One of the things I love most about gifts of Christmas chocolate, is the fact that they chocolate sort of is the perfect gift for any occasion and Christmas is not excluded. But besides being the perfect gift idea, I love cooking with chocolate. A quick look at my large database of “to try” recipes, the Chocolate recipes are the ones I tend to save the most. Interesting.

Have you ever tried using a leftover box of chocolates to cook with, or to add to a recipe in place of chocolate chips?

Last year, we received a box of chocolates for Christmas, and we’d eaten a few. I was growing tired of eating them plain and decided to cut up the chocolates and use them as “chocolate chunks” in a chocolate chip cookie recipe I made. I’ve done the same thing putting them in cakes, cupcakes, muffins and even a pie. You could even try them in pancakes or waffles. Yes, I’m a chocolate addict, I would put chocolate in a lot of the things I eat if I could figure out a way to do it. Won’t lie there. And I’m also not wasteful, so using them up this way ensures they get eaten.

What’s your Favorite kind of chocolate?

My favorite is dark chocolate
, and could eat it all day. I do love just about all chocolate, with the exception of white chocolate. I just don’t like eating white chocolate plain. I can put it in a recipe and it really adds flavor, but by itself? I can’t stomach it.

If you’re looking for some good chocolate recipes there are tons to be found right here. There are all kinds of yummy things listed like Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes, Chocolate Banana Pudding, and a rather odd recipe for Chocolate Covered Bacon with Almonds.

So what do you make with chocolate?

Chocolate Deliciousness and a Gift Idea originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on October 26, 2011.

Actually I *do* find cooking fun, but when I caught sight of this, I just knew I had to participate. So here it goes, and if you decide to do it too, leave me a comment so I can come check you out!

1. Can you cook? If yes do you like to cook?
Yes I certainly can. And yes I do.

2. When does your whole family come together to eat?
Typically nightly. Except hubby works nights, so actually I guess “whole family” would be weekends.

3. What do you have for breakfast?
I love breakfast foods. The problem is I’m usually not hungry in the morning. Coffee and Yogurt. Sometimes a breakfast smoothie. On occasion I do the whole blown out scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon and sausage. Yeah – great weight loss treat eh?

4. When, where and how do you eat through the week?
I’m usually up about 5:30am so that’s when I brew and begin drinking coffee. I will often grab a piece of toast or yogurt around 9am. Lunch is at home usually between 12-1pm. Dinner is at home as often as I can, which is anywhere between 5:00pm and 6:30 pm depending on the nights activities.

5. How often do you eat out?
We used to eat out so much more frequently. Now if we even eat out once a week its a rarity. I enjoy cooking at home and I like being in charge of what I eat. So I guess my answer is, hardly at all. Maybe twice a month. Give or take either way.

6. How often do you order in or get take out?
I think this goes along the question above. Again, if we get it once a week, these days that’s a rarity. We order pizza maybe once or twice a month. Sometimes Chinese food.

7. Re: 5 and 6 – if money were no object would you like to do it more often?
Yes and No. Again I like to be in charge of what I eat, but on occasion I do prefer certain restaurants food, and letting someone else pamper me once in awhile. Honestly, if money were no object, I’d hire a professional chef to come cook WITH me so I could learn to make a wider variety of delicious foods.

8. Are there any standards that make a regular appearance at your table?
Yes. Pasta. Like … a lot. Oh, and chicken. I’m working on evening that out a little.

9. Have you ever tried a recipe from another blog?
Yes I have. Often. I usually tweak it a little to make it more for my family’s style and taste.

10. Are there any quarrels because of food?
Sometimes. I have the pickiest eater in North America living with me, so she can be a real pain when we are making something she doesn’t like. She’s gotten over the tantrums and now at 16 will sit and stare quietly at her plate pushing food around if she doesn’t want it. Other than that, most of them are willing to try just about anything new, so that’s great.

