From Denny: Summer time and the zucchini are multiplying like rabbits in our gardens! Zucchini bread is always welcome just plain but how about "gilding the lily"? Add some cocoa, chocolate chips and espresso powder to put it over the top.
Quick breads like this recipe are always welcome for the holidays or when you want something special - but not complicated or too demanding of your time and effort. Like most quick breads this one is an easy recipe to make. While this delicious bread bakes just sit down, relax and tour through your favorite collected old cookbooks or breeze through some interesting online recipe databases. Works for me!
Photo: Cynthia L. Nobles/The Advocate newspaper, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
From Denny: Love brownies and vanilla ice cream? Enjoy this brownie that is so much like a chocolate souffle and serve it warm with melting ice cream, smothered in a homemade chocolate sauce. There is a lot of chocolate in this recipe, so stock up before the world chocolate prices go up! This is a dessert that would appeal for entertaining during the holidays, making you their favorite relative!
Dennys Art Sanctuary: Animation: Cute Valentines Day Doodle From Google: From Denny: This is a delightful, animated, funny video about what women really want. Hint: It isn't about the type of gifts, what brand name they are or how much they cost. It also addresses relationship equality and how materialism isn't always the answer to life's dilemmas - even with the help of Google searches!
From Denny: I love searching through the recipe databases of various companies promoting their food products. You never know what gems you will find to inspire you to try something new or tweak a family favorite.
The recipe database at Spice Islands is a real treasure trove of goodies - and I've only started on the dessert section! Color me into the Well Impressed Corner. :)
Then it's on to artistic creative photographers trying to figure out how to capture the theme of the day. It's tough to come up with something new and different for such an overdone theme as hearts. I especially like the ones of men walking across great distances in the cold weather clutching flowers for their ladies.
There are crafters and artists with creative turns on the theme, with links to their blogs. Not to be missed are the cupcake, cake and coffee food photos. One is a plate of rose petals with a fork.
Be sure to click on the photos to go to the photographers' flickr pages and blogs where they discuss their art process or the situation for the photo.
I sure had fun going through 2700 photos to do this post because so many made me laugh and others were food for inspiration. Happy Valentine's Day!
Mardi Gras (04) - 24Feb09, New Orleans (USA) (Photo credit: philippe leroyer)
Dennys Funny Quotes: 61 Best of Funny Mardi Gras Photos: From Denny: Who said Valentine's Day had to be a bummer for the folks flying solo during this holiday? These funny Mardi Gras photos, mocking just about anything and everything that moves, will certainly bring a smile to your face.
So, if you know anyone feeling blue from this special day for lovers, send them this post full of funny photos that will have them laughing in no time.
Since it's 2012 and the whole world figures the Mayan Prophecy of the End of the World is at hand, well, we have the solution in Louisiana: party on. Our philosophy? You might as well go out in style 'cause you can't do anything about it anyway.
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: Funny Valentines Day Video: Say I Love You X 100 Languages: From Denny: Enjoy regular people on the street mugging for the camera and saying "I Love You!" in their language. It's a grin fest that will make your day. It's also an ad for memrise.com to visit their site to learn how to say the famous phrase in over 100 languages. Happy Valentine's Day!
From Denny: In the mood for a chocolate batter cookie with white chocolate chips? This version also sports an unusual ingredient: the heady spice coriander. Add in the exotic flavorful macadamia nuts and this cookie is a huge hit. You can always substitute your favorite nut like almonds or walnuts.
When I found this recipe on the ABC Recipe site, they referenced it to "Stew Leonard's." Of course, I asked the obvious question, "Who is that?"
I live in south Louisiana so had never heard of the Connecticut grocery store chain. So, I googled them and found a wonderful site worth the visit. They started out as a dairy farm in Norwalk, Connecticut and branched out from there over the decades into a full blown grocery chain. Check out this wonderful chocolate recipe.
Like any upside down cake this one is practically beginner cook and foolproof. The custard requires a more experienced cook and a little time but is well worth the effort.
From Denny: Pies are always an easy idea for holidays as they take less time and fuss than individual portion recipes.
