Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Recipe of the Week - Double chocolate cookies with sea salt

If you love baking cookies you will love this recipe on Stresscake. It is amazing how just a handful of these coarse crystals of sea salt catapult the intense rich flavor of the dark chocolate cookies into a completely new taste sensation.


INGREDIENTS

Makes about 3 dozen

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 pound 60%+ bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (4 ounces)
1/4 pound 60%+ bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped into ¼” chunks or chips (4 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (4 ounces/1 stick)
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or chocolate extract if you have it)
1/2 teaspoon large flake sea salt


METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line 2-3 sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

2. Melt the first 1/4 pound of finely chopped chocolate with the butter. You have two options: Double boiler method: in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring until fully melted. Microwave method: in a microwave safe bowl, 45 second bursts at 50% power, stirring between bursts until fully melted. (My preference.)

3. Let the chocolate cool slightly while you sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. Transfer the melted chocolate to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and on medium, add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla and mix until combined.

5. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour/cocoa mixture.

6. Add the chocolate chunks/chips and stir on low until just combined. Note: the dough can be frozen up to two months at this point. Easiest is to shape it into balls, freeze on a sheet plan then transfer to a Ziploc once frozen. Or shape into logs, wrap tightly in plastic then slice-n-bake. Frozen dough’s can go right from the freezer to the oven, just add a few minutes to the baking time.

7. With a small ice cream scoop (1-inch) or a teaspoon, scoop Tablespoon size balls of dough and space cookies 2 inches apart on prepared sheet pans. Note: I refrigerated the dough overnight, which made it very firm and rather difficult to scoop. As shown in the pictures here, I flattened each dough ball so the cookies would bake more evenly. If you use room temp dough, you don’t have to do the flattening part as they will spread nicely in the oven.

8. Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt on top of each cookie.

9. Bake 12 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking – top to bottom and front to back. The cookies will be quite soft coming out of the oven – once cool, they should be crisp on the outside but still soft on the inside. Adjust baking time if necessary.

10. Let cool on pans then carefully remove and place on serving tray.


Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar
The best online chocolate, lolly and confectionery store on the web!

If you like what you have read check out our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Source and Picture: Stresscake


Monday, March 28, 2011

Aussie pastry star off to world chocolate comp final

Talented Melbourne pastry chef Seung Yun has shown off her skills with chocolate taking out first place at the World Chocolate Masters Asia Pacific Qualifier in Taipei.

Seung Yun, from the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Brunswick, triumphed over the international competition including Singapore, Taiwan, China and India to secure a convincing first place victory.

Click here to find out more! She was awarded top marks in every element of the competition and is tipped to be a strong chance at the finals in October.

Chinese judge Johnny Chan said he had “never seen such focus and passion in a pastry chef before” while the 2009 Chocolate Master Shigeo Hirai was quoted as saying he learnt a lot of new skills from watching Seung Yun compete.

She will now travel to Paris to compete with the world’s best.


Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar
The best online chocolate, lolly and confectionery store on the web!

If you like what you have read check out our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Source and Picture: Hospitality Magazine


Sunday, March 27, 2011

Police officers mistake chocolate cake for drugs

It's alleged police have mistakenly arrested a man for being in possession of a controlled substance, which later turned out to be a chocolate cake.

The man who doesn't wish to be named told Energy FM News he was parked outside G&D's Bar in Douglas last night when officers stopped to speak to him about minor motoring matters.

The police then asked him if they could search his car, to which the man agreed.

The motorist claims he was then cuffed and told he was being arrested for possession of a controlled substance before being put in a police van.

He says at this time, the officers didn't show him what they had found.

The 27 year old man was taken to the police station and booked into custody.

It was then he says that police admitted there'd been a mistake and what they had actually found in the car was a piece of cake in a clear plastic bag, which his 3 year old son had brought home from nursery.

The man says a huge wave of relief came over him at this point, but he was then left angry about his ordeal.

He is now looking to make a complaint.

Police say they have no comment to make at this time as they wouldn't want to prejudice any complaint process.


Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar
The best online chocolate, lolly and confectionery store on the web!

If you like what you have read check out our updates on Facebook and Twitter.
Source and Picture: Energy FM