Mini Spicy Chocolate Cheesecake Bites / 2013 Oscar Night Menu

Since I have been married and living in a cold weather climate, my husband and I enjoy going to see the Oscar movie picks (or what appears to be).  We rarely go any other time during the year but that cold part of early January finds us sneaking off to the movies every chance we can get.  This year was no exception.  Of the movies we went to see, I have created a silly little menu for the Oscar viewing tonight.  If all else fails, make this salted dark chocolate popcorn and curl up to watch movie stars who haven’t eaten in a month.  Our short list of Oscar films:

• Argo (an Old Fashioned, since the stress of the situation drove the hostages to drinking much brown liquor)
• Silver Linings Playbook (a Philly cheesesteak in honor of the City of Brotherly Love: Paleo version or regular version [however cheese whiz is really disgusting to me])
• Lincoln (in researching for last weeks President’s Day post, I read that Abe Lincoln was not a big eater but liked apples and bacon, so we shall have Roasted Brussels Spouts with Apples and Bacon).
• Les Miserable (bread.  duh.  I made Her New Roots’ Life Changing Bread in anticipation! Yummy!)
• Zero Dark Thirty (Mini Terrorist Cheesecakes: because they are evil and must be destroyed)  Recipe at the bottom.

Overall, I think Argo should receive the Best Picture Award.  The story is gripping and tight.  At no point in the film did I wonder how long it had been running or when it would be over.   The viewer is right there with the characters, wondering and praying that they will make it out alive!

Les Mis, had to fulfill a huge legandary story and fell just slightly short in some areas.  While an epic film, was definitely too long (they added a song?!).  The gritty, dark camera work and the sweeping camera shots of the French countryside and the opening scenes set the stage very well.  I loved Eddie Redmayne’s voice and Hugh Jackman had a stunning performance. Kudos to Anne Hathaway for showing us that she is crazy for her art, I wish I hadn’t seen her previewed part before the movie, since it is such a moving piece.  Overall, Bravo! Anne.  Out of the nominations for Best Supporting Actress, she deserves it.  However, Russell Crowe was on the lacking side, contributing to the overall disconnected film.

I saw Lincoln on Thanksgiving day so it has been a while since I saw the movie but it was fantastic.  Daniel Day Lewis does embody the president and the entire ensemble gave stellar performances.  It’s funny because with this movie and Argo, we know what will happen, yet the story is moving and gripping.  Sally Field is good but isn’t that to be expected?  She plays a lot of loopy, eccentric characters.  It will be interesting to see Daniel Day Lewis and Hugh Jackman go head to head tonight.

Silver Linings Playbook was such a joy and a surprise to see.  After I learned that David O. Russell was directing it and saw previews, I knew that I wanted to see it.  Speaking of excellent ensembles: they give Lincoln a run for its money.  For me, this was a close second to Argo.  It’s a lovely story, flawed characters with very imperfect lives, yet you still feel transported into their world.  And Bradley Cooper isn’t even that cute in it.

I was so on the fence about going to see Zero Dark Thirty, but we bit the bullet on MLK Day with every other couple in Hoboken.  I didn’t look at the screen during the famed water torture scene and other than that, nothing was too gruesome for my thin skin.  Jessica Chastain is an actor from out of this world.  The story is complicated and has a ton of detail, some of which was over my head.  I enjoyed it for what is represents and I am glad the movie was made.  It’s not the type of movie you are going to curl up to watch on a lazy Sunday but it is an important film and an important story about a great moment in history.  Thank you, Kathryn Bigelow.

Spicy Chocolate Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients

• 7 gingersnaps
• 5 oreos
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 3 tbsp butter melted
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 2 oz melted chocolate
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1/8 tsp, heaping chili powder
• 2/3 c chocolate chips
• 1/3 c whipping cream
• 1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Line 8 cupcake tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
2. In a food processor, grind Oreo cookies and gingersnaps to crumbs. Pour in melted butter and blitz again until well mixed. Spoon about a tablespoon of cookie mixture into each cheesecake well. Press down. Set aside.
3. With a hand mixer, whip cream cheese and melted chocolate together. Scrape sides and mix again until evenly mixed. Stir in egg. Scrape sides and mix again. With mixer on low, stir in sugar and spices. Scrape sides and whip again briefly so the filling is evenly mixed with no lumps. Spoon over top each crust.
4. To bake, set tins in oven in roasting pans filled half-way with hot water; bake until set, about 34 minutes, rotating halfway through. When you shake the pan, they shouldn’t jiggle. Transfer tins to racks to cool completely. refrigerate in tins, uncovered, at least 4 hours; remove from tins.
5. Melt chocolate chips with whipping cream and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Spread over completely cooled cheesecakes. Refrigerate until set.
6. Refrigerate in airtight containers up to 5 days.

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Happy President’s Day – Cocoa Almond Coconut Granola

Happy President’s Day!! I have always enjoyed learning about our presidents and especially in the food arena.  I don’t think there is anything that ties us all together more than food.  Sure, the President puts his pants on one leg at a time, but does he enjoy a juicy bacon cheeseburger and a milkshake?  Does he crave fried chicken and biscuits?  Perhaps a piece of chocolate cake is more up his ally? In doing a bit of research in the spirit of President’s Day, I learned more about past President’s food preferences.

A lot of them preferred simple meals, over and over.  Many were very influenced by where they grew up: Kennedy loved New England clam chowder, Bush Sr. and Jr. enjoyed tex-mex and spicy food and Carter requested grits and biscuits. Many presidents also liked a strong cup of coffee, a request I make daily.  Some Presidents had less appealing cravings, for example James Garfield’s favorite was “squirrel soup.”

