Take Two!

Ok, so I have to say that my cookie-cake for Mother’s Day was quite the adventure. 

First of all, don’t use the recipe they provide.  It’s a brownie recipe and it sticks to the pan.  This being so, I had to re-do the cake in a short amount of time. 

Typically I like to bake from scratch, especially if it is a special occasion.  But this was an emergency!  I bought a Pilsbury devils food cake from Safeway for about $2 and was on my way to cookie-cake take 2. 

Success! This mix turned out wonderful and according to my dad “the best chocolate cake ever, and I don’t like to eat a lot of chocolate.” 

Not eat chocolate?  I was very impressed by this cake mix!  So, if you have a chocaholic emerergency and need a new cake asap, try the Pilsbury line.  In about 30mins you’ll have a wonderfully moist cake!

Chocolate Star Bakery

So, we all know that I am all about supporting the local business in the community. That being said, you have to check out Chocolate Star Bakery in Scottsdale. 

They offer gourmet cookies of all types.  Go for the original chocolate chip, or if you are pink fanatic like me try the Pink Cloud. 

Chocolate Star Bakery Pink Cloud Cookie

Now what really attracted me to this place is the snickerdoodles that they sell.  I have been making snickerdoodles since I was in middle school and this one looks great! 

Of course, if you can’t make the Cookie-cake then pick up one of their Mother’s Day gift baskets.

Stressed? Try a Choco-ssage

Ok, so I just made up the word “Choco-ssage” but I have to say I think it fits for this post.  Finals are now upon us at Arizona State University and it’s a crazier time than ever for those of us who are working hard to put on those cap and gowns and toss our hats after President Obama  makes his speech on Commencement Day. 

I keep thinking that I need to take an hour or two to relax and regroup.  So, I was thinking about a spa to visit and decided to Google “chocolate facials” and came upon Spa Index.  Instead of going to a spa I found a recipe for a do-it-at-home Chocolate Facial Mask:

Chocolate Facial Mask
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tsp. cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
3 tsp. oatmeal
Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face. Relax for ten 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

10 minutes?  I think all of us busy college students can spare that! Ingredients? Spa on a college budget is now attainable with this great mask.  I’ll absolutely be taking 10 minutes this weekend to relax and rejuvenate with some chocolate-inspired spa.

A COOKIE for Mom – Part II

I bought the cookie-cake pan today and the ladies at the Williams Sonoma store had some great recommendations for making this cookie-cake. 

The most important tip they shared with me is to brush melted butter throughout the pans for the best results. There is so much detail in the pans that you have to make sure that you get ever detail.  They offered two tools that will help you make the best cookie-cake. 

First, if you choose to use the melted butter they have a great pastry brush that will help you cover all the cracks and crevices.  It’s called the Oxo Pastry Brush and you can buy it in stores for only $8.  Or, if you want a quick solution, you can purchase their Bak-klene all purpose, no-stick bakery spray, also for $8.  I couldn’t find them online, but you can find a store near you to get yours.

The second advice they gave me was to use a denser cake recipe or even a bunt cake recipe.  So, if you buy the pans, use your favorite bundt cake recipe or try the one that they provide on the back of the box.

Now, I am planning to make this for my mom for Mother’s Day, and since her favorite cookies are Oreos I will be turning this into an Oreo ice cream sandwich.  After the cakes cool and right before I’m ready to serve it I will be putting this vanilla ice cream in the middle.  Yummy!

A COOKIE for Mom

The perfect Mother’s Day gift arrived in my inbox from a Williams Sonoma email. What mom doesn’t have a sweet tooth?  Instead of baking cookies for mom, make her one big one!

Williams Sonoma has a wonderful Sandwich-Cookie Cake Pan to make your mom one big cookie that she will never forget. 

Think about the different cookies that you can create, or large ice cream sandwiches.  For $29.95 it’s a great investment for the baker of the family and perfect creations for birthday parties and special occasions. 

My favorite site to find recipes is Better Homes and Gardens.  Try their Best Ever Chocolate Cake Recipe:

Ingredients

• 3/4  cup butter, softened
• 3  eggs
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4  cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4  teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon salt
• 2  cups sugar
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 1-1/2  cups milk

Directions

1. Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly grease bottoms of three 8-inch round baking pans or two 8×8x2-inch square or 9×1-1/2-inch round cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Grease and lightly flour waxed paper and sides of pans. Or grease one 13×9x2-inch baking pan. Set pan(s) aside.

