S'MORES FAST FOODS: National Junk Food Day

Today is National Junk Food Day. What really constitutes junk food? Candy you ate as a child but were told not to eat? Candy and cookies and chips that ruined your dinner? Treats that had no nutritional value? Ready-to-eat ultra-processed food? What do you think? Feel free to comment below.

If you're in any doubt, go to TheImpusiveBuy blog. O.K. this site goes beyond junk food, but you should still take a look. Want to take that a step further, check out Junk Food Betty's reviews.

I'm a huge fan of S'mores, and I tend to make my own variations, but here are a few "junk food" S'mores you can pick up at 7Eleven, Target, the drugstore, or your supermarket.

S'MORES FAST FOODS

S'mores Chips Ahoy
Pepperidge Farm S'mores
Nabisco Honey Maid Grahamfuls S'mores Filled
M&M's S'mores
Klondike S'mores Ice Cream Bars
Fiber One S'mores Bars
S'mores flavored gum
S'mores Crunch Bar

Kellogg's S'mores Frosted Pop-Tarts

Walmart's Great Value Smores Trail Mix

Costco's Caramel S'mores Clusters

Whole Foods' S'mores Bites

Target's Favorite Day S'mores Trail Mix Candy

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish S'mores Grahams

Oreo Limited Edition S'moreOreo sandwich cookies

Malt-O-Meal S'mores Breakfast Cereal

S'mores Gourmet Popcorn

Pop-Tarts Frosted S'mores Pastries

Want to make your own S'mores Pop Tarts? Here's an easy recipe from Adrianna Adarme that  appeared on the KQED website a few years ago, and these really do taste so much better than the store bought ones:

HOMEMADE S'MORES POP TARTS

Ingredients 

For Pop Tart crust: 
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 large egg yolks
1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, ice water

For Egg wash: 
1 large egg, beaten

For Filling:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 ounces dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 tablespoons butter, cubed
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup marshmallow creme or marshmallow fluff
2 graham crackers, crushed, plus more for topping

For Icing (optional): 
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream
Pinch of salt

Directions 
Combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt in large bowl. Using box grater, shred butter onto flour mixture and mix, using your hands, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter.

In small bowl, mix 2 large egg yolks with 1/4 cup water. Create well in center of flour mixture and pour in egg mixture. Stir until begins to clump together. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it’s ready. If the dough doesn’t hold together, add a little more water and mix again. Remove dough from bowl and place in mound on a clean surface. Knead dough until it holds together and form into two discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour, and up to 2 days.

While dough is in refrigerator chilling, start filling. Combine unsweetened cocoa powder, heavy cream, chocolate chips, sugar, butter, and pinch of salt in top of double boiler or saucepan over a saucepan with water over simmering heat. Gently stir until mixture is smooth. Remove and set aside. Chocolate mixture will thicken as it cools.

Remove both dough disks from refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes in order to soften just enough to make rolling out a bit easier. Roll out dough with rolling pin on lightly floured surface in shape of a rectangle with 1/8″ thickness.

Using cutter, cut the dough into a 10″ x 13″ rectangle. Repeat with second disk of dough.

Take your two 10″ x 13″ rectangles and, using your cutter or knife, cut each piece into thirds so you have about 6 to 8  - 3 1/2″ x 4″ rectangles. Re-roll scraps to get additional pop tarts. If your dough is very soft, put on parchment-lined baking sheet, being sure they don't overlap, and stick in freezer fro 5 minutes. This will make it easier to assemble.

To assemble: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place one half of  pop tart squares, about inch apart. Transfer teaspoon of chocolate filling to center of rectangles. Then, a few scoops of marshmallow fluff --about two scoops of marshmallow creme and one chocolate scoop. Sprinkle each mound of chocolate and marshmallow creme with small handful of crushed graham crackers. Brush edges with egg wash to hold two layers together.
Place second rectangles of dough on top of ones with filling, gently crimping edges together, using tines of fork.
Transfer assembled pop tarts to freezer for 10 minutes. After freezer, brush tops with remaining egg wash and using  fork, prick four-five holes in tops. Place in pre-heated oven and bake 17 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Transfer to baking rack to cool for 10 minutes.