11. Are you a vegetarian or could you imagine living as a vegetarian?
I’m not a vegetarian, but have considered it before. The problem is – I like food. All kinds. So it becomes a harder choice for me. While I don’t eat it often, no steak in my diet would probably be earth shifting and life altering. That and cheeseburgers. Nope. No Vegetarian for me.

12. What would you like to try out that you haven’t dared yet?
I’m not sure that there is anything I haven’t tried out that I want to try. I’m pretty daring and risky when it comes to trying new things, so I think almost anything I’ve wanted to try I have. Actually, I’m sure there is something out there – I’d like to try some more ethnic foods. I recently tried Elk for the first time. It was really good.

13. Would you rather cook or bake?
Bake. Hands down. I know, terrible. But oh so yummy!

14. What was the most terrible mess you’ve ever made in the kitchen?
Making 12 dozen cookies two Christmas’ ago with five kids. Yeah. No wait – maybe it was the day my husband and I got into a water fight in the kitchen with three kids looking on. It was hilarious but there was water EVERYWHERE. I know, most people would think we were crazy.

15. What do your kids like to eat best? What would your kids never eat?
Pasta or Chicken is something they will all eat, almost anytime. Steak too. I don’t think any of them will ever eat Brussels Sprouts or Liver. Probably no tongue of any animal either. Which is good, because neither will I.

16. What do you dislike most?
Anything relating to body parts of animals that should not naturally be eaten, pickled, boiled or fried. Period. That, and Brussels Sprouts. N-O.

I won’t tag anyone, but you foodies out there should feel free to play along! I would love to read your answers.

A Little Bit of Cooking Fun originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on November 1, 2010.

Questions

01. Favorite food scene in a movie? I have a few, but I really loved the movie Waitress and the scene depicted below.
02. Favorite breakfast food? Pancakes
03. Favorite ethnic cuisine? I’m going to gross you out with this one – Escargot.
04. Guilty pleasure? Texas Sheet Cake
05. Favorite ice cream flavour? Pistachio
06. Favorite cookbook? Anything by Taste of Home – I mean ANYTHING.
07. Favorite snack? Deviled Eggs (yes I eat them as a snack! Don’t judge me.)
08. Favorite kitchen gadget? Apple Peeler-Corer-Slicer
09. Chocolate: dark, milk or white? Dark Chocolate
10. If you were a dish, what would you be? Chicken and Dumplings
11. What did you have for lunch today? Panera’s Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich w/side of signature mac & cheese – yum!
12. Favorite beverage? Coffee, especially flavored and fancied up.

Questions 01. Favorite food scene in a movie? I have a few, but I really loved the movie Waitress and the scene depicted below. 02. Favorite breakfast food? Pancakes 03. Favorite ethnic cuisine? I'm going to gross you out with this one - Escargot. 04. Guilty pleasure? Texas Sheet Cake 05. Favorite ice cream flavour? Pistachio 06. Favorite cookbook? Anything by Taste of Home - I mean ANYTHING. 07. Favorite snack? Deviled Eggs (yes I eat them as a snack! Don't jud" data-site="The Daily Dish Recipes">

Another Photographic Food Meme originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on October 28, 2010.

I feel like I did this meme about a year or so ago on my old blog, and since I cannot seem to find the post anywhere (and I refuse to visit the old site), I figure I will just post a brand new one here. Plus, I’m sure some of my answers have changed anyway. If you do (or did) this meme, please leave your link in the comments so I can come read your answers. You can also just answer this in the comments if you wish.

