Desserts - grace grits and gardening

Fancy Raspberry S’mores

April 15, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Did I mention these Fancy Raspberry S’mores were made with marshmallow Peeps? Oh, yes. Leftover Easter Peeps. And of course, there’s a story, a foodie challenge of sorts. What could I do with the Peeps my sister-in-law sent home with me after Easter lunch?

Before I get to the recipe I created, first the backstory.

My sister-in-law made an incredible Easter lunch including salmon, wild rice, asparagus and all the trimmings included mystery flavored Peeps (just for fun y’all). Since Peeps introduced mystery flavored chicks and bunnies for Easter, we did our own taste-tasting and flavor-guessing, washing everything down with champagne. We guessed the bunny flavor correctly—green apple—but the chick was tricky considering it wasn’t a true flavor at all but fruit punch. Hmmm.)

Anyway…

I couldn’t let the leftovers go to waste, so I came up with a different sort of s’mores. The fancy sort. Something perfect for glamping with the girls or sitting around the backyard fire pit on a nice spring evening. Dessert for our weekly girlfriend supper.

Fancy Raspberry S’mores ingredients.

I used Jules Destrooper Butter Crisps which are thin, perfect for fancy s’mores, and sold in the deli area of my regular grocery store (Harp’s). A few years ago, The Bald Gourmet did a review of these cookies. Even though no mention was made of Peeps, he said they are perfect served with fruit, goat cheese and honey, yogurt, pudding, or with your favorite hot beverage. I concur!

butter crisps - perfect for making fancy s'mores

I wish I had one with my coffee this morning.

Look at that deliciously gooey melted peep. Of course, you could use a regular marshmallow.

I used my garlic baker (perfect size to make four s’mores) and broiled them in the oven.

Fancy Raspberry S’mores

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Ingredients

Thin Vanilla Waffle Cookies
1 Hershey Chocolate Bar
Fresh Raspberries
Marshmallow Peeps I used fruit punch chicks
Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

Prep: Cut peeps into two pieces. Half raspberries. Break candy bar into sections. Depending upon size of cookies, you may need to break cookies into two pieces.
Set oven to broil.
Place one layer of cookies on cookie sheet. Top with one section of chocolate and one piece of marshmallow.
Broil for 2-3 minutes until melted. This takes no time! Keep a constant watch.
Remove from broiler. Place two raspberry pieces on marshmallow. Top with cookie. Press.
Drizzle with a smidgen of balsamic vinegar.

Decadent and rich. The raspberry makes it extra tasty. The waffle cookie is buttery and lighter than a graham cracker which sound oxymoronic but is true. Just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar cuts the sweet.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Fancy Raspberry S’mores made with leftover Easter #Peeps! Decadent #glamping #dessert. @PEEPSBrand @Hersheys[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing (perfect glamping song):

Otis Redding, The Dock of the Bay

Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark

December 16, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

If you love Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream as much as I do, you will go crazy over my Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark. Rich dark and creamy white chocolate, tart cherries and decadent Dove dark chocolate flakes—are you with me on this?

Chocolate covered cherries are a traditional Christmas candy in our home, which makes this the perfect addition to my Christmas dessert table. This is a holiday no-brainer. Sinful, addictive, and easy to make.

So now I ask, what would Jerry do?

He would eat this up.

And then he would play.

Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark

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Ingredients

12 oz dark chocolate chips
10 oz white chocolate chips
1/2 cup rough chopped dried cherries
1/2 tsp almond extract
4 pieces Dove chocolate candies

Instructions

With a sharp knife, cut Dove dark chocolate candies into slivers. Buy a bag of these little jewels, but you will only need 3-4 pieces. Pour the remainder in a candy bowl. Dark chocolate has health benefits you know...
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt dark chocolate chips on 50% power, stirring every 30-45 seconds. When the chocolate is melted, add almond extract and stir until smooth. (Almond extract mixed with dark chocolate has a distinct cherry flavor so don't skip or substitute this...)
Spread melted dark chocolate onto parchment paper and smooth until the chocolate is approximately 1/4 inch thick. This is fun. Like making a mud pie.
Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator to cool and set. When the dark chocolate layer has set (about thirty minutes), melt the white chocolate in a microwave bowl on 50% power. Stir every 30-45 seconds. White chocolate melts faster than dark chocolate so this will only take 2-3 minutes.
Pour white chocolate over dark chocolate and smooth to a thin layer.
While white chocolate is still hot, sprinkle Dove slivers and chopped cherries over the top, carefully pressing large pieces into the white chocolate. Work quickly before the white chocolate cools.
Place bark into refrigerator to set.
With a sharp knife, cut into pieces.
Share with friends!
Store Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark covered at room temperature.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis url=”http://wp.me/p58902-1bT”]Cherry Garcia Chocolate Bark. What would Jerry do? #WWJD #ChristmasDesserts[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

Grateful Dead – Sleigh Ride

Simple Pecan Fudge

December 9, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Fudge was one of my Daddy’s all-time favorite desserts. Momma stood at the stove all night (it seemed) stirring together chocolate and milk and sugar. She always used the recipe on the back of the Hershey’s cocoa canister. You know, the canister that hasn’t changed since forever? Two hours later after it reached the right temperature and set, it was yummy. Daddy said so. I never really knew because by the time it was ready, I had fallen asleep.

Today I’m sharing a simple pecan fudge recipe inspired by one I found on Allrecipes. With only four basic ingredients, this may become your new favorite holiday treat. This recipe is quick and won’t dirty up your kitchen. ‘Tis the season when everyone needs a quick dessert recipe, and let’s be honest, no one has extra time to waste slaving away in the kitchen.

Simple Pecan Fudge

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Ingredients

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

With your microwave set on 50% power, melt chocolate, milk and butter in a large glass bowl for approximately 4-5 minutes, pausing to stir every minute. (Microwaves vary so heat only until melted and smooth.)
Once the ingredients are thoroughly melted and combined, mix in pecans. (You can substitute walnuts or almonds, or eliminate nuts altogether.)
Spread chocolate mixture onto a piece of Glad Press and Seal Wrap that has been lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Shape into a log approximately one inch thick. Top with a second sheet of wrap and seal the edges.
Place in the refrigerator to set (which only takes about an hour).
Cut into squares.
Enjoy!

Pack a few pieces of this rich, creamy fudge into decorative tins and voila(!), an simple, delectable gift.