While pop tarts are baking, mix together glaze.
In small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and pinch of salt until very smooth. If needed, add splash more of cream. Top warm pop tarts with glaze and sprinkle crushed graham crackers.

CHOCOLATE TOOTSIE ROLL POPS: National Lollipop Day

Today is National Lollipop Day. It should come as no surprise that my favorite lollipop when I was growing up was a Chocolate Tootsie Roll Pop. I loved licking the hard outside to get to the chewy center. And, at some point, I used to chomp on the lollipop to make that crunchy hard candy shell combine in my mouth with the chewy tootsie roll center.

The Tootsie Roll Pop official website says that the Tootsie Roll Pop was the first lollipop providing an embedded candy"prize." That's exactly what it was...a prize! I can still taste it. Of course I only wanted a chocolate tootsie roll pop because what goes better with chocolate than more chocolate. And, don't forget the sticks. They were always great to chew on even after all traces of 'chocolate' were gone.

History of the Tootsie Roll Pop: Tootsie Roll Pops were invented in 1930 by Brandon Perry, an employee of The Sweets Company of America or in another history, by an employee named Luke Weisgram who was experimenting with new products, or in another story an employee named Tom Medric. Doesn't matter! The Chocolate Tootsie Roll Pop was made from putting company's famous Tootsie Rolls into hard candy, and it quickly became one of the best selling lollipops in the world. 

For people with more time on their hands than they should have: A student study at the University of Cambridge concluded that it takes 3481 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Another study by Purdue University concluded that it takes an average of 364 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop using a "licking machine", while it takes an average of 252 licks when tried by 20 volunteers. Yet another study by the University of Michigan concluded that it takes 411 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. A study by junior high students at Swarthmore School concluded that it takes 144 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. As I mentioned before, I chomp near the end, so I would certainly skew the statistics.

For those who love a mystery, read the history of Leo Hirschfeld: Tootsie Roll Tragedy - and the murky Tootsie Roll history HERE.

And, for those of you who prefer their Tootsie Pops in a Glass, here's a cocktail recipe to celebrate the day.

Tootsie Pop Cocktail Recipe 
You'll be amazed at how much this tastes like a tootsie roll!

1 part Kahlua
1 part Root beer
2 drops chocolate syrup

In a highball glass, add Kahlua, then root beer. Stir. Then let chocolate syrup drop. Add tootsie pop (unwrapped) to garnish.

NATIONAL DAIQUIRI DAY: 3 Chocolate Daiquiri Recipes

Today is National Daiquiri Day, and how better to celebrate than with a Chocolate Daquiri! And, instead of one recipe...here are three recipes with different fruits and flavors. Perfect for the summer.

FYI: A traditional Daiquiri is a cocktail that usually combines rum, citrus (usually lime), and sugar or another sweetener.

Chocolate Daiquiri 

4 parts Light Rum
2 Parts Dark Cacao Liqueur
2 parts lime juice
1 part simple syrup

Fill shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into chilled daiquiri glass.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Daiquiri

3 ounces chocolate vodka
1 cup fresh strawberries

Combine ingredients in blender. Blend well. Pour into chilled daiquiri glass. Garnish with chocolate covered strawberry!

Chocolate Banana Daiquiri

2 cups ice
1 banana, chopped in pieces
2 ounces golden (or white) rum
2 ounces creme de banane (this should be on your bar shelf!)
juice of 2 limes
2 Tbsp chocolate syrup

Blend ice and banana and blend on high speed. Then add all other ingredients to blender. Pulse until everything evens out and then blend on high until smooth. Serve in daiquiri or high ball glasses.
OMG.. this is fabulous!!

Today's a perfect day for a Picnic! Chocolate Picnic Cake

Today is a perfect day for a Picnic! This Chocolate Picnic Cake is great any time, but especially on a picnic. As you know if you read this blog, I don't usually add icing to my cakes, and this recipe is no exception, especially for a picnic. Well, I always take the least messy foods. This recipe is slightly adapted from Epicurious, and it's so easy. It will become your go-to picnic cake!

CHOCOLATE PICNIC CAKE

Ingredients 

Dry ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup cocoa
1 3/4 cups sugar

Moist ingredients
1 cup oil
1 cup hot coffee
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
Sift dry ingredients together. Add oil, coffee, and milk. Mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes more.
Bake at 350 degrees in greased and floured Bundt pan for 45 minutes or a 9 x 13" pan for 40 minutes. Let sit 25 minutes before taking out of pan.

