Foodie Friday: For The Love Of Chocolate

Warning. This post may cause weight gain. I feel like I have gained five pounds just writing it up. I don't think I am alone in being a chocolate lover. "Mr. Shop This" likes to say that I am addicted to the cocoa bean. :) If you love chocolate, too, this post is for you. 

Chocolate Martini

Nothing like a boozy beginning or ending to a date night. This is your Valentine cocktail. I am not a vodka drinker at all, but a chocolate martini hides all of that flavor. It's creamy, sweet, and chocolatey. You need to try it once in your life.

Sweet Serenity Kitchen

Chocolate Truffle Tart

Well, this is pretty fancy, and one of the first assembled desserts taught in a pastry class. But don't fear, the recipe author states that it is so easy that even a beginner can make it.

Sprinkle Bakes

Hot Chocolate Macarons
These hot chocolate macarons are made with an indulgent chocolate cookie shell and a dreamy marshmallow filling.

Broma Bakery

Boozy Coconut Hot Chocolate

A decadently delicious way to warm up. I adore hot chocolate but stay away from dairy, so this recipe is great for me or anyone. It's made with rum, but any type of liquor can be substituted.

Windy City Dinner Fairy

Best Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Isn't this a showstopper! And yes, that is whipped Cream on the top. Mounds of it! 

The Cookie Rookie

Dark Chocolate Blood Orange Bundt Cake
Simply decadent! And yes that is Chocolate Ganache being generously poured on top of the finished cake. To go along with those beautiful blood oranges, there is orange liquor in the batter. Talk about elevating a recipe!

Feasting At Home

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you had these? Those at The Zodiac Room of Neiman's truly are the best I have ever had. This recipe is supposedly the same. There's a story about how this recipe came into the right or wrong hands. I, for one, am going to try it. As I remember them, they are thick and chewy, as they should be!

Cooking Classy

Chocolate Lovers Coconut Milkshakes with  Sea Salt

A really good hand churned milkshake is hard to be as a sweet treat. I absolutely love them, but the feeling isn't mutual. In this case, the risk may be worth the reward. YUM!

How Sweet Eats

 Stuffed Hot Chocolate French Toast Gluten & Dairy Free

This dish is proof that food can be delicious and still good for you. Truth is, gluten is not good for anyone. I think I will try this on Super Bowl Sunday.

Saucy Kitchen

Gluten Free Super Moist Chocolate Cake

What this recipe lacks in gluten (who needs it?) it makes up for in pure chocolate.

Pure Wow

Salty Dark & Milk Chocolate Skillet Cookie

One of the best things you can make in your cast iron pan. I never had a skillet cookie but this looks divine and I bet, fun to make and eat!

The Modern Proper

Devil's Food Layer Cake

There's a secret to this recipe, which I have never done. Can't wait to try it.

Williams Sonoma

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate, Heavy Cream, a touch of butter, and vanilla, is all you need to make this recipe. The toppings are up to you. You can find empty heart shaped candy boxes at Amazon.

Sally's Baking Addiction

Baked Chocolate Fudge Glazed Doughnuts

With 125 five star reviews, this recipe is one to try. These are said to be super easy and very yummy, They look delish!

Half Baked Harvest

Whipped Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate Ganache is a chocolate lovers dream spoonful. It's chocolate and cream melted together.  I just made this recipe last weekend. I used it as the filling between layers on a chocolate cake. OMG! It is so light and fluffy. You will love it.

Baking A Moment

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Saturday Sweets From Shop This

Ingredient Spotlight: Apples

 

When it comes to seasonal ingredients, Autumn's apples win the prize. They are equally delicious served sweet or savory. This recipe roundup is picture proof that there are more ways to enjoy apples than just pie. But don't worry, scroll down for an awesome apple tart. Apples to apples, I think you will love this post.

Apple Cider Mojito 

Hello Fall! What a perfect September sip. Spiced, vibrant, and slightly sweet, it has all the flavors of a classic rum mojito plus a hefty pour of apple cider.

Sugar and Soul

Baked Brie With Apples & Bacon

I am not much of a cheese eater, but I find warm brie rather irresistible. It's gooey, rich, sweet and salty. Just perfect with a fall cocktail. This is a must make.

Restless Chipotle

Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

Interesting recipe fact - this cake calls for olive oil and not butter for the fat. The oil delivers a smooth and rich flavor without weighing down the cake. The batter is poured over homemade caramel and apples. Sounds divine!

Adventures in Cooking

Salted Apple Pretzel Pie

This is a pie recipe for the salty sweet lovers. And who isn't one? Soft pretzel dough takes the place of crust. How unique!!

Epicurious

Arugula Apple, And Goats Cheese Flatbread

This recipe can be called "almost homemade." It calls for a store bought flatbread crust. The perfect thing to serve at your kitchen island for dinner guests.

Saucy Kitchen

Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler

The title says it all. This cobbler is actually made with refrigerated "cinnamon rolls." The recipe is easy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It's equally good at breakfast or dessert.