1. What’s your #1 comfort food?
It’s probably a toss-up between coffee which I tend to drink a lot or chocolate which I tend to crave a lot.
2. If you were on a deserted island, what one food would you want to have with you? I would want a fishing pole – I know it’s not food, but I would catch my food and eat it.
3. What is/are your signature dishes? (What dishes are you ‘known’ for?)Every time we have a family gathering or dinner party of some kind, someone asks me to bring my Hash Brown casserole. I also get compliments on my deviled eggs – I almost never make them the same way twice either. But they are a huge hit and I hardly ever have leftovers. Most of my friends and neighbors know my Texas Sheet Cake which is made a little differently than the hundreds of recipes you see all the time. I’m asked for these three things ALL the time.
4. It’s Friday night, you don’t know what to cook. You opt for… Usually something easy – spaghetti or chicken and rice. We sometimes order in pizza, but we are cutting back on that.
5. What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to food? Baked goods.  Meaning anything in the bakery department. Period. I love them all. I do everything I can to eat very little of them. They are packing on the pounds. haha
6. What food can you absolutely not eat? Brussels Sprouts. The thought of them makes me gag. I’ve tried them every single possible way and I just can’t do it.
7. You need a drink. You grab a…Diet Coke or Iced Tea. Depends though, I also drink a lot of water – so depending on how much I have had that day, it might be ice water.
8. What’s the most decadent dish you’ve had?My mother took me out for lunch one year on my birthday. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and it was honestly the most heavenly dish I have ever eaten. I could eat that everyday for the rest of my life. (I’m sure I’d also put on 100lbs too!)
9. What’s your favorite type of food? Well, my answer used to be Italian. But lately I am more drawn to Chinese food.
10. Favorite dish?It says dish, so I can’t pick Texas Sheet Cake which is a dessert. I’ll have to go with a beef and rice dish I make.
11. If your partner could take you to any restaurant you wanted, which one would it be? The one that has the Lobster Ravioli. Except I think it went out of business. *gasp*
12. Are you a soup or salad person? Soup all the way!
13. Buffet, take-out or sit-down restaurant?Buffet. Especially with my big family. I have a broad appetite and will eat many different things – my kids are much pickier – actually so is the hubby.
14. What’s the most impressive dinner you’ve ever made? Thanksgiving dinner about four years ago. No particular reason except it was my first time doing it for a crowd (besides my family) and I made so much food. It was awesome and I got a lot of compliments.
15. Do you consider yourself a good cook? I do.
16. Do you know what vichyssoise is?I do. Yes I will eat it. Completely fattening!
17. Who’s your favorite TV cook? I absolutely adore Jamie Oliver. He is my hero and we think the same way. I also like Rocco DiSpirito but rarely see him around these days.
18. Can you name at least three TV cooking personalities? Rachel Ray, Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef) and Paula Deen.
19. Homemade or homemade from a box? Always homemade. From Scratch. The old-fashioned way.
20. Name 3 or more other foodies you are going to tag. Not tagging anyone because this has been around awhile. But please, if you do it – let me know!

Food Meme – Just For Fun originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on September 29, 2010.

Yes, it is that time again – time to answer a few questions. Friday seems to be my food meme day, and as a foodie – I actually enjoy doing them as well as reading others. So if you do decide to take part, leave me a comment directing me to your blog so I can check out your answers. And if you have already done it prior to now, find the link to the post and leave a comment so I can see what you said.

This meme asks Food Bloggers what 5 Favorite Childhood Food Memories they remember most. Here are mine. I’d love to see yours.

Rum Rolls

I’ve tried, and I will keep trying until my dying day to duplicate the amazing flavor of the Rum Rolls from my favorite bakery. They were a super special treat as a child only purchased on the rarest of occasions. Now I look forward to going to mom’s for Easter and Christmas where I can guarantee that these tasty treats will be prominently displayed (and quickly consumed by me!). I am now the proud holder of dozens of recipes for rum rolls, yet still to this day, none taste like the ones from the bakery, and I cannot figure out what they do differently. There is quite obviously a secret ingredient.

Rice and Chicken Casserole

My mother absolutely loved to cook and often impressed us with her ability to create the most gourmet of meals. This meal was NOT gourmet yet one that we ate frequently, was hearty and tasted great. It was a simple recipe that even now I see made for families. I actually think that it came from the back of can of soup or something, but oh my gosh how I loved the smell of this cooking in the oven, my mouth watering while I watched my mother cook the side dishes.

