUCK-EYES
My mom made these and passed them out for Christmas presents in 1989. It’s amazing that any of them made the trip home; they are incredibly good.
1 lb. butter or margarine, room temperature
2 lb. peanut butter, room temperature
2-3 lbs. confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
2-12 oz. packages of chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin (4 oz.)
Mix butter & peanut butter. Add vanilla. Blend well. Mix in confectioner’s sugar. Boil into small balls & refrigerate several hours. Melt chocolate chips & paraffin in top of double boiler. With toothpicks in each peanut butter ball, dip ball into melted chocolate, leaving spot on top of peanut butter balls undipped, then place on wax paper to harden. Try not to eat in one sitting!
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…
8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 C heavy cream
cocoa powder for dusting (see note)
Put the cream & chocolate into a pan & heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth & glossy, then pour into a bowl & chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.
NOTE: My daughter-in-law added: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.” Addicting.
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