Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Background

Years ago, in high school, we used to have to sell holiday items for the extra curricular activities in which we were involved.  For me, it was choir and the catalog we brought home always included a tin of white chocolate covered pretzels.  As a rule, I don't like white chocolate, but every year, I used my own saved pennies to buy myself a tin of these delectable morsels.  When high school was no more and I needed to save those pennies for more necessary items, I realized I could make the pretzels myself at half the cost.  This year, I resurrected the idea, transforming (so far!) an entire giant bag of tiny twists into chocolate coated deliciousness.


Ingredients

pretzels
melting chocolate (white almond bark, milk chocolate almond bark, and/or Ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate chips, the latter being my favorite)
wax paper
festive sprinkles/decorating sugar (optional)
colored melting chocolate discs (optional)
nuts (optional)


Directions

The process here is blissfully simple.

White chocolate bark beginning to melt in double boiler

Place your chocolate of choice in a double boiler (legitimate or homemade!) and allow to melt, stirring occasionally to help the process along.

Pretzels bathing in melted white chocolate bark

When chocolate is completely melted and smooth, drop a few pretzels in and, using a fork, turn to coat.  Remove one pretzel at a time, allowing excess chocolate to drip back into the double boiler.  I use a big meat fork for this because the two prongs hold the pretzel, but still allow plenty of space in between for chocolate runoff...mmmmm, chocolate runoff.

Dipped white chocolate pretzels cooling on wax paper

Transfer coated pretzel to a piece of wax paper to cool, dry and harden.  You can break off excess chocolate once they've hardened... or just leave it :)  I think it gives a nice, homemade feel.  Plus, is there really such a thing as "excess chocolate"???






 Decorating tips:

Sprinkles or Decorating Sugars - these should be applied before the chocolate dries to assure they stick to your pretzel.  I find the sugars show up much better on a white chocolate base, whereas more opaque sprinkles are great on any type of chocolate.

Nuts - these should be finely chopped, or even super finely chopped.  You may choose to sprinkle them on as noted above, or you may also roll the pretzels in the nuts.  In this case, drop them directly into a bowl of nuts when you remove them from the double boiler.  Roll them in the nuts to coat and remove to wax paper so they can set up.

Chocolate Drizzling - If you choose to use a second kind of chocolate on your pretzels, I recommend drizzling in a back-and-forth motion over the pretzel.  This will give the effect of streaks.  You may choose to use colored melting chocolate (such as green or red for Christmas, blue for Chanukah, or team colors if you're watching the big game!) or a chocolate chip (semi-sweet or dark over white chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch over dark chocolate).  Simply fill a plastic sandwich baggie 1/3 of the way with your chips.  Nestle them into one bottom corner of the bag and twist slightly so they don't spill out.  Place bag in microwave and melt in 10 second intervals, until the chocolate is melted.  Remove from microwave carefully, chocolate will be hot, and squeeze chocolate back into the corner of the bag.  Twist strongly above the chocolate to prevent it escaping out the top of the baggie.  With a pair of scissors, cut a small piece off the corer of the bag where the chocolate sits.  If the chocolate string coming out is too thin, you may cut a slightly larger hole in the bag.  Remember, you can always make that hole bigger, but cannot make it smaller, so it's best to start tiny.  Hold bag over batch of pretzels and squeeze a ribbon of chocolate over the pretzels in a back and forth motion.  Again, let them sit to dry, trying not to eat them all as they do :)

But I Don't Have One: Double Boilers

It's inevitable: You're reading through a recipe and you get to that one part "...place dough in pasta machine...", "...whisk eggs...", "...melt in double boiler."  You sigh heavily and think, "well, I can't make this recipe."  Is that always true?  Introducing a new series dedicated to discussing kitchen equipment and how we can replicate fancy versions with what we already own.  In this first episode, we will be discussing Double Boilers.


What is a double boiler?

Double boilers consist of two receptacles that nest and sit upon a stove or other heating device.  Water is placed into the lower receptacle, while the top receptacle is reserved for, largely, edibles.


Awesome - what's it for?

