Showing posts with label april. Show all posts
Showing posts with label april. Show all posts
Saturday, February 14, 2015
The Weekend Gourmet Dines Out for April Featuring Sea Island Shrimp House
Disclosure: Sea Island hosted our visit to facilitate this feature. All opinions expressed are my own, and all photographs are copyrighted by Michael K. Garcia. They may not be copied or otherwise used without prior permission.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
April Secret Recipe Club Featuring Flourless Chocolate Toffee Cookies from Love and Flour
Its once again time for this months Secret Recipe Club reveal! This month, I was given a fantastic blog that was chock-full of all sorts of sweet delights: Love and Flour. I knew that I wanted to make some cookies, and she had a TON of great cookie recipes to choose from! Ultimately, I decided to go with her take on Francois Payards Flourless Chocolate Cookies. I made two small changes to her recipe: instead of adding chocolate chips to the brownie-like dough, I used what I had on hand in my pantry: pecans and toffee chips to make Flourless Chocolate-Toffee Cookies.
These cookies are a snap to whip up using only a handful of ingredients that are in my kitchen all the time. You do have to allow about an hour for the cookies to cool, but youre rewarded with a dozen chewy, decadent chocolate cookies studded with pecans and bits of toffee. All you need is a glass of ice-cold milk and youre ready for the perfect afternoon snack or midnight snack!!
Read more »
Flourless Chocolate-Toffee Cookies
adapted from Love and Flour
adapted from Love and Flour
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and set aside. Add the following ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer: 3 cups powdered sugar and 3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder. Mix on low speed until the sugar and cocoa are combined. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/2 cup toffee chips. Mix into the sugar-cocoa mixture on low speed until combined.
Step 2: Add 1 tbs. vanilla extract and the eggs whites from 3 large eggs. Mix on low speed just until the egg whites are incorporated and the mixture looks similar to brownie batter. If you overmix, the batter will be too stiff.
Step 3: Spoon the batter onto the baking sheet in 12 portions of about 1 tbs. Make sure to leave a bit of space between to allow for spreading as the cookies bake. Bake for 11-14 minutes, until the cookies are shiny and cracked on top. Make sure to turn the pan around halfway through the baking time for even baking. Remove the parchment from the cookie sheet and repeat the baking process using a fresh sheet of parchment. Cool the cookies on the parchment for approximately 1 hour, which will allow them to set up and not stick to the parchment.
These cookies are unbelievably good! They have a thin crisp exterior and a chewy, fudgy interior. They remind me a bit of really fudgy brownies. The nuts and toffee provide a bit of texture and crunch, but you could also use 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in place of either ingredient. These cookies are quite rich, so two cookies with a glass of milk was plenty for me to enjoy in one sitting. Make sure to store the cookies in an airtight container so they dont dry out.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015
April Showers SundaySupper Featuring Mini Curry Chicken Salad Phyllo Cups
Spring has definitely sprung in Texas...that means warmer temps, longer days, and parties. April and May are prime wedding shower months, so this weeks #SundaySupper theme is April Showers...dishes that can be served at an afternoon wedding or baby shower. Our hostess this week is Brandie from Home Cooking Memories. When I think of my wedding shower, I remember the delicious finger foods that my hostesses served. Light bites that tasted great, but were light and portion-controlled. That was my thinking when I created my Mini Curry Chicken Salad Phyllo Cups.
Along with frozen puff pastry, a package of these frozen mini phyllo shells are always in my freezer. Theyre perfect for putting together a quick and elegant appetizer or dessert that looks fancy, but is ready in no time flat! For this appetizer, you make a quick chicken salad and spoon it into the thawed phyllo cups. How easy these are to whip up will be our little secret!
Mini Curry Chicken Salad Phyllo Cups
Step 1: Remove package of frozen mini phyllo shells from freezer and heat according to package directions. Add the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl: 1.5 cups finely chopped chicken breast, 1/3 cup chopped cashews, 1/3 cup raisins, and 1-2 sliced green onions.
