She's A Betty

Friday Fudge: Le Petit Ecolier S'mores

Yes, it's not Friday, but if I don't share this now, it may be another month before I get to it. The idea is simple: s'mores using Le Petit Ecolier biscuits (purchase online here).

You'll need:

• Marshmallows*
• Sticks
• Lu Le Petit Ecolier Biscuits, Dark (45%)
• Fire

You know the rest. The biscuits are more expensive than traditional graham crackers and Hershey's, but the flavor is also superior.  What's more, the whole thing holds together better, since the chocolate starts out melded to the cracker. A fun dessert for dinner parties. 

*Vegan Essentials have several vegan marshmallow substitutes; I'm not sure about other vendors. You can also make homemade vegan marshmallows by substituting agar or pectin for gelatin (google for recommended proportions).

Friday Fudge: Chocolate Couture

I don't understand why chocolate fashion shows exist, but they're fun to watch.  Here are two clips (click through feed readers):

1. A chocolate fashion show in India (via The Runway Scoop).

2. The Salon du Chocolat fashion show courtesy TasteTV (this clip comes from their Chocolate Television channel).

Like I said, the shows seem both cool and pointless.  I wonder what happens to the chocolate afterwards?

Friday Fudge: Easter Chocolate

I waffled on what to post for Friday Fudge until I saw "Storm in US over chocolate Jesus."  My favorite quote from the BBC article (which is worth reading in its entirety):

[Cavallaro] used 200 pounds (90 kg) of chocolate to make the sculpture which, unusually, depicts Jesus without a loincloth.

Also worth noting: the chocolate Jesus sculpture is named "My Sweet Lord."

After reading that, I had to write about Easter chocolate (you don't have to celebrate the holiday to celebrate the candy). Easter comes late this year (April 8th), but Easter chocolate does not: ever since Valentine's Day cleared the shelves, it's been a riot of chocolate eggs & bunnies (plus Peeps--who can leave out Peeps?). 

Of course, everyone has favorites. Not Martha loves Cadbury Mini Eggs, to the extent that she did an international Mini Egg taste-off (Canada won).  My mom loves Robin's Eggs (funny link, btw), and for me, it's all about the Reese's PB Eggs (right).  I prefer the small flat ones--they have the ideal chocolate to peanut butter ratio.

Friday Fudge: Lake Champlain Organic Chocolate Bars

Finding good organic chocolate can be tricky.  Either you have to order it online, which requires planning (me no likey), or you have to choose from two or three options at the grocery store.

Of the grocery store options, I tried Green & Black's Mint bar, and didn't like it.  Green & Black's products have gotten great reviews, so I'm going to give the brand another shot--maybe it was a bad batch?  Because I threw out that bar half-eaten, and I never, ever do that to chocolate.

I'm also particularly leery of Maya Bars (or are they just Larabars now?), which look pre-digested.  Now that I think about it, those might the only organic options at my regular store.  I'll have to check.

That said, there's one sure bet for last-minute organic chocolate: Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck").  I love their private label 365 Organic truffles; I also recommend Lake Champlain's Organic, Kosher Chocolate bars (also available online, if you're into that "planning ahead" thing).  At $2.50 for 1.25 oz (a Hershey's bar is $0.75 for 1.55 oz), they're expensive, but delicious.

Note: I've only tried the plain Dark Chocolate (the red bar, above).  I received a bar for Christmas, and had been waiting to photograph and review it for the blog.  I held out for a couple of months, then broke down one night.  I'm sorry, I can't remember details--it was all over so quickly.  All I remember is it was wonderful, though a bit sweet and light for a "dark" chocolate.

Again, you can purchase Lake Champlain chocolates online or at these locations.

Friday Fudge: Chocolate Bubble Wrap & Gayle's Haute Cocoa Cups

Left: NOTCOT recently featured this chocolate bubble wrap, from DeLessio.  Apparently you can make your own using bubble wrap as a mold; however, DeLessio's isn't too expensive ($3.95 for a 3.75 oz bag) and way more convenient.

Right: Gayle's Chocolates is a great chocolate source, with many witty products.  I especially like the Haute Cocoa Cups, for the design and for how they've eliminated the powdered cocoa, yet kept the convenience.  A box of 8 cups is $18.00.

