 Hello Again Everyone!! Sorry it has been a few days, but I kept losing my writting the past 3 days!! Flippin' computers!!! I know we can't live without them! Now, back to what we are here for....Amazing Chocolate and Chocolate Desserts!! Sunday was a "Fun Day!!" because I got to take a Vegan Decadent Dessert Class with the sisters of Spork Foods, Heather and Jenny. These two girls are even Sweeter than the Decandent Desserts....what a true Joy to be around! They have been Vegans for 10 years..they really live what they teach and preach. If you are sceptical about Vegan foods because you think they are un-natural and taste like cardboard, well I am here to tell you that is an OLD way of thinking! I am not Vegan, so I am not trying to persuade you in any way.... I found Spork Foods through a google search for "cooking classes in Los Angeles", and even though I am a pastry chef and chocolatier I am always looking for fun new things to do in the city. My nephew Mike is a Vegan and every time we have a family gathering he asks me, "Why did you not make me some Vegan Chocolate delights??".....ok, Italian guilt set in (as usual...Italian Aunt's always aim to please!!) I had never made anything baked that was Vegan, so when I found the Spork Foods Decadent Dessert Class I was jumping up and down with pure chocolate happiness!! Here's the menu and you will see why.... Chocolate Rasberry Ganache Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Cookies with Home-Made Vanilla Almond Milk, Quick Vanilla Bean Ice Cream..which we made into ice cream sandwiches with the chocolate chip cookies!, and last but not the bit least, Mini Lime Cheesecake Bites with Macadamia and Coconut Crusts....Whew!!! It was a Decadent Morning!!!!  Watching Heather and Jenny in the Kitchen was like watching one of my favorite shows on the Food Network.... Live!! They are true Pros at what they do and you can see that they also Love every minute of it too!! In two hours they gave the class great tips about ingredients, how to replace eggs and butter with healthier vegan versions, great kitchen tool ideas and in the end we all sat around the table for our Dessert Brunch (that's what I am calling it!) The Aroma of the Chocolate Cupcakes, Cookies and Cheesecakes was sooooooo divine I could not wait to dive into my first Vegan goodies!! Well, there was no dissapointments here!! The cupcakes were moist, chocolate-eeeee (the way I like it!) and better than any others I have tried in the....let's call it "normal" bakery market! lol If I did not tell you, there would be no trace that this Cupcake was Vegan....just Divine goodness! OMG, then the Chocolate Chip Cookies just blew me away! Sweet, slightly crisp, they even had a "buttery" taste! Honestly, I wanted to sneak a handful to take home with me they were soooo good! Oh, excuse me.. I had to wipe some drool off my lip just thinking about them!! lol =} Bring on the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream we made and Let's do this every Sunday!! The Lime Cheesecake Bites were adorable little citrus-nut trees for your taste buds! They are perfect for any type of party as a starter or a fabulous mini finish....with the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream!!! Yahhhhhhhhhhhh, who would not like that??!!! Over all I had a Great Sunday and learned a lot about how to bake Vegan delights. I am a very picky eater (ask any of my family members who contstantly make fun of me!) these baked decadent desserts made my day....heck my year!! I may not be a Vegan but I like to be healthy.....and healthy does Taste Good!!! Step out of your box and have a fun day with Heather and Jenny at Spork Foods! They do catering, cooking classes and private lessons or parties...you will be happy that you did...and so will your tummy! La Doce Vita, my new friends! Donna xoxox Spork Foods 7494 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA www.sporkfoods.com 1 Comment RECIPE FRIDAY!! CHILL WITH CHOCOLATE SORBET 07/30/2010
HOW I START MY DAY WITH HEALTHY CHOCOLATE! IT'S FRIDAY....RECIPE DAY! SUMMER CHOCOLATE SORBET Yahhhh, it's Friday and I know we are looking forward to the weekend! So, I thought that a great recipe for Chocolate Sorbet would start the weekend out just right!!! But before I we whip out the ice cream makers and call our friends over for an ice cream social, I would love to share with you a great little gem that I found out about 4 years ago... I have really started almost everyday since then with 3 peices of this amazing Chocolate Jewel...It's called ChocaMaca!! It comes from a company called Amazon Herb Co. in Jupiter Fl. and is fouded by an amazing man lovingly named, Amazon John. Each piece is only 30 calories, which makes me very happy....but the real beauty of these little gems is the herbs that are in each one from the Amazon Rainforest that Really, Really (not kidding) take your health to a new level!! There are 11 herbs in each little ball of Organic Chocolate! How is that for packing a lot of goodness in a little package!   