Texas Sheet Cake

Anyone who has read this blog with any regularity, knows how much I am fond of my mother’s Texas Sheet Cake. To this day, she cannot remember where she got the recipe, but she used to make it often when I was little. It was also what I requested every single year for my birthday (and still do). It is the one childhood home baked item I still make myself for my own family. Our recipe is different from many out there. I have yet to share it, though I do have a Texas Sheet cake that is darn close on here. You can find it under the recipe archives.

Alphabet Soup

Seems like such a strange thing to remember from childhood, but it wasn’t often that we partook in foods that were not gourmet. So when Alphabet soup made an appearance at lunch, usually paired with a grilled cheese sandwich, we were always happy campers. Nowadays, when I see alphabet soup, I don’t long for it as much, but boy do I still love the smell (of course it smells like vegetable soup anyway).

Chocolate Molasses Lollipops

Oh my gosh. When I was young, my mother used to frequent Plaza Frotenac in Town and Country, Missouri. She always stopped by Karl Bissinger’s Gourmet Chocolate Shop and purchased what was then known as a Chocolate Molasses Lollipop. Now they are called Chocolate Caramel Lollipops and are still available. They are made of Blackstrap molasses hand pressed and then dipped in rich chocolate. These are the only reason I ever agreed to go to a shopping mall with my mother. I never raised a fuss, because I knew that one of these delicacies was sure to come my way. Interestingly I have never purchased one for my own children – I am thinking its about time! (not to mention mom has a craving right now!)

So those are my childhood memories of food, and while I could have kept going, the food meme only said FIVE. I’d love to see yours.

Childhood Food Memories originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on July 31, 2010.

Simply a quick meme I thought would be fun to do. Why do I insist on doing these? LOL

What cooking shows do you watch?
I really don’t, though sometimes I like to watch Top Chef for the simple entertainment value.

Your top three favorite cookbooks are:
Baking from my home to yours – Dorie Greenspan; Taste of Home Cookbooks; The Joy of Cooking

Your must-have kitchen accessory is:
Cast-Iron Skillet. Crock pot.

What is your go-to ingredient?
Olive Oil, Garlic and Herbs

How many courses should a meal have?
I don’t really do this. I think a main course is perfectly acceptable as the only part of a meal. Of course dessert is kinda nice too.

What’s your favorite course?
Appetizers. Desserts.

What nationality of food do you like the best?
Italian and French. I cannot pick one.

What’s your favorite meal of the day to prepare?
Probably breakfast, though I am much more apt to prepare breakfast for dinner 

Where do you find inspiration when creating a new dish?
Ingredients on hand. Taste of home.

What is your favorite comfort food?
Chocolate Cake.

Do you ever eat fast food? If so, what?
Yes. Wendy’s. Mr. Goodcents.

What restaurant do you want to eat at that you haven’t yet?
Probably anything in New York.

What’s your favorite dessert?
Texas Sheet Cake

Are there wines or liquors that you cook with?
Sometimes. Red wine. I’ve used white a few times.

How much time do you spend cooking a meal just for yourself?
I never prepare a meal just for myself. There are seven people in my family. LOL

What scent in the kitchen do you love?
Baked goods in the oven. Banana bread. Chocolate cake.

What ingredient(s) do you avoid/dislike?
Lima Beans, soy, tofu (sorry vegans – I keep trying to like it – its just not happening)

What’s your secret splurge at the grocery store?
Pringles specialty flavors and Chocolate. Sometimes Ben & Jerrys.

What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Leftovers reheated. A sandwich roll-up.

Food, Food and More Food! originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on July 11, 2010.

As usual, I jumped on the meme wagon and had fun with this one. I love looking at photographs of food, so this was entertaining to say the very least. Never mind that I am now starving from staring at all the food photos and thinking about my favorite meals.

