Hot Cocoa for Adults

First off happy holidays! Sorry to go MIA, but lets face it, you were all probably too busy to be reading blogs anyway. I've got a question for you, are you a holiday card person? I'm totally not, don't get me wrong I love getting photo cards in the mail, or a nice handwritten letter, but sending them.. nahhh. You see once you start you can never stop! So I plan on never starting... this however leads to people asking why we don't send them a card in return, or people demanding we "take a picture in front of the fireplace" and send it to them... so my friends, you complained enough so here you go... first up John with our pet cat.

And then the two of us...

Believe me, this shoot involved copious amounts of giggles :) maybe we should start sending cards.... nahhhh!

Now what better way to spend a nice winters eve? A toasty fire, a book, some knitting, and a nice cup of hot chocolate... How about some straight up good for you antioxidant filled 100% cocoa instead? Brewed 100% cocoa beans?? Sounds horrible and bitter right? Well the first words out of John's mouth when he took a sip of this stuff were "wow, that's smooth". I totally agree with him, I was actually expecting a much harsher, in your face taste based on how strong the grounds smelled (it was a delicious smell, but strong none the less). In the end it was a pleasant surprise and I've really been enjoying the stuff.... you probably want to know what "the stuff" is huh? It's called Choffy, and I'd never heard of it until a person at the company contacted me and asked if I wanted to try some on the house. Of course I said I'd be happy to try it :)

All you need to make it is preferably a french press (you can use a drip coffee pot too). Add the grounds in with some hot water, sit for 5 minutes, plunge and serve. I added a little half and half to mine and it was perfect, others might want to add a little sweet but I found it excellent without it! I'll admit it's a little pricey for an everyday treat ($15 for 12oz), but I'd totally get this for special occasions or as a gift for someone :)

I don't think I could ask for a more perfect evening, I'm officially an old woman at the ripe old age of 30... what about all of you? What's your perfect evening? Something relaxing and staying in like me? Or out on the town? Would it involve some 100% cocoa? :) Now that I think about it, maybe I'll add a swig of amaretto into my next cup of Choffy... now THAT sounds like a good night in!

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Fudge + animal crackers + booze =

Sorry I missed a post on Wednesday. Things have been crazzzzy busy YIKES! Can't wait to take a breather this weekend and just enjoy relaxing!! Speaking of which...

Fudge + animal crackers + booze = amazing delicious nostalgic adult fudge!!

Boozy fudge has turned into a christmas gift tradition for me. Exhibit A: Captain Morgans SMORE fudge. Exhibit B. Coconut Malibu fudge

And now to add to the list. Amaretto Animal Cracker Fudge. Over the top easy to make... over the top decadent and delicious. Don't fool yourself, there is nothing healthy about this... unless you are my cousin Ann who would say... well it's got chocolate, which comes from beans, and beans are vegetables... therefore it's a vegetable!

OK who else loves my cousin's logic? Pretty fun right? :)

Amaretto Animal Cracker Fudge

by steph chows

1 14 oz can fat free sweetened condensed milk

about 2 cups (12 onces) semi sweet chocolate chips

1 oz amaretto

1 cup animal crackers (plus some to stick in the top)

Pour condensed milk into a medium sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering add in the chocolate chips. Stir occasionally until chocolate is melted and creamy. Pour in booze and stir until incorporated. Remove from heat and stir in animal crackers. Pour into a wax paper lined 8x8 baking square and refrigerate until set (I normally leave it overnight). Once set remove from pan and cut into 1 inch squares.

Happy Holidays everyone!!! What are you all doing? Going anywhere fun? Any fun and exciting traditions?

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Bruschetta

This weekend we had bitter cold weather. Waking up to 17 degrees outside does not make me want to go out and run errands, how about you? Weather like this also doesn't make me think of cooking things with fresh tomatoes, but I did have a crazy craving for bruschetta after receiving an email from a friend that used canned tomatoes to make them.

Canned diced tomato bruschetta? I can just hear some of you running away, but trust me, they tasted delicious.

