Sweet Treat

Valentines Day.  Some love it.  Some don't.  It involves chocolate so you know I love it.  A few days ago I was getting a pedicure and the woman beside me was casually chatting with me.  We started talking about Pinterest and recipes.  When I told her I had a food blog, she started asking me for tips on how to make chocolate covered strawberries for Valentines Day.  I saw an ad for chocolate covered strawberries that get delivered to your door.  Yea, for a pretty penny.  Ranging from $30.00 and up.  My research began, is this worth it?  I found that for a much less money and a little work you can make your own.  Instead of a recipe I am just going to give the method to make a perfect quick and easy Valentines gift.  It makes it even more special that you made it from scratch!

Step 1:
Buy your ingredients.  I found big ripe strawberries at my local supermarket for $2.98.  Great price. The Whole Foods market had nice organic ones for a couple dollars more.  When you get home do not wash your strawberries.  They can soak up the water and it will effect the chocolate.  I take a damp paper towel and gently wipe them clean.
Get your chocolate.  I used a 12 oz pkg Ghiradelli dipping chocolate.  Its about $4.00 and I only used half the package.
Gather pink sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, nuts or any toppings you desire or have on hand.  I also had some pink dipping chocolate from the craft store, but white chocolate would be fine too.

Step 2:
Gather Supplies.  Two small bowls, 2 pieces parchment paper, and a spoon.  Get a working space together with these items.  Melt both chocolates in the bowls in 30 second increments until smooth and cool for 1 minute.

Step 3:
Get to dipping!  Take the first parchment and lay it on the work space.  One at a time dip each berry in the chocolate.  I scoot the strawberry on the parchment as soon as I dip it to get the excess chocolate off.  This prevents the chocolate from pooling at the bottom and they look prettier.  Now dip your spoon in the pink or white dipping chocolate.  Gently go back and forth across the strawberry making a stripe pattern.  Put your sprinkles on right away so they stick to the drizzle.  Then transfer them to the clean
piece of parchment and let them sit for 30 minutes to set up.

Step 4:
Refrigerate them until ready to use.  They will last up to 3 days, although the sooner you eat them the better.  Put them in a cute box or basket lined with pink tissue paper and you have the perfect gift for your Valentine!! This made about a dozen for me.

Weight Watcher...

It is no secret that I am the Queen of butter, cream, bacon, ranch, and cheese.  My five food groups.  It is also 15 degrees outside, so I have been staying in my house eating nothing but this.  I may or not have put on a couple of pounds.  This will annoy me when it is time for tank tops and swimsuits.  I may have to lay off the bacon a little.  My mother and sister have both run into this predicament as well.  They just joined Weight Watchers, to give them a little boost for tank top season.  The reason my sis loves Weight Watchers is because you can still eat the things you love, just lighten them up a little.  So, I got to work on a few recipes to help them out.  The one meal my sister can't give up is a steak and baked potato loaded with all the good stuff.  Growing up my mom always mixed sour cream with a ranch packet and put it on baked potatoes.  It's like potato and ranch dip heaven.  So, I took that thought and ran with it.  I came up with twice baked broccoli ranch stuffed potatoes.  They only have 225 calories per serving.  I had my cousin over for taste testing and they were amazing, we stood in the kitchen eating half the batch and bragging that we had done Zumba for 30 minutes that day.  Whip these up next time you need a healthy side for your meal.

Broccoli Ranch Stuffed Potatoes
Serves 5 (4 potatoes each)
1 1/2          Pound        Bag of Baby Yellow Potatoes
1/4             Cup           Light Sour Cream
1/2             Cup           2 % Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
1                Cup           Fresh Broccoli, Steamed & Chopped Finely
1                oz              Package Ranch Dip Seasoning (for testing purposes I used Hidden Valley)
2                T               Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour olive oil in a 13x9 inch baking dish.  Put in your potatoes and shake it all about until the potatoes are well coated.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Set aside and allow them to cool for 10 minutes or until you can handle them.  Cut off the very top part, being careful not to get much potato.  Scoop out the insides with a small spoon and place them in a mixing bowl.  They will be soft enough that you can mash them with a fork.  When you have mashed them add in the sour cream, cheddar cheese, broccoli and ranch packet.  Gently fold this together, then scoop it evenly back into the potatoes until they are all filled.  Put them back into the pan and bake 15 more minutes.  Allow to cool a couple minutes, then enjoy!  Love as Always, "Big K"

Double Dip

Broccoli cheese soup.  Yum.  Queso.  Double Yum.  Put them together?  Yes please!  Super Bowl was this last weekend, I love football, so a party was had.  Where there is a party, there must be dip!!
I would rather not attend a dipless party.  Growing up, my grandma made this amazing broccoli dip.  Its cheesy and spicy and what makes it different than most cheese dips is that it's got broccoli in it.  My version of the recipe is a little different as over the years I have experimented with it.  I need to warn all my culinary buddies that this recipe contains processed cheese and soup in can.  Two things that are total debauchery in culinary school.  One of my favorite chefs, and closest friend, Dave's least favorite things are casseroles and soup in a can.  He will sneer as soon as he reads the words "cream of anything".  One time I walked in on Dave going to town on a blue box mac and cheese smothered with hot sauce like a fat kid on chocolate cake so, we are even.  All judgement aside, throw this recipe in your crockpot, go about your day, and by party time you have a delicious dip.  You can even convince yourself it's healthy, it does have broccoli in it!

Hot Broccoli Dip
Serves 8
2        Cups        Steamed Chopped Broccoli
1/4     Cup         Minced Onion
1/4     Cup         Minced Celery
1/4     Cup         Minced Red Bell Pepper
2        Tbsp        Butter
16      oz            Velveeta, cubed
1        Can         Cream of Mushroom Soup
1        Tsp          Worcestershire Sauce
1        Tsp          Garlic Powder
1        Tbsp        Hot Sauce
1/2     Tsp          Salt

Melt butter in a medium saute pan.  Saute onion and celery until tender.  Place that and the remaining ingredients in the crock pot.  Cook on low for 2-3 hours.  Serve with chips and crackers.  I like it with Fritos corn chips.  Love as Always, "Big K"