February 6, 2013
It’s not officially February in my mind until I roll out the red velvet desserts. From raspberry red velvet cupcakes to homemade red velvet pudding, nothing says “Valentine’s Day” like a confection that’s the color of love. And, quite appropriately, also the color of the devil, given that these square sweets are so dang addicting your taste buds will sing while your skinny jeans shriek.
Red velvet brownies would be spectacular, but I just couldn’t stop there. Red velvet isn’t a bachelor. In fact, red velvet is in a serious, committed relationship with none other than cream cheese frosting. Everywhere red velvet goes, cream cheese frosting is sure to follow. But frosting can quickly steal a brownie’s thunder, which is why I decided to complete the red velvet-brownie love triangle with the next best thing: a creamy layer of cheesecake. Feeling weak in the knees? It looks like you just met your Valentine.
Posted by Kelly Senyei on February 6, 2013
January 30, 2013
Nothing beats the winter blues quite like a hot tub … of bubbling oil. Your Super Bowl menu has likely taken shape at this point (don’t forget the Nutella Chocolate Football Truffles!), but for all those looking to add a hot, crunchy, salty snack to the lineup, look no further than homemade Beer-Battered Onion Rings.
These circuitous golden brown beauties are an easy treat, starring a pale ale beer batter and thick slices of sweet onion. After a quick soak in the stovetop jacuzzi, they’re seasoned and served hot with your choice of dipping sauces. Opt for a side of homemade spicy ketchup to keep your taste buds on their toes. Then sit back and tune in to the tube as you wash them down with (another) cold one. Now you can have your beer, and eat it, too.
Posted by Kelly Senyei on January 30, 2013
January 25, 2013
Super Bowl XLVII, a.k.a. The Brother Bowl, is little more than a week away, which means food and football enthusiasts are readying for one of the year’s biggest bashes. As a San Diego native, I’ve been a longtime Chargers fan. But seeing as they didn’t even make the playoffs, I quickly transfered my enthusiasm and emotional investment to the Packers and the Patriots. And then they both lost in the playoffs.
So now that I’m team-less heading into the big game, I’ve devoted all of my energy to hitting the gym extra hard. Hah. Right. No, I’ve devoted all of my energy to planning the ultimate gourmet game day. Here are nine of my favorite Super Bowl snacks, from potato skins to chicken wings and every taste in between.
Simple potatoes transform into crispy cups loaded with crumbled chorizo, shredded cheddar, tangy sour cream and freshly-sliced scallions.
Skip the slices in favor of the easy, cheesy pizza bread that sandwiches layers of homemade dough with tomato sauce, pepperoni, shredded mozzarella and melted garlic butter.
Add a pop of color to your spread with a kicked up take on classic deviled eggs finished off with a dash of smoky paprika.
Posted by Kelly Senyei on January 25, 2013
January 23, 2013
Forks and sports are about to collide in what’s bound to be a rough-and-tumble Super Bowl XLVII. I’m planning a gourmet game day capped off by a plateful of these Nutella Chocolate Football Truffles, which star a rich ganache made of semisweet chocolate and creamy Nutella. I’ll find any excuse to Nutella-ize a recipe, putting it to work as edible glue between waffle cone cookies made on a panini press, thick slices of brioche-turned-French toast and any other bread-like item that would benefit from a hint of hazelnuts and chocolate.
With semisweet chocolate and Nutella as the base of the ganache, the footballs are then dipped in melted milk chocolate and finished off with authentic pigskin stitching courtesy of hand-piped frosting. The bite-size sweets are served atop a a bed of dyed, sweetened coconut flakes disguised as green grass for a dessert centerpiece guaranteed to be the MVP of your Super Bowl spread.
Posted by Kelly Senyei on January 23, 2013
January 19, 2013
Calling all Pinterest lovers! I’ve added a new functionality to the site where you can scroll over every image (except for on the homepage), and a “Pin It” button will appear in the top right corner for easy pinning.
You can find me on Pinterest at @justataste, and please feel free to add your Pinterest profiles in the comments field below so I can follow you!
Posted by Kelly Senyei on January 19, 2013
