Chocolate-Banana Frozen Pops...and Giveaway

I've been wanting to make something with all the Dove chocolate products that my daughter Lora received from the Dove people, to try out their products. She shared some with me, but every time I get the chocolate cravings, I just nibble on the silk and smooth Dove chocolate pieces, and little nuggets...even though some are for baking. They are incredibly rich, creamy and so amazingly delicious!

As far as I'm concerned, when you get the craving for chocolates, Dove, or Godiva chocolates are the only ones that can satisfy your craving...although Godiva has not come up with their product to bake with, but Dove, has...it should be available in the supermarkets by now. I really wanted to melt these little chocolate silky nuggets to dip them into strawberries, but I did not have the large ones, so I settled for nice, not too ripe banana pieces. I've seen the "store bought" simple chocolate covered frozen bananas that a friend of mine boasts about...nothing compares to the cute little pop sized ones dipped into melted down chocolate pieces, and sprinkle them with the confetti sprinkles, and pop them in the freezer. I could not wait for them to freeze and grabbed my camera to take the photos, while I had some sunshine streaming into my condo!
BTW-It's been 2 months now since I started my Weight Watchers program...and have lost 13 lbs. which averages out to about 1.6 lbs a week...gaining 2 lbs during the weekend, and losing it again the following week, plus 1 more!
So, there you have it...who says you cannot enjoy a chocolate Banana frozen pop, or two...to satisfy your sweet tooth? They are 5 points each...just be cautious!

As a way of thanking all of you...my friends, I have this beautiful authentic LENOX candy dish to give you, as a giveaway for all your kind words, and support for not just the last 2 months, but for the nearly 2 years of supporting my blog, which I so reluctantly wanted to do!
The LENOX candy dish is 4 inches in diameter, the original pretty simple beige, with the gold trimming, and little heart shaped design around the dish. Isn't this a pretty photo I took, with the reflection of the heart shape in the sunlight? The dish is about less than 3 inches tall!
Better yet...as you know my blog is not just about "good food", but "good thrift finds"...and I was totally blown away when I found this gorgeous little candy dish at my local Goodwill...it was just staring at me, or me staring at it, when I saw it sitting on the shelf, I immediately recognized that it's a LENOX. My hand was shaking to see the price on the back...$4.99...seriously! There is not a mark, or any kind of flaws on this beautiful dish. It retails, at least $40.00 if not more; I'm sure of that! This is the original style, and color.

Again...same rules apply: Just make sure you follow my blog...that's all! My FRIEND CONNECT Google list was totally taken off by Google, so that means I lost 112 additional followers. I specifically asked a few new followers to please follow me on my existing follow list, after I followed them back...well, I'm hoping they will do so, because I am -112 followers, as of the first of March!

I will use my Random.org number generator, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 to determine the winner.
The giveaway entry will end on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 11:00pm EST. I will ship to any country, outside of the U.S....isn't that great? You will love this little dish, as much as I do, but I have a lot of pretty things, and DO find just as much in my search for great "thrift finds"

...and now, for the recipe!



Chocolate- Banana Frozen Pops
my own recipe

3 to 5 firm-ripe bananas cut into 2 inch pieces
1 cup of Dove semisweet chocolate little nuggets, or
semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 to 2 Tbsp sprinkles

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips in 10 second increments, stirring between each, until melted smooth. You can put a drop or two water, for smoother consistency. Place the banana pieces on a wax paper lined plate, and liberally spoon the chocolate sauce over the banana pieces. Sprinkle liberally over the chocolate covered bananas, and place them in the freezer for about 20 minutes.

Insert a toothpick into each banana piece. (I used a plastic cocktail pick which is prettier) Chocolate will set quickly in freezer. Keep them wrapped in freezer, for up to 1 week. Totally yummy, and very, very, popular with kids and adults, alike!

Some of my weekend indulgences...at friends' house
Clams with Linguine

Nonno Sal's BBQ Pork Ribs...

Twice baked potatoes with melted Cheddar Cheese...