PEACH ICE CREAM BROWNIE MUD PIE

Today is Peach Ice Cream Day. To celebrate the day, you can pour chocolate sauce over peach ice cream topped with fresh peaches. But to take it up a notch, make this great recipe from Land O Lakes. Don't forget that there are some wonderful recipes on food sites. I love this one!

PEACH ICE CREAM BROWNIE MUD PIE

Ingredients 

Brownie 

1/2 cup sugar 
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened 
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened baking chocolate, melted 
1 large egg 
1/2 cup all-purpose flour 
1/4 teaspoon baking powder 

Filling

 
1 cup thick chocolate fudge sauce
1 quart peach ice cream, slightly softened 

Garnish 

Thick chocolate fudge sauce

Peach slices, if desired

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch pie plate with no-stick cooking spray; set aside. 

Combine sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add chocolate and egg. Continue beating until well mixed. Add flour and baking powder; beat at low speed until well mixed. 

Spread batter into prepared pie plate. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until edges just begin to pull away from sides of pan. (Do not overbake.) Cool 1 hour. 

Spread thick fudge sauce over cooled brownie. Spread softened ice cream over topping. Cover; freeze 4 hours or until firm.  

Cut into wedges while frozen. Drizzle each serving with fudge sauce and garnish with sliced fresh peaches.

THREE EASY RECIPES FOR CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM: National Ice Cream Day

I scream! You scream! We all scream for Ice Cream! Make it chocolate! To celebrate National Ice Cream Day (and Ice Cream Month), here are 3 easy recipes for Chocolate Ice Cream. As always use the very best ingredients. Be sure and try all three and let me know which is your favorite!

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE #1

Ingredients
1-1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
Whisk together milk, cocoa powder, and sugar to combine.
Stir in heavy cream and vanilla extract.
Refrigerate chocolate ice cream base for at least 30 minutes before putting in your ice cream freezer, so it is completely cold. This will help freeze faster, improving texture, and allow cocoa powder to become fully hydrated by the milk and cream.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE #2

Ingredients
1 cup Dutch process cocoa powder, unsweetened
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup white sugar
1-1/2 cups whole milk
31/4 cups heavy cream
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Directions
In bowl, combine cocoa and both sugars, whisking to combine well. Add milk and whisk until sugars are dissolved. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla. Pour mixture into freezer bowl of ice cream maker. Let run for 30 minutes, or until mixture is thick, soft, and creamy.
Transfer to airtight container and freeze at least 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM RECIPE  #3 (without ice cream maker)

This recipe is for Magic Chocolate Ice Cream -- recipe from Borden's Elsie the Cow

Ingredients
1 square unsweetened chocolate
2/3 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
2/3 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir over rapidly boiling water 5 minutes until thick. Add water, mix well. Chill. Add vanilla. Whip cream to custard-like consistency. Fold into chilled mixture. Freeze until half-frozen. Take out of container and beat until smooth but not melted. Replace in freezer until frozen.

BEYOND BOBA: TAPIOCA USES & VINTAGE TAPIOCA ADS

Today is National Tapioca Pudding Day. I posted a recipe for Kicked Up Chocolate Tapioca Pudding on Tapioca Day, so I thought I'd write a little more about Tapioca. 

When I was growing up, tapioca was a once a week dessert. It was not a favorite, but times and recipes have changed, and it may have been how my mother prepared it. If you're into boba or bubble tea, you know that it is made with big pearl tapioca. That tapioca starch turns into a chewy gummy ball when cooked.

But what is Tapioca? I consulted Spruce Eats for answers.

Tapioca has a neutral flavor and strong gelling power, making it effective as a thickening agent in both sweet and savory foods. Unlike cornstarch, tapioca can withstand a freeze-thaw cycle without losing its gel structure or breaking down, making it an ideal thickener in ice cream recipes.

Varieties 

Tapioca starch (from the cassava plant) can be purchased as flour or instant flakes; it's opaque prior to cooking but turns translucent upon hydration. Tapioca pearls and powders are most often white or off-white, but the pearls, frequently used in desserts, can be dyed to just about any color. Tapioca pearls come in large and small sizes. Boba are large sweetened pearls often dyed black and used for bubble tea. 