Tuscan Tomato Bruschetta
Servings: 12

Ingredients
1 whole wheat baguette, sliced 1 inch thick
Extra virgin olive oil
1 (14.5 ounce) can Redpack Diced Tomatoes in Juice, drained or 1 (14.5 ounce) can Redpack Petite Diced Tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons fresh chopped basil (the store was out for some reason, :( so I used 1 tsp dried)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese ( I sprinkled on part skim mozzarella and some parmesan onto each one- I used less than a cup)

Directions
- Brush extra virgin olive oil onto both sides of bread slices. Grill or toast under the broiler until golden on both sides.
- In a bowl combine remaining ingredients, except cheese, stir to combine. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the toasted bread.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and broil for 1 minute to melt the cheese. Serve immediately.

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Last minute gift ideas

Remember a few weeks back when the stores were all having "last minute" Christmas sales? Really? last minute?? It wasn't EVEN DECEMBER YET!!! OK now that Christmas is just a little over a week away... we can now officially call this last minute!

I'm normally one to be very prepared, making jars of jam throughout the summer, baking and packaging up things to send... not so much this year. This year is a mad scramble for some of the people on my list! What's a girl to do? Start hooking! Wait, that did NOT come out right... I'll try again... Pull out her crochet hook and start crocheting!!

If you have friends living in cold weather climates a hat or scarf is always nice... now what if your friend has a huge mass of hair... one that doesn't fit into a hat so well? You make him or her an ear warmer headband!

I wasn't lying about the copious amounts of hair I have... just think I donated it a year ago... otherwise I'd have even more!

This takes about 30 minutes and only uses a single crochet stitch... the trick to make those ridges?? You only hook into the back loop instead of both loops! Here's a visual...

Image source.

A - is standard crochet using both loops
B- is using the back loop only (that's what you want to do with this)
C- is using the front loop only (technically this would work too... the important part is to just do the same thing the whole time)

Now to the super duper hard pattern... I used a worsted weight yarn and a I hook.

Ch 10.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—9 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in each st across, turn.
Repeat last row until piece measures 21 inches (or the size of your friends melon). Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use tail to slip stitch the two short sides together.

What's your go to last minute gift ideas? Mine are usually something baked... or something easy to crochet :) Or booze... booze always goes over well ;)

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Vermont Adventures - no smooching allowed

A few friends and I skipped work on Friday to head up to VT for a long weekend. It's been a bi-annual tradition for me the last few years and each time I go I seem to pull along a new friend making it doubly as fun! Maybe one of these times all my prior "dates" will make it back with me for a big old reunion party!

The last few visits have started two new traditions, the first being a yankee swap which always ends in fits of giggle (seriously who brought the woman's bust vase this year???), the second being an appetizer potluck for Friday night. This time around I brought a VERY garlicky hummus, while Val and Brian brought along a loaf of my rosemary bread (she subbed 3 tbs of fresh rosemary for the dried) for dipping in the hummus. Since there were so many rave reviews for both I had to get them up here to share.

Since I didn't take any shots of the hummus you'll just have to be entertained with these other pictures from the weekend... including one of me with my Sunday morning job... making the famous Blueberry Hill Inn chocolate chip cookies!! These things are to die for... and NOT healthy... kinda ironic it was my job to make them huh? The good news is they came out just as good as when the inn keeper makes them. Score one for me! ;)


Ever been to VT? Do you love it? I LOVE IT THERE! Do you like garlic? Does your significant other like it or do they say no smooching allowed when you eat some?

"Don't expect anyone to kiss you tonight" garlic hummus
1 can chick peas (drained but save the liquid)
1/3 cup drained liquid from chick peas (maybe a little more if you need it)
3 large cloves fresh garlic
1-2 Tbs tahinni
2 Tbs olive oil
4 Tbs lemon juice
1/4 tsp sea salt

Place everything in a food processor and whirl for 3-5 minutes. That's it. Amazing right?

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A salty old lad he was

Ok this isn't about a salty old lad... it's about Java Gourmet... a java and seneca salt (yup!! seneca as in the lake right here near Rochester NY!) rub and sprinkles that lend an amazing complexity to your foods. Boring burger no more! Don't worry it doesn't taste like a burger soaked in coffee.. umm eww? The coffee flavor turns into a more smokey nutty flavor when you cook it.

