chocolate

Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

I roast unsalted nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans) on a regular basis, and I always have dried fruits in my pantry. I add them to oatmeal, biscotti, snacks and desserts. More…
Palline al Cioccolato (Chocolate Balls)

Palline al Cioccolato (Chocolate Balls)

  These little chocolate balls, a thoughtful gift for your favorite Valentine, are a variation of Palline all’ Arancia. This is one of the very few confections in which the…
Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters

Fruit & Nut Chocolate Clusters

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  Dried fruits, nutritious nuts and crunchy granola, all covered in chocolate make for the perfect treat for our after dinner walks in the woods. Many years ago, the year…
Triple Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

Triple Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

  I have posted many biscotti recipes over the life of this blog. There are traditional family favorites as well as those I’ve been inspired to create. Although a few…
Ricotta di Cioccolato

Ricotta di Cioccolato

  This simple, slightly sweet dessert is made of luscious, creamy ricotta and chocolate and is a lovely ending to any meal. Paired with rich chocolate espresso wafers and bubbly…
Chocolate Espresso Wafers

Chocolate Espresso Wafers

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  Have you ever wondered why many chocolate dessert recipes have coffee in the list of ingredients? The addition of coffee, or in this case espresso, intensifies the chocolate flavor.…

Baci di Dama

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  Perugina, the renowned Italian confectionery icon, is Italy’s most beloved chocolate maker. On Valentine’s Day in 1922, Luisa Spagnoli, the co-founder, created their signature candy. Baci, meaning kisses in…

Fig Walnut & Chocolate Biscotti

  A few dried figs with a handful of nuts are a favorite afternoon snack of mine. The natural sugar of the fruit gives me quick energy while the healthy…

Salame Dolce

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  Italians, as a rule, do not eat dessert after a meal, choosing perhaps a piece of fruit instead. However, it is a well-known fact that we find time “between”…

Better than Nutella Chocolate Spread

  I have made several attempts over the years to come up with a chocolate spread that I feel is worthy of sharing. The flavor was always great, rather it…

Chocolate Espresso Olive Oil Cake

  I am not what you’d call a chocoholic, but every now and then, when only something chocolate will do, this cake is guaranteed to satisfy the craving every time.…

Blood Orange Chocolate Truffles

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  You may offer a terrific torta (cake) or several kinds of biscotti (cookies) to your guests after dinner, but there are some who consider chocolate to be the ultimate…

Chocolate Espresso Ice Cubes

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  I have been making “ice cubes” to have on hand for our iced coffees. I have made Creamy Milk Cubes, Cappuccini Cubes and “Ice” Coffee. Sometimes I add chocolate…

Nutella Fudge with Sea Salt

  The only fudge I have ever made (usually for the holidays) is from the recipe on the back of the can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Last week,…

Nutella Ghiacciolo

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  Nutella, smeared on a slice of toasted bread, has been a traditional Italian breakfast for decades. Pasta Gianduja, the original version of Nutella, (Circa 1940’s) a thick paste, made…

Sicilian S’mores

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  Just in time for the holiday weekend is my Italian twist on an outdoor favorite. Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer and for many families the first…

Bittersweet Chocolate Truffle Tart

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  I have been making this tart since 1990 and it’s no coincidence that it is the same year Alice Medrich’s cookbook, Cocolat, came out. For those of you who…

EspressO’s

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  Did you know that Oreo was the best-selling cookie of the 20th century? They have sold over 461 billion (with a “B”) Oreo cookies since they were introduced 100…
Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate Ganache

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  Ganache is a silky-smooth mixture of chocolate and cream, and the results rely on the quality of the chocolate used. You can use semi-sweet or bittersweet, milk, dark or…