Tapioca Uses 

Traditional uses for tapioca include tapioca pudding, bubble or boba tea, and other candies and desserts. Both tapioca pudding and boba tea are made with pearled tapioca, or small balls of tapioca starch that turn into a chewy, gummy ball when cooked. In addition, tapioca adds body to soups, sauces, and gravies; it has more thickening power and generally costs less than flour and other thickeners. Tapioca can be added to ground meat products, such as burger patties and chicken nuggets, as a binder and ingredient stabilizer. It traps moisture in a gel, so it's often added to baked goods to prevent the pastry from becoming soggy during storage. Tapioca is a common ingredient in gluten-free products because it helps lighten the texture and maintain moisture in the absence of gluten. 

How to Cook With Tapioca 

Tapioca pearls must be soaked for up to 12 hours and then cooked in boiling liquid to form a gel. Quick-cooking or instant tapioca, with a more granular texture, can be whisked into soups, gravies, jams and jellies, pie fillings, and other creamy concoctions to act as a thickener. Tapioca flour can be used in place of other flours and as a 1:1 replacement for cornstarch. 

What Does It Taste Like?

Tapioca does not have much flavor on its own, but when sweetened and added to desserts such as pudding, it adds texture and heft. The lack of flavor is an advantage when it's used to thicken savory dishes such as soups and gravies. 

***

TAPIOCA has been around for a long time. Here are some great Retro/Vintage Advertisements for Tapioca. Some even have recipes! Let me know if you try any!

 

GRAND MARNIER TRUFFLES: Ooh la la...

Today is Bastille Day aka La Fête Nationale --and it's also Grand Marnier Day, so here's an easy recipe for Grand Marnier Truffles to celebrate the day! Ooh la la!

Grand Marnier, an orange flavored brandy, has been an icon of authentic French "joie de vivre" for over 150 years. Still owned by the Marnier Lapostolle Family, this acclaimed liqueur has a luxurious taste and still uses the same secret recipe. Grand Marnier is a blend of Cognac, distilled essence of bitter orange, and sugar.

One of the most important ingredients in Grand Marnier is Citrus Bigaradia Oranges. This variety of tropical orange stands apart from the sweet oranges we usually eat as it is bitter and has an intense aroma. Though the Citrus bigaradia is not a particularly rare orange, the way in which the oranges are harvested and then distilled to obtain the orange essence that goes into Grand Marnier® liqueur is very specific. The oranges are handpicked while they are still green -- when they are at their most aromatic. In order to preserve optimal concentration of the aroma of the peels, they are left to dry naturally under the Caribbean sun for several weeks on the Marnier Lapostolle family plantation. Their slow distillation extracts an orange essence that is particularly aromatic.

GRAND MARNIER TRUFFLES

Ingredients
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tsp fresh orange zest
12 ounces dark chocolate (65-75% cacao), chopped
1 Tbsp plus 1-1/2 tsp Grand Marnier
1/3 cup DARK cocoa

Directions
In saucepan over medium heat, bring the heavy cream and orange zest just to a boil.
Remove from heat.
Add chopped chocolate and Grand Marnier and stir until smooth.
Chill chocolate mixture (ganache) until hard enough to roll into balls.
Using two spoons or melon baller, extricate chocolate and roll into ball.
Roll ball in cocoa powder and chill.

This recipe can be doubled.

Experiment with different chocolate -- brands and amounts of cacao -- for different taste.

SNOWBALLS IN JULY: Ice Cream Month

Hot summer? Then take a gander at this advertisement from July 11, 1949 featuring that popular Retro New York Night Spot, the Stork Club. Perfect for National Ice Cream Month!

Stork Club Snowballs!

Recipe: Top a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, then 'snow it' under with coconut flakes!
Snowballs in July! "The Stork Club knows how to serve ice cream."

CHOCOLATE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS: 2 Recipes for National Blueberry Muffin Day!

Today is Blueberry Muffin Day, and this month is Blueberry Month, so celebrate! I'm a major blueberry person from way back, even before I knew they were healthy with antioxidants and flavonoids and vitamins. 