A friend sent me a care package of the stuff to try because she loved it so much and I was super excited to give it a try. But hmm what to make? If you're smart you could head to their page to see all their recipes... or you could be like me and do it freestyle!

I actually used the java sprinkles on the roasted veggies above, and the beef java rub on my burger (it gave it a beautiful caramelized crust when I cooked it, and tasted amazing).

Knowing how much my friend and I loved this stuff we contacted Java Gourmet and asked if they wanted to sell their product on Foodiacs! They were happy to agree and they are our featured product until tomorrow. What? Not enough incentive to go and buy your favorite foodie some? How about a 25% off code because I love you guys?

You have until December 31 to enter the code: JAVAGTSCB25 during checkout to receive 25% off your order of Java Gourmet! And don't just stop there, browse around and see what other delicious things you could get your loved ones for the holidays... or buy yourself a fun gift!

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More cookies!!

That's right folks, we all want more cookies this time of year! This time I wanted to try an old favorite, oatmeal raisin, subbing in Smart Balance for the butter. The results.

Delicious! These had the perfect amount of chew and sweetness to them, no sugar tooth overload here! Next time I'm going to make them super sized instead of tablespoon sized. We can all have a coffee house style party? What do you think? Want to come?

Don't forget about the cookies contest either!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
recipe by steph chows

In a medium bowl whisk together and set aside:
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup old fashion oats
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl beat together until light and fluffy
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup Smart Balance

then beat in
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg

Add your dry to your wet, and then fold in 1/2 to 3/4 cup plump raisins.

Drop tablespoonfuls onto a greased or lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, remove and let cool on the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to completely cool.

What's your favorite go to cookie recipe?

Are you an oatmeal rasin kinda gal/guy? Or strictly chocolate chip?

If you could only eat one kind of cookie the rest of your life what would it be? Mine would hands down be marzipan rainbow layer cookies!!! YUMMM!

Sponsored by Smart Balance

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NASA

Hey did you know I'm training to be an astronaut?

Ok no, no I'm not. But I sure was dressed like one this past weekend! You see we have a full size basement under most of our house, but an addition was put on in the 80's and that section has a very very small crawl space, the only entranceway being the hole you see above. The thing is that part of the house is always a little chillier than the rest, so John wanted to insulate the ductwork that goes into the crawl space then up through the walls...

The issue is there is NO WAY John can fit into the entrance hole... and even if he did get in, he really wouldn't be able to move around very easily.

Enter me. Loving wife. Hater of small dark cobweb filled spaces.

For months now it's been an ongoing joke of him asking me when I'd venture in to do insulating work and investigate, and I'd joke right back, no way in hell am I going in there!

Well folks, I finally gave in, but not after first making him promise to 1. get me an awesome full body suit. 2. Fully light the crawlspace so it wasn't so scary. 3. Not leave the opening so he could help me out in case I freaked out.

At one point I had a very Winnie the Pooh moment trying to get out of the entrance... think of it this way, I was half way out and got stuck, so all John could see was the big white marshmallow man bottom with legs hanging down. Thankfully he didn't capture that part on film.

All in all it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be, and we had a fun time joking about my awesome, slimming outfit :) What fun/amusing things have you done that you originally said "hell no!" to?

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Who wants tomatoes!? Giveaway

What's for dinner? We don't want the same old thing we have every week... and I'm hungry so get moving fast... and make it healthy I ate too much thanksgiving day chow last week.

Sound familiar? Don't worry, with a little help from Red Pack and the recipe below we'll have something healthy and delicious on the table in 30 minutes flat. Is that what you were looking for? :) Oh and if you leave a comment below you'll be entered to receive a fun care package from Red Pack filled with all kinds of goodies! (more info below)

Armed with 6 varieties of canned tomatoes (thanks you red gold!) I started thinking up what exactly we should have for dinner last night. I was craving some carbs in the form of whole wheat pasta, so it was a pretty easy decision to make my own sauce and bake up some zitti. Don't go thinking carbs are all bad for you either, just get a whole grain variety and making your own sauce is the sure fire way to a healthy dinner. This way you know EXACTLY what's going into your meal... no random sugar, or excessive fat here, just straight up fresh tomatoes, a little seasoning, a few more veggies, and DONE!