Old George Washington like nuts and ordered them by the barrelful and several other Presidents preferred to snack on nuts as well.  I think they would enjoy this granola.   A bit sweet, a bit salty, chocolaty and totally snackable, with protein packed almonds scattered throughout, it’s easy to munch on this granola and tide oneself over to the next meal.

I experimented a little with the fat in this recipe and used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil and it turned out quite well.   Supposedly, this stuff lasts a few weeks but I have never had it last that long in my house.  Happy Snacking!!

Cocoa Almond Coconut Granola

Source: http://joythebaker.com

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup raw whole almonds
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, toss together oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan combine sugar, honey, oil and butter. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
4. Pour the warm sugar mixture over the oat mixture and toss with a wooden spoon. Toss until all of the oats and almond bits are at least moistened by the sugar mixture. Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheets and place in the oven.
5. Bake granola for 30 minutes, removing from the oven to toss and stir 2 to 3 times during baking. Granola is done when it is toasted around the edges and fragrant.
6. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.

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Happy Valentine’s Day Profiteroles

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Happy Valentine’s Day!  It’s a strange holiday, with the forced love and all.  Because I have a work history in food service, you will never find me in a restaurant on Valentine’s Day.  Bless those people who deal with the masses.  We prefer to spend it at home in the lap of luxury, haha!  If you do the same, you may not already have a meal planned for the evening.  If I may suggest something, profiteroles are where it’s at.  You can make them ahead of time, serve them with store-bought ice cream (or whipped cream!!) and chocolate sauce, and who’s the hero now?

These particular profiteroles from Anne Burrell from the Food Network are taken over the top with a bit of cinnamon.   It seemed so easy that I thought I was doing something wrong.  The chocolate sauce is worth whipping together as well.  It comes together easily, while the pastries are in the oven and you won’t be able to resist taking a taste (or three) while you wait.  Use a high quality chocolate and you will be above and beyond what you can find in a restaurant.  Plus, you will be in your pajamas! What could be better?   Happy Valentine’s!

 

Oh My Darling, Clementine – Orange and Dark Chocolate Scones

I’ve always been a brown bag lunch (tote, lunch box, insulated bag, etc.) carrier.  In high school, I prided myself on never even stepping food in the cafeteria (smelling of cleaner, old milk and generally unappetizing).  In my lunch bag, I had an orange peeler, which I needed since I bite bit my nails.

The little pointy part scores the orange to make it easier to peel.  Apparently I was obsessed enough with my little peeler that a few of my friends kidnapped my orange peeler and held it for ransom, note with the cut out magazine letters and all.  I never said I was cool.

I still think about my little orange peeler when I am buying those adorable clementines at the store. The wooden crate gets me every time.  So dang cute.  The $8.99 price tag is not cute.  Nor is it cute when 50% of the fruit is rotten.    However, the non-rotten ones are so amazing: sweet with a hint of tart and summer and so easy to peel, no orange peeler needed.

I wanted to make something special for my sweet clementine and settled on Orange and Dark Chocolate Buttermilk Scones by Joy the Baker.  As any quick bread, they come together in a flash.  They aren’t too sweet and as you munch, you run into great reservoirs of dark chocolate.  Savor with a cuppa coffee or tea with your sweetie.

Thanksgiving: Save the Dessert

Dessert.  It’s the reason for life, right?  It’s the point, right?  I think some people have their priorities out of line.  The problem is that many diners eat all of the savory foods for Thanksgiving and they are all moaning face-down into the bed because they ate too many rolls and turkey and stuffing and peas and brussels sprouts and potatoes and carbs.  Meanwhile, I’m like, “uhhh, hey guys, I think we have some dessert,” to empty silence.   It’s heartbreaking.  Seriously, people, don’t be mean to the pie.  Just practice some self restraint in the name of the savory rolls and stuffing (or fourth meal that dessert!!!!).

Ok, let’s get down to brass tacks.  If you are like me, you loath making a pie crust.   The Cooks Illustrated method saved me.  While unorthodox (it uses vodka!), it works beautifully and I adore it.  (Note to self: buy vodka.  Somehow Hurricane Sandy drained that part of my cupboard.  Can’t imagine what it is about no power for a week that could do that to a girl.)

This year, I am going to try to step up my pie crust game and make this braid  as a decorative edge.  Pray for me.

I love pecan pie and I love chocolate so every year I make Tyler Florence’s Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie .  If you do the crust ahead of time, it comes together so quickly.  I take it on the plane and everyone wants to be my friend.  Served with some whipped cream, it is a delight.  Note: I make the Cooks Illustrated crust with this pie.

If I were surrounded by coffee lovers, I would make a variation and substitute espresso for the bourbon in Fine Cooking’s Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie, but I haven’t tested this one!

A few years ago, I made the Pioneer Woman’s Dreamy Apple Pie and it was a hit!

If I decide against the Bourbon Pecan Pie, I will make Fine Cooking’s Ginger Spice Apple Cranberry Pie.  The streusel on top is amazingly spicy from the ginger and the filling is gorgeous, studded with cranberries.  It is an awesome dessert.

Finally, if you aren’t into pie, which I can understand, Rachel Ray’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes (pictured above) are hands down, my favorite pumpkin baked good.

No matter what you chose to bless your table with at Thanksgiving, regardless if you celebrate it on a different day, I wish you and yours the happiest of Thanksgivings.  I hope you have a chance to pause and experience the day with your loves.