Tag Archives: chocolate

Double Chocolate Cake with Fluffy Pink Icing

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Maureen Abood
Chocolate cake, Meringue icing, Maureen Abood

Given that my birthday falls near Valentine’s Day, I am into a layer cake for a Valentine dessert. My mother baked me memorable cakes always for my birthday, with my favorite marshmallow-like frosting, ethereal and light and pink over a … Continue reading →

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Favorite Things: A smaller, taller cake pan

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Maureen Abood
Six inch cake pans, Maureen Abood

While few things say a party, or a birthday, like a layer cake, the ones we always made at home came out on the short and stocky side. I thought the issue was that the cake just didn’t rise like … Continue reading →

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A Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Maureen Abood
Braised short ribs, Maureen Abood

I like to go out on Valentine’s Day for dinner about as much as I like to stay out all night on New Year’s Eve. You’ve got double the number of tables in the house, and “Prix Fixe,” overpriced, molten-chocolate-blah … Continue reading →

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Thick Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon, a quiet triumph

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Maureen Abood
Thick hot chocolate, Maureen Abood

There are certain things we have eaten in their very finest forms that stay with us, that won’t leave us alone until we eat them again. My list of such finery does not include chicken wings, devotees of which seem … Continue reading →

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Favorite Things: Little Cups

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Maureen Abood
Little cups 2 POST

First off, hello and welcome to those of you who are new to Rose Water & Orange Blossoms. I welcome you, we all welcome you! If you were here in my kitchen on Main Street today, up north in Michigan, … Continue reading →

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A Christmas Eve Menu, with ideas and tips

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Christmastree Sunroom POST

Somewhere along the line, our Christmas feast shifted from Christmas day to Christmas Eve. Our Eve used to be the seven of us, along with Sitto, Aunt Hilda and everyone’s favorite cousin, Alberta. Hilda liked a screwdriver to kick off … Continue reading →

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Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies with Royal Icing

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Cookie plate POST

I had never really imagined a Christmas cut-out cookie in chocolate until last year at this time, when Cindy gave me a little bag of them. Instead of saving the cookies and taking them home to share, I ate every … Continue reading →

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Chocolate-Dipped Candies, and Geo. Abowd & Son, Confectioners

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Candy in paper cups POST

The last time my Uncle Tom saw his father before he died, he was at the stove. Grandpa (my Jiddo who did not want to be called Jiddo, but rather the all-American Grandpa) was in his mid-80’s, and he had … Continue reading →

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Ingredient: Chocolate, for dipping

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Callebaut milk block POST

If there is such a thing as the family chocolate, then ours has always been Hershey. It’s our version of a coat of arms. Hershey is what my grandfather liked and what he used in a business that has become … Continue reading →

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Chocolate-Caramel Pecan Tart Recipe

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Chocolate pecan tart 2 POST

I present to you this prize of my recipe collection with what can only be described as…guilt. My mother recently asked what I’d be posting in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. I knew she had pie on her mind because that … Continue reading →

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Technique: Tips for Making Caramel

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Caramel in a bowl POST

Caramel is like the fraternal twin of chocolate when it comes to making the kind of sweet you cannot, and will not, resist. Caramelization—the toasting or deep-golden-browning—of just about anything you cook, from Brussels sprouts to nuts to bread, takes … Continue reading →

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Favorite Things: Tart Pans

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Tart pan edge 3 POST

The fluted-edged, removable-bottomed tart pan comes out to play with some frequency in my kitchen. It’s not just that I’m a sucker for the beauty of the pan, though that does have its role (who can resist such a pretty … Continue reading →

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Chocolate-Covered Raspberries. Razzle-Dazzle.

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Chocolate berry wet POST

When we were out picking in the raspberry fields last week, our shout-outs to one another included what to make with all of the berries. From the youngest to the eldest among us, there were some darn good ideas: meringues … Continue reading →

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Technique: How to clean and keep raspberries

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Raspberries in two baskets POST

The technique for cleaning raspberries is very simple: don’t do it. Even when raspberries are coated with a bit of dust from the field, it’s better to leave them alone or just rub off what you see than to clean … Continue reading →

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Favorite Things: Parchment paper

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Maureen Abood
Parchment in a roll with box POST

Maybe my penchant for paper has to do with my love of books. Or it might reach back to some infant stage when, presented with anything paper, one has the urge to chew on it. I did have a calligraphy … Continue reading →

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