BROWNIE BAKED ALASKA: IT'S THE BOMBE!

Today is Baked Alaska Day. This Retro dessert is making a major comeback, and I've seen it on the menus of several restaurants in San Francisco, New York, L.A. and Chicago. This dessert originated at New York City’s Delmonico’s restaurant to commemorate the United States’ purchase of Alaska in 1867. Baked Alaska is an ice-cream cake covered with an igloo of toasted meringue. It's a real show stopper!

Following is an easy and delicious recipe from Betty Crocker. This version consists of an ice cream dome on a brownie base, topped with meringue. No time to bake? Pick up a pint of Ben & Jerry's Baked Alaska. Want to spend more time, don't miss Martha Stewart's Baked Alaska with Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Ice Cream. It's the Bombe!

Brownie Baked Alaska!

Ingredients

Ice Cream Dome 
2 cups (1 pint) peppermint ice cream, softened
6 cups (1.5 quarts) mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
6 cups (1.5 quarts) vanilla ice cream, softened

Brownie Base
1 cup butter
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Merinque
8 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar

Directions

Line 3 (or 4) quart bowl (with 9 inch circumference) with plastic wrap. Fill base of bowl with peppermint ice cream; layer with mint chocolate chip ice cream, then finish with a layer of vanilla ice cream. Cover surface with plastic wrap and freeze until ice cream is very hard, at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in advance.

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray, line bottom of pan with parchment paper and spray parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
Place butter and chocolate in medium glass bowl over saucepan of hot water (or use double boiler) and stir butter and chocolate until melted. Set aside to cool
In separate large bowl, whisk  eggs, sugar, and vanilla until well combined. In another medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. Add cooled chocolate mixture to eggs and whisk to combine. Add flour to chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Pour into cake pan. Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
When brownie is completely cool, about 1 hour, turn brownie out onto large flat, ovenproof plate. Unmold ice cream dome on top of brownie layer. Place back in freezer.
With electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites and cream of tartar for 2 minutes on medium-high speed. Increase speed to high and add sugar in slow stream until stiff, glossy peaks form.
Remove ice cream dome from freezer. Remove plastic wrap. Cover ice cream dome with meringue, covering completely, using back of spoon to make swirly peaks. Freeze for at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.
Heat oven to 500°F. Bake for 2 minutes or until peaks start to turn a golden brown color.
For easier slicing, let cake stand for 20 minutes. Slice and serve. 

SALTED CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE: National Hot Chocolate Day

I love a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate at Starbucks, but it's not always an easy drink to find. It's 'seasonal'. So I went on line a few years ago to find the perfect copycat recipe. I found a great one at Bright Green Door. As always, I made a few adjustments. Here's a recipe for Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate that's perfect for winter weather and today's National Hot Chocolate Holiday. And, you'll save $5 by not going to Starbucks--and you'll stay out of the cold and the snow! Also, you can make this Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate any time of the year!

For this recipe, you can use what ever hot chocolate recipe you like. Make the hot chocolate/cocoa in a pot on the stove. When finished, add about 2 Tbsp Caramel Sauce (I use Recchiuti) and 2 Tbsp English Toffee or Hazelnut Syrup (or Toffee Nut from Starbucks-sometimes they'll sell it to you) right into the pot and stir. Pour into your mug and top with real whipped cream (or Redi-Whip), Caramel Drizzle, and sprinkle of Sea Salt. This recipe makes enough for 4 regular size mugs or 2 "Grandes.'

You can also make a variation on this recipe to make a Salted Caramel Mocha.

Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Dark Cocoa (I like Ghiradelli)
1/3 cup water
1 tsp Madagascar Vanilla
2 tsp Sea Salt
2 Tbsp Hazelnut Syrup (or Toffee Nut from Starbucks)
2 Tbsp Caramel Sauce, Caramel Drizzle
Whipped Cream (or Reddi Whip)

Directions
Mix Sugar, Cocoa, and 1 tsp Salt. Add water and boil for 1 minute. Add milk and heat until warm. Mix in Vanilla, Hazelnut Syrup, and Caramel Sauce. Pour into coffee cup and top with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sea salt.

TRADER JOE'S CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS: National Croissant Day

Today is National Croissant Day. There's nothing quite like waking up to a flaky buttery croissant. I have my favorite sources for croissants. I love the ones at La Fournee Bakery in Berkeley (close to my home), and, of course, the many cafes and bakeries in Paris.

But maybe you just want to wake up to fresh croissants without leaving home. I've posted this before, but it definitely bears reposting! Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants to the rescue. These are some of the best frozen croissants you'll ever taste. The 'proof' is in the pudding, as they say, and these croissants are proofed (allowed to rise) overnight before they're baked for 20 minutes the following morning. The heavenly smell will take over your kitchen. Perfect for the weekend or National Croissant Day.

And, the price can't be beat--$4.99 for 4! In the San Francisco Bay Area, Chef Jean-Yves Charon from Galaxy Bakery is the genius behind Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants. Rumor has it that Williams Sonoma gets their frozen croissants from the same source. So, Trader Joe's represents a huge savings in cost.

O.K., these "Croissants" are really Pain au Chocolat, as anyone can see by the shape. Feel free to imagine yourself at a sidewalk cafe in Paris when eating these! The croissants are incredibly flaky and buttery, so light and airy, and the Callebaut chocolate is rich and delicious. Since there are four to a box, and each croissant contains 18 grams of fat, you might want to offer a few to family or friends. If you don't care what they'll do to your waistline or thighs, indulge and eat them all. They're terrific!

This is one product that outshines most home baked croissants. Yes, you can make your own Chocolate Croissants, but these are so good, why bother?

You'll find TJ's Chocolate Croissants in the freezer section.

CHOCOLATE COCA COLA CHICKEN WINGS: Super Bowl Sunday!

Looking for a Savory Chocolate Super Bowl Recipe? You'll love these Chocolate Coca Cola Chicken Wings--fabulous for SuperBowl Sunday! This recipe is adapted from Michael Siry of Duke's Original Roadhouse and Big Daddy's Restaurant and appeared on the Today Show a few years ago along with two other chicken wing recipes.

CHOCOLATE COCA COLA CHICKEN WINGS

Ingredients
4 cans Coca Cola
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1 habanera, minced
1-1/2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chocolate sauce
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. orange zest
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup white vinegar

Frying
Brined chicken wings
2 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp ground black pepper

Baking
Brined chicken wings
2 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
2 Tbsp ground black pepper
Vegetable cooking spray

Directions 
1. Add all ingredients (except butter and white vinegar) into 2-quart saucepan.
2. Bring to boil and simmer until 3/4 reduced.
3. Add butter and vinegar.
4. Keep sauce warm and toss with wings.

Frying recipe:
1. Drain wings from brine, toss chicken wings in flour and place on racked sheet pan.
2. Let stand for 5 minutes; during that time preheat fryer to 325 degrees.
3. Fry wings in batches for 10-13 minutes until wings start to float.
4. Place on racked sheet pan to cool.
5. Toss in sauce.

Baking recipe:
1. Drain wings from brine and toss chicken wings in flour and place on racked sheet pan.
2. Let stand for 5 minutes; during that time preheat oven to 325 degrees.
3. Spray wings with vegetable oil spray.
4. Bake wings for 20 minutes (wings should reach internal temp of 150).
5. Place on racked sheet pan to cool.
6. Toss in sauce.