Reese's Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies

Now that Halloween is  over, and your little ones have their candies sorted out by the parents, just to make sure that there are no unsafe, opened candy or something suspicious in the their "goodie bags." Such a fun time of the year for kids and adults, all alike...except for early snow, as some of you have experienced it.

In the meantime, while the kids are enjoying their Halloween goodies...sparingly, for their health sake, I decide to make a large batch of these wonderful chocolate cookies, made with Hershey's Cocoa Powder, using less sugar, because the Reese's Peanut Butter Chips are just perfectly sweet; made from real peanuts and are so darn addictive, you can just snack on those Reese's chips by themselves, packed with peanutty goodness!

Now, for the big announcement! I will be leaving early...I mean real early morning, on Friday, Nov. 4th flying out, at 5:45am to the Foodbuzz Festival, in San Francisco. This is the 3rd. annual event, and it's my first time that I am attending. It is from Nov. 4th, thru Nov. 6th. I was saving my excitement until now...and now, I can hardly contain it. Finally, I will be meeting up with other food bloggers, and get to know them in person.

The sad part is that I have to leave my poor old kitty, Prince, a tall Maine Coon... who is close to 19 years old, and getting frail, otherwise he is still quite alert, and very sweet and caring. He is my "alarm clock" in the morning, and at night reminds me it's late, and makes sure I don't stay up past the 11:00 news...so funny!


Also, I feel bad for not arranging for a guest post...I could have used at least 2 guest posts. Unfortunately, I never had a guest post on my blog, in the 1 1/2 since I've been blogging. I did make a small mention to Sandra, on her fabulous blog... but did not follow through...sigh...that's what happens when you don't make clear of what you would like!

"I never had anyone guest post on my blog...as of yet, in almost 1 1/2yrs...seriously, I have to get together with you on that, to invite you. You are always ever so gracious, and accommodating!"
xoxo

October 24, 2011 6:40 PM

Even Lora mentioned that I didn't give her enough notice, she would have guest posted for me. Oh, well...whoa, is ME! Just bear with me for having this post on, for 1 week...at least when I return, I will have lots of photos to share with you of this exciting event! In the meantime, here's the recipe for these yummy cookies!

Reese's Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies
 largely adapted from the back of the Reeses's Peanut Butter Chips bag

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened Hershey's cocoa,
2 teaspoon baking powder
or a different brand
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick= 1/2 cup unsalted butter,
at room temperature
1/2 cup pure vegetable shortening
(or, another stick=1/2 cup unsalted butter)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 10-oz pkgs Reese's Peanut Butter Chips,
or another brand

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.(190C)
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, Add the 1 cup of sugar, the butter, and the vegetable shortening.

In another bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder

With an electric mixer, beat the butter, vegetable shortening, until fluffy. Beat the eggs, in one at a time,
and add the vanilla, beating well.

Reduce the mixture to low, and add the flour mixture, mixing just until, combined. The batter will be very stiff.
Stir in the peanut butter chips. Drop rounded tablespoon size mounds of the batter 2 inches apart on the prepared
baking sheets. Bake until firm around the edges, but still soft in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes.

Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets before transfering to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes about 48 cookies.

This is what the mixture should look like. Stiff dough, mix just enough to hold together

This is the shape you want to achieve,  when cookies are done... bit rustic looking. 

So, I will be saying good-bye for now, till next Wednesday...wish I could bring all of you with me.
Hugs, to all!

Peanut Butter&Jam Crepes, and a CSN Gift Certificate

Now that the holidays are over, and all the great leftovers have been recycled into time saving meals, and we are just tired of eating so much cookies...if any left, as for me, I'm just fresh out of ideas, so I lean on my "tried and true" and easy dishes, and desserts. Crepes...or in Hungarian, (palacsinta)...in Italian (crescpelle) in English is actually the American version of pancakes, which is totally a different type, but thicker, and is consumed for breakfast.