1. What is your favorite breakfast?
2. What is your favorite lunch?
3. What is your favorite dinner?
4. What is your favorite snack?
5. What is your favorite drink?
6. What is something you eat everyday (or often)?
7. What is a food you hate?
8. What is your guilty pleasure (as far as food is concerned)?
9. What food smells gross to you?
10. What is your favorite ethnic food?
11. What is your favorite restaurant?
12. What was the last thing you ate?

1. Pancakes 2. Red Robin’s 5-Alarm Cheeseburger 3. Lobster Ravioli 4. Soft Pretzel with Cheese 5. Ice Tea 6. Coffee (I know it doesn’t say drink but this is it) 7. Brussels Sprouts 8. Chocolate Cheesecake 9. Microwave Popcorn 10. Sushi 11. O’Charleys 12. Little Caesars Pizza

Food Photo Meme originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on July 4, 2010.

It was long over due, really. But after four years together, we finally decided to get married.

Our wedding was Thursday, May 13 and it was absolutely beautiful, everything I dreamed it would be. It was very small, and I had my absolute closest friends and family there which made it even more special. It was absolutely amazing.

I don’t feel a whole lot different than I did before, but I have a new last name.

And it fits me perfectly – Cook. Now, how cool is that?

Ran off… and got married! originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on May 26, 2010.

I hope your 2010 is the best year yet. Keep smiling and have faith and hope that your New Year will be better, and I promise the positive attitude will deliver.

Here’s to 2010!

Happy New Year to All My Bloggy Friends originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on January 1, 2010.

Why am I drawn to these things? Whenever I see one, I grab it and save it in my drafts until a day when I am feeling less creative and wordy and I substitute the meme for a blog post. But truthfully, I actually enjoy doing them. I know, I’m weird.

If you do this (or did this) please post a link to yours in the comments so I can come learn about you.

Which do you prefer? (my choices in italics)

01. CHEESE or CHOCOLATE?
02. BLUEBERRIES or STRAWBERRIES?
03. COFFEE or TEA?
04. CORN MUFFIN or ENGLISH MUFFIN?
05. PANCAKES or FRENCH TOAST?
06. YOGURT or CREAM CHEESE?
07. RICE or PASTA?
08. CAKE or PIE?
09. GROUND BEEF or GROUND TURKEY?
10. HOT DOGS or HAMBURGERS?
11. JELLY or MARMALADE?
12. AMERICAN CHEESE or SWISS CHEESE?
13. DIET SODA or NO SODA?
14. LEMONADE or ICED TEA?
15. CHERRIES or GRAPES?
16. CHOCOLATE QUIK or STRAWBERRY QUIK? – ewww neither
17. WAFFLES or PANCAKES?
18. WHITE BREAD or WHOLE-GRAIN/WHEAT BREAD?
19. PEAS or CARROTS?
20. PUDDING or FRUIT-FLAVORED GELATIN?
21. COLD CEREAL or HOT CEREAL?
22. KETCHUP or MUSTARD?
23. MUSTARD or MAYONNAISE?
24. MAYONNAISE or KETCHUP?
25. BLACK OLIVES or GREEN OLIVES?
26. ONION or GARLIC?
27. PLAIN BARBECUE or BARBECUE WITH SAUCE?
28. SCRAMBLED EGGS or FRIED EGGS?
29. EGGS or EGG REPLACEMENTS?
30. MEAT or VEGETABLES?
31. CHINESE TAKE-OUT or PIZZA?
32. SUSHI or DELI SANDWICH? — mmmm love both – favorites!
33. WHITE CLAM CHOWDER or RED CLAM CHOWDER?
34. KEY LIME PIE or LEMON MERANGUE PIE? (I’ve never had either)
35. PIE & ICE CREAM or CAKE & ICE CREAM?
36. WHIPPED CREAM or CAKE FROSTING?
37. HONEY or MAPLE SYRUP?

Okay those were hard. I love both on many of them, but I tried to pick my favorite of the two. Let me know if you did this too.

Another Fun Food Meme originally appeared on The Daily Dish Recipes on December 22, 2009.