Today was chocolate day. And what a day we had. Sweet and savory dishes galore.
A beautiful table always makes whatever your having for dinner seem so special.
Our host today, Tina. What a great party she gives.
And me (Karen)
And as always beautiful Judy and Jami.
and Beth. Beth is making s'mores. So yummy. Want smore?
Amy and Shenearia posing. This was their first party with us. I sure hope they had as much fun as we did.
Chocolate Harvest Cake
Chocolate Crescent Rolls
Chocolate No Bake Cookies
S'mores
Chocolate Pudding Trifle
Panini with Chocolate and Brie, Jami's favorite.
Cincinnati Chili
Chocolate Ribs
Brownie Pudding
Attending today was: Karen Jones, Tina Sanders, Beth Thomas, Judy Sanders, Jami Jones, Amy Sanders, Polly Cusimano, Shenearia Jackson
Menu: Chocolate, Brie, & Basil Panini's
Cicinnati Chili w/ spaghetti noodles
Chocolate Ribs & beans
Chocolate Harvest Cake
Brownie Pudding
S'mores
Chocolate Crescent Rolls
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Chocolate Pudding Trifle
Cincinnati Chili
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp sweet paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 pound ground beef chuck
kosher salt
1 6-ounce can tomato sauce
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp chopped unsweetened chocolate
1 Tbsp cider or red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces cooked spaghetti
1 19 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 pound grated cheddar cheese
Oyster Crackers
Directions:
Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add half the chopped onions and the garlic and cook until soft, stirring, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, allspice, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne and cloves. Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the beef and cook the mixture, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaf and 1 1/2 cups water: simmer the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thicker. Add the chocolate, vinegar and Worcestershire and cook until the mixture is thickened but still soupy, about 15 more minutes.
Discard the bay leaf and season the chili with freshly ground pepper. Divide the spaghetti among bowls and top with the chili, beans, remaining onion and cheddar. Serve with oyster crackers.
Receipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Brownie Pudding:
Ingredients:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup good cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon framboise liquour, optional
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325ยบ. Lightly butter 2-quart (9 X 12 X2") oval baking dish. Melt the 1/2 pound butter and set aside to cool
In the bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.
When the eggs and sugar mixture is ready, reduce the speed to low and add vanilla seeds, framboise, if using, and cocoa powder, and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.
Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out 3/4 clean. The center will appear very under-baked: this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.
Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.
Recipe courtesy of Ina Gartern
Panini with Chocolate and Brie
Ingredients:
12 slices sourdough bread
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
Directions:
Preheat Panini grill
Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Grill bread slices until they begin to turn golden, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the Panini grill and place 2 ounces of cheese on 1 slice of bread (bottom half), top the cheese with 1/3 cup chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of basil. Top with another slice of bread. Continue with remaining sandwiches. Return the sandwiches to the Panini grill until the chocolate begins to melt, about 2 minutes.
Cut sandwiches into 2-inch wide rectangles or small triangles and transfer to service platter.
Recipe courtesy of Giada DeLaurentis
I hope this has inspired you to host your own chocolate party. Or any flavor you wish. Invite friends and family, gather together for food and fun. After all, isn't family what it's all about.