I grew up back East, and when we went down the 'country,' my Aunt Annie used to take all the children blueberry gathering in the woods. It was great fun. We would all come back with blue-stained hands and mouths since we ate as we picked. Those blueberries were small, juicy, and sweet, just as wild blueberries should be. I still crave blueberries. Local blueberries are at the farmers' market right now, and for frozen blueberries the wild blueberries from Maine at Trader Joe's are very tasty.

Be sure and use fresh blueberries in these muffin recipes. I am partial to plain muffins with blueberries and chocolate chips, so the first recipe is the one I use. But since this is a chocolate blog, I'm also posting a recipe for chocolate blueberry muffins.

I like my muffins firm with a crusty top and soft inside -- and not too sweet. In the first recipe I use a 1/2 cup of sugar, but if you want them a little sweeter use 3/4 cup. Don't want your blueberries to sink to the bottom? Dust them with flour before putting them in the batter.

1. Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
pinch of salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1/3 cup whole milk
fresh blueberries (maybe a cup?)
chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 400. Grease your muffin tin or use liners.
Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center.
Put oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg (already whipped), and enough milk to fill cup to brim. Pour into the well and mix with flour mixture. Do not overmix.
Stir in blueberries and as many of the chocolate chips as you'd like. I like a lot, but you want to also be able to taste the blueberries--and the muffin, itself.
Fill muffin cups right to top.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in preheated oven-- or until done.

***

The one above is my favorite, but for those who want a chocolate muffin with blueberries, here's a recipe from Yankee Magazine.

2. Chocolate Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 ounces unsweetened or very dark chocolate
1 cup sugar (I'd probably use less)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In medium saucepan, melt butter and unsweetened chocolate over medium heat until smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in sugar, egg, buttermilk, and vanilla. In small bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Gently combine with liquid ingredients. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into well-greased muffin cups, filling to top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Transfer muffins to wire rack to cool. Drizzle cooled muffins with semisweet chocolate.

Have a great Blueberry Muffin Day--add Chocolate!

Teddy Bears Picnic Triple Chocolate Scones: Teddy Bear Picnic Day!

Today is National Teddy Bear Picnic Day. You may not think that's a food holiday, but when I was little I always had teddy bear tea parties, and I always served them scones. My grandparents were married in London, and I got my love of tea with milk and sugar -- and tea with scones and clotted cream -- from them. So for today's Teddy Bear Picnic Day, here's a recipe for Teddy Bear Picnic Triple Chocolate Scones. Of course you might want to add some honey on your scones. Bears love honey!

Be sure and scroll down to the 1932 recording of The Teddy Bears' Picnic. 

Teddy Bear Picnic Triple Chocolate Scones 

Ingredients 
1-3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 Tbsp unsalted butter (cold)
7-8 Tbsp whole milk (cold)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3 Tbsp chopped dark chocolate
Sugar Crystals

Directions 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Sift together dry ingredients in large bowl (not the chocolate chips or chocolate). Add chocolate chips and dark chocolate.
Cut butter into dry ingredients until size of peas.
Put vanilla into small bowl and add milk.
Pour most of milk mixture into dry mix and stir to moisten. Dough should be moist enough to form a soft ball, but not sticky.
If needed, additional milk can be added 1-2 teaspoons at time.
Turn dough onto lightly floured cutting board and press out with hand to approximately 1/2 inch thickness. (makes 10-12 scones or 8-12 wedges)
Do not over-knead dough. Use as little flour as possible to keep dough from sticking to board.
Cut into desired shapes and place on lightly greased baking sheet.
Lightly brush tops with milk (or not).
Sprinkle with sugar crystals (you can find this at King Arthur Flour or in the baking section of the market). (If using a biscuit cutter or glass, dip the cutting edge in flour first)
Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on size. Start checking at 9 minutes. Do not overbake!

Sprinkle again with large sugar crystals while scones are still hot for visual appeal.

Tip: Scones are like biscuits. To get a tender, flaky scone, dough should be handled as little as possible, and you should always use cold butter and cold milk.

CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES: Three Recipes for National Sugar Cookie Day!

There's nothing quite like a Sugar Cookie. Add Chocolate, and it's that's much better! Of course, one can never have too many recipes for this perfect cookie. So today for National Sugar Cookie Day, here are three recipes for Chocolate Sugar Cookies. Be sure and try them all!

1. CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour
3/4 cup unsweetened DARK cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
14 Tbsp unsalted butter
1-3/4 cups dark brown sugar (packed)
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In shallow bowl, put granulated sugar on plate. Set aside.
In bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder.
In large bowl, melt 10 Tbsp butter in microwave. Do not overheat; microwave butter until just melted. Stir in remaining 4 Tbsp butter until melted. Allow butter to cool for 10-15 minutes.
Whisk brown sugar, vanilla and salt into melted butter until smooth. Whisk in egg and egg yolk until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
Roll dough into balls -- 2 Tbsp for each cookie. Roll balls in white sugar and place on lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheets.
Flatten cookies to 1/4-inch thick.
Sprinkle cookies with more white sugar.
Bake 12-14 minutes. Don't overbake.
Transfer to wire rack to cool.

2. CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
5 ounces unsweetened or very dark Chocolate, chopped
1 cup unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Melt chocolate and butter together in a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (or in a double boiler).
Add 1 cup sugar, egg, and vanilla; mix well.
Stir in flour mixture until well blended.
Refrigerate 15 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.
Heat oven to 375°F.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in remaining sugar.
Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 min. or until centers are set.
Cool on baking sheets 1 minute.
Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

This third cookie recipe is for Chocolate Caramel Sugar Cookies! This easy recipe is adapted from Kraft. Use Kraft products such as their caramels and Planters Pecans-- or use your favorite caramels and nuts.

3. CHOCOLATE CARAMEL SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 ounces very dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cups sugar, divided
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped Planter Pecans
14 ounces KRAFT caramels
2 Tbsp milk

Directions
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on High for 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add 1 cup sugar, egg, and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour mixture until well blended.
Refrigerate 15 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.
Heat oven to 375°F.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in 1/2 cup chopped Pecans.
Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Make indentation in each ball.
Bake 8 to 10 min. or until centers are set.
Microwave 1 package Kraft Caramels with 2 Tbsp milk in microwaveable bowl on High for 3 minutes or until caramels are melted..stirring after 2 minutes.
Spoon into centers of cookies.
(Drizzle with extra melted chocolate, if you feel inclined)
Cool on baking sheets 1 minute.
Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK: Chocolate with Almonds Bark

As I've said many times before, every day is Chocolate Day for me, but today is National Chocolate with Almonds Day, so here's an easy recipe to celebrate. 

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK

Ingredients
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup toasted almonds (in the oven), coarsely chopped  (some people like them whole/your choice)
Sea salt

Directions
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Melt chocolate until smooth in top of double boiler or saucepan placed over another saucepan with simmering water.
Set aside 6 Tbsp almonds
Stir remaining almonds into melted chocolate.
Pour mixture onto cookie sheet. Spread to 1/2 inch thickness.
Sprinkle remaining almond pieces over mixture. Sprinkle sparingly with sea salt.
Tap pan on counter until bark is desired thickness.
Refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm.
Break into pieces.
Store in an airtight container in cool, dry place.

How easy is that?

WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY: GUITTARD'S BEST EVER BROWNIES

Today is World Chocolate Day! So many great chocolate is grown and processed all over the world, but for today's holiday, I'd like to tell you about Guittard, my favorite baking chocolate, a company close to home.

The Guittard Chocolate Company, a San Francisco company now based in Burlingame, CA, has been in business for over 150 years, so it's not surprising that they have developed some fabulous chocolate. They've been crafting chocolate for five generations, using  time-tested craft, innovative techniques, long-standing relationships, and an obsession with making a premium chocolate that delivers a spectrum of flavors for a variety of uses.

I often use their cocoa, bars, chips, and wafers in my baked goods. I really love their Collection Etienne Chocolate. Their 100 percent cacao bars are amazing, but they also make 64 and 70% bars--all fair trade-certified, non-GMO, kosher, and whatever else you want from your chocolate. Did I say I love this company? Here are two recipes from Guittard for their incredible Collection Etienne Brownies. You will marvel at the intense chocolate flavor in both. The first recipe is my favorite, since it's fudgy. The second recipe is more cake-like, but equally fabulous-just different. Let me know which you prefer.

