Tag: dessert

Brownies with Guinness Whipped Cream

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Brownies with Guinness Whipped Cream! Perfect for a St.Patrick's Day Party!

As a child St.Patrick’s Day was spent scouring through the grass looking for a leprechaun or four leaf clover. While I still keep my eye peeled for these magical treasures, I wanted to add an element of “adulthood” to this year’s celebration.

Brownies with Guinness Whipped Cream! Perfect for a St.Patrick's Day Party!

A few weeks back, when Ian and I were out to dinner, our menu listed a chocolate brownie with Guinness whipped cream. A light bulb went on in my head and I knew this would be the perfect dessert for St. Patrick’s Day! I have never acquired the taste of beer, but this whipped cream is delicious! The Guinness flavor is delightfully paired with the sweetness of the whipped cream – then you add in the boldness of the chocolate brownie and you are in taste bud heaven!

Brownies with Guinness Whipped Cream! Perfect for a St.Patrick's Day Party!

And the best part? You can simplify the baking process by using a boxed brownie mix. Once you top it off with the Guinness whipped cream no one will know the wiser! They will be left scraping every last morsel off their plate and raving about your gourmet baking skills.

Brownies with Guinness Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

  • Brownie Mix (and the listed additives – eggs, water, etc)
  • 1 C. heavy whipping cream
  • 4 Tbs. powdered sugar
  • 3 Tbs. Guinness

Recipe:

  • Bake the brownies according to the box
  • Let cool and set aside
  • Combine the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and Guinness and beat with a mixer until stiff peaks form
  • Plate the brownies and top with whipped cream before serving

Champagne Infused Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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Champagne Infused Chocolate Covered Strawberries

When you live 2.5 hours away from your family, you end up taking a lot of road trips. After a while I get sick of the top 40 radio stations and pester Ian into deep, thought-provoking conversations. During one of these conversations Ian asked me, “If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Without hesitation I said, “chocolate covered strawberries.” Yes, I know. This is groundbreaking information.

Champagne Infused Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Sadly, Ian doesn’t share my love for chocolate covered strawberries. Therefore, I devised a plan to sneak my favorite dessert on the Valentine’s Day menu. My tactic of choice? Infusing the strawberries with alcohol.

Champagne Infused Chocolate Covered Strawberries

The end result was perfection. The dry champagne paired with the sweetness of the strawberry and the bitterness of the dark chocolate has your mouth savoring every bite.

If you are looking for a last minute Valentine’s Day gift idea a box of these strawberries would make anyone happy! Enjoy!

Champagne Infused Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

  • 12 strawberries, rinsed and dried
  • 1 bottle of champagne
  • 1 bar of dark chocolate

Directions:

  • Place the strawberries in a bowl and submerge in champagne
  • Let the strawberries soak in the champagne for 12 – 24 hours
  • Remove the strawberries from the champagne and pat dry
  • Heat the dark chocolate in a glass bowl in 30 sec. increments in the microwave until melted
  • Dip each strawberry into the chocolate and place on a non-stick surface (I used a silicone mat)
  • Wait until the chocolate has hardened before serving

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn

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Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn

After an indulgent holiday season (a.k.a one too many Christmas cookies…) Ian and I dove into an eight week fitness challenge. Sadly, it runs over Valentine’s Day and the typical box of chocolates after a candlelight dinner will have to be skipped.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn

However, I read between the challenge guidelines and noticed that two things are approved in moderation – popcorn and dark chocolate. So I give you a health conscious Valentine’s Day dessert option – Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn! It’s the perfect combination, sweet and salty. Plus, you won’t have to feel guilty afterwards. I would say this is a major win, win!

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • One bar of dark chocolate
  • Sea salt for sprinkling

Recipe:

  • Use an air popper to pop the popcorn into a bowl
  • Spread the popcorn into a thin layer on a cookie sheet
  • Melt the dark chocolate and drizzle over the popcorn
  • Quickly sprinkle sea salt over the popcorn before the chocolate hardens
  • Once the chocolate has hardened, break the popcorn apart and place in a bowl to enjoy