This is a light taste of chocolate and butterscotch. If you want to intensify those flavors, step up the chocolate chips to 3/4 cup, instead of 1/2 cup. You could even drizzle the finished chilled pie with extra chocolate syrup to add that decadence factor.
As to intensifying the butterscotch flavor, why not add a few microwave melted caramel candies to the mix? Or you could add more butterscotch chips instead of taking the time to melt caramels.
Most people prefer a light taste to dishes. At our house we often like spicy dishes and strongly flavored desserts. So, if it's supposed to taste like chocolate and caramel, we want it to be obvious.
I really think this cook was showcasing the mascarpone cheese above the other flavors, so a different name would have been a better idea since the chocolate and butterscotch flavors tend to be background in this pie. The choice is yours: simple and creamy cheese with a light taste of chocolate and butterscotch - or kick it up a notch to just a bit more!
When I think of Valentine's Day it's often for creamy textured dishes as much as the all time favorite of chocolate. Yes, a great Mac 'n' Cheese dish would definitely qualify. :) Check out one of my other food blogs for some great recipes on that front: Comfort Food From Louisiana.
Meanwhile, I like this simple creamy sweet cheese pie with hints of chocolate and butterscotch.
Another version of chocolate cheesecake - Image via flickr
From Denny: Looking for an easy to make chocolate cheesecake? Chef Sara Moulton is always coming up with great ideas that are simple to make.
Usually, we serve cheesecake chilled. Have you ever thought of eating your cheesecake while still warm from the oven? Sara likes this recipe to enjoy that warm creamy chocolate delight.
Sara bakes these chocolate cheesecakes in small ramekins. She didn't offer up a photo but check out the awesome one I found of another version of chocolate cheesecake at flickr, decked out in blackberries.
From Denny: Chocolate fondue is the favorite of Valentine's Day menus. This recipe is extra special with the addition of some Tabasco hot sauce to kick it up a notch - the romance, that is. :)
It's also a ridiculously easy recipe, with only a few ingredients, sure to be a crowd pleaser at a party - or just for two.
From Denny: Enjoy a little pepper heat with your chocolate? Then these unusual cookies from the Tabasco hot sauce company are for you.
Chocolate and cherries are another winning combination enjoyed during the Valentine's Day celebration season. Tabasco just decided to kick it up a notch.
This recipe calls for making huge cookies that are shaped into football ovals and then decorated with icing to resemble the pigskin laces. Instead you can shape them into hearts, piping icing with a heart inside a heart for decoration.
From Denny: Like anyone had to inform the chocolate hounds that today is a special day. We all know we sure don't pay much attention to any other holiday - excepting Valentine's Day - 'cause only chocolate holidays rule. :)
What are the goals of National Chocolate Cake Day? The Obvious: bake and decorate a wonderful chocolate cake and then enjoy it with a few friends! Now that's what I call a plum assignment.
First off, everyone should have at least one basic good Simple Chocolate Sheet Cake in their bag of magic baking tricks. This will make you a big hit at family or sports gatherings - read that at tailgating too.
People can cut the small or large size they desire. Of course, the cake can end up looking like a bit of a messy disaster that way so usually most cooks choose to pre-cut the pieces. I usually cut mine into long fingers like 1-inch x 3-inches. The dieters (and the diabetics who are supposed to behave but can't) can slice that in half - and the Hungry Jacks can take two. Everyone is happy!
Then try the Mexican Chocolate Fudge Pecan Cake where cinnamon is added to a basic chocolate and buttermilk cake. Chocolate and cinnamon are natural pairings and the result is wonderful.
From Denny: Everyone who enjoys a chocolate tart every time they can, raise their hands. Yeah, I thought so - sisters of the soul. I sure order it from the La Madeleine restaurant or other local bakery whenever it shows up in the display case. It's like a little piece of heaven in one tiny spot - a rich little chocolate pudding, a dollop of cream and some pie crust, simply divine.
This is a New York chef recipe from the famous restaurant Aureole. Chef Christopher Lee uses Sicilian sea salt to enhance the sweet creamy richness of the indulgent chocolate dessert.
