Chocolate = Love Godiva Bakery Truffles

There is no question that I am a chocoholic. I love trying new chocolate combinations, exploring different cocoa percentages and the overall satisfaction of a good creamy chocolate.

Over the last few weeks I explored Godiva's new  Bakery Dessert Truffles.

The collection includes: Chocolate Lava Cake, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet, Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Strawberry Tarte.  For the benefit of all chocolate lovers, I sacrificed my calorie count and tried all of them!

Chocolate Lava Cake Truffle

I love Chocolate Lava Cake, so there was no way I was going to pass up this truffle. The Chocolate Lave Cake Truffle is a  powder sugar dusted dark chocolate truffle, with a milk chocolate inner shell  and a split center - one side is a dark chcolate ganache while the other is a gooey chocolate lava liquid. This truffle takes the cake! Add this one to your must try list if you're a chocoholic it's worth every calorie.

Carrot Cake Truffle

I have to admit it was actually pretty good.  Carrot Cake is not my favorite of the Cake Kingdom. But the Truffle is a definite improvement.  It is a milk chocolate truffle with pecans on the outside and a split center - one side is a coconutty creamcheese icing & the other a spicy carrot cake.  Now I have to say the carrot cake part was a little to spiced for me - it had an after taste of old powdered spices.  But when eaten together, it was pretty good. I propably wouln't pick this one again, but if someone gave it to me, I'd eat it.

Red Velvet Truffle

The Red Velvet Cake Truffle is a White Chocolate Truffle with a dark chocolate inner shell and delicious red velvet chocolate ganach. This Truffle is better than any red velvet cake I've ever had! It's creamey, chocolatey, creamcheesey all without an after taste of red dye. The Red Velvet Truffle is a must try!

Cheesecake Truffle

The Cheesecake Truffle is a Milk Chocolate Truffle with a creamy cheesecake center and toasted almonds on the exterior.  The center is very buttery with a hint of vanilla and a slight note of toasted ghramcrakers just like the real thing. But the Truffle actually reminded me more a smores than cheesecake. It was good, but unmemorable.

Tiramisu Truffle

The Tiramisu Truffle is a White Chocolate Truffle with a milk chocolate inner shell, a split center of a vanilla cream and a questionable brown butterscotch espresso substance and shaved dark chocolate on the shell. I'm going to play nice here and just say this truffle was a fail.  Not an epic fail, but a fail none the less. I would have to be paid to eat this one again. Even if you are Tiramisu Obsessed I'd still skip this truffle.

Strawberry Tarte Truffle

The Strawberry Tarte is a Milk Chocolate Truffle, with a lovely dark chocolate drizzle  and a split center with a sweet cream on one side & a sweet-tarte strawberry preserve on the other.  The sweet cream has flecks of vanilla bean and is rich and creamy while the strawberry preserve is tart and light.  This truffle strikes a great balance between rich creamy decedence & light tart fruit. The strawberry tasted a bit overprocessed, but overall it's worth the calories.

 I must say overall this collection is a HUGE impovement over the lackluster performance of this summer's Ice Cream Parlor Collection.

The Historic Cattlemen's Steakhouse

Every town has one of those places, the one you "have" to go to.  Often they get all hyped up and you end up disappointed in the end.  Cattlemen's is NOT one of those places.

Cattlemen's is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year.  There is a good reason it's still in business after 100 years: great food, pure and simple.

Cattlemen's is still located in its original building on Agnew St in Stockyards City. The walls are dark panelled, the booths are deep red and there's a whole lot of cowboys stoppin' in for "supper"

Dinner is plain and simple:

House Salad with House Dressing

a ranch-like dressing but "more creamy and less salty" (this is what I was told, since I'm not really a salad dressing kind of girl)

Husband ordered Shrimp and Mashed Potatoes.  The Shrimp were lightly coated and perfectly seasoned.  Husband rated them 4/5 stars.  

I went for my favorite cut - the Rib Eye.

This was the best steak in my recent memory.  It was perfectly cut and perfectly cooked to Medium Rare +.  Melt in your mouth perfection. The steak was perfect on it's own, but once they added the Au Jus Wow!  Too good for words. 5/5 stars!

And who can forget the rolls...mmm

Our dinner companions. 

