Chocolate Fudge

The Chocolate Connoisseur March 14th, 2007

Almost everyone loves the taste of chocolate and has a personal favorite, such as sweet milk chocolate, dark, bitter chocolate, white chocolate, or even fancy Belgian chocolate. With the huge selection of chocolate available today, there is definitely chocolate perfect for everyone’s taste. The wonderful aroma of luscious chocolate tantalizes a person’s taste buds and the melt-in-your mouth taste of creamy chocolate makes anyone’s day. There is chocolate perfect to give as gifts on special occasions such as Valentines Day, anniversaries and birthdays. There are chocolate-shaped roses, hearts and delicious chocolate cakes and chocolate fudge.

Chocolate is a wonderful way to let someone know how much he or she means to you. Making luscious chocolate fudge to give as a gift does not have to be a difficult and challenging job. There are many easy recipes available for beginners, to the more advanced chocolate fudge recipes for experienced cooks. Here are two chocolate fudge recipes, one that is easy while the second recipe is a little more challenging - but they are both scrumptious.

It is fun to use different chocolate chip types such as peanut butter/chocolate chips or caramel/chocolate chips for a different flavor. Instead of, or along with, the chopped nuts, try M & M’s or miniature marshmallows in the following easy recipe.

Ingredients

· 1 ¼ cups of chopped nuts
· 1 can of condensed milk
· 12 ounces of chocolate chips
· 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Combine the condensed milk and chocolate chips together in a double broiler, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and nuts and pour into an 8” square buttered pan. Chill until firm and then cut into pieces.

This chocolate fudge recipe is a little more difficult but heavenly to eat. The ingredients needed are:

· 1 pound each of semi-sweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips
· 1 can of evaporated milk (12 ounces)
· 2 ½ tablespoons butter
· 2 cups of chopped nuts
· 1 pint of marshmallow cream
· 4 cups of sugar

In a large bowl, combine butter, marshmallow cream, milk and semi-sweet chocolate and nuts, and then set aside. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, mix together sugar and evaporated milk. Stirring constantly, bring this to a boil for four minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately pour this hot mixture in the bowl with the chocolate mixture, stirring with a large wooden spoon until well blended. In a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking pan, pour in the fudge, smooth, let cool for approximately six hours, then cut, and serve. This wonderful chocolate fudge will be a hit with your family and friends and is great for gift giving.



Chocolate Brownies

The Chocolate Connoisseur February 28th, 2007

During the Columbian Exposition in 1892, the chef of the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago invented the brownie. Bertha Palmer wanted a dessert that women could eat without getting their hands dirty when put into box lunches. Sears and Roebuck published the first chocolate brownie recipe in their 1898 catalogue.

Just the mention of chocolate or a chocolate brownie has most people’s faces light up and their mouths water. Often referred to as ‘America’s favorite dessert’, chocolate brownies, named after their rich brown color, are popular not only across America but are known and eaten around the world. Many like their chocolate brownies covered with fudge icing, or with chips such as chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch, while others prefer nuts or a combination of both. People also love fresh, hot chocolate brownies served with toppings such as vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream or hot fudge. In most fine dining establishments, country diners or other restaurants, brownies are often the most popular dessert item.

For people that love to cook, there are thousands of recipes for chocolate brownies, which are available in cookbooks, magazines and on the internet. You can even experiment to create a chocolate brownie recipe all your own or try different ingredients in a recipe you already have. Here is a brownie recipe with nuts that is not only delicious but also easy to make.

Ingredients

· One cup flour
· One cup sugar
· One cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans etc.)
· One teaspoon vanilla
· One teaspoon baking powder
· One quarter cup of cocoa
· One stick or four ounces of butter or margarine
· Three eggs

On low heat, melt cocoa and butter in a small saucepan and then remove this from the heat. In a bowl, beat the eggs until foamy and then slowly add in sugar and the melted cocoa and butter mixture. Sift together the baking powder and flour, and add half of this into the cake batter. Mix the nuts into the remaining flour mixture and then add this to your cake batter, being sure to blend it together well. Stir in the vanilla and then spread the batter evenly into an 8 x 8 inch greased and floured baking pan. Place this into a preheated 350-degree oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes.

You can make a quick and easy chocolate icing by sifting two cups of powdered sugar and four tablespoons of cocoa together. Add one teaspoon of vanilla and stir in enough half-and-half or heavy cream, until you get the desired spreading consistency. Make sure the brownies are cool and then apply the icing.

Taking a delicious plate of chocolate brownies to any gathering is sure to be a big hit. Be sure to make lots, as it is almost impossible for most people to eat only one chocolate brownie.