The Chocolate Princess

!±8± The Chocolate Princess

The older I get the more determined I am to not have to settle. When I was young I always could pick out the most expensive item in a store, at least that is what my mother says. Not much has changed in 50 years. My desire for quality has simply grown more quality conscious.

Although I wasn't born with a silver spoon I never wavered from my standards. Sure, over the years, I have had to settle at times. For example, at one time I owned an older Mercedes Benz, but at least I owned one. I say owned because it didn't take me long to figure out that the repair bills were higher on my Benz just for the name.

My taste in clothes is much the same. I have been happily inducted into the fashion police club. I remember fondly the year I spent working for Chase Manhattan Bank in the executive wing in Tampa, Florida before they merged with J.P. Morgan. There were three of us that hung out together. We would rate the way the other employees were dressed and sometimes it was pretty bad. We weren't cruel or rude, we just quietly giggled over lunch.

I also remember well a visit from my baby brother, Steven, down from Atlanta, Georgia. I met him at the Tampa Airport and when he saw me again for the first time in six years he exclaimed, "Wow sis, you are gorgeous!" That made my millennium for sure!

My taste for fine wine and food is no different than my tastes for anything else. I may not drink 0 bottles of wine every night but I have enjoyed a few. And then there is chocolate; my one true vice.

I have a real love/hate relationship with chocolate. I love it when it is dark, creamy, and rich but as for my hips, well I think you understand. I have eaten all the best chocolates you can name, from Godiva® to Ghirardelli®, from Swiss to Belgian. However it wasn't until early in 2006 that I discovered the absolutely, unmistakably, most fabulous chocolate you could ever begin to imagine.

The bakery that I discovered that will forever satisfy my chocolate fantasy is located about 12 miles south of Los Angeles in Whittier, California. My Little Taste of Italy is owned by Gloria Mount and her daughter, Liz. From my very first order of Chocolate Chip, Chocolate dipped biscotti I was hooked. Then, late last year Liz came up with a recipe for Cappuccino Brownies that are out-of-this-world! They are so rich and creamy that Jan Verhoeff, another of their loyal customers, has rightly dubbed them, "Orgasmic!" I have yet to try their Bada Bing-chocolate bundt cake but since it has my favorite ingredient in it you know it will not be long before it too passes over my quivering lips.

I don't know what their secret is, but I, for one, am certainly glad they found it. Gloria has informed me that My Little Taste of Italy uses authentic Italian chocolate in all of their chocolate goodies. I don't know what else they do that makes them sooooo yummy, but whatever it is I hope they never stop doing it. It's no wonder to me that they are gaining a reputation for all of their tasty treats not only across America but in foreign lands as well.

Mama Gloria, as Mrs. Mount is known, is working on several taste sensations for the upcoming holiday. She tells me that they have developed two new flavors of biscotti and a new Florentine cookie she calls "Hot Mama". I wonder what that secret ingredient is.

My Little Taste of Italy recently put together "Dolce of the Month Club". If you want to experience all they have to offer too this is a very good way to do it. Just look at this list:

January-Hot buttered Rum Muffins


February-Chocolate Chili Cookies


March-Irish Creme Muffins


April-Sicilian Orange/Almond Muffins


May-Mamma's Biscotti


June -appuccino Brownies


July-Agelinas-"The Italian Wedding Cookie


August-Tumbprint Cookies (2 dozen)


September-Cocolate/Blackberry Muffins


October-Od World Florentine Cookies


November-White Wine Muffins


December-Fiori de D'Eliso

Now I am sure you can see this is the cat's meow! A true feast for the prince or princess in you.

© Copyright 2007 Ginger Marks

The Chocolate Princess

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"Friendship Brownies" Recipe

!±8± "Friendship Brownies" Recipe

If you're having a brownie craving and want a quick and easy recipe, I highly recommend trying the Friendship Brownie recipe below. This is by far my favorite brownie recipe. I have made numerous other brownie recipes, including one from the usually good Mrs. Field's Cookie Book, but none of them compare to this recipe. If you love Chocolate as much as I do, you've got to try this recipe.

Friendship Brownies

Dry Ingredients
1 Cup plus 2 Tbps flour
2/3 Cup brown sugar
3/4 Tsp salt
2/3 Cup sugar
1 Tsp baking powder
1/3 Cup baking cocoa
1/2 Cup Ghirardelli chocolate chips (I add 1 Cup )
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Wet Indgredients
3 eggs
2/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Tsp Vanilla

To Prepare Brownies: In a bowl, beat eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir well. Spread into a greased 9″ square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 34-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

This recipe makes 16 super-chocolatey brownies!!!