Step 2: Add the following ingredients to the bowl: 3/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, 1 tsp. curry powder, and 1 tbs. agave nectar (or honey). Stir until everything is evenly combined and coated with the yogurt mixture.
I love these little bites...the chicken salad is creamy, and the chopped cashews and raisins provide a nice texture. The phyllo shells are crispy and light. If you prefer a more pronounced curry flavor, feel free to double the amount of curry powder you use...and feel free to sub in golden raisins or even dried cranberries if you prefer. This recipe makes 15 mini phyllo bites, and I had enough chicken salad left to make myself a sandwich for lunch.
Be sure to join us tonight at 600 CST for our weekly Twitter chat, where well be discussing shower planning tips and recipes. In the meantime, go check out all the fun April Shower recipes my fellow #SundaySupper contributors are sharing today!
Read more »
Along with frozen puff pastry, a package of these frozen mini phyllo shells are always in my freezer. Theyre perfect for putting together a quick and elegant appetizer or dessert that looks fancy, but is ready in no time flat! For this appetizer, you make a quick chicken salad and spoon it into the thawed phyllo cups. How easy these are to whip up will be our little secret!
Mini Curry Chicken Salad Phyllo Cups
a Weekend Gourmet Original
Step 1: Remove package of frozen mini phyllo shells from freezer and heat according to package directions. Add the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl: 1.5 cups finely chopped chicken breast, 1/3 cup chopped cashews, 1/3 cup raisins, and 1-2 sliced green onions.
Step 2: Add the following ingredients to the bowl: 3/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, 1 tsp. curry powder, and 1 tbs. agave nectar (or honey). Stir until everything is evenly combined and coated with the yogurt mixture.
Step 3: Spoon the chicken salad into each of the mini phyllo cups using a teaspoon. I like mine nice and full, so I mound it on top. If youre not serving these bites immediately, store the chicken salad in the fridge until you are ready to serve. This will keep them from getting mushy.
I love these little bites...the chicken salad is creamy, and the chopped cashews and raisins provide a nice texture. The phyllo shells are crispy and light. If you prefer a more pronounced curry flavor, feel free to double the amount of curry powder you use...and feel free to sub in golden raisins or even dried cranberries if you prefer. This recipe makes 15 mini phyllo bites, and I had enough chicken salad left to make myself a sandwich for lunch.
Be sure to join us tonight at 600 CST for our weekly Twitter chat, where well be discussing shower planning tips and recipes. In the meantime, go check out all the fun April Shower recipes my fellow #SundaySupper contributors are sharing today!
Starters, Appetizers & Snacks
- Pesto Tortilla Pinwheels from Home Cooking Memories
- Honey Pecan Baked Brie from Supper for a Steal
- Pinenut stuffed Dates from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Glazed Pecans from Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail from A Stack of Dishes
- Mini Curry Chicken Salad Phyllo Cups from The Weekend Gourmet
- Mushroom and Feta Bites from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Antipasti Bites from Blueberries And Blessings
- Spinach Dip in a Pumpernickel Bowl from The Foodie Patootie
- Parmesan and Mushroom Focaccia from Basic N Delicious
Soups, Salads & Sandwiches
- London Ritz’s Tea Sandwiches from My Cute Bride
- Mini Shrimp & Egg Salad Sandwiches from The ROXX Box
- Broccoli Bacon Salad from Country Girl In The Village
- Chicken Salad on Endive from Magnolia Days
- Creamy Asparagus Soup Shooters with Shrimp from Gourmet Drizzles
- Alphabet Soup from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Main Dishes
- Savory Cheesy Kale Tart with Chiles from Shockingly Delicious
- Penne Ala Vodka from I Run For Wine
- Easy Baked Ziti from Momma’s Meals
- French Country Flat Pie from Webicurean
- Crustless Spinach Quiche from Family Foodie
Cakes
- Vanilla Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Strawberry Shortcake Push Pops from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Mini Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting from Damn Delicious