 If you're in the mood for a great steak Cattlemen's is a must.

The history is an added bonus.

Muffin Madness!

Sometimes a girl just wants to BAKE!

With a surplus of Bananas & Carrots, I decided Muffins were in order.

First up  

Experimental Carrot

The Deets

1 1/2 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Canola Oil

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

3 Eggs

3 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

5 Cups carrot (shred in food processor) 

1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Mix it all together

Bake @ 350 for 25 minutes

Now for what I'm known for

BANANA Flax Muffins

The Deets 

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Butter - real Butter

2 Eggs

6 Ripe Bananas 

1/2 Cup Milk

1 tsp Pure Vanilla

2 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup Flax Seeds

1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Mix it up

Bake @350 for 35 Minutes

The Verdict:

 The Carrot were a hit. I gotta say I was really surprised how great they were, I'll be adding those to my regular arsenal!

The Banana Flax weren't my best ever, but they were still Yummolisious 

Flat Tire Burgers

Sometimes you just need a good Burger.
Last week we decided to try Flat Tire Burgers at 318 E Ayers in Edmond
It's a great collegey (yes I just made up a word) joint with great service, great food & good prices.

We started off with Fried Pickles

(Can you tell we couldn't wait for the camera to begin sampling)

You may not know this but I LOVE Pickles!

Ever since I can remember they've been one of my favorite snacks.

When I was in college there was this bowling alley dive cafe that served a basket of Pickles with Ranch Dressing with your order. It was Amazingly Delicious!

Back to the Pickles at hand Flat Tire's Fried Pickles

Honestly, they were just OK.

I'd rate them 3/5

The breading was a little thick & had too much pepper for my taste

But it was still fun to try something different

If you're checking out Flat Tire I would definitely give them a try.

Husband Ordered a Chocolate Milkshake & a Jalapeno Burger

He is a Chocolate Milkshake Connoisseur & rated it as "good"

The Jalapeno Burger got Rave Reviews!

He said it was the best burger he'd had in a long time.

I ordered the Guacamole Burger on a whole wheat bun

Let me just say, this is the best burger I've had in a very long time.

From Bun to Burger 5/5

The Bun was soft & grainy (Grainy as in I could taste the whole grains)

The Burger Juicy & Flavorful

The toppings Fresh & Delish

The only thing that could have made it better was a little more guac.

We had good food & good service at a good price.

& as a bonus we watched Boise State kick VT's butt! 

Go Broncos!

If you're in the mood for a burger, you really should check out Flat Tire Burgers

Rainy Day Breakfast

I love a good rainy Sunday

Rainy Sundays call for special Breakfast

This morning I made Husband's favorite - Monkeybread-

The Deets

(My take on the MIL's Recipe)
{MIL = mother-in-law}

The "Rolls"

1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (Pillsbury is my fav)

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Sugar

1 tsp (or so) of Cinnamon

(Mix sugars & cinnamon for dipping)

3 TBS Butter

Icing

1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

1 TBS Milk

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Directions

Cut Biscuits into quarters

Dip in Butter

Roll in Cinnamon Sugar Mixture 

Place in High Sided Ceramic Dish  about a 1 1/2 qt.
 I like corningware 

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes
(we like ours a little gooey so 15 is what I do)

Flip & drizzle icing over the top

Man cannot live on Sugar alone (although he'd like to try)

So we also had a Spinach, Mushroom & Tomato Omelet

Mix 2 Eggs

2 TBS Milk

Sprinkle of cheese

Cook over medium heat until 2/3 done

Add 

1 cup Spinach

1/2 diced Tomato

5 diced Mushrooms

Cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes

Add a sprinkle of cheese

Enjoy!

I Scream for Ice cream!

In the beginning there were simple ingredients

Things you could trust, Things you didn't have to Question

Now you have to check labels on anything you dare eat.

So in defense of MY food I decided it was time 

for good old fashion ice cream

Cream, Milk, Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla & Cocoa  

- No additives, Preservatives or other junk -

The Deets

2 Cups Cream

2 Cups Skim Milk

6 Eggs Yolks

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder

2 1/2 Cups of Sugar

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Mix Milk & Cream with Cocoa Powder and bring to a simmer

Once Cocoa Powder is well incorporated add chocolate chips 

and continue simmering until chocolate chips are melted

Separate yoke from whites

Whisk yolks until creamy light yellow

Gradually whisk in Sugar until Smooth

Add 1/4 of cream mixture into egg mixture

Carefully temper mixture

Continue gradually adding cream mixture 1/4 at a time until fully incorporated

Return the mixture to heat, 

continue cooking until mixture reaches 170 degrees

Now for the Hard Part...The Waiting!