Broma Bakery

Butternut, Apple, and Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

How can something be so easy when it looks this fancy? An impressive dish for sure, even company worthy!

How Sweet Eats

Caramel Apple Tart

An apple pie without caramel is not worth eating to me. This beautiful tart consists of granulated sugar, water, sea salt, heavy cream, and butter.  That's it. Talk about a slice of heaven!

Miss Allie's Kitchen

Crock Pot Ginger Rum Apple Cider

This cocktail has tailgate written all over it. Keep the spiced rum on the side, so your guests have a boozy and non-alcoholic option. I can only imagine how yummy it smells.

Sugar and Soul

Apple, Caramelized Onion and Spinach Quesadilla
Now this is a game day snack if I ever saw one. It only takes 15 minutes of preparation. And doesn't caramelized onions make everything better?

The Modern Proper

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts With Cinnamon Maple Glaze

To me, this is fall in a photo. Love that they are baked and not fried. Oh just Yum!

Half Baked Harvest

Pasta With Apples, Bacon, Sage & Chantrelle Mushrooms

Gluten & Dairy Free 

I may have mentioned that I never eat pasta. Too many carbs and I shy away from gluten. This recipe would change all that. Can't you just smell the bacon and sage?

Heather Christo

Baked Apple Bombs

Don't these just look like they are "the bomb?" The recipe author calls them the fireworks of fall! They are also easy and fun to whip up. 

A Spicy Perspective

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Ingredient Spotlight: Heirloom Tomatoes

Star Spangled Desserts For The 4th of July & Beyond

{ Via: Williams Sonoma }

 If you are looking for a perfect ending to your holiday meal, you have come to the right place! I have a feeling that we all will celebrate with a bit more gusto and guests this year. You know how I love a good color theme. This post is filled with all of the red, white, and blue deliciousness you can handle. Scroll down and be prepared to drool.

No Bake Eton Mess Berry Cheesecake

I have a problem with the name of this cheesecake. Instead of the word "mess" I would substitute the word "masterpiece." This is one beautiful dessert that is certainly sparkler worthy!

Half Baked Harvest 

Blueberry Pancake Ice Cream
Go ahead. Eat dessert for breakfast! Don't worry, you don't have to make pancakes first. That part of the recipe is represented by maple syrup. 

Broma Bakery

No Bake Cheesecake

Isn't this elegant? It's proof that a fancy dessert can also be an easy one. If it is hot where you are this weekend. This recipe is for you.

Country Living

Roasted Strawberry Sundae

Oh boy! Mix those sweet, juicy, roasted strawberries with bittersweet chocolate sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Voila! You have created a dessert worth celebrating!

California Strawberries

Stars & Stripes Cupcakes

These are so much fun! And if you can pipe and swirl that frosting, props to you! Not only is it pretty, but the frosting also features raspberry.

Food Network

Triple Berry Trifle With Strawberry Sauce

Can you get any more festive looking? It's made with buttery poundcake, vanilla pudding, and yummy raspberry sauce. This dish is semi-homemade. You can buy the best poundcake you can find, and cut it up! This looks worth every layer.

How Sweet Eats

Deep Dish Cherry Pie

It's cherry season, which hopefully means the prices are reasonable, because this recipe calls for four pounds of them. I love a pie that can be made in a springform pan. Easy peasy. This pie looks fab from the flaky golden crust to the cherries on top!

A Common Connoisseur

Very Berry Cream Tartlets

These are the sweetest looking! Using a delicate hand when sugaring the fruit and topping the pastry cream, is the hardest part of the recipe.

Good Housekeeping

Mixed Berry Shortcake

My Mom was an excellent baker, but she took a shortcut for shortcakes. Yes, I grew up with those yellow sponge "things." We didn't know any better. Now we do, and just look at those homemade buttermilk biscuits! 

The Modern Proper

4th Of July Sparkler Cake

This cake isn't as difficult as it may look. You begin with a vanilla cake mix. Then those awesome decorations on the side of the cake are just pretzels.  Get the kids involved,

Sprinkle Some Fun

4th of July Baked Alaska

One of my all time favorite desserts - Baked Alaska. It's just so special and holiday worthy. You'll have to plan ahead to have this ready for the 4th, but it will be so worth the effort.

Zoe Bakes

Star Spangled Cookies

These marbled cookies sparkle with sprinkled stars and luster dust glitter. They are the prettiest. And though the marbling does look difficult, the author states that it is hard to mess up. Give it a whirl!

Sugar Spun Run

Berry Cup Pies

Aren't these the cutest? A great way to make individual servings, and easy to transport. You will use a cupcake tin 

for baking.

Inspired By Charm

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Vegan & Gluten Free

With an almond and oatmeal crust, a coconut milk cheesecake filling, and swirls of fresh strawberry puree, this is a perfect summer dessert. 

Minimalist Baker

Red & Blue Spiked Snow Cones

One of my favorite childhood treats. Except these are for grown ups. They are made with fresh blueberries and raspberries, and of course, Vodka!

Granbaby Cakes

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Foodie Friday: All American Desserts