He also includes the unlikely addition of the chocolate malt Ovaltine to the bittersweet baking chocolate.
From Denny: Do you like spice cookies but crave the addition of chocolate? This cinnamon and chocolate pairing also happens to improve as the cookie ages. What could be better than that? A stale cookie that tastes great! :)
The cookie also contains the background dark note from a hint of cloves like I like to use in my morning stovetop cooked oatmeal. There is nothing like the pairing of cinnamon and cloves to add richness to a dish whether sweet or savory.
Chocolate and peppermint are a great pairing, each complementing the other. What I like about this chocolate recipe is it uses bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate too. The contrast of the very dark and the light white is awesome, balanced by the roasted pistachio nuts. Can it get any better?
From Denny: A wonderful cookie recipe from one of my favorite coffee sites: Gevalia. This cookie pairs well with a French Roast or a Dark Roast coffee choice.
I've been ordering from them since Time began it seems. Gevalia is from Sweden where folks drink a ridiculous amount of coffee. We thought Americans were addicted. These guys make us look like amateurs! :)
When I was up on the site ordering some new items today I noticed they started putting up some recipes. You know me; I've got to collect them for you and me to try.
BTW, I don't get paid for endorsing this site. I just happen to have enjoyed a long relationship and good results from them for well over a decade. So, I feel comfortable telling you about them.
They always run specials and end of the year sales for tea and coffee accessories that are often quite good too. Quality merchandise and quality service. I love their teas as well.
For now, try out this chocolate biscotti recipe sure to give you a warm smile of contentment!
Our local newspaper here in Louisiana included some recipes from USA Pears, so, of course, you know I just had to go explore their site. The site is set up to promote the pear growers' product and awareness of the fruit. Since I've been thinking about setting up my own organic orchards I've been visiting a lot of sites like this one.
While their recipe section is not extensive it has some gems like the following recipe well suited for the holiday table when you want something special to wow the family or your guests. If, you are like me, you like to try new recipes or variations on a popular theme - like baked pears. A nice touch is the lemon chamomile sauce that snuggles up to these pears.
From Denny: Well, here I am, still churning out the Valentines Day posts. :) Color me into The Fun Corner for the rest of the week as I sift through network videos to find the goodies for us.
What is it about pasta that we women just love? It seems the perfect comfort food any time of the year and fits well into the Valentine's Day meal. This year a lot of chefs agreed with us because everywhere I turn for romantic meals they are often a pasta.
Chef Eric Lee creates a real beauty of a meal with sweet crab and savory Parmesan cheese over bucatini pasta. Chef Lee is the executive chef at the Simi Winery in Sonoma Country, California, where his job is to create awesome food to showcase the wine. What a great gig!
"I'm not the star," Lee says. "My job is to make wine the star. But I love to be able to pair food and wine ... and make both better." Chef Lee likes to create harmony between the salt and acid, bitter and sweet flavors in food so the wine will feature as that shining star.
He pairs chardonnay with this meal as a way to play up the acidity of the wine.
Here's his Dungeness crab bucatini carbonara recipe:
1 clove garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons Simi Sonoma County Chardonnay
1 large egg
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Pinch kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat parsley
4 ounces fresh cooked Dungeness crab meat or canned lump Blue crab meat
1/2 pound bucatini pasta or spaghetti
Preparation:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
In a large sauté pan, heat the garlic slices and olive oil over medium heat. When the garlic is golden brown, remove the garlic slices and add the chopped pancetta. Cook until the pancetta is lightly crisp. Add the chardonnay and turn off the heat. Set aside.
Whisk the egg, cheese, salt, pepper and parsley together in a large bowl. Add the contents of the pan containing the pancetta and wine. Add the crab meat.
Cook pasta to al dente. Drain and immediately place the hot pasta into the bowl containing the egg, cheese, pancetta, wine and crab. Toss quickly and thoroughly to assure all noodles are coated and the ingredients are well combined. Season to taste and serve immediately.
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