Hot Stuff!

I love andouille sausage! And it also makes a great garnish when thinly sliced and placed on top of, say, a fried green tomato! So what is it? Andouille sausage is a spicy, heavily smoked sausage made from pork chitterlings and tripe. Although French in origin andouille is widely used in Cajun cuisine. You'll find it in such popular dishes as jambalaya and gumbo. Not only does it make a spicy addition to any dish that uses a smoked sausage it's also great hors d'oeuvre served cold.

Maxine!

What is??

Anchovy paste is the combination of pounded anchovies, vinegar, spices and water. It is usually packaged and sold in tubes and can be used for a variety of cooking purposes such as canapes and Caesar salad dressing.

Anchovies...

Although there are many species of small, silvery fish that are called anchovies, a true anchovy comes only from the Mediterranean and southern European coastlines. These tiny fish are generally filleted, salt-cured and canned in oil. Canned anchovies can be stored at room temperature for at least a year. Once opened, they can be refrigerated for at up to 2 months if covered with oil in an airtight container. If you want to alleviate the saltiness you can always soak them in cool water for about 30 minutes, drain and pat dry.

Victory

With great victory comes great sacrifice
~Theodore Roosevelt

Maxine!

What is??

What are gherkins? Gherkins, also called cornichons, are a variety of small, dark green cucumbers especially grown to make pickles. They are usually sold in jars and packed in a pickling brine. You can find them in most grocery stores in the pickle section.

Foodie School - Sauces

Today we are going to learn about one of the classic French sauces called Remoulade [ray-muh-LAHD]. This sauce is easy to make with endless derivatives. A remoulade is made by combining homemade mayonnaise with mustard, capers, chopped gherkins, herbs and anchovies. It's served chilled as an accompaniment to cold meat, fish, and shellfish. I know not everyone wants to make mayonnaise from scratch so if you do opt for store bought, please use a high quality dressing as this will affect the flavor of your sauce.

Foodie Language

render: to melt animal fat over low heat so that it separates from any connective pieces of tissue, which, during rendering, turn brown and crisp and are generally referred to as cracklings. The resulting clear fat is then starained through a paper filter or fine cheesecloth to remove any residue.

Xanthan Gum

So what is it and why is it in so many ingredient lists? Is it healty? Is it okay? Xanthan Gum is produced from the fermentation of corn sugar and is used as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in foods such as dairy products and salad dressings.

The Foodie's Fortune

Your talents will capture you the highest status and prestige.

Maxine!

Recipe For You - Orange Chocolate Mousse

Looking for a more healthful recipe? Try this one with tofu. I know it sounds a little weird, but I promise you, I've made many chocolate mousse recipes with tofu and they are still to die for!

Orange Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier (orange-flavored liqueur)
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
2 (12.3-ounce) packages reduced-fat silken tofu, drained
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oranges, peeled and sectioned


Directions:
Combine the first 7 ingredients in a blender or food processor; process mixture until smooth.
Place chopped chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until almost melted; stir until smooth. Add chocolate to tofu mixture; process until smooth.
Divide orange sections evenly among 6 bowls or parfait glasses; top each serving with 1/2 cup mousse. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Yield
6 servings

Recipe For You! - Double Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

This is one of my favorite recipes to make! I know this one is going to be a hit!


Double Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup 1% low-fat buttermilk
1 1/4 ounces dark (70 percent cocoa) mini chocolate chips
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined (about 3 minutes). Add egg substitute and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to granulated sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with muffin cup liners. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

Recipe For You - Chocolate Espresso Pudding

This is a great, easy, and quick recipe to make that your love will love!


Chocolate Espresso Pudding

Ingredients
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups soy milk
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium saucepan, and stir well with a whisk. Gradually stir in milk, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat, and add chocolate, stirring until melted. Stir in vanilla. Pour about 1/2 cup pudding into each of 4 dessert dishes; cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours. Remove plastic wrap to serve.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready for Valentine's Day? Are you making something special for that special someone? Hopefully you'll find the following recipes helpful for making your day creatively special!

Success

Success is not by chance, it's by choice.

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Food Safety Tip

When reheating foods remember to heat thoroughly and to an internal temperature of 165F.

Where Do I Find??

Orange flower water as well as Rose Water can be found at gourmet grocers such as Bristol Farms and Surfas.

Orange Flower Water

Orange flower water is a perfumy distillation of bitter-orange blossoms. Orange-flower water is used as a flavoring in baked goods, various sweet and savory dishes and a variety of drinks.

Dining Recommendations - Bono's!

Situated at the beginning of the popular Second Street strip in Long Beach, this restaurant was an incredible find! Despite the cold weather outside, Bono's offered a warm, cozy and subtly romantic ambiance once inside. And yes, there were still people eating outside with heating lamps! Truly everything from beginning to end was delicious from their Baked Brie to their Pesto Chicken and Pancetta Wrapped Filet Mignon. Sorry, no room left for dessert! Definitely a place to try! Bono's 4901 East Second StreetLong Beach, CA 90803
Telephone: (562) 434.9501

The Foodie's Fortune

You take criticism as an opportunity to grow.

Where do I Find?

You can purchase rose water in Middle Eastern markets, gourmet grocers, and specialty stores such as Surfas in Los Angeles. It's really not as hard to find as you might think and is actually quite inexpensive. Try adding a couple of drops into your tea, iced tea, or lemonade to start. I'm sure your love will appreciate your creative side!

Rose Water

Totally underrated and in my opinion, not used often or creatively enough, rose water is one of those obscure little ingredients that is finding it's way back into my kitchen. Especially with Valentine's Day coming up, this may be a creative and delicious way to spice up your day! So what is it? Rose water is a distillation of rose petals that has the intensely perfumy flavor and fragrance of its source. It has been a popular flavoring for centuries in the Middle Eastern, Indian and Chinese cuisines. And in addition to culinary uses it is also used in religious ceremonies and as a fragrance in some cosmetics.

Back From Outer Space

Happy Belated New Year and all good things...the haitus is over! And I'm back recharged and ready to offer you some really cool stuff. Thank you for all you support....now back to work!