Double boilers are used in situations calling for heating a substance by maintaining a very constant temperature to prevent burning.  In my house, it is almost exclusively used for melting chocolate, but some other good candidates would be sauces and fillings (i.e. my goat cheese ravioli filling).  Some folks also use a double boiler to melt wax, but since I can't eat that, I won't discuss it here.


Soooo, why can't I just put the stuff in a pan?

You sure could, but it would be much more susceptible to burning.  When you place items in a pan over a flame or other heat source, that heat is not terribly even - despite high-end ranges!  When using a double boiler, one relies on the heat produced by boiling water and the ensuing steam.  If we all think back to grade school, we might recall that water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.  In a double boiler, this temperature is maintained in the steam being produced right below the top receptacle.  There is more science here (key terms: energy, state change), but I'll leave it at this for now.


Okay, I guess I'll go buy a double boiler.

That would be fine.  Many people own them.  A quick glance online tells me that you can find them mostly in the range of $30 - $50, with some cheaper low-end models and a few high-end models with a similarly impressive price tag.  Might be worth it to you.

On the other hand, you can easily create your own double boiler with a sauce pot and a bowl, thusly:

Homemade double boiler (stained stove top, optional)

Find a pairing that will allow room for water and steam between the bottom of the pot and the bottom of the bowl you place on top.  That is, you do not want a bowl that sits completely on, or even very close to the bottom of your pot.  You need room for the 212 degree steam to mill around in there.  One other thing to note is that, in this situation our top receptacle has no handles, therefore it is nice to have an oven mitt on hand (no pun intended!) in case you need to touch the bowl.  Also, because these two pieces were not specifically made to sit together and because the bowl is contoured, there can be some movement of the bowl in the pot if you are manipulating what is inside (i.e. stirring filling, dipping pretzels in chocolate).  This slipping is not often severe enough, however, to warrant more than mild attention - you aren't going to spill your chocolate: I would never endorse anything that did that!


Truth time: In my adult life, I have never owned a double boiler.  I have gotten along just fine with the setup you see above.  I have nothing against double boiler owners, either.  But now you know that not owning one won't preclude you from that "chocolate dipped" recipe.  You, too, can be melting (but not burning!) chocolate in minutes - and I recommend it.  Go ahead.  What are you waiting for?  Do it.

Autumn Apple Currant Pork Chops

Background

It's that time again, folks.  The leaves are turning (or have fallen!), the air is brisk, and I can see my husband's whole face light up when I mention the prospect of apple pie.  And since he's open minded, he doesn't just limit his apple consumption to pie form.  No, he'll also accept pig, as well.  This is a recipe I came up with by combining a couple of favorite pork comfort dishes.

This recipe is also distinctive because it more closely resembles how I typically cook.  Some of the amounts of ingredients are approximate, given that I tend not to measure things.  For the purposes of this blog, I try to post concrete measurements in my ingredient list.  But really, sometimes, you just want to go by feel. So here is an example of me going by feel.  I hope you enjoy!


Ingredients

2 2" pork chops or 4 1" pork chops
1 C. rice
olive oil
2 medium-large apples
1 C. broth (beef, chicken or veggie)
1/4 C. dryish white wine (whatever is turning to vinegar in the fridge)
corn starch
several t. rubbed sage
good handful of currants
1 small tomato, thinly sliced
1 small green pepper, thinly sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced


Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

Start rice cooking in a 3-4 quart pot.

In a medium-large sauce pan, bring broth to a simmer. Add white wine and stir well. While stirring continuously, add enough corn starch to thicken broth to a light rue (kind of syrupy consistency). Add 1-2 t. dried rubbed sage. Pour out of pan and set aside.

In same pan, brown pork chops in a little olive oil. Salt and pepper both sides while browning. Do not cook all the way through. Place browned pork chops in the bottom of a deep baking dish (make sure dish is big enough for apples to fit around the pork chops and deep enough for rice to go on top).

Peel apples and chop them into bite-size chunks (I use the apple corer/slicer thing that cuts out the core and slices the apple into 8ths - then I cut each 8th in half). Sprinkle in bottom of baking dish around pork chops. Pour rue over the apples and chops.