Incredible Collection Etienne Best Brownies Ever!

Ingredients
6 ounces Guittard Collection Etienne unsweetened chocolate (100-percent cacao), broken into pieces
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9-by-9-inch pan with foil, covering bottom and extending up sides.
In double boiler set over hot, not boiling water, melt chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Set aside.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt at high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and creamy. Blend in melted chocolate at low speed, stopping to scrape sides as needed. Add flour just until incorporated.
Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until top is puffed and cracked, and toothpick inserted in center test moist. Brownies will set as they cool. Cool before cutting.

Best Cake-Like Collection Etienne Brownies

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (8 oz) Collection Etienne 74% Cacoa Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Wafers
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups evaporated cane sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temp
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour.

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Line 8-inch square pan with foil
Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler until smooth and melted.
Transfer to large bowl of electric mixer. Mix in sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, blending until smooth and glossy, stopping to scrape sides as needed. Add flour until just incorporated.
Spread into prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed around edges and cater tests most. Do not overtake. Cool before cutting.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE S'MORES: A great Summer Treat!

Summer is all about S'mores, so I've put together a few 'different' recipes for the ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mores. I welcome comments and more recipes.

Start with your favorite chocolate chip dough--or if you're baking-challenged, grab your favorite pre-made cookie dough at the grocery store. (My favorite is Nestle Toll House, the 'original' toll house cookie dough.).

Bake the cookies per instructions and remove half-way through the baking process. Note: the key to a great Tollhouse cookie is baking them at a low heat. (225-250?)

Remove the cookies from the oven and top with 3 mini-marshmallows (Depends on size of cookie, you can always add more)

Place back in the oven for the duration of the baking time (Note: do not over-bake cookie or caramelize marshmallows)

Remove from oven and sprinkle with crushed cinnamon graham crackers over the melted marshmallows.

Drizzle cookies with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Best served warm out of the oven.

Picky Palate had a really good recipe, too, for Chocolate Chip Cookie S'mores.. She calls them Oozing Chocolate Chip Cookie S'more Sandwiches. Everyone in the food community is so gracious, and Jenny gave me permission several years ago to reprint her recipe here--and use her fantastic photo!

She found one of the most interesting additions to her recipe at Target -- Kraft makes chocolate covered mini marshmallows. She mixed them into the cookie dough. How cool is that? Of course, you can make the dough with or without them.

Oozing Chocolate Chip Cookie S'more Sandwiches

Ingredients

2 sticks softened butter
3/4 Cups sugar
3/4 Cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 oz package Kraft Chocolate Covered Mini Marshmallows, if you can find them --otherwise use the regular ones
1/2 Cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 Cups mini baking M&M's

Mini Marshmallows (less than 1 bag full)
Mini Hersey bars

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter and sugars in stand or electric mixer until well combined. 

Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined as well. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, soda, and salt. 

Add to wet ingredients as well as marshmallows, chips, and M&M's until just combined. 

Spread onto a large rimmed baking sheet that's been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with cooking spray. 

Bake for 20-22 minutes or until edges are just turning golden brown. Remove and let cool completely.

Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Top bottom shapes with a layer of mini marshmallows and place under broiler until puffed. Top with Hershey bars to melt. Top with another cookie to close sandwich. Serve warm.

You'll love these!!

CHOCOLATE GRAHAM CRACKERS: National Graham Cracker Day!

Today is National Graham Cracker Day, and since it's only one day past the Fourth, here's a great WWII Ad with Uncle Sam that features all the 'recommended' National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) crackers, cookies, and biscuits.

I've made chocolate graham cracker crusts for pies, and I've used graham crackers in most of my S'mores recipes, so this recipe for Chocolate Graham Crackers is perfect. These are easy to make and delicious. I've seen lots of recipes, but this one from King Arthur Flour is one of the best.

