Kieran

Don’t Forget Chocolate!

chocwine If reducing your chocolate intake was part of your New Year’s Resolutions (ah, horror!), you might think again.

Two recent studies add to the numerous benefits found from this miraculous substance. The first, from Oxford University, found that dark chocolate (along with tea and red wine) boosts memory. In fact, the three taken together had the most pronounced effect. You can read more about it here, and it might set a new culinary trend. Chocolate and red wine tastings have become increasingly common, but adding tea into the mix certainly could make things interesting.

The second study, researched by the University of Copenhagen, found that dark chocolate reduces appetite (at least compared to milk chocolate) to the tune of a 15% calorie reduction. It seems that you can have your dark chocolate and eat it too.

So, there are two more reasons for me to make 2009 the Year of Chocolate (like 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, etc. etc.). Things are looking up already.

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CNN Boosts Dingle

 I keep hearing that CNN gave Dingle a good boost and found the story here, although I couldn’t find any video. They say it’s a good winter destination with mild (relatively) temperatures and avoidance of the summer crowds. Now I wouldn’t argue with that, although they didn’t mention the ice cream!

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Ice Cream Bling in Japan

 I’m off to Japan in a couple of weeks, joining a Bord Bia food tour (life could be worse!)

In researching ice cream there, I came across a Japanese outfit, q-pot, who make jewelry in the shape of ice cream and other sweets, as well as sweet-themed accessories, including Chocolate ipod cases!!! (photo right).

I think I’ll have to stop in!

By the way, if anyone has any tips for ice cream in Japan, ice cream of the edible kind, I’d be most eager to hear them! 

In fact, any tips would be welcome…

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A Quiet(ish) Wren

It was a quiet Wren’s Day in Dingle, without the huge crowds we’ve seen over the last few years.

I don’t know if that’s a sign of the times, but in many ways it made the day more special.

It was more about the music and the marching, and less about the onlookers.

For us, out on the march, there was the added benefit that there was no problem getting into pubs on the way and ordering drink.

There were also special moments, such as up at the Dingle hospital, the last resting place of Peig. It’s a usual stop for the wrens, and playing music in the wards is one of the highlights of the day (video below). This year, it had special poignancy since there’s a new retirement home being built, and this will be the last tour of the old hospital, which goes back to famine times, for the wren.

Here’s the John Street Wren in the hospital:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAffPiLSbYk

Here’s the John Street Wren outside our shop on Strand Street:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zTMdazkuTc

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Brandy Snaps for Christmas

 Here are some brandy snaps I made, and if you’re looking for an easy baking treat, it doesn’t get much easier than this. I rolled these, but you can also leave them flat. They are just as tasty! For good measure, I dipped mine in chocolate… I adapted the recipe from an old Cordon Bleu dessert book. 

Happy Christmas!

Brandy Snaps

Ingredients:

  • 230 gm butter (room temperature)
  • 230 gm sugar
  • 230 gm flour
  • 80 gm golden syrup
  • 2 teaspoons ginger
  • 1 tablespoon brandy

What to do:

  1. Heat the oven to 180C and lightly grease a baking tray. 
  2. Put the golden syrup, butter and sugar in a pan and cook over medium heat until the butter is melted and the sugar dissolved.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the flour, ginger, and brandy.
  4. Put small, teaspoon portions on the baking pan, about four inches apart. I used a piping bag, which makes things easier, since the dough is a bit sticky.
  5. Bake for 7 minutes, until golden brown. 
  6. Remove and allow to cool on the baking tray for about five minutes before removing. 
  7. That’s it!
  8. If you want to roll them, as I did, butter the handle of a wooden spoon. After you remove the cookies from the oven, leave them for a minute or so (or they will fall apart), then wrap them around the spoon handle, holding them in place until they take the shape. 
  9. If you want to dip them in chocolate, melt about 100 gm chocolate. Transfer to a small cup or bowl. Dip the cookies, and place on a non-stick baking sheet until they are dry. 

Makes about 40 cookies.

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Mini Chocolate Grand Marnier Brownies

I spent today making mini chocolate brownies to give out to our customers over Christmas. To make things a little more interesting, I enrobed them in chocolate.

If you wish to try them, follow the recipe here, substituting Grand Marnier for Kahlua. Mind you, they would be very good with Kahlua as well!

I tried baking them different ways – spooning out small amounts on a baking sheet, and also simply baking them as normal in a baking pan and then cutting them into very small squares. I think the latter method is definitely easier!

To enrobe them, melt some chocolate to 31C or so, and use a fork to dip in the cooled, cut brownie pieces. Leave them on a non-stick sheet to cool. If you know how to temper the chocolate, so much the better (they will last longer and not discolour).

Use good quality chocolate, and I would suggest adding a little bit of vegetable oil (I think grapeseed is best and used about 5% of the chocolate volume) to thin the chocolate. This helps you avoid making the chocolate shell too thick.

If you think there is no such thing as too much chocolate or too thick coatings, ignore the above.

For good measure, I drizzled the cooled, enrobed chocolate brownies with some melted white chocolate.

We’ll soon find out if our customers think they are a tasty as I do!

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