The rice should be done cooking now. Fluff with fork and add currants and another 1-2 t. of sage. Mix well. Pour rice over top of chops/apples in baking dish.

Place sliced veggies on top of the rice (my mom always put them on top of where each chop was so it was easy to figure out where to dig out the meat - the rice will cover them up).

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Notes

• When I did this, I used 1 t. of sage in the sauce and 1 t. of sage in the rice.  I kind of lost the flavor because by the time you put it all together, it's a lot of food that sage has to battle. That's why I suggested 1-2 t. in each place. Same with the wine... the sauce smelled wonderful when I made it, but I lost the wine flavor in the whole dish... so again, maybe play it by ear.

• I used the 2" chops and I was nervous about them not cooking all the way through, so I browned them a little longer. Mistake. And hour was plenty to cook them through. They turned out a little dry - better by the fat :)

• If you aren't a sage fan, play around. Another flavor I really like with pork is tarragon, but playing with flavor is always fun. If you stumble upon something extraordinary, be sure to let us know!

Simple Beef Stir-Fry

Background

Not everything you do in the kitchen has to be innovative.  That's something I've been struggling with regarding this blog; trying to get out of the mindset that only wow-factor stuff should go here.  And let's be honest, how much wow-factor stuff is going up, anyway??  The truth of the matter is that there is great value to being able to take simple ingredients and a simple recipe to make a wonderful dinner.  That's what I was feeling earlier this week after I found beef (stir-fry cut) on sale at the butcher.  After that, it was merely a matter of collecting and prepping a few, yummy additions!


Ingredients

1/2 lb. beef strips (or beef, sliced in almost a Julienne style)
1/2 red bell pepper, similarly sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, similarly sliced
1/4 - 1/2 onion, also sliced
1 can baby corn, drained & rinsed, cut into thirds
olive oil (could also use sesame oil - we didn't have any)
soy sauce


Directions

When all ingredients are prepared, place a large wok over medium-high heat.  Add olive oil to coat the bottom and let oil heat a bit, without burning it.  Add the veggies to the pan first.  You should hear that glorious sizzle as they hit the oil.  Allow them to cook a few minutes, tossing them often (or stirring if you're more comfortable).  Add the meat.  Continue to toss/stir the meat and veggies so that all are getting their fair share of the bottom of the pan.  As the meat starts to brown, add soy sauce to your liking.  A couple tablespoons may be a good start (you can always add more post-production).  This dish cooks quite fast, so you'll need to keep an eye on it - overcooked beef can become quite chewy.

Serve over your favorite rice or other grain (couscous, quinoa, etc.).

Fixer Upper Pot Roast

Background

Let me paint you a picture: you found some beautiful butternut squash in your grocery store and what's more, it was pre-cubed.  Happy day!  So, you put it in your cart and spend the next several days ruminating over what exactly to do with it.  Unfortunately, it takes one day too many to land on 'oh, yummy pot roast!' and when you remove it from the refrigerator, it is sadly moldy.  Equally unfortunately, it is now 9:00 in the morning and you have but half an hour to get all your ingredients into the slow cooker before needing to start the activities of the day.  Rummaging through your stock of vegetables, you emerge with some summer squash, onions, tomatoes, a few sliced peppers and mushrooms and, the item that makes you most wary, brussels sprouts.  You love brussels sprouts, but have never cooked them all day and aren't sure how they'll hold up.  Nevertheless, you need something sturdy to sit on the bottom of the pot, so in they go.  Turns out, this was your best move in a long time!  In the end, those tiny cabbages will soak up so much of the meat juice and wine in the pot that they become exquisite, spongy balls of dinnertime yumminess.  You're welcome.

