Chocolate Heaven

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Indulge Your Senses

I always love sweet dessert,chocolate and cheese.Let's indulge your senses and taste from these photos!!!! Eat well, serve with a smile, laugh often!

Mango dessert with ice cream

Ingredients:

4 mangos - peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 cup simple syrup
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

What’s Next:

Place cubed mango in a food processor, and puree.

Pour in simple syrup and lime juice, and puree until smooth.

Place in an ice cream maker. Freeze it and ready to serve.

Strawberry cake

Brownies

Chocolate Goat cheese cookies

Nyummiesssssss!!

posted by Silent Shooter @ 7:48 PM 0 comments

Chocolate Rum balls

Chocolate Rum balls
makes 24

2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
1 cup ground pecans
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup rum
3 Tbs. corn syrup
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup chocolate sprinkles

In bowl, combine cookie crumbs, pecans, sugar, rum and corn syrup.

shape into 1 inch balls measuring about 1 Tablespoon of mixture.
Line a tray with wax paper. Place balls on a tray and refrigerate until cold.

In a double boiler using hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate; let cool slightly.

Dip balls into melted chocolate with only a thin coat. Roll in candy sprinkles. Place balls on the waxed paper lined tray until chocolate is set.

Labels: Chocolate Recipes

posted by Silent Shooter @ 1:46 AM 0 comments

The History of Chocolate

The tasty secret of the cacao (kah KOW) tree was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. The pods of this tree contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet encompasses many cultures and continents.

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people, including the Maya and Aztec, mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, and the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favorite flavors

Labels: Chocolate History, Chocolate Information

posted by Silent Shooter @ 1:42 AM 0 comments

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

A wonderful devil's food-like chocolate cake with a rich, creamy chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate ButtercreamYield: 15 servings

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/2 cup sour milk*
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup boiling water

Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
Dash salt
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Heat oven to 350 F.
Combine sugar and 1/2 cup butter in large mixer bowl. Using an electric mixer beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add milk, 2 ounces melted chocolate, eggs and vanilla; continue beating until smooth (1 to 2 minutes). Add flour, baking soda and salt. Reduce speed to low; beat until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes). Add boiling water; continue beating until smooth (1 to 2 minutes).

Pour batter into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Place 1/2 cup butter in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar, cocoa and salt alternately with whipping cream and 1 ounce melted chocolate, scraping bowl often and beating well after each addition (2 to 3 minutes). Stir in corn syrup. Frost cooled cake.

*Substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar plus enough milk to equal 1/2 cup.

Labels: Chocolate Recipes

posted by Silent Shooter @ 2:28 AM 0 comments

Chocolate Chip Scones

Yield: 8 servings

2 cups Flour
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Butter, cold cubes
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Cream
1 Egg, beaten
1 cup Chocolate Chips

Sift all the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt into a large bowl. Then cut the cold butter into cubes and mix into the dry ingredients with your hands. Mix until the butter is about pea size balls. Add the eggs one at a time and mix them in thoroughly. Then add the cream and chocolate chips and mix well. The dough will be wet.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray to make sure the scones will not stick. Form the dough into shapes like triangles or squares. You can shape the dough into a large disc and pat it out to about 1/2 thick and score it into 6 or 8 pieces.

Egg wash over the scones and bake at 375 F for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and baked through. Remove the scones from the oven and let cool. When cool, cut where you scored it serve and enjoy.

Labels: Chocolate Recipes

posted by Silent Shooter @ 2:19 AM 0 comments

Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake

Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake

Chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, and chocolate mousse team up with fruit in this incredible dessert. Begin making the cake one day ahead. Enjoy the extra mousse later.

Yield: 20 servings.

