CAPPUCCINO TRUFFLES: National Cappuccino Day!

Today is National Cappuccino Day. I'm sure you've already had a cappuccino to celebrate, but here's another way to celebrate the day -- Cappuccino Truffles. This easy recipe is from Taste of Home. These truffles are absolutely delicious.

CAPPUCCINO TRUFFLES

Ingredients 
1 Tbsp boiling water
2 tsp instant coffee granules
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 Tbsp butter, softened
3 Tbsp sugar

Directions 
In small bowl, combine water, coffee and 1 tsp cinnamon; set aside.
In small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Remove from the heat; whisk in chocolate and butter until smooth. Stir in coffee mixture. Press plastic wrap onto surface. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
In small bowl, combine sugar and remaining cinnamon. Shape chocolate into 1-inch balls; roll in cinnamon-sugar.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm.

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.

TOASTED ALMOND TRUFFLES: Retro Ad with Recipe for National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day!

Today is National Chocolate with Almonds Day, and what better way to celebrate than making Toasted Almond Truffles. I love this Retro 1985 Carnation/Nestle Recipe Advertisement. It's so easy. Of course, you can substitute your own best chocolate in this recipe. Personally I prefer dark chocolate in these truffles.

TOASTED ALMOND TRUFFLES

Ingredients
1/2 cup undiluted CARNATION Evaporated Milk
1/4 cup sugar
One 11 1/2 oz. pkg. (2 cups) NESTLE Milk Chocolate Morsels (or your favorite chocolate)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup finely chopped almonds, toasted

Directions
Combine evaporated milk and sugar in small heavy-gauge saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Boil 3 minutes; stir constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in morsels and almond extract until morsels melt and mixture is smooth. Chill 45 minutes. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in almonds. Chill until ready to serve. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen truffles.

WINE AND DONUT PAIRINGS: National Doughnut Day

Today is National Donut Day, and, yes, you'd be right if you said you celebrated National Doughnut Day on the first Friday last June. There are actually two Donut (Doughnut) days. 

Today's holiday is a second more or less official Donut Day depending on your sources. According to food holiday historian John Bryan Hopkins, who cataloged several fringe holidays for his site Foodimentary beginning in 2006, mentions of the November Doughnut Day could be found as early as the 1930s in copies of Ladies' Home Journal. Hopkins speculated that the November 5 date is close enough to Veterans Day on November 11 that a retail outlet likely introduced the date to acknowledge their service.

But donuts are good any day, and to celebrate today's holiday I have a guest post from Julissa Arangure-Garcia on pairing donuts with sweet and savory wines!  This post originally appeared on the Shari's Berries blog and shared from Julissa with a new introduction. I love this!!!

JULISSA ARANGURE-GARCIA:

Let’s be honest, wine was made to be paired with desserts. From wine and chocolate pairings to baking with wine (pinot noir chocolate cake anyone?), wine and desserts are a dynamic duo. Get creative at your next party or event and try pairing the sweet notes of a glass of wine with some sugary delicious donut flavors.

Shari’s Berries has the ultimate wine and donut pairings to help you create mouth-watering combinations. The guide also includes an overview of what flavor notes you’ll taste and what personality the combo is best for. Take a look and find which donut and wine pairing was made for you!

Wine and Donut Pairing Guide

CHOCOLATE CHIP BUNDT CAKE aka Toll House Bundt Cake: Retro Ad with Recipe

Have you been making lots of Chocolate Chip Cookies this year. Why not mix it up? Make this Toll House Bundt Cake! This Retro Advertisement and Recipe from the 80s is terrific! This Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake (Tollhouse Bundt Cake) is great for toasting for breakfast, with your morning coffee break, in your lunch box, with afternoon tea, and for dinner's dessert. I love this recipe!

TOLL HOUSE BUNDT CAKE

Cake

Ingredients
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar and enough milk to measure 1 cup (to make sour milk)
1 cup soft butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups chocolate chips

Directions
In small bowl combine flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside. Place vinegar in 1 cup measuring cup; fill with milk; set aside. In large mixing bowl combine butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract; beat till light and fluffy. Add eggs on low speed. Add flour mixture alternately with milk. Fold in chocolate chips.

NUT TOPPING: 
1/4 lb. soft butter
2 Tbsp sugar
2/3 cups nuts, chopped

Directions
Spoon batter into pan and put on topping. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to set before baking. Bake at 375 F. for 50 minutes.