Archive for Tag: dark chocolate

Purple Cow Frozen Yogurt

Purple Ice Cream

Last weekend I finally got to go to the beach for the first time this summer. It was fabulous. I even briefly braved the 66 degree ocean temp for a quick dunk. Once upon a time someone told me that salt water increased your highlights. Obviously this meant more to me when I was a blonde and not a brunette. Oh well! On the way home we made the necessary stop at Russell Orchards and CK surprised me with a dish of “Purple Cow” frozen yogurt. I was off in the other room buying kitten magnets for some reason.  Don’t ask…

The Purple Cow yogurt was homemade black raspberry yogurt studded with chucks of white and dark chocolate. I honestly think I almost fell into a dessert swoon on the way home as we shared the frozen treat in the car. Of course, I had to try to make my own.

On Friday I stopped by Whole Foods to purchase the ingredients. There weren’t any fresh black raspberries to be found, but a huge display of blackberries were on sale, so blackberry frozen yogurt would have to do. They’re both purple, right?

I got home, prepped everything as outlined below in the recipe, rocked out to some Better Than Ezra Greatest Hits and pulled out my KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker attachment. Then I totally forgot how to use it, found the “quick start” card it came with, dumped in the ice cream mix, attached the paddle, turned on the pink goddess and all I heard was, “Click click.  Click click.” In hindsight, I probably should have actually read that card… meanwhile I yelled for CK.

What was supposed to happen, was that I attach the paddle, turn on the machine, pour in the ice cream mixture and shortly afterward a vat of tasty goodness forms. Unfortunately, my yogurt was now sitting in a semi-frozen state in the bowl. CK tried to help. I yelled at CK. CK yelled at me. Than we made-up and mutually chiseled out the ice cream from its icy prison with a collection of wooden spoons and rubber spatulas and graciously participated in a frozen yogurt “do over.”  Eventually it all worked out.

Was it worth it? Let’s see:

$9.58 for two containers of Fage Yogurt
$2.50 for 4 ounces of Ghirardelli White Chocolate
$2.50 for 4 ounces of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate
$5.00 for 2 half pints of blackberries
1 moronic girl
1 fight with CK
Equals: Fabulous Purple Cow Frozen Yogurt.

Purple Cow Frozen Yogurt (Frozen Yogurt base previously published in David Lebovitz’s book Perfect Scoop as discovered on Heidi Swanson’s website 101 Cookbooks).

3 cups Greek-style yogurt (Note: I used Fage)
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups blackberries (or black raspberries, if you can find them)
4 ounces of white Ghirardelli chocolate, chopped
4 ounces of dark Ghirardelli chocolate, chopped

Mix together the yogurt, sugar, and vanilla. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Puree the blackberries in a food processor and than strain through a fine mesh sieve to separate the liquid from the seeds. Stir 1 tablespoon of sugar into the berry puree and also refrigerate for 1 hour.

Thoroughly combine the frozen yogurt base with the berry puree and freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t be like me and actually read them. Stir in the chocolate chunks by hand at the end of the freezing process. Finally package in a tightly sealed container and leave in your freezer until completely frozen. Serve and make-up with anyone you may have offended during the cooking process.

Share:
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Kirtsy

TCHO - Beta Testing Chocolate

Beta Chocolate

Blake Makes recently gave away free samples of a new type of chocolate. This chocolate is crafted by a company called TCHO. TCHO bills themselves as a “startup premium chocolate manufacturing and sales company.” Their website has a very young and high tech appeal to it and they come off sounding very much like the Gary Vaynechuk of chocolate. I appreciate the enthusiasm. I guess the founders better get themselves a Twitter account and join the color wars.

The chocolate that I tried is described as being in a “Beta” stage. This means that they’re still working on the recipe and are hoping for some constructive feedback from people who have tried the current batch. When I ate the chocolate I felt like it had a really great texture, but it was just a tad too bitter for me. That didn’t exactly stop me from eating it though. It was gone before the first commercial break of New Amsterdam. Don’t raise your eyebrows! It’s a good show and I worked out first. Anyway, I’ve been craving chocolate chip cookies all week and I think the TCHO chocolate would be great chopped up and used in the batter. So if anyone (hint hint) wants to send me any more chocolate I’d be happy to test that theory.

Share:
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Kirtsy

An Erin Cooks Christmas: Day 1

Since discovering this recipe for Cranberry Orange Dark Chocolate Chip cookies last Christmas on Slashfood these delicious treats have become my culinary wingman of sorts. I’ve made them probably a dozen times and received rave reviews with each bite. They’re unique enough to give as a gift and easy enough to make on a whim. The flavors of dark chocolate, cranberries, and orange are quintessentially Christmas. I highly recommend whipping up a batch of these as soon as the opportunity presents itself and please report back with your stellar results. It’s been very lonely lately being the only Christmas Cookie addict on the block.

Light & Fluffy
Light & Fluffy
Zest, Zest, Zest!
Zest, Zest, Zest!
Mix, Mix, Mix!
Mix, Mix, Mix!
Scoop
Scoop
Bake & Take Random Pictures of Decorations
Bake & Take Random Pictures of Decorations
Prepare to Thank the Cookie Academy
Prepare to Thank the Cookie Academy

Cranberry, Orange & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies (Originally Published on Slashfood)
Makes about 4 dozen.

2 cups all purpose flour*
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
zest of one orange (about 2-3 tsp)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar, beating with an electric mixer until light. Beat in egg and orange zest. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture, stirring only until just combined. Stir in the cranberries and chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls (about 1 1/4-inch balls) onto prepared cookie sheets and bake for 9-12 minutes, until edges are very lightly browned.

Cool for 3-4 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

*Note: For chewy cookies (which is what I like) reduce the flour by 1/2 cup.

Share:
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Kirtsy

flickr