Have the Time of Your Life - Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Have the Time of Your Life - Mardi Gras in Louisiana: "Mardi Gras began in New Orleans in 1927 with the first street parade and is often referred to 'the greatest free show on earth!' It is the city's largest celebration and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world."

By Cayenne_Pepper

Newest Health Care Plan: Food as Medicine

Newest Health Care Plan: Food as Medicine - "OK, so what does the minor political rant have to do with food as medicine you ask? Plenty. When jobs are scarce or people are underemployed – like most of America right now with 100,000 each week entering those unhappy ranks – people make really bad food choices.

Because of job and ensuing financial stress they go to sugar, lots of carbohydrates and low quality meats. With stress on the rise during this tough economic time worldwide, wallets and bank accounts depleted, it’s time to think of food as medicine."

By Denny Lyon
Photo by Zest-pk @ flickr

Valentine's Day, isn't love complicated enough?

Valentine's Day, isn't love complicated enough?: "It seems that in the old days there where two saints who were called Valentine and which both have been assassinated on 14 February. And that is the best reason to have a party for loved ones of course!"

How do you like the photo of a man AND chocolate - does it get any better than this, ladies? I collected this photo months ago and was trying to figure out where and when I could use it - wow!

By Lazur
Photo of heart by Lazur @ hubpages
Photo of man and chocolate love picked up from StumbleUpon and have no clue as to copyright

Recipe: Espresso-Ganache Tartlets

Espresso-Ganache Tartlets

Yield: 6 servings

From: Bittersweet Pastry Shop, Chicago, Illinois.



Crust:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

¼ cup sugar

1 large egg

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt


Ganache filling:

¼ cup hot water

1 Tablespoon instant espresso powder

¾ cup whipping cream

2 Tablespoons sugar

10 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) OR semisweet chocolate, chopped


Directions for crust: using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in medium bowl until light. Beat in egg. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat just until blended. Divide dough among six 3-inch-diameter tartlet pans with 1-inch-high sides and removable bottoms. With floured fingertips, press dough into pans. Refrigerate 1 hour, then freeze 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake tartlets until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool completely.

Directions for filling: Mix ¼ cup hot water and espresso powder in small bowl until espresso dissolves. Bring cream and sugar to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Mix in espresso mixture. Pour hot filling into tartlets. Chill until chocolate sets, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.) Remove tart pan sides from tartlets. Transfer to plates and serve.

Recipe: Graham Cracker Torte & Lemon Buttermilk Ice Cream

Graham Cracker Torte & Lemon Buttermilk Ice Cream

How many times when you had just a few leftover graham crackers languishing in the back of your pantry? What to do with them? Along comes this easy fun recipe to solve the dilemma of frugality that even has some protein in it! The torte combined with the tart ice cream will remind you of lemon meringue pie.

While for February it's too cold in most climates to eat ice cream, just keep this recipe on hand for when the weather does heat up to intolerable and cooling lemon is just wonderful to beat the heat! Right now try out the torte to see how easy it is and enjoy.

Crazy weather this year in Louisiana! Cold below freezing for days then up to pleasant in the 70's for several days and you never know what to expect. You never know when you might want to make some ice cream in February! :)



Yield: 6 – 8 servings

From: Betty Berry


Ingredients:

3 egg whites at room temperature

1 cup sugar, divided

¾ cup fine graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 cups chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sweetened whipped cream, optional

Directions: Preheat oven to 300° F. Beat egg whites until stiff; gradually add ½ cup sugar.

Combine remaining sugar, graham cracker crumbs and baking powder. Add to egg whites along with pecans and vanilla. Blend lightly but well.

Pour into a buttered 8-inch pie plate. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes.

Cool, slice into wedges and top with whipped cream or Lemon Buttermilk Ice Cream.

Note: Torte will fall and crack in center when cool, so don’t panic!)


***


Lemon Buttermilk Ice Cream


Yield: 8 (1/2 cup) servings


Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

6 large lemons

1 quart low-fat organic buttermilk

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons lemon peel zest


Directions: Place sugar in a medium-size bowl. Grate the zest of 2 – 3 lemons to produce 2 teaspoons of zest. Juice as many lemons as needed to get ½ cup lemon juice. Add zest and juice to sugar. Mix well.

Add buttermilk and salt. Stir until sugar dissolves Chill 4 hours or overnight.

Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Makes 8 (1/2 cup) servings

Nutrition: 243 calories, 1 gram fat, 1 milligram cholesterol and 153 milligrams sodium.