Food

How to Make Chocolate Easter Eggs

Centuries ago, eggs were given as gifts to mark the season of the equinox in ancient Egypt. This egg gift-giving tradition is later used by the Christians to represent Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, a symbol of rebirth and new life. This tradition evolved in France and Germany in the 1800s, as people started to exchange chocolate eggs.

Easter chocolate eggs are everybody’s favorite treat during the Lenten season. Did you know that rather than spending tons of money purchasing chocolate eggs, you can make and decorate your own Easter chocolate egg are home?

How to Make Chocolate Easter Eggs

Supplies Needed:

plastic egg molds
double boiler
mixing spoon
large block of chocolate
small party favor toys or candy such as M&Ms

For a hollow chocolate egg, you need to use a plastic egg mold. These plastic molds are fairly cheap and come in a variety of sizes. You will also need a double boiler.

Want to give it a surprising twist? Put on a handful of sweets or small toys inside the egg shells before you join the two egg shell halves together. Want to make it colorful? Melt white chocolate and mix a little food coloring.

Melt Chocolate Block

Melt a large block of chocolate slowly over low heat in a double boiler. Melting it on a regular saucepan or melting it too quickly will cause the chocolate to burn or develop an unpleasant texture, making it very difficult to work with and spoil the taste.

For kitchens without a double boiler, you can do the slow melting by placing a few inches of water in the bottom of a large saucepan, and then place the smaller saucepan (containing the chocolate) inside. Don’t cover the saucepan. Heat and simmer the smaller saucepan; this will melt the chocolate slowly and safely, giving it a shiny and lovely texture, without spoiling the taste of the chocolate. However, you need to work faster and stir the chocolate before it starts to set.

Fill Molds with Chocolate

Pour the melted chocolate in both halves of the mold. Cover and place the mold together as evenly as possible. Spread the chocolate evenly inside of each mold half by slightly tapping and shaking the mold halves. You can also use a spoon to smooth the chocolate around.

You can use silicone egg molds instead of plastic egg molds.

Add Party Favor Toys

Put the chocolate-filled molds inside the fridge. Wait until the chocolate hardens completely.

If you are adding small party favor toys to your chocolate eggs, fill one half of the mold and then let them sit in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes so the chocolate is slightly cooled. Then press the toy into the warm chocolate and continue adding chocolate until the mold is completely filled.

If you are worried that the toy or candy may melt inside of the egg, use a regular plastic Easter egg and put the candy or toy inside of that and then press the plastic egg inside of your larger chocolate egg. You will have to use quite a large egg mold to do it this way.

Seal the Egg with Chocolate

Wait until the chocolate is completely cooled, about an hour. Remove the two halves of the mold gently. Brush the edges of each halves using melted chocolate, and then slightly press the two halves of egg together to make one whole egg.

Be Creative, Use Your Imagination

Make your chocolate eggs look more beautiful and attractive for the kids by decorating its shells. You can drip some white chocolate to the mold before you pour the melted chocolate. You can also use hokey-pokey variety rather than plain or milk chocolate.

Making chocolate Easter eggs is an amazing opportunity to be creative and use your imagination to make a lovely seasonal treats for your whole family and loved ones. The popularity of Easter chocolate recipes also makes it a lucrative business opportunity.

Easy Ways to Make An Affordable Valentine’s Dinner at Home

This Valentine’s Day, instead of making reservations and fighting the crowds, why not surprise your sweetheart with a very special intimate dinner party for two at home? Here are some tips for treating your sweetheart to Valentine’s Day dinner at home that is also affordable.

Set the scene by using what you probably already have on hand – put on a tablecloth, light some candles and use the good china, crystal and silverware. Not sure how to set the table? Check out Kitchen Moxie’s Perfect Place Setting.

Instead of the traditional and expected box of red long-stem roses, create your own bouquet by picking up your sweetheart’s favorite flowers at the local market and popping them in a vase. Not only will this be the perfect table centerpiece, but it will wow your sweetie with the thought and sentiment behind it!

Start the evening with a glass of bubbly. You don’t have to break the bank with pricey champagne – grab a bottle of cava or prosecco instead.

For hors d’oeuvres, a simple wedge of brie, crackers and fresh strawberries alongside some salty nuts, and you’re ready to celebrate in style.

Photo Credit: MyRecipes.com

Pick a first course that is simple and easy to pull together. A baby lettuce, beet and blue cheese salad is a great choice. All the components can be completely prepped and ready to go; all you have to do is toss in dressing and plate before serving.

Photo Credit: AllYou.com

For the main course, stay in your comfort zone – the grill. Try baby lamb chops or individual fillet mignons – quick cooking and simple. A side of grilled asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes will make for a super easy, yet elegant presentation.

Photo Credit: Yelp.com

For dessert, a great make-ahead chocolate cake with ice cream and raspberries will hit it out of the park.

Photo Credit: Taste of Home

If you don’t have time to bake a cake, try making this quick and easy Cream Cheese Mousse with Raspberries.

Photo Credit: Aleksandr Slyadnev

Don’t forget to make sure the dishwasher is emptied and ready to go for a super quick and easy clean up after the meal. Valentine’s Day Done!

Make a Heart-Shaped Pizza for Valentine’s Day

Everyone loves pizza so why not make a fun heart-shaped pizza for Valentine’s Day. The kiddos will love it! This pizza recipe is simple and comes with a homemade marinara sauce recipe to boot! To save time try using a pre-made pizza crust, refrigerated pizza dough, or if you want it a little more homemade, use the Bisquick or Jiffy Mix recipe below.

Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

1/3 cup Jiffy or Bisquick Baking Mix
1/3 cup water
Cookie Sheet or Heart-shaped Pizza Pan

Directions:

In a medium-size bowl, blend the Jiffy or Bisquick baking mix with water.
Turn the pizza dough onto a surface that has been dusted with baking mix or flour.
Knead until dough is not sticky, about one minute.
Press pizza dough on a cookie sheet shaping your pizza dough into a heart shape, or use the special heart-shaped pizza pan that is suggested above.

TIP: We spray our cookie sheet or pan with a spray oil first, even if it is non-stick. It definitely helps to remove the pizza later and prevents sticking.

Homemade Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

Add olive oil to the pan and heat in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the garlic is golden brown.
Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (optional), stirring to combine.
Simmer for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with additional salt, pepper or sugar, to taste.

Heart-Shaped Pizza Recipe

Ingredients:

pre-made pizza crust or refrigerated pizza dough (or just Jiffy Mix recipe above)
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar crushed or diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Your favorite toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, basil, olives, etc.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat olive oil and garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When garlic begins to sizzle, add tomatoes, salt and Italian seasoning and then simmer on low for 10 minutes.
Trim or shape your pizza crust into a heart shape on a cookie sheet or heart-shaped Pizza Pan.
Brush the pizza dough with olive oil. Spread the marinara sauce evenly on the pizza crust. Arrange the toppings and mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

With so many heart-shaped foods to buy, try and make, you’ll have plenty of ideas for Valentine’s Day this year. Did you know you can order a FREE Jiffy Mix recipe book too? They have great recipes and Jiffy Mix is cheaper to use than Bisquick.

Valentine’s Day Cocktail Recipes

Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day cocktails that are to please. We enjoyed Partida Anejo at our Margarita party last month. It is smooth and tasty.

The Anejo Kiss

1 1/2 oz. Partida Anejo
1/2 oz Creme de Cacao (white)
1 oz. Amarula Cream

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Tequila Partida is an authentic, ultra-premium Tequila, made from 100% blue agave in the heart of Mexico’s historic Tequila Valley. With a clean, smooth, exceptionally pure taste, Tequila Partida takes the utmost care in every step of the process – from agave cultivation and harvest to distillation and marketing. For years, Partida has been commended by numerous media outlets, including The Spirit Journal (the country’s leading spirits review publication – which rated Partida Reposado “the best Tequila in the world” and one of the top five spirits in the world) along with Wine Enthusiast, The New York Times, Four Seasons Magazine and countless others.

valentines cocktails

Broken Heart

2 parts Broken Shed vodka
1 part pomegranate and/or cranberry juice
1/2 to 1 part Triple Sec or Cointreau

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add pomegranate seeds and/or cranberries for decoration.

Broken Shed is a premium vodka that has a great back story, being created from whey in an old, bruised-up shed on a mountain in New Zealand with the help of two Connecticut expats. “Creamy” is the first word that comes to mind when trying this highly-regarded spirit. Broken Shed vodka has been four-times distilled to meet the highest quality standards and is gluten-free, naturally smooth and additive-free. First launched in the US in Connecticut this past June, Broken Shed Vodka expanded into New York via a distribution deal with New York Wine & Spirits, a division of Manhattan Beer. Broken Shed is also available online at a number of websites.

Review of Orville Redenbacher’s Popup Popcorn Bowl

Orville Redenbacher’s Popup popcorn bowl is convenient if you like microwave popcorn. We don’t eat much microwave popcorn in our house. We mainly eat pan popcorn – kernel popcorn cooked in a saucepan in oil. And of course, you must put Parmesan cheese on top.

What is Orville Redenbacher’s Popup Popcorn Bowl

When we do eat microwave popcorn Orville Redenbacher’s is one of our favorites. The Orville popup bowl makes is just as easy to use as the regular Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn and of course, it is the same quality popcorn. The difference is when you are done and you open the bag, on the inside of the bag is a clear plastic liner. When you are finished popping it you remove one end of the liner and the stiff outer wrapper acts as a bowl because it will stand on one end.

While the bowl is convenient, we found that the plastic wrapper was a little hard to remove and I ended up with oil all over my fingers. They have improved on this over the years. Just make sure you get a good grasp on it. It is a good idea and kids probably won’t mind getting a little oil on their fingers and hands. But, mom, you will want to test it out to make sure they don’t get more than you want because they just might use your furniture as a napkin. If you just eat the Orville popcorn out of the bag normally then you will like the convenience of having the popping bowl.

Orville Redenbacher’s Popup Popcorn Bowl for Camping

I can also see how the Orville Redenbacher Popup popcorn bowl would be a good idea for camping because since it acts as a bowl that is one less thing you have to bring and clean up.

How much does Orville Redenbacher’s Popup Popcorn Bowl Cost?

I would say that if the Orville Redenbacher Popup popcorn bowl costs more then it is probably not worth it. It’s a good idea but one I wouldn’t spend extra money on. I found it at our local grocery for $3.69 for a box of 6 but it is often on sale for around $2.50.

Overall we love this product. It is good when kids want a quick snack and are willing to share from the same bowl, good for camping, and good for movie night.

Have you tried the new Orville Redenbacher Popup bowl yet? If so, what do you think about it?