As the name states, Friendship Brownies also make a great gift for your friends.

To make a Friendship Brownie gift, simply do the following:

1. Layer the dry ingredients only from the recipe above into a 1-quart glass jar.
2. Close the jar with a tight-fitting lid.
3. Type the recipe above on a decorative recipe card.
4. Punch a hole in the upper-left corner of the recipe card and thread a pretty ribbon or yard through it for tying around the neck of the jar.
5. Add a bow on the jar lid for additional decoration (optional).

Enjoy!

LESSON LEARNED: Life's too short. Make brownies!

"Friendship Brownies" Recipe

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Chewy Fudge Brownies

!±8± Chewy Fudge Brownies

HEY! I'm back and swell, and hope you are too! Skip to 1:57 for the How-To! :) Do you like brownies? If so, here is a quick recipe that you can make for anyone, on any occasion! Give it a try, and let me know how they go for you. :) Leave a request below. Anya

Chewy Fudge Brownies

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How to Make A Cheap and Easy Chocolate Lover's Gift Basket

!±8± How to Make A Cheap and Easy Chocolate Lover's Gift Basket

Gift baskets will always be popular and a great idea to give as a gift. People love to receive gift baskets. Making your own chocolate lover's gift basket is cheap and easy.

You can fill it with a variety of inexpensive items and there are lots of choices.ou can easily customize each chocolate theme gift basket to your recipient.

I've put together a few great ideas for making a chocolate lover's gift basket, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget.

First make a list of your recipient's hobbies and interests. List everything you can think of.

Suggestions: sports, books, television shows, in-house hobbies, outdoor recreation, camping, workshop, enjoy working with tools, golf, fishing, computer-related, environment friendly, golf, and tennis.

Also relaxation, food, wine, spa, bath and body, fruit, cookie, crafts, gardening, etc. You can tie in any interests into your chocolate theme. These are just a few ideas.

You can find many inexpensive items for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at 'dollar' stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores, etc.

For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, toy dump truck or other large toy truck, purse, tin, Christmas tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.

Other items might be: extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, tackle box, colander, small wagon, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.

For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, diapers, baby blankets or fabric pieces.

For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.

For items in the container it'll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket - in this case Chocolate! With chocolate it's best not to include any fragrant items, unless they are wrapped in such a way that they don't give off any fragrance. Here's a small random sampling to give you some good ideas:

Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD, handwritten poem, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, or a small fluffy towel.

Also flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea, biscotti, tea infuser, healthy snacks, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, homemade chocolate chip cookies, homemade brownies, chocolate fudge, and Ghirardelli chocolates.

Or chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered strawberries, Hershey chocolates, dark chocolates, white chocolates, chocolate bars, chocolate covered cherries, Belgian chocolates, chocolate mints, and chocolate covered pretzels.

How about miniature or giant-size chocolate animals, gourmet chocolate candies, Tootsie Rolls, nuts, homemade chocolate-based cookies, pre-packaged chocolate food items, brownie mixes,and chocolate chip cookie mixes.

And wooden spoons, your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, your favorite hand-written chocolate recipes, chocolate dessert recipes, chocolate fudge recipes, hot chocolate or cocoa mixes in fancy packets, coffee mug for cocoa, movie tickets and cinnamon sticks.

You can use as many chocolate items as you like. You can make your basket with all chocolate items or mix in a few non-chocolate items.

For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or I like to use cellophane wrap. You can buy it in large rolls. Look for specialty packaging outlets where you can buy it wholesale.

Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it. For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bows is easy and the best if you can do it. Use a large or huge bow.

Assemble all your gift basket items, tools you need, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Now stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.

Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc. Also you can use 'picks' of artificial flowers to fill in space.

Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors. Tuck a card in the ribbon and that's it!

You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco-- especially in the fall prior to Christmas but often throughout the year in some stores. You can shred paper in a paper shredder. If you're going to need a lot of cellophane you can purchase it wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.

General tips: Try to use non-perishable items. Use freshly packaged food items, because even packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months. You can find filler flower 'picks' at garage sales for pennies. If you buy wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.

Also there's nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share with your children, other family members and friends.

You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a chocolate lover's gift basket is cheap and easy and will be thoroughly appreciated by the chocolate lover recipient.