PHOTO: BRIAN LEATART Cake
2 3/4 cups cake flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Ganache
3 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Mousse
4 1/3 cups chilled heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Assembly and serving
2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

parchment or wax paper (for cake pans and two 4 1/2-inch-wide by 15 3/4-inch-long strips for chocolate decoration)

3/4 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

3 1/2-pint baskets raspberries
1/2 pound cherries
1 1-pint basket small strawberries
1 1/2-pint basket blueberries
1 1/2-pint basket blackberries

Make cake:
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 F. Butter and flour two 10-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; line each with round of parchment paper or waxed paper. Combine first 5 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend well. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, eggs and egg yolks in large bowl until very thick and heavy ribbon falls when beaters are lifted, about 6 minutes. Add oil, sour cream and vanilla, then dry ingredients all at once to egg mixture. Beat at low speed until just blended, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl. Beat at high speed until well blended, about 3 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips; divide batter between prepared pans (about 3 3/4 cups batter in each).

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on racks. Cover; let cakes stand at room temperature overnight.

Make ganache:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer ganache to glass bowl. Let stand until thick enough to spread, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)

Make mousse:
Using electric mixer, beat 3 1/3 cups cream in large bowl until peaks form; refrigerate. Combine remaining 1 cup cream and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan and bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted, smooth, and still warm to touch. Pour warm chocolate mixture directly onto whipped cream and fold in gently. Chill until mousse is set, at least 8 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)

Assemble and serve cake:
Cut around pan sides; turn out cakes. Peel off paper. Cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on 9-inch cake board round. Place another layer, cut side up, on clean baking sheet. Spread each with 1/3 cup raspberry jam. Chill until jam sets, about 15 minutes

If ganache is chilled, microwave on defrost setting in 15-second repetitions until just soft enough to spread, stirring occasionally. Drop 1 cup ganache by rounded teaspoonfuls over each jam layer. Using offset spatula (angled blade), gently spread ganache to cover jam. Drop 3 cups mousse by heaping spoonfuls onto each ganache layer; gently spread to cover. Refrigerate cake layers 30 minutes. Using large metal spatula, place cake layer from baking sheet, mousse side up, atop cake layer on cake board. Place third cake layer, cut side down, on cake (reserve remaining cake layer for another use). Spread 1 cup mousse over top of assembled cake. Using spatula, spread sides of assembled cake with enough ganache (about 1 1/2 cups) to fill gaps and make smooth surface. Transfer cake to platter.

Turn 1 large baking sheet upside down on work surface. Arrange two 20-inch-long pieces of foil on work surface. Cut two 4 1/2-inch-wide by 15 3/4-inch-long strips from parchment paper. Lay 1 parchment strip, onto each sheet of foil. Place chocolate in medium metal bowl; set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Stir until chocolate is smooth and very warm to touch (about 115°F). Remove bowl from over water.

Pour thick ribbon of melted chocolate (about 2/3 cup) onto 1 parchment strip. Using long offset spatula (angled blade), spread chocolate evenly over parchment strip, covering completely (chocolate will run over sides of strip). Lift edge of chocolate-coated strip with tip of knife. Slide hands between parchment strip and foil, lift entire parchment strip and place it, chocolate side up, on inverted baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate on strip is set and loses gloss but is still flexible (do not let chocolate become too firm), about 1 1/2 minutes. Using fingertips, lift chocolate-coated strip and attach, chocolate side in, to side of cake. Press strip to seal chocolate to side of cake (strip will stand about 1 inch above top edge of cake).
Coat remaining parchment strip with chocolate, transfer to inverted baking sheet; chill until set but still flexible. Arrange 1 end of second strip against (but not overlapping) 1 end of first strip. Press second strip to seal chocolate to side of cake (both strips will just encircle cake). Refrigerate cake until chocolate strips are firm, about 30 minutes.
Carefully peel parchment paper off chocolate strips. Chill cake at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.

Mound fruit atop cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Cake can be assembled up to 8 hours ahead.)

Labels: Chocolate Recipes

posted by Silent Shooter @ 2:15 AM 1 comments

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing is more delicious than a warm, chewy chocolate chip cookie. Using whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose makes this a contender for the best-tasting cookie ever!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip CookiesYield: 3 dozen cookies

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups Gold Medal whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Heat oven to 375 F.

Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips. Feeling a little nutty? Go ahead and add 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts with the chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

posted by Silent Shooter @ 1:29 AM 0 comments