Come Hither, Sweet Vosges Truffle

I am kind of a chocolate freak.
I think a truffle a day keeps the doctor away.
Because truffles are more delicious than apples.
Life is not like a bowl of apples, it is like a box of chocolates.
You really never quite know what you’re going to get.

As is the case from exotic chocolate maker Vosges, which produces things like bacon chocolateoyster infused cream truffles, and enchanted mushroom chocolate bars.

The Vosges Luxe Sweet Coquette Truffle Collection is more of an experience than a box of chocolates. My sampling included instructions on how to eat them:

be present, see, touch, smell, snap, taste, linger and ponder your next move.

Okay, I like it. I rarely follow instructions, but these seemed to be well thought out and cover most of the senses. In fact, I’m gonna have to tell you about each one of these babies:

Kumamoto Truffle: kumamoto oysters, champagne, 36% cocoa butter white chocolate, pearl dust.

Oysters and chocolate? Don’t ask questions, just do it. Beyond the creamy, dreamy white chocolate goodness, the taste inspired visions of the sea. Not the sea as in a ferry to Ellis Island, but the sea as in that Cialis commercial where the couple is relaxing in clawfoot bath tubs overlooking the ocean. There is a hint of oyster cream that will probably make your lady rip her clothes off.

Read More

50 Ways to Feed Your Lover

Here at ES we know it’s not always just about what you eat — it’s how you eat it, too. And never is that more important than on Valentine’s Day. So we’re embracing our inner love child and suggesting 50 ways (some naughty, some nice) to feed your lover this V-Day.

From breakfast in bed to beer in your bosom, enjoy our most loving countdown to date — and click on the photos for fuller explanations.

50. Giant Gummy Bear on a Stick
Practicing your oral skills has never been so sweet.

49. Electric Cookie Press
With one-hand operation and consistent flow of icing every time, the possibilities are endless.

48. Bialetti Pizza Chopper
Works great for slicing thin crust, deep dish, or unfaithful lovers. “Simply grasp the handle at opposite ends and rock the blade back and forth to create portions in the desired size.”

47. Hillary Clinton Nutcracker
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is busting more than balls in Washington these days. See what she can do with a pecan.

46. Jigsaw Cookie Cutter
Sometimes love is complicated, but isn’t it great when it feels like a perfect fit?

45. Musical Cake Slice
Dream of being serenaded by your loved one? You can have your cake and eat it, too, while listening to an electronic version of “The Wedding March” or other tunes.

44. Rooster Apron
This not-so-subtle kitchen frock is sure to send the message of what’s for dessert.

43. Nun Salt & Pepper Shakers
Don’t let that Catholic guilt get you down. Shake out your sexual repression at your next meal.

42. The Ex – Unique Knife Holder
Re-enact Fatal Attraction in the comfort of your own home.

41. Rainbow Kitchen Utensils
We love our gays more than the U.S. military, and what better way to represent pride than with rainbow kitchen utensils?

40. Flask Bra
For the girl on the go.

Read More

Chocolate and Beer Filled Donuts

What could be more loving than breakfast in bed with a serving of chocolate and beer deep fried to donut perfection? Yep, it’s time to bring your romanticism (and gluttony) to the forefront this Valentine’s Day with these Chocolate and Beer Filled Donuts.

I know one dessert does not fit all, so of course you can couple your chocolate with just about anything — Scotch, Cognac, or even no alcohol at all. This recipe is highly adaptable, so throw in what you like. Shoot, throw in a mini Snickers Bars if that’s your mix for a bit of joie de vivre on your love day celebration.

Chocolate and Beer Filled Donuts

Read More

Bacon Streusel Maple Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Stats, spreads, percentages…um, let’s talk about what really matters during the Super Bowl. Commercials, the half-time show and of course — food! All the other stuff is extraneous, unless of course you win the pool, in which case football is great.

As for the food, the Super Bowl calls for a dessert sophisticated enough to bring to an event, but crowd-pleasing enough to…well, please a crowd. Enter the Super Bowl Cupcake.

The streusel on top framing that thick cloud of maple cream cheese frosting is not your everyday streusel. That my friends, is crushed bacon wrapped in some cayenne and brown sugar for a sweet and spicy flavoring, then paired up with some crushed almonds for added nutty goodness. This is the kind of killer combination that will make you glad you publicly declared to eat better for your New Year’s resolution.

Bacon Streusel Maple Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Read More

Chocolate Beer Truffles

I love chocolate and I love beer. Put the two together and I am down for the count. I made these over the weekend and ended up eating nearly half of them. Ten, yes, 10 truffles later, 30 minutes lost and two days’ work gone, I am wearing my fat jeans. My skinny jeans with the stretched seams are now buried under some mismatched socks.

Okay, so maybe the debut of the fat jeans doesn’t completely coincide with the truffle-fest, but word of warning — these are addictive so try to eat them in the presence of others so you don’t end up inhaling them like I did. On that note, they’re perfect for a super bowl party — what’s better than  beer and chocolate in the same mouthful?

Chocolate Beer Truffles

Read More

Dessert for Breakfast: Coconut Raspberry Chocolate Muffins

Coconut and Raspberry Chocolate Muffin

When I’m testing a recipe I pretty much enlist anyone with teeth. That includes my spinach-loving toddler, who somehow doesn’t really like baked sweets. But when these came out of the test oven I got a big pass from him. And for those of us who are tall enough to ride a roller coaster, I can confirm this is a chocolate breakfast affair that you don’t want to pass up.

My judgement is that anything healthier than a donut is OK to eat for breakfast. And to make these even….um…healthier, the muffins are packed with coconut and whole raspberries, so if you eat enough of them you can almost meet your USDA fruit recommendation for the day. How’s that for morning glory!

Coconut Raspberry Chocolate Muffins:

Read More

I’m Not Bloody Kidding: Chocolate-Tomato Cake

tomato cake

When I think of chocolate pairings I usually go with strawberries, orange, mint and perhaps bourbon. Tomato, I think not.

A colleague recently told me how she substitutes water with canned tomato as the wet ingredient for her chocolate cake mix. Yes, you read that right. Tomato in a chocolate cake. As I’m not the baker in my household, it was nice to know that this little experiment would consist only of a box of chocolate cake mix and a can of diced tomatoes.

Following the instructions on the back of the box, an Organic Chocolate Cake Mix from Arrowhead Mills, I added just short of a whole can of Whole Foods 365 brand of no salt added, plain diced tomatoes, pureed.

Read on to see how this crazy combination turned out.

Read More
« Previous
Next »