Friday Fudge: Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream

Ben & Jerry's announced a new flavor last week in honor of Stephen Colbert.  Called "Americone Dream," it's vanilla ice cream with chocolate-covered waffle cone bits and caramel swirls.  Get it for that smooth, "sweet taste of liberty."

$3.99 at grocery stores; go here to buy online.

Friday Fudge: Serendipity 3's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate

I've heard a lot about Serendipity 3's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate (yes, there are three "R"s).  I first saw their hot chocolate gift box on Fred Flare (now sold out), then learned the dessert was an Oprah fave.

What's interesting is there are three different recipes for the stuff out there, all from Stephen Bruce (one of the store's founders).

#1:

The new recipe, from 2004's Sweet Serendipity: Delightful Desserts & Devilish Dish, is the one floating around on the sites of Oprah, Paula Deen, & Epicurious.  The ingredients:

6 half-ounce (3 ounces) pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates
2 teaspoons storebought hot chocolate mix*
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar**
1 1/2 cups milk**
3 cups ice
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings

Go to either Oprah or Epicurious for full preparation info.

Notes:
*The new recipe came out after or just before Serendipity started selling their own hot chocolate mix (which gets so-so reviews).  An older recipe below gives detailed instructions for that mix.

**An Epicurious commenter recommends using sweetened concentrated milk or milk & confectioner's sugar instead of regular sugar & milk, to reduce the grainy texture.

#2: 

Apparently, there's another, far more in-depth (and more accurate) frozen hot chocolate recipe in the Serendipity Cookbook: The Best from New York's Incredible Dessert Emporium (1994).  The cookbook is no longer in print, but is available used from $6.00 on Amazon. (recipe after the jump)

Friday Fudge: Fauchon's Megève

Fauchon's Megève has been the French company's best seller for over 80 years, and here's why: 

"[it's] made of white vanilla meringue, and is layered with chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache. It is topped with a chocolate glaze and covered with chocolate curls, then finally dusted with powdered sugar for the finishing touch."

If you're not slightly teary after reading those beautiful words--well, I don't know what to say.

The only downside is it's $70.00, but it's supposed to serve 8 to 10 people (although they are probably thinking of their French customers--it'll probably serve 4 to 5 Americans.  Or just one--me).  Requires overnight shipping.

Friday Fudge: Organic Chocolate for V-Day

I know it's not Friday, but it's crunch time for Valentine's Day orders.  Here are 3 organic chocolate options, and one fair trade/vegan (?) one (from the top row, left to right):

• VivaTerra Organic Dark Chocolate Truffles, in chocolate, espresso, raspberry, and orange flavors. 12 truffles for $36.00.

• Sweet Riot Cacao Nibs Lover's Pack, $16.99.  I'm not sure if they're organic, but they are fair trade, and the chocolate's "all-natural, anti-oxidant-rich, dairy-free, kosher, gluten-free cacao."

• My favorite are CocoaVino bonbons (assorted box of 12 for $31.00).  The bonbons are beautifully designed and feature intriguing flavor combinations.  For example, the above Queen of the Harvest features "sherry, dark chocolate, slivered almond, and a pinch of sea salt in buttery caramel." Yum.

• Finally, Vere Chocolate Wafers from Zanisa.  Made with organic chocolate and without butter and cream, the wafers come in three flavors (espresso, pink peppercorn, and spicy pepita).  A pack of 15 wafers (5 of each flavor) costs $21.00.

Click on images for more info.

Friday Fudge: Chocolate Medicine

Most women will tell you that chocolate has therapeutic qualities. Now intrepid sellers have capitalized on chocolate's reputation with cheeky, clinical packaging.   

At left, we have Bochox, a dark chocolate bar from Spoon Sisters (they also sell an Emergency Chocolate bar; both bars cost $5.00).  Like Botox, Bochox offers "relief from the symptoms of wrinkles & crow's feet," although that offer comes with a "not to be taken seriously" disclaimer. 

Chocolat Michel Cluizel goes even further by selling chocolate nibs in prescription bottles, right.  One Cocoa Nibs 20 Dram Vial costs $5.00 (via ThisNext Blog).

For personal use, I'd take the chocolate & leave the pricey (if clever) packaging.  Nice gifts, however, for a sick or hypochondriac friend.