I can go on and on about these amazing Chocolate daily essentials! That is how much they have made a difference in my daily life and rountine. The Maca herb helps give you energy and has been used in the Amazon Rainforest for Centuries to support their strongest men for endurance and health! For me, it helps my Thyroid condition called "Hashimoto's Disease"....sounds weird I know but it basically means my Thyroid is attacking itself, thinking it is a virus and is trying to kill itself...oh ya... it's fun trying to figure this one out! I strongly uge you to go to their website and read for yourself on how this amazing company is Protecting our Health in so many great ways and working Everyday to Protect the Amazon Rainforest....which again,, if you want to breath the rest of your life is a pretty huge thing!! www.AmazonHerb.net Oh,, and if you like Oivia Newton John, she just married the owner John Easterling a few years ago... and together they are an amazing couple...truely making a difference!! As, I said before this is one of those Rare companies that has True Integrity and Lives it Everyday of their lives!! The other new thing I have been trying out for the past two weeks it the Orgain Chocolate Protein Drink (pictured above). I found it at Mother's Market (CA) and to my surprise it is really good! It is Organic with Whey Protein, which I think is the best for me and the easiest to digest for most people. It has the equuivelant of 10 Fruits and Vegetables in each serving of 255 Calories! Again, I like a lot of bang for little calories!! I need to make sure I have room for more Chocolate throughout the day! heheheh This drink I think is the best one I have found so far...no caffeine, no artificial sweetners, preservatives or glutan. Try it and let me know what you think! There are two flavors: Creamy Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla Bean. Hummmmmmmmm, bet you can guess which one is my favorite... Ciao for Now, Donna SUMMER CHILLING WITH CHOCOLATE SORBET PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES, COOKING TIME: 8 MINUTES, FREEZING TIME: 3 HOURS iNGREDIENTS: 2 1/3 Cups Water 3/4 Cups Sugar 3/4 Cup Dutch Cocoa Powder ( i like GreenBlack's Organic) 4 oz. Dark Chocolate, Chopped (Try Tcho,Valhrona or Callebraut) 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla (Pure Or a Vanilla Bean) 1. Bring Water and Sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. 2. Reduce heat to medium. wisk in Cocoa until smooth. 3. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 minute. 4. Pour Cocoa mixture over Chocolate in a medium bowl and wisk until smooth. 5. Add Vanilla. Place bown in an ice-water bath (another bowl filled with water and ice, then place the cocoa mixture into that bowl...be careful not to get any water or ice into your cocoa mixture...this is just to cool it down fast!) Stir occasionally until mixture is cool to the touch, about 15 minutes, or refrigerate, loosley covered for 1 1/2 hours, until cool to the touch. 6. Transfer mixture to an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions. 7. When frozen, transfer to freezer container, press a peice of wax paper on top and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours. Makes: 4 Servings Per Serving: 350 Cal, 4gProtein, 63 Carbs, 11g Fat,Omg Chol., 6g Fiber, Omg Sodiium. Enjoy! LA DOLCE VITA!!! HAVE A COOL WEEKEND!! CIAO CIAO...DONNA  The Plate Says it All!! lol I had Chocolate for Breakfast...What else?!! Lets start with the Darkest to the Lightest...First to Last! 99% Dark Chocolate Bar Ing: Pure Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Liquor and Sugar. Simple, Pure and Rich! This was my first pick and Taste Winner! It is soo rich you really need to take one square at a time and let it melt in your mouth to get the pure experience and enjoyment out of it. This baby is healthy and all you really need is a few squares to make your mouth turn up with a big smile on it for the rest of the day... 64% Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Ing: Dark Chocolate,Chocolate Liquor,Cocoa Butter, soy Lecithin, Vanilla & Sea Salt. Sea Salt & Chocolate Dreams! Honestly, it is a big tie for me with the 99% and the 64% with Sea Salt. When you have cravings for something sweet but decandant your going to go to this bar everytime! It calls you...like the sea waves crashing on the beach to go into the water....the Sea Salt calls and you should answer by eating it! It melts perfectly and then in the middle of it all you taste the Sea Salt and all your nerves go into the Nirvana mode...alll is well on earth again... 42% Milk Chocolate with Honey & Green Tea Ing: Milk Chocolate, Sugar,Whole Milk Powder,Cocoa Mass, Skim Milk Powder,Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract, Green Tea Powder and Natural Flavors. Ok, right off the bat...Not a Milk Chocolate fan at all...and this has too many ingredients in it that is really does not need. Where's the Honey??? Is it that nasty word I don't like.."Natural Flavors"? What is Natural Flavors...not honey!! It is really sweet...too sweet for my taste and with all the ingredients it does not need I don't think this would be a bar I would ever buy again. I must now make my own version with the real deals in it! Back to the Kitchen I go!! Over all, my Chocolate Breakfast was tasty and very satisfying...I think it helped me launch another crazy day and gave me inspiration to head back to my little chocolate factory to make my own versions! Keep you posted! Ciao...Donna  Help! I am Drowning in Chocolate!!! 07/28/2010
That is the way I want to go!! Ahahahah As you saw on the page before this..(sorry still learning how to do this blog thing right!) I just started reading, The Healing Powers of Chocolate, by Cal Orey. I am craving to eat more Chocolate right now due to my afternoon brain fog is just setting in...yep I will go and get a bit of pick me up Chocolate and write to you later about those 3 new bars I am going to try from The World Market...high Cocoa content of 70% and higher and see who the winner of my taste buds will be! Will I sleep tonight from all the great endorphins...heck Ya!! See you later!!  | Author Donna Forte  Archives |