Ingredients

12 brussels sprouts, stalky ends removed
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 Roma/plum tomatoes, cut into large chunks
2 lbs. chuck roast, or similar cut
1 clove garlic, minced
salt & pepper to taste
1 C. summer squash, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 C. bell peppers sliced, or other veggies you have, like mushrooms
3/4 C. beef broth
1/4 C. Merlot
1 t. thyme
1 t. rosemary

Directions

Get your slow cooker out, baby, because it's time to cook by tossing a bunch of stuff in a pot, pressing a button and returning at the end of the day!  You need to know that this process is going to take 8-10 hours, so if you're reading this at 5:00 p.m., hoping for a quick dinner idea, sorry to disappoint.

Distribute your brussels sprouts evenly around the bottom of the pot.  Fill in extra space with half of the onion and half of the tomato.  Prepare your roast by rubbing it with salt and pepper on all sides.  Place into the center of the slow cooker pot, on top of the veggies.  Rub the minced garlic onto the top of the roast; don't worry if some of it falls to the sides, it's all going to the same place anyway.  Fill in the extra space around the roast with your summer squash and/or other vegetables.  Top those off with the rest of the onion and tomato pieces.  In a measuring cup, combine beef broth, wine, thyme and rosemary.  Pour mixture over meat and vegetables.  Cover the pot, set cooking temperature to low and cook 8-10 hours (I cooked mine for 10 and it was starting to get a little dry).  Remove meat to a platter and serve surrounded with vegetables.

If you so enjoy - we do - you can easily make gravy from the delicious juices at the bottom of the pot (those that escaped brussels sprouts absorption).  Strain the juice into a small frying pan and place over medium-low heat, reserving about 3 T. or so.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the reserved juice and some corn starch - enough to get the consistency you like.  I used about 1 T., but I like a thick gravy.  Pour this mixture into your frying pan, continually whisking.  Add 1 T. butter or margarine and whisk until all ingredients are well combined and mixture is thick.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Grilled 'Extra Hot' Potatoes

Background

My husband does not enjoy a potato lest it is deep fried and sprinkled generously with salt.  This sometimes causes a problem because, if my weight-maintenance goals would allow, I would eat potatoes every day at every meal.  Potatoes are also a fairly easy starch to toss on the grill.  Tonight, we were already grilling corn and beef, so I decided to attempt a version of roasted potatoes my husband would like.  In that pursuit, I turned to Gates Extra Hot BBQ sauce, one of our favorite Kansas City sauces.


Ingredients

1.5 lbs. baking potatoes (I used small creamers), cubed, ~1" pieces
1/2 medium-large onion, cut in large pieces
1/2 C. Gates Extra Hot BBQ sauce

1/8 C. olive oil

Parboiled potatoes, onion, and sauce

Directions

Parboil potatoes until just tender, 7-10 minutes.  Drain potatoes and place in large mixing bowl with onion, BBQ sauce, and olive oil.  Toss/stir to coat evenly.  Pour mixture into a foil packet and place over coals on grill grate.  Grill 10 minutes on one side.  Flip the packet over and rotate.  Grill another 10 minutes.

Potatoes in foil packet fresh from the grill

100 Calorie Summer Dessert

Background

With summer all upon us, I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking about ways to lose those extra insulating pounds I put on during the winter.  Ah yes, the cold, cold, frigid California winter.  But even summer desserts, with their yummy fruit, tend to still pack on the calories.  Last night, Mike and I stumbled onto a killer combination, however, using just three ingredients and adding a mere 100 calories to our daily total.  We enjoyed it so much, we had it again tonight.  Heck for only 100 calories, I might have it again for breakfast!

Ingredients

10 ripe red raspberries
4 T. Cool whip lite
1 T. Special Dark Hershey's Syrup

Directions

Measure out ingredients into a bowl, stir, eat and bask in that "nom nom" feeling you're going to get when finished.  Now, if you fancy ice cream for dessert, try Mike's trick (as lactose intolerant, he's had to get creative with frozen dessert): freeze the cool whip.  It won't taste like frozen cow's milk and sugar, but it's a decent substitute on a hot summer's day.  In this case, you can serve the dessert sundae style, with the berries and chocolate sitting on top of the Whip.


Calorie Breakdown

Raspberries = 1/berry (10 calories)
Cool Whip Lite = 10/T. (40 calories)
Special Dark Hershey's Syrup = 50/T. (50 calories)