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I Want Chocolate!

partysugar — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:37:11 -0800

Today, I'm craving a dessert with gooey, warm, melted chocolate. We all know that sometimes what a girl wants has to be hot, chocolatey and decadent. And just in case you are having the same type of must-eat-chocolate-now days, I went about finding a delightful dessert to share. At first, I was thinking along the lines of a chocolate souffle, but than I stumbled upon this recipe for hot chocolate pots. Besides, I have yet to master the art of making a souffle rise and I'm more in the mood for an easy, no fuss dessert that I can enjoy in the comforts of my red leather armchair next to a fire. For the recipe, read more

Hot Chocolate Pots
From Nigella Lawson

1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, with 60 percent cocoa solids
2 eggs
3/4 cup superfine sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Special equipment: 4 (2/3 to 1-cup capacity) ramekins

Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
Butter the ramekins with 1 tablespoon butter.
Either in a microwave or in a bowl suspended over a pan over simmering water, melt the dark chocolate and 1 stick butter, then set aside to cool a little.
In another bowl, mix the eggs with the sugar and flour with a hand whisk and beat in the cooled butter and chocolate mixture.
Divide the mixture between the 4 buttered ramekins.
Bake for about 20 minutes, by which time the tops will be cooked and cracked and the chocolate gooey underneath.
Place each ramekin on a small plate with a teaspoon and serve. Make sure to warn people that these desserts will be HOT!

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Must-Read: Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:30:04 -0800

Party recently polled you about dessert preferences, and it came as no surprise that most of you love dessert in any form. Many of you, however, singled out gooey, sticky sweets as your preference. Naturally, I had this in mind when I came across Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth ($15.61) by pastry chef Jill O'Connor. To find out what I thought of this collection of puddings, cookies, cakes, and sweet pies, read more.

Pros:

Helpful primer explains everything from the differences between types of cocoa powder to the best bristles for a pastry brush.
Desserts strive to be complex, with innovative, sophisticated flavor pairings.
Whimsical, vintage-inspired graphic design makes for an aesthetically pleasing book.
O'Connell adds plenty of personal flourish, telling amusing anecdotes, explaining the story behind every recipe, and sprinkling poignant quips about desserts along the way.

Cons:

Some recipes, like Cap-n Crunch Crispy Treats, are basic, but others - such as a three-page recipe for Coconut Cream Puffs - are tricky and complex.
Unless you're cooking for a party of eight, you may need to cut the recipes in half.
As pretty as the typography is, the ingredient list is written in such small font that it can be difficult to read quickly.
Rather than being easily numbered, the steps are written in paragraph form.

Recipes: The recipes cover just about everything. A few that left my mouth watering:

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake Pots With Shortbread Spoons
Coconut Milk-Cream Cheese Flan
Milky Way Tempura-on-a-Stick
White Trash Panini
Gingersnap Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Sandwiches
Dark Chocolate Soup With Cinnamon-Toasted Pound Cake Croutons
Double-Crumble Hot Apple Pies
Sweet Pink Grapefruit-Tangerine Mousse With Phyllo Ruffles

Imagery: Although only a third of the recipes have pictures, the photographs are vivid, lush, and beautifully arranged.

Overall Rating: If you're a dessert fanatic looking to experiment with creative recipes, this would be the perfect cookbook to turn to. It would also make a gracious hostess gift.

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Yum Market Finds: Magnificent Mugs

partysugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:01:31 -0800

During this time of year, mugs are a valuable kitchen commodity. While they hold your everyday coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, I also like to use mugs to serve soups and stews. Looks like you also know the importance of a marvelous mug because the Yum Market on TeamSugar is full of them! I am especially fond of these ceramic pint mugs that sugarnote found. These modern black and white mugs make me want to whip up a pot of bubbling chili. For more of this winter must have, browse the collection below.

Geeksugar has written an article that explains how to bookmark on TeamSugar. Check it out for more details!

Time To Start Popping

partysugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:12:12 -0800

Friday is a an excellent day to go to the movies. It's the end of the week and you may be tired from work, but don't feel like staying in, so you'll head to the nearby theater to catch a flick. And while you're there you'll treat yourself to a nice bag of piping hot popcorn. As a matter of fact we should all treat ourselves to an airy handful of buttery, salty popcorn because today is National Popcorn Day! Since movie theater popcorn may not be the healthiest of indulgences, you could rent a film and make it at home instead! Homemade popcorn is a healthier alternative because you control the amount of salt and butter. Spice it up with all sorts of fabulous things - both sweet and savory - such as, black pepper, flavored salts, Parmesan cheese, cinnamon sugar and shaved chocolate. You don't need a special popcorn popper to whip up a batch. You just need a large pot, a stove, a little creativity, and a recipe. For the recipe, read more

Popcorn
Modified from Food Network

3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 ounces popcorn kernels, approximately 1/2 cup
1/2 teaspoon popcorn salt
3 tablespoons unsalted melted butter

Heat oil in deep pot over medium high heat.
Add corn. Cover pot and pop the corn, shaking pan often.
Remove from heat. Drizzle with melted butter. Serve.

Savory add ons:
sesame seeds and Chinese five spice
black pepper
Parmesan cheese
cheddar cheese
pecorino cheese
blue cheese
cumin
chipotle powder
fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, basil)
curry powder
infused oils
garlic powder

Sweet add ons:
caramel
chocolate (dark, milk, white)
brown butter
cinnamon sugar

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Check out this site for tips on popping the perfect popcorn.