Archive for October, 2009

23
Oct

Chocolate Maple Pecan Bars

   Posted by: admin    in Cookies, Recipes

Yield: 24 - 36 bars

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, cold
2 eggs
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
2 cups pecans, chopped
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Heat oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt;
cut in butter until crumbly. stir in 1 beaten egg. Press
evenly in a 9×13″ pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium
bowl, beat milk, remaining egg and syrup; stir in pecans. Sprinkle
chocolate chips evenly over the prepared crust. Top with the nut
mixture. Bake for 25 minutes more or until lightly brown.
Cool. Cut into bars.
Store tightly covered at room temperature.

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20
Oct

Fixing seized chocolate

   Posted by: admin    in Tips and Techniques

So you tried to melt some chocolate and it seized on you.  Did you follow my instructions (see “how to melt chocolate“)?  Well don’t worry, the problem can be solved.  Here is what you need to do.

For every ounce of chocolate, add one tablespoon of one of the following:

milk
cream
vegetable oil

Stir the mixture until smooth.  If necessary, VERY SLOWLY add more of the milk, cream or oil.

Three things to remember.  First, this should be done while the chocolate is still warm.  Second, the added ingredient (milk, cream or oil) needs to be the same temperature as the chocolate. Third, the rescued chocolate will only be usable in baking,  sauces or ice creams.

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16
Oct

Blondies

   Posted by: admin    in Recipes, brownies

Ingredients:
6 tbsp butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp milk
1 vanilla bean
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
10 oz chocolate chips
1/2 c pecans, chopped

Directions:
Heat oven to 350F.
Mix flour, soda and salt, set aside. Cream butter, sugar, brown sugar.
Split vanilla bean. Scrape out seeds and add to mixture. Add flour
mixture and beat until creamy. Add chocolate chips and nuts.
Bake in 9×9″ pan for 20-25 minutes.

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9
Oct

Chocolate Chip Grape Nut Bread

   Posted by: admin    in Quickbreads, Recipes

Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients:
1 cup grape nuts
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 vanilla bean

Directions:
Heat oven to 350F.
Soak Grape-Nuts in buttermilk for 10 minutes. Beat sugar and eggs
together in a large bowl. Add milk/Grape-Nuts mixture. Split vanilla
bean. Scrape out seeds and add to mixture.
Sift flour with salt, soda and powder and stir thoroughly into
the Grape-Nuts mixture. Add chocolate chips and mix well. Pour into 2
non-stick buttered 9 x 5 loaf pans and bake for about
45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

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2
Oct

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

   Posted by: admin    in Cookies, Recipes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 vanilla beans
1 Egg
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl, combine brown sugar,
sugar, butter and shortening; beat until light and fluffy. Split
vanilla beans. Scrape out seeds and add to mixture. Add egg;
blend well. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Stir
in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread in ungreased 13 x 9-inch pan.
Bake for 15 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely.
Cut into bars.

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