- Coconut Rum Cake from The Foodie Army Wife
- No Bake Lemon Cheesecakes Shots {Two Ways} from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Japanese Wedding Cupcakes from NinjaBaking.com
- Baby Blue Cake Pops from Neighborfood
- Strawberry Buttermilk Scones from Vintage Kitchen
Cookies, Brownies & Dessert Bars
- Lemon Sandwich Cookies with Pink Lemon Curd from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Chocolate Covered Mcaroons from Gotta Get Baked
- Pastel Pizzelles from Growing Up Gabel
- Chocolate-Balsamic Macaroons from Foxes Love Lemons
- Raspberry Lemonade Thumbprint Cookies from In The Kitchen With KP
- Baklava Crisps from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
- Healthy Chocolate Bars with Fruit, Nuts & Coconut from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Fudgy Carob Brownies from Pies and Plots
- Pistachio Biscotti from Curious Cuisiniere
Sweet Treats
- Shortbread Maple Cream Freezer Tart from A Beautiful Bite
- Espresso Panna Cotta from Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Bite-Size Pecan Tarts from Juanita’s Cocina
- Brigadeiros from Food Lust People Love
- Rosewater Raspberry Meringues from girlichef
Drink Recipes
- Slushy Mango Mojito from The Urban Mrs.
- Pretty in Pink Punch from Noshing With The Nolands
- Pink Lemonade from Peanut Butter and Peppers
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Wendys Favorite Things for April
Im not sure where this month has gone to...I looked at the calendar today and realized that April is very nearly over, and I still need to share Wendys Favorite Things for this month. Just wait until you see all the fabulous items that make up this months Great Eight. Ive got some fun snack ideas, a perfect Mothers Day gift suggestion, a handy wine buying guide, and my key to making perfectly creamy risotto. Lets get going!
(1) Acquerello Rice. Theres rice...and theres this rice. This is truly the Rolls Royce of rice, and it makes the best risotto youll ever taste! Acquerello is carnaroli rice produced in Italy by the Rondolino family. They utilize unique production techniques, including aging the rice while its in the paddy. It arrives vacuum sealed in a variety of sizes, ready to use in your kitchen. I learned about carnaroli rice from a Thomas Keller cookbook. I tried it myself and discovered it makes risotto that cooks up creamy, but not sticky. Then, I discovered Acquerello and was hooked. Its a bit pricier than most risotto rices, but its so worth it! I can definitely tell a difference in my risotto, including the Indulgent Pesto Risotto I recently featured. Acquerello can be purchased via select gourmet grocers, as well as online via Amazon.
(2) ips Egg White Chips. If you like to include more protein in your day, I have a tasty snack option to share with you. These ips chips are made with lowfat, high-protein egg whites. They taste great and provide 7 grams of protein per serving. Not only that, theyre pressure puffed. That means theyre crispy without being fried. They come in several fun flavors, including: Aged White Cheddar (my personal fave!), Barbecue, Cinnamon Sugar (a bit like breakfast cereal), and Seal Salt & Pepper. These make a great mid-afternoon pick-me-up or post-gym snack, and I found that I stayed satisfied longer than I do with crackers or other carb-based snacks. To find ips Egg White Chips near you, visit their convenient store locator via their website.
(3) Not So Simple Syrup. So many cocktail recipes call for the addition of simple syrup of some kind. It can be a pain to make, though. Enter Not So Simple Syrup! This fabulous product comes in lots of fun flavors in handy ready-to-use bottles. They offer six fun flavors, including: lemon, mint, cranberry, blackberry, orange, and strawberry. Im partial to the lemon and the blackberry varieties. Dont drink alcohol? No problem at all! These versatile syrups can be used to flavor iced tea and seltzer water too. The lemon and mint varieties would be especially refreshing in a tall glass of iced tea. Not So Simple Syrup can be purchased via their convenient online store, both individual flavors and a fun variety sampler.