CHOCOLATE GRAHAM CRACKERS

Ingredients
1/2 cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour, Traditional or White Whole Wheat
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons cold milk

Directions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Have two baking sheets and parchment paper to line them at the ready.
In medium-sized bowl, whisk together flours, salt, cocoa, sugar, and baking powder. With pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into flour mixture until evenly crumbly.
In separate bowl, combine honey and milk, stirring until honey dissolves. Add liquid to dry ingredients and toss lightly with fork until dough comes together. Add additional milk, if necessary.
Turn dough out onto well-floured surface and fold over gently 10 to 12 times, until smooth.
Divide dough in half.
Work half the dough at a time, keeping remaining dough covered. Transfer one piece of dough to  piece of parchment. Roll into a rectangle a bit larger than 10" x 14"; dough will be about 1/16" thick. Trim edges and prick dough evenly with a dough docker or fork.
Repeat with  remaining dough and parchment. Place rolled-out dough pieces, on their parchment, onto baking sheets. Bake crackers for 15 minutes, or until you begin to smell chocolate. Remove them from the oven, and immediately cut them into rectangles with pizza wheel knife.
Transfer to rack to cool.
Store cooled crackers tightly wrapped for up to a week, or freeze for up to one month.

CHOCOLATE COCA-COLA CAKE for a Retro Fourth of July!

Celebrate July 4 with a Chocolate Cake. Get out your 'Pyrex' dish and bake a Retro Chocolate Coca Cola Cake for the holiday! I've also included a recipe for Chocolate Coca-Cola Icing.

CHOCOLATE COCA-COLA CAKE

Ingredients
2 cups unsifted cake flour
2 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Directions
Sift together flour and sugar. Heat to boiling point the butter, cocoa, and Coca-Cola. Add to flour and sugar mixture. Stir to blend. Add buttermilk, soda, eggs, salt, and vanilla. Stir with spoon until well blended. Pour into greased and floured oblong pan (Pyrex dish). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Batter will be thin. Ice while hot.

COCA-COLA ICING

1/2 cup butter
6 Tbsp Coca-Cola
1 box confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp cocoa

Heat to boiling point -- butter, cocoa and Cola-Cola. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; stir to blend. Using a fork, make holes in hot cake and pour hot icing over it.

PATRIOTIC PEEPS S'MORES: Fourth of July

Photo: PEEPS®

I love S'MORES, and these seasonal  PEEPS® Patriotic Vanilla Creme Marshallow Chicks are so cute! This photo and recipe are from my friends at PEEPS®.  Here's something fun for everyone at the Fourth of July barbecue or campfire: PEEPS Patriotic S'mores!

PATRIOTIC PEEPS SMORES!

Ingredients
PEEPS Patriotic Vanilla Creme Marshmallow Chicks (if you can't find these, use the Party Cake Chicks)
Graham crackers
Chocolate bars
Sprinkles (Red, White and Blue)

Directions
Break graham crackers in half, so you have two squares.
Melt PEEP over fire or low heat.
Layer melted PEEP over square of chocolate, with graham cracker square on bottom
Top S’more with second graham cracker square and drizzle melted chocolate on top
Add patriotic sprinkles, and top off with PEEPS Patriotic Vanilla Creme Marshmallow Chick

Happy Fourth of July!

CHOCOLATE GINGERSNAPS: Gingerbread Cookie Day

Today is National Gingersnap Day! I love Gingersnaps--or Ginger Snaps, as some spell it! Although they're usually associated with the holidays, they're fabulous all year round. They're also a very versatile cookie, and I often crush them up, add a bit of melted butter, and use them as a crust for various pies, especially chocolate silk pie. If you end up making these gingersnaps bigger, you can also use them for the cookies in a Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich! And, since Fourth of July is this weekend, you might want to do just that!

So here's a great easy Chocolate Gingersnap Cookie Recipe (adapted from Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook via About.com Home Cooking) that uses both fresh and ground ginger and cocoa and chopped dark chocolate! How can you go wrong?

Tip: If you haven't used these dried spices since the holidays, you might want to check their freshness. They do have a shelf-life, and it would be sad to ruin these delicious cookies with 'stale' ingredients.

CHOCOLATE GINGERSNAPS

Ingredients
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sweet butter
1/4 cup molasses
1 Tbsp water
2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1-1/2 cups flour
1 Tbsp Dark cocoa
1-1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
7 ounces high quality dark chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup sugar

Directions
In large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, water and minced fresh ginger.
Combine flour, cocoa, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until easy to handle.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased (or parchment-lined) baking sheets.
Bake cookies at 350 F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops begin to crack. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.