Let mixture cool for 30 minutes, Add Vanilla

Mix Well & Refrigerate for 4 hours

Once Mixture sets pour into Ice Cream Machine 

& proceed according to machine directions

(I'm a big fan of the Kitchen Aid attachment it's about $100)

It takes about 20 minutes in the KitchenAid

Ice Cream is Served!

*Warning* This is Super Chocolaty! I thought it was a little too chocolaty (crazy I know)

Husband said there is No such thing & loved every bite.

SO If you're into Super Chocolaty Ice Cream Give this recipe a shot.

Last Meal of the Summer

For our last official meal of Summer 

I prepared Seared Ahi Tuna Salad and Quinoa

The Salad

Organic Baby Spinach

1/2 Grapefruit (I was tricked - the label said red but it was really pink)

1/4 Cucumber

1/2 Avocado 

1/2 tsp Lime Juice

1 TBS Grapefruit Juice

1 Sprinkle of Lemon Pepper

Sprinkle of Sesame Seeds

The Tuna

1 Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna Steak

Season with Lemon Pepper & Sea Salt

Roll in Sesame Seeds

Wipe pan with oil and heat to high

Sear Tuna on all sides for 3 minutes

Let Tuna rest for 5 minutes

Sprinkle with 1tsp Soy Sauce & 1/2 tsp Lime Juice

Slice into 1/4 inch slices

The Quinoa 

Prepare Quinoa according to package directions

I make mine in 1/2 water 1/2 chicken broth & added some fresh basil

Plate & Enjoy!

Cookies Part I

Some Days you just need cookies. 

Today was one of those days.

I Love Chocolate Chip Cookies! 

Of all the desserts in the world, a perfect cookie is my favorite.

I'm pretty sure it is because I have such great memories of making chocolate chip cookies with my Dad when I was little.  My Dad makes THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies.  

His secret? Maraschino cherries & lots of love. 

My sis sneaking some cookie dough circa 2006?

Memory plays a big role in food choices. There are foods we love or hate based on past experiences (See my very first post for more details). Making cookies with dad was always fun. No matter how many little hands were trying to help, he always made you feel like your job was the most important part.  He never got frustrated and he never worries about the mess we made. And the best part?  He always let us eat as much cookie dough as we wanted! Oh & he did the dishes!

I don't make Dad's cookies very often, because it's a pretty sticky process & I tend to like to experiment with making my treats a little healthier.  Plus it's just more fun to make them back home with Dad. 

Tonight I used the following recipe:

1 1/4 cup mixed flour (1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 unbleached flour)

1 cup oat flour (1 cup oatmeal blended in the blender)

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp real vanilla extract

2 free range eggs

1 bag chocolate chips (Ghirardelli to be exact)

Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes

The Set up

I Love Love Love my Kitchenaid Mixer. My parents bought it for me 5 years ago when I bought my first place. One of the best gifts ever.  Also note the awesome collapsible measuring cups by Chef n. As you will note I have a thing for Kitchen tools. There is at least one kitchen tool on my wish list for every holiday.  My latest acquisition is a set of Williams Sonoma Gold nonstick insulated cookie sheets (I also got a set of matching muffin pans because my husband rocks!) Let me tell you, these cookie sheets are amazing! They really do not stick.  Your cookies slide right off, pure perfection. 

Baking away

So this was my first attempt at "Low Elevation Baking". I've always been a high elevation girl, I learned to bake nestled in the Rocky Mountains, I've been doing it for so long, that I forgot there was a difference when you change elevation. Well. Let me tell you. There is a difference.

The Proof

The cookies jumped off the pan so fast (courtesy of husband) I couldn't get a shot of the whole sheet. 

But these 4 little guys just couldn't bear to part.

Although they weren't aesthetically pleasing, they were delicious!

A few more batches & I'll have them back to perfection.

Happy Baking!