(4) Sharis Berries Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. Mothers Day is right around the corner, and Ive got a fabulous gift idea for you. Sharis Berries will ship her a dozen decadent chocolate-dipped strawberries. These berries are out of this world! They offer several collections, but my favorite is the variety gift box that contains a dozen dipped berries in white, milk, and dark chocolate. They arrive carefully packed to ensure that they arrive in perfect condition. The chocolate is creamy, and the berries inside? Theyre HUGE, deep red, and so juicy! We were very impressed with both the flavor and the presentation of the berries that we tried. To order Sharis Berries -- or any of the other fabulous treats they offer -- visit their online store.
(5) Woats Oatsnack. Woats is a Dallas-based company that offers a fun and unique product that makes a fabulous breakfast or on-the-go snack. Its made with natural ingredients like whole grain oats and honey, and it comes in three fun flavors: Nuts About Berries, Cookies n Dreams, and Peanut Butter Graham Slam. It can be enjoyed out of the pouch as a quick snack. However, I love using it as a topping for fruit and yogurt breakfast parfaits. All three flavors are fantastic, but I especially love the Peanut Butter Graham Slam. It contains natural peanut butter, honey graham crackers, and toffee peanuts. Its great fuel to help me make it through a busy morning at my desk, or running around taking care of errands during weekend afternoons. My Texas readers can purchase Woats at their nearest Central Market, and its available at select stores around the country.
(6) Buy the Right Wine Every Time. I enjoy trying new wines, but Im not exactly a wine expert. If youre like me, this wine reference book is perfect for you! Many of us dont like pretentious "winespeak" -- we just want to know what tastes good for a moderate price. Enter Buy the Right Wine Every Time! Well-respected wine critic Tom Stevenson has written what he calls, "the no-fuss no-vintage wine guide." I absolutely love this book and have learned so much from reading it! Stevenson shares expert information for non-experts like me...people who want to get the most satisfaction for the money. He shares the best, most widely available wines found in restaurants and wine shops around the world. The book is easy to read, grouping wines by cost and style. It even offers a handy alphabetical list of recommended, highly recommended, and to-die-for wines. If youre a wine lover, this book is a must-have! It can be purchased at most large book stores, as well as online via Amazon.
(7) Cookie Chips. These thin, crispy cookies are downright addictive! Created byHannah Max Baking, these crispy chip-like cookies are buttery and full of flavor. Theyre made with quality ingredients and are packed in air-tight pouches to ensure they arrive perfectly crispy. All it took was one bite to convince me that these babies need to be a permanent part of my snack roster. Each 5-cookie serving has 130 calories and between 5 and 7 grams of fat. Its hard to limit myself to one serving, so I take one serving in a plastic zip bag with me to work each day. They come in several flavors, including: Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Original, and Sea Salted Peanut Butter. I went nuts for all of the flavors, but the Sea Salted Peanut Butter sent my tastebuds into the stratosphere! Cookie Chips are available at their website, as well as at many grocery store chains nationwide.
(8) Victoria Amorys Gourmet Condiment Line. This line of gourmet mayonaise, ketchup, and sauces is fantastic for busy cooks! The sauces are created by entertaining and cooking expert, author Victoria Amory. These fun sauces are bursting with the big flavors I love. Why use plain mayo when you can use her decadent Roasted Garlic Mayo? Her Champagne Ketchup takes the familiar childhood classic to new, refined heights. I used both the ketchup and roasted garlic mayo as gourmet dipping sauces for some beautiful boiled jumbo shrimp. It made a simple, no-fuss appetizer one Spring evening. Both sauces provided just the depth of flavor I was looking for...and they were much more fun that than the usual cocktail and tartar sauces you normally see served with boiled seafood! Victorias full condiment line can be purchased via her website, as well as at select gourmet grocers around the country.
Disclosure: The products featured in this months roundup provided me with samples of their product to facilitate inclusion. All opinions expressed are solely my own, and I never feature a product that I havent tried myself and loved!