My family loves crepes, I have at least 3 types of crepe pans, all three are only used to make crepes in. I have a 6 inch cast iron tortilla pan, which is so perfect to make the smaller size crepes, nicely seasoned pan, easy to flip the crepes over, which is the best part. The second one is actually just for crepes as well, which is an 8 inch skillet. The third, which is the most popular, and "fail proof" is an 8 inch non stick skillet that is most advisable. I do have the actual recipe, which I personally think is the best that I can share with you!

I could barely set up these little peanut butter&jam crepe pieces...within less than 5 minutes it was gone. I could barely take a picture of it, because my little grandchildren, and son-in-law just grabbed a piece. These paper thin crepes, and the peanut butter and jam not only satisfies, as a snack, but doubles as a dessert. The above presentation, is 2 pieces of crepes stacked, smooth and silky peanut butter is spread on it, and strawberry jam is spread on it. Folded in half, and into thirds, and sliced it in half, again. Just look at the thin, light as a feather crepes, you can just serve it with a fork, to cut a bite size piece.

Now, on to the recipe, and the $50. gift certificate giveaway from CSN!...isn't is marvelous?


 I saved my crepes/palacsinta recipe from 20 yrs ago, which was  copied from a Hungarian cookbook, written in English, and then I found the same exact formula/recipe in an old food magazine from the same year, so I cut and pasted it on an index card. The Hungarian book called it "pancakes" and palacsinta, which I preferred the name CREPES, sounded more sophisticated!

CREPES


3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup club soda
unsalted, melted butter, about 1Tbsp. plus 1Tbsp.
vegetable, or canola oil, mixed with the butter


Mix the eggs, flour, milk, sugar and salt in a large bowl, and beat with a wire whisk, or electric mixer for about 2 minutes, to make a smooth batter. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours, or more.

Stir club soda into batter. Heat a heavy 8 inch skillet over moderate heat for about 1 minute. Lightly brush with the melted butter, and oil Test heat by dropping a small amount of the batter into the pan-if it sizzles, pan is ready.

Remove pan from the heat, immediately pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into the center of the pan, and at the same time, start tipping the pan in all directions so that the batter coats the bottom of the pan in a thin, even layer. Pour off any excess batter, fill any large gaps with a little extra, Return pan to heat and cook about 1 minute until top of crepe loses its shine and the edge can be lifted easily with a small spatula. Lift edged of crepe out onto a flat surface. Continue making crepes; stack them in heaps of 6 or 8 with wax paper between each crepe.

Crepes may be made ahead, each stack put in a plastic bag and refrigerated or frozen. Thaw before using. Makes about  12-14 crepes.

CSN I STORES- $50. Gift Certificate {Giveaway}

I'm so excited that I was contacted by CSN stores...to share this amazing giveaway with you!
CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything, from...
MODERN DINING ROOM FURNITURE

 Dinnerwar, Glassware, Serving pieces to my favorite Candles, Decorative Plates to portray your beautiful foods to show them off on your photos for your food blogs.

CSN STORES' sites and products have been featured by:

• The Today Show

• The Associated Press

• The New York Times

• The Los Angeles Times

• The Washington Post

• The McClatchy-Tribune Wire

• Real Simple

• Domino

• Elle Décor

• Better Homes and Gardens

• Woman’s Day

• And many more! 

That's a big deal!

 

Many thanks are in order to our generous sponsor for this gift card! Here is where the fun begins! 

One lucky food and thrift finds reader will win a $50. gift card to spend on anything from any of the 200+ CSN Stores just by doing the following:

Leave a comment below telling me which items you have your eye on from either CSNhome.com or AllModern.com  Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following.  Please leave a separate comment for each of your entries.  Maximum of 4 entries per person.

• Follow food and thrift finds
• Post about this giveaway on your blog – link to this post 
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter –include a link to this post

Giveaway ends Sunday, January 9th at midnight EST.   A winner will be chosen Randomly and announced on Monday, January 10th . 

The winner must claim their prize before Sunday, January 9th or a new winner will be selected.  You must be 18 years old and either a U.S. or Canadian resident to enter.   Maximum of 4 entries per person.