Monthly Archives: March 2014

Kentucky Derby Pie

Kentucky Derby Pie is traditionally served at the annual Kentucky Derby Horse race. This version is without the bourbon that you find in other Kentucky Derby Pie recipes.

This recipe is simple so it can be whipped up in a jiffy, making this is great last minute recipe. It actually freezes pretty decently, so try making two and freeze one for later!  Right? Right?!

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Chocolate Diets and Chocolate Pills

The idea of a chocolate diet seems to have new company. A new study will determine if collecting the nutrients in dark chocolate, minus the fat and sugar, and putting them in a pill, will do any good.

The key part of this study is the ‘flavanol’ that’s abundant in cacao beans. Several studies have shown how it can be beneficial for arterial health, insulin, blood pressure, as well as cholesterol.

The concepts of chocolate diets and chocolate pills may be rather new, but the health benefits of cocoa have been studied and established for quite a while. The flavonoids in cocoa are renowned antioxidants that help keep stroke and heart attacks at bay.

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Gooey Chocolate Skillet Cake Ice Cream Sundae

The best way to enjoy dessert is to enjoy it with your family. No argument there. There’s something superbly fun and simple about pulling out a large dish of dessert and laying it on the table, putting it right in the middle, and saying out loud ‘dig in’. There is sheer joy that comes with such an experience, bite by messy, delectable bite. Family memories at its best. Well, in this case, gooey chocolate memories.

P. S. using a cast iron skillet to bake cake is just something else. I love the rustic result.

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Chocolate-Chip Biscotti

The Italians are kind of liberal with the word biscotti, considering they call any type of cookie biscotti. Meanwhile, in North America, the term biscotti refers to cookies that are long, dry, hard, and twice-baked with a curved top and flat bottom designed for dunking into coffee or even wine. The term ‘biscotti’ is derived from 'bis' meaning twice in Italian and 'cotto', meaning baked or cooked.

Biscotti can supposedly be traced back to Columbus's time, specifically to an Italian baker who is said to have served these treats with Tuscan wines. As Biscotti became massively popular almost all the provinces developed their own flavored version. Since their shelf life was quite long, they were an ideal food for sailors, soldiers, and fisherman.

Enough with the information overload, here's the recipe!

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Chocolate Meringue Bars

These Chocolate Meringue Bars are so light and airy, at the same time sweet and crisp. It's melt-in-the-mouth goodness is to-die-for. The insides of these bars stay sumptuously soft and puffy. They can be mistaken for mini-Pavlovas.

You can enjoy them as is, or you can whip up a fancy plated dessert and top them with whipped cream, sorbet, ice cream, fresh fruit, you name it.

These treats will be nothing like others you have tasted. They're rich, irresistible, and make no mistake about it, you will hear "oohs" and "aahs". You might even be asked for an encore. (Next batch please!!)

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