Read more »
(3) Not So Simple Syrup. So many cocktail recipes call for the addition of simple syrup of some kind. It can be a pain to make, though. Enter Not So Simple Syrup! This fabulous product comes in lots of fun flavors in handy ready-to-use bottles. They offer six fun flavors, including: lemon, mint, cranberry, blackberry, orange, and strawberry. Im partial to the lemon and the blackberry varieties. Dont drink alcohol? No problem at all! These versatile syrups can be used to flavor iced tea and seltzer water too. The lemon and mint varieties would be especially refreshing in a tall glass of iced tea. Not So Simple Syrup can be purchased via their convenient online store, both individual flavors and a fun variety sampler.
(4) Sharis Berries Chocolate Dipped Strawberries. Mothers Day is right around the corner, and Ive got a fabulous gift idea for you. Sharis Berries will ship her a dozen decadent chocolate-dipped strawberries. These berries are out of this world! They offer several collections, but my favorite is the variety gift box that contains a dozen dipped berries in white, milk, and dark chocolate. They arrive carefully packed to ensure that they arrive in perfect condition. The chocolate is creamy, and the berries inside? Theyre HUGE, deep red, and so juicy! We were very impressed with both the flavor and the presentation of the berries that we tried. To order Sharis Berries -- or any of the other fabulous treats they offer -- visit their online store.
(5) Woats Oatsnack. Woats is a Dallas-based company that offers a fun and unique product that makes a fabulous breakfast or on-the-go snack. Its made with natural ingredients like whole grain oats and honey, and it comes in three fun flavors: Nuts About Berries, Cookies n Dreams, and Peanut Butter Graham Slam. It can be enjoyed out of the pouch as a quick snack. However, I love using it as a topping for fruit and yogurt breakfast parfaits. All three flavors are fantastic, but I especially love the Peanut Butter Graham Slam. It contains natural peanut butter, honey graham crackers, and toffee peanuts. Its great fuel to help me make it through a busy morning at my desk, or running around taking care of errands during weekend afternoons. My Texas readers can purchase Woats at their nearest Central Market, and its available at select stores around the country.
(6) Buy the Right Wine Every Time. I enjoy trying new wines, but Im not exactly a wine expert. If youre like me, this wine reference book is perfect for you! Many of us dont like pretentious "winespeak" -- we just want to know what tastes good for a moderate price. Enter Buy the Right Wine Every Time! Well-respected wine critic Tom Stevenson has written what he calls, "the no-fuss no-vintage wine guide." I absolutely love this book and have learned so much from reading it! Stevenson shares expert information for non-experts like me...people who want to get the most satisfaction for the money. He shares the best, most widely available wines found in restaurants and wine shops around the world. The book is easy to read, grouping wines by cost and style. It even offers a handy alphabetical list of recommended, highly recommended, and to-die-for wines. If youre a wine lover, this book is a must-have! It can be purchased at most large book stores, as well as online via Amazon.
(7) Cookie Chips. These thin, crispy cookies are downright addictive! Created byHannah Max Baking, these crispy chip-like cookies are buttery and full of flavor. Theyre made with quality ingredients and are packed in air-tight pouches to ensure they arrive perfectly crispy. All it took was one bite to convince me that these babies need to be a permanent part of my snack roster. Each 5-cookie serving has 130 calories and between 5 and 7 grams of fat. Its hard to limit myself to one serving, so I take one serving in a plastic zip bag with me to work each day. They come in several flavors, including: Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Original, and Sea Salted Peanut Butter. I went nuts for all of the flavors, but the Sea Salted Peanut Butter sent my tastebuds into the stratosphere! Cookie Chips are available at their website, as well as at many grocery store chains nationwide.
Disclosure: The products featured in this months roundup provided me with samples of their product to facilitate inclusion. All opinions expressed are solely my own, and I never feature a product that I havent tried myself and loved!
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