All About Chocolate

 

 

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 325º. 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.