Using what we had on hand I went with some vegetarian "ground beef", which really takes on the texture of real beef when you put it in pasta sauce! (Bonus, it's low in fat and high in protein so it fills you up). I started with one medium onion and 3 gloves garlic (chopped) with some olive oil in a heavy bottom pan (heat the pan first!). Then added in the "ground beef" and toss everything until it is nice and browned. Next pour in 1 can of seasoned diced tomatoes (basil, garlic and oregano, seriously even more of a time saver!) and 1 can of tomato puree (no blender needed here!). I added in some black pepper, a dash of red hot (if you don't put red hot in add a little salt to taste), and a drizzle of red wine vinegar. I let this simmer for 10 minutes and it was good to go! See, easy.

While you're doing all of the above boil a pound of small shaped whole wheat pasta until desired done-ness, I'm an al-dente kinda gal how about you? Drain the pasta and toss it in with your sauce along with a handful (or two) of part skim shredded mozzarella, and some grated parmigiana cheese. Now here's the tricky part... how hungry are you really? If you're starving, serve it up now and you're done. If you can still wait a little, toss your concoction in the oven (make sure your pot is oven proof) and bake for 20-30 minutes at 350, or until the top is nice and browned. Baked or not this thing is delicious.

Truth time: I can never wait and bake it, we always just end up eating it right away! Can you wait or are you impatient like us?


Now for the giveaway. US entries only (sorry my international peeps). To enter leave a comment below telling me what your favorite thing to make with canned tomatoes is. Additional entries if you tweet or FB about it. (leave separate comments to let me know you did). (example text: Want to win some @RedGoldTomatoes with @steph_chows enter at stephchows.blogspot.com ) You have until Monday the 12th to enter.


Sponsored by Red Pack

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Cookie Contest

Happy Friday everyone! I know in previous years we had a grand old cookie exchange here, and this year the time has just slipped away from me :( but I have good news, you can still bake your cookie loving heart out, snap a shot, and submit them into the Smart Balance Healthier Holiday Cookie Spectacular!! You could win a years supply of smart balance for your efforts :)

Healthier Holiday Cookie Spectacular? Who named this? I think they named it for me? Don't you agree?

Wait...What's that? You've never used Smart Balance before? Me neither! Until this past week when the lovely people there sent me some coupons so I could go hog wild in the kitchen baking up all kinds of cookies to share with you all! You can check out their website for recipes, or use your own favorites and sub out the butter 1 for 1 for smart balance. (gotta love easy math)

Don't get me wrong, I make all kinds of cookies without any fat that are delicious, but they all lack that crisp outer layer butter and oil lend to a cookie. You know what I'm talking about, that hot out of the oven crispy outside chewy center, love of your life cookie. *drool*

When you have to use some form of fat to get that crisp texture you want to use the healthiest version of it right? By swapping smart balance for butter you get 60% less saturated fat, 0 cholesterol, and 0 trans fat. All good stuff right? And you still get that creamy texture you love when you beat it with sugar (not something you can get using oil).

My first batch of cookies using smart balance came from (never home)maker and I'm hooked! These cookies have so much going for them, and the texture was spot ON! Although the banana in them caused them to loose the crisp factor the next day... so these should be enjoyed on the same day for maximum effect!

Chunky Monkey Cookies
recipe from (never home)maker slightly adapted by me below

1/2 cup Smart Balance (use the Smart Balance Organic Whipped Buttery Spread to make these vegan)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup splenda or use 1/3 cup natural sugar
1/2 large banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/3 cup wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Method . . .
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the Smart Balance, banana, sugars, and vanilla. Until fluffy. About 4 minutes on high.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients and then pour them into your mixer. Mix for a minute on slow.
3. Fold in the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Until everything is well incorporated.
4. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. and bake for about 15 minutes



Sponsored by Smart Balance

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