Archive for the ‘Sweets’ Category

DIM SUM TROLLEY

Octopus, Spring rolls and Scallop/shrimp rolls

Dim Sum originated in Southern China hundreds of years ago as part of the YUM CHA “drinking tea” tradition.  Dim Sum means “to touch the heart”. The best way to describe these delicious treats is to address them as Chineese antipasti, tapas, or hors d’ouvres. They are usually steamed or deep fried and can be savory or sweet.  I first encountered them decades ago in San  Francisco.  Back then you could only find them in Chineese bakeries…..but today they can be found in most large cities.  They are absolutly addictive! My all time favorite place is Jing Fong in New York’s China Town (#20 Elizabeth St)  There on the second floor you will find 120 beautiful fucia tables with hundreds of Dim Sum fans……..enjoying a continuous stream of ladies pushing trolleys loaded with stange and inticing little plates and steamers of Shiu Mai, Crispy Taro Kor, Steamed Chicken Feet, Spring Rolls, Shark Fin Dumplings, Spicy Garlic Squid  etc.   Here in Michigan, we enjoy the selection at the Golden Harvest ( 6880 12 Mile Rd, Warren, MI )  The best time to find a good selection of Dim Sum is on a Sat or Sunday, between 11 am and 2 pm.  Be sure to pick only the hot dishes on top of the trolley, and not the ones on the bottom shelves.   Once you take the first plunge, you will be hooked forever!

Grilled Pineapple with Mascarpone and Brandy Glaze

1/2 pineapple (trimmed)
1/4 cup brandy
6- 8 TBS butter
4 TBS brown sugar
½ tsp vanilla
½ – ¾ cup mascarpone cheese

1. Combine brandy, butter, sugar, vanilla in small pan
2. CAREFULLY heat mixture
3.  Cook until mixture thickens
4. Baste pineapple slices with syrup and grill until browned
5. Transfer slices to plates
6. Place dollup of mascarpone in center, anoint with remaining syrup
7. Garnish with mint leaves

Makes about four servings

Buon Appetito
Cooking with Cordier

Chocolate: The Perfect Gift
by Nathalie Fiset M.D.

Are you a chocolate lover yourself? Do you often flip through the pages of magazines or recipe books to spot some wonderful variants of chocolate recipes? If you do, then most probably other people also crave for chocolates as much as you do. There are various chocolate recipes that you have surely fallen in love with that you are driven to give it to others as some kind of special gift. These chocolate treats are definitely unique. Try to give it to someone on a special occasion and you’ll certainly receive a warm delightful response from the recipient. What is behind this so called perfect gift for all occasions?

A Brief Looking Back

Chocolate, or that which is otherwise known as “kah kow” had been discovered around 2000 years ago within the tropical rainforests of the Americas. Through time, several cultures adopted the “kah kow” into their religious rituals until such time that we come to know it by the name chocolate. Spain had its first glance at chocolate as soon as Columbus got back from America. He had with him some cocoa beans which were dark brown in color. The Aztec Indians termed it as “food of the Gods”. Then, Emperor Montezuma served all the Spaniards with such hot liquid placed in the golden goblets. They thought it as bitter so they put on some cane sugar. Up to now, even that several centuries had passed, chocolate remains as the food to be basically indulged at. There are wonderful products and recipes that are good to give to others as a perfect gift.

Chocolate Trend

Okay, so a special occasion is coming up and you are in deep thought about what kind of gift would be best to some special someone of yours. The event could either be an anniversary, a birthday, a graduation, and the likes. The basic question that you need to ask yourself is, what kind of person is the recipient? Think of the stand out qualities of the recipient. In most cases, the chocolate is always one of the safest and delicious gifts to hand in to the recipient. To date, the chocolate gift baskets are becoming so popular that many people have craved ordering these things as gifts to friends, family, relatives, and most especially, to their romantic partners. The hype about shopping for chocolates severely increases during Mother’s Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Birthdays. More so, with the onset of the online business, getting your hands on the chocolate collection is too easy and safe, so to speak. There are specialty shops which sell special variants of chocolates. Indeed, chocolate is a food of love that many people would love to taste over and over again.

Here are some notable ways on how chocolates could be shared to the other fanatics of this food:

Romantic Interludes. Romantic dates, Valentine’s Day celebration, and anniversaries could never be complete without chocolates. Chocolate prompts romance to be high up in the air.

Holiday Seasons. Chocolates could either be the main gift or simply an addition to the principal gift. The holidays would be all the more hyped up with chocolates on the list. As it goes, the chocolates are of course said to be the most traditional gift that stands perfect on almost all occasions. Business presents. Chocolates are also given off as gifts by the employers to show how thankful they are by the faithfulness and loyalty of their staff.

Chocolate gift baskets. Most often than not, several companies provide their regular clients with these presents as a simple way of saying “thank you” for their patronage.

Among the chocolate variants which could serve as a perfect gift are chocolate vanilla ice cream filled with strawberry dips, chocolate mousses, truffles black, chip zucchini, bread chocolate, chocolate cheesecake, toffee fluffy, torte rich chocolate cake, and several other chocolate recipes.

Check out some online stores for specialty chocolates that you could order. Remember that it is the thought that counts as you give gifts to other people. Hence, chocolates serve their purpose of being a perfect gift for all. Try it out and you could never fail in your expectations. Put a smile on the face of the recipient now.

About the Author

For more information on chocolate, please visit: http://www.chocolatedotcom.com/ http://www.chocolatedotcom.com/Order_Chocolates_Online.html http://www.drnathaliefiset.com