How to Make A Cheap and Easy Chocolate Lover's Gift Basket

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Triple Chocolate Brownies with Mount Gay Rum by Food Affairs

!±8± Triple Chocolate Brownies with Mount Gay Rum by Food Affairs

Food Affairs of Barbados is proud to have recently catered an event at Sandalo, the lavishly appointed beach front luxury villa owned by John and Stephanie Hawkins, who also reside in Berkshire, England. Guests of honor were British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie and family, who have made Barbados their family holiday destination for the last four years. The relaxed pool side setting with a moonlit view of the sea, accompanied by the soft sounds of live entertainment provided the perfect backdrop for this casually elegant affair.

Among the delicacies served at Sandalo were our popular triple chocolate brownies, made with Bajan Mount Gay Rum. The Mount Gay factory is one of the best known attractions on the island, and these brownies certainly attracted a fair number of fans as well. This easy to make dessert is perfect for any occasion.

1 package fudge brownie mix (we like Ghirardelli)

1/3 c. Bailey's Irish Cream

1/3 c. Mount Gay Extra Old Rum

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate pieces

1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Follow the directions according to the brownie mix instructions, replacing the water with 1/3 cup Bailey's and 1/3 cup Dark Rum. Fold in the additional chocolate pieces and walnuts if using. Spread in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan lined with lightly greased parchment or wax paper, leaving 6 to 8 inches of paper on both sides. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the middle comes out almost dry but not completely dry. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 36 brownies.

Chef's Note: After the brownies are completely cool, cover and place in the freezer for a minimum of 2 hours. Use the parchment paper on both sides as a handle to lift the brownies from the pan. Cut the brownies into squares and then diagonally into triangles for a unique presentation.

Triple Chocolate Brownies with Mount Gay Rum by Food Affairs

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Which Brownie Mix is Best? I Conducted an Informal Tasting to Find Out

!±8± Which Brownie Mix is Best? I Conducted an Informal Tasting to Find Out

Which is the best brownie mix to select when you don't have the time, ingredients, and/or inclination to make brownies from scratch?

The folks at a well respected cooking magazine recently published results of their official tasting to determine which boxed brownie mix produces the best brownies. They compared seven boxed brownie mixes to determine their winner.

When I gathered with my extended family in Florida to celebrate the holidays, I thought it would be fun to have a boxed brownie tasting of our own. Since there were only nine of us, we limited our tasting to 3 of the top rated brownie mixes from the cooking magazine's tasting.

The thee mixes I chose for our tasting were:
Barefoot Contessa Pantry Outrageous Brownies Ghirardelli Chocolate Syrup Brownies Betty Crocker Ultimate Fudge Supreme Brownies

We made the brownies according to their package instructions and baked them in 8-inch foil pans since we were on vacation with limited access to kitchen ingredients and equipment.

What Did I Learn From The Brownie Mix Tasting?

The one thing I learned from this taste test experiment is that taste is most definitely subjective. What one person deems "delicious intense chocolate" another calls "too chocolate. This is important information to remember when judging recipes. With brownies there are no definites -- some prefer a cake like texture, others, fudge like, some more chocolate flavor, some less. The key is to find/or adjust what works for your particular tastes.

What Were The Results of Our Brownie Tasting?

The Barefoot Contessa Pantry Outrageous Brownie won by a nose with the "most real chocolate flavor" and "most like homemade. Some felt these were too chocolate; too rich and too dense and fudgy. This mix was the most expensive of those we tested, but with high quality ingredients. If you want homemade tasting brownies with the convenience of a boxed mix and are willing to pay a little more, this is the brownie mix for you. It's available in upscale grocery stores and online.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Syrup Brownie Mix placed second. They were described as "just right," "better texture" and "less chocolatey" than the Barefoot Contessa's, which some thought was a good thing. Additional descriptors included "best chocolate flavor," "good chocolate flavor," and "well-balanced." At a price of .69, they are less expensive than the Barefoot Contessa Outrageous Brownies and available at most larger grocery stores.

Betty Crocker Ultimate Fudge Supreme Brownie Mix placed third. These brownies were described as "very chewy," "most moist," "good chocolate taste" "not chocolate enough," gummy texture," "most cake like," and "more sweet than chocolate." This box was on sale for .50 the day I picked them up at the market.

How Did These Findings Compare with the Folks at the Cooking Magazine?

They ranked Ghirardelli first followed by the Barefoot Contessa, Pillsbury (which we didn't sample) and Betty Crocker.

I still think my favorite brownie mix for the price is the Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix. and will be sure to include them in my next brownie tasting.

The truth is whichever boxed brownies you choose will be enjoyed and appreciated. In my experience, most plates of brownies get devoured with gusto, whether from a box or from scratch. And conducting brownie tastings is a fun way to sample many different kinds of brownies at once with less guilt.

Which Brownie Mix is Best? I Conducted an Informal Tasting to Find Out

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