2. In a mixing bowl stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder; and salt; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined (3 to 4 minutes). Scrape sides of bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 minute total). Beat in vanilla.

4. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to beaten mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition. Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan(s).

5. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 35 to 40 minutes for 8-inch square pans and the 13×9x2-inch pan, 30 to 35 minutes for 8- or 9-inch round pans, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Peel off waxed paper. Cool thoroughly on wire racks. Or place 13×9x2-inch cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly. Frost with desired frosting. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Wei of DARK Chocolate

If you are a dark chocolate lover like me then you have to check out Wei of Chocolate.  They are a local business that offers organic, fare trade certified and absolutely delicious chocolate!

These are no ordinary dark chocolate…these are even better!  Wei of Chocolate produces dark chocolate infused with herbs and spices and flower essence.

Wei of Life Organic Chocolate

Try one of the flower infused chocolates in Inner Peace, Inner Delight or Inner Clarity.  I personally would go for inner peace.  According to their website Inner Peace is blended with lavender petals, lemongrass and coriander.  Yum!

Chocolate Tasting

We have all hear of wine tastings, but ever think about hosting a chocolate tasting? 

I was browsing the Ghirardelli website and come across their Savor Chocolate page.  Here, they provide some great tips on chocolate, including how to host a chocolate tasting. 

They provide everything you need to have a successful chocolate tasting.  From invitations, place mats, games and, of course, chocolate! 

Ghirardelli's Dark Chocolate Tasting

Easter Treats: Chocolate Maltballs!

So how many of us anxiously await for Easter to arrive?  Not because we can finally indulge in what we gave up for Lent, or to see the Easter Bunny.  It’s the Robin Eggs that I look foward to. 

These Hershey’s favorites are part of the Whopper’s family.  According the Hershey’s website, they were introduced just a few years after the Whopper was. 

If you are a fan of these chocolate malt balls, then you have to try Harry and David’s selection of Maltballs.  With flavors like Dark Chocolate Maltballs and Peanut Butter Maltballs, you are sure to find a nice Easter treat.

We LOVE Brownies!

Who doesn’t love brownies?  They are moist, soft, sweet and satisfying for any chocaholic. I made some this past weekend and although they were very good (turtle brownies), they were nothing like my favorite Fairytale Brownies! 

Fairytale Brownies provide the ultimate brownie treat and they are located here in Phoenix! These brownies are made from a 50-year family recipe and, according to their website, have been providing brownie-lovers with their favorites for 16years.   It sure beats the mix I used straight from the box!

So, with the state of the economy it’s time we stimulate the local economy and our tastebuds.  Fairytale Brownies, can be purchased as various locations throughout the valley including at their factory and AJ’s Fine Food Stores.  

They make great gifts and tasty treats for you.  Of course, if you are watching the calories, don’t bother…you can’t be a chocaholic and count!

A Chocolate Affair

This past weekend the city of Glendale hosted their annual Chocolate Affair.  I am a big fan of this chocolate festival because it is a small community festival set in the downtown Glendale.

Here, you find yourself emerged in a variety of vendors selling you everything from chocolate covered strawberries and candied apples to chocolate syrup, fudge and everything else your chocolate-loving heart can imagine.

At the Chocolate Affair festival they offer tour buses to take people to the Carreta Candy Company that is in the near vicinity to the festival. The Carreta Candy Company contains a small tour of the factory as well as a small store where you can buy all of their chocolate treats.

Now when I say tour, I mean watch the candy belt go by, like the episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy and Ethel are trying to make chocolate.

Check out the pallets of chocolate the factory receives to make all of their chocolate goodies! 

They use Guittard Chocolate,a family owned and operated chocolate company.  Many candy companies and top chefs use this brand of chocolate because of the quality of their chocolates.  Even my mother was gushing about it when she saw these pallets!

My favorite chocolate treat?  The chocolate jalepenos…it sure gave my Valentine a sweet kick!