BLING PRETZEL RODS

The first time I laid eyes on these little goodies, I was spying around at the Far Hills Steeplechase (see blog post: http://fifisfinefoods.blogspot.com/2010/10/newsflash-fifi-finds-fabulous-food-and.html)

What a fun, portable treat, right?! Then recently my friend Marion brought over a huge box full of chocolate covered pretzels! She found them at a bakery called Randazzo's in Raritan, NJ. They were the classic pretzel shape, coated with chocolate, and an awesome variety of tasty, "Blingy" toppings. By the time I got my camera ready to take a picture of these fabulous treats, this is all that was left on the platter... :-(

But anyway, you get the idea... they were very popular.

I recently decided to attempt making them myself. It was surprisingly easy an fun! Here is all you need to get started:

                                  A Bag of Semisweet Chocolate Chips

                                                           (sorry, no photo)

                                                       Pretzel Rods

Your favorite toppings (I used heath bar chips, sprinkles, and ground up Peanut butter chips)

You will also need a cookie sheet, waxed paper, baking parchment, or Silpat liners.

                                             First, melt the chocolate chips.

Then, dip the pretzel rods into the melted chocolate chips. Scrape the majority of the chocolate off of the pretzel rod with a plastic spatula.

               Roll in the topping of your choice (on the wax paper, Silpat, or parchment).

Transfer to cookie sheet (also lined with wax paper, Silpat, or parchment) and place in your freezer for about 10 minutes.

               Remove from freezer, and they are ready to serve or store for later.

                      HOW EASY AND YUM IS THAT?!

I have also since tried coconut (which turned out fab) and I plan to try chopped nuts, coarsely ground M & M's, and who knows what else! Let me know if you come up with any other good, "Blingy" ideas for toppings.

                          Ciao for now, Foodie Friends!





ACQUA PAZZA or How to Feel at Home in California

If you ever have the pleasure of visiting the San Fransisco Bay area, you'll find that there is no shortage of great places to eat out! We were "out west" just a few weeks ago to visit our new niece. While we were there, one restaurant in particular stood out to me as extremely blog-worthy. Acqua Pazza.

 Acqua Pazza is located on 3rd Avenue in San Mateo. From the minute we walked in, I felt an elegant yet cozy vibe in this two story establishment. Acqua Pazza is tastefully decorated, and we were warmly welcomed by two of the owners, Tullio and Enzo Rosano. Our table service was impeccable, and the friendliness of the staff made us feel right at home.

The menu offered several specials to choose from, and we shared a few delicious appetizers at the table. Then we moved on to dinner entrees... I was in the mood for some Homemade Ravioli with Fresh Pesto Sauce. It was everything I was hoping it would be! True comfort food, Italian style. (Plus plenty of leftover Pesto, to mop up with my warm Italian bread.) Mmm....

A few others at the table chose Mamma Carmella's Homemade Gnocchi. It was served with Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese and Fresh Basil. They licked their plates clean!

The fish special of the night was a Mediterranean Sea Bass (whole fish) better known as "Branzino". I am not a fan of whole fish entrees, but my husband and my daughter are huge fans and both ordered it with gusto.When the time came that they served us our entrees, we were happily surprised that Tullio and his assistant Vittorio offered to fillet the fish for us! I snapped a photo after they had already gotten started removing the head and tail.

Here you can see Tullio quickly filleting the fish with a smile. It takes talent, to do it so quickly yet so efficiently!

Here is Vittorio, working his magic at the same time. These guys really know what they are doing!

Dinner was a complete success, and all in such a lovely, friendly atmosphere. Just when we thought we had no more room in our stomachs, Tullio brought us a warm calzone...filled with Nutella and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

(Um, Hello....is it even possible for the words "Nutella" and "calzone" to really be in the same sentence?) It tasted SO GOOD!! I felt as if I needed to close my eyes to truly appreciate the flavor...Semplicemente Fantastico!

In keeping with true Italian tradition, we were not rushed from our table; but were allowed to linger,  and we shared an after dinner drink while listening to the soft Italian music by candlelight. It was as if the Rosano family were our new friends, even sharing a goodbye hug and kiss as we left.

Here is a link to their website:  http://www.acqua-pazza.com/ They will be opening another restaurant soon. Hmm, I wonder if we can convince them to open one in New Jersey....

PEPPERMINT BARK

The good news about Peppermint Bark is....it's delicious! The bad news about Peppermint Bark is, that it's usually kinda expensive. But wait, I've got more good news about Peppermint Bark! It's very easy to make! It only has 4 ingredients, and requires no baking. Try this foolproof recipe and you will be munching away before you know it! (Quick, go out and buy some candy canes NOW, while they are on sale!)

Making and eating Peppermint Bark makes me feel like I am 5 years old again, playing Candyland. (C'mon, you know you remember loving that game.....)

PEPPERMINT BARK

2 8oz pkgs of semi sweet chocolate
1 8oz pkg white chocolate
1.5 tablespoons pure peppermint extract
candy canes, crushed

Melt the semi sweet chocolate, and spread evenly on a cookie sheet. I use baking parchment too, to prevent sticking. Plus it makes clean up super easy.

Then, melt the white chocolate, and add the peppermint extract to the melted white chocolate. Mix well. Spread the mixture over the top of the dark chocolate in a decorative design of your choice. As you can see, I went with a "squiggle" pattern. :-)

Then, just take the crumbled candy canes and sprinkle them evenly over the top. You can use as much, or as little as you like. I sifted out the powdered pieces and sprinkled them over the top as well, for an extra kick of peppermint flavor.

Cover with foil or baking parchment and refrigerate until firm, about 20-30 minutes. Break it all into bite size pieces.

Suddenly... you'll find that you have been transported to Candyland, my dear Foodie Friend! No doubt you will love tasting how the deep chocolate flavor mixes so well with the aromatic peppermint. Plus you never even broke a sweat, 'cause it was so easy to make! Its a perfect gift, and has an excellent shelf life if kept in a sealed container. Enjoy!

Chocolate Faux Bois

Bonjour, amoureux de chocolat!!!

Ahh! Does Fifi speak French?  No, not so much. But I want to share this fabulously easy and delicious recipe for Chocolate Faux Bois with you, my chocolate loving friends!!

"Faux Bois" (fow bowah') is french for false wood. It refers to the artistic striations of wood grain or tree bark. (An ordinary name for this tempting treat is Chocolate Marble Bark, but I prefer to call it by its much more spectacular name, Chocolate Faux Bois.)

Chocolate Faux Bois

8 squares semi-sweet chocolate

6 squares premium white chocolate
1 cup toasted chopped nuts (I used walnuts but almonds, macadamias or pecans would do just fine)

Microwave semi-sweet and white chocolate in separate bowls on high for 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring half way through heating time. Stir until completely melted. Stir 1/2 cup of the nuts into each bowl.

Alternately spoon melted chocolate onto wax paper-lined cookie sheet or tray. Swirl chocolates together with knife to marbleize. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

That's it! The best part about this recipe is you can have fun with it! You can add coconut, or use dark chocolate, or substitute peanut butter chips for the white chocolate. You can even leave out the nuts and put in one cup of broken peppermints instead! Go ahead and experiment, you really cant go wrong! It makes a great homemade gift for someone you love. (Or even someone you just like :-)

If you would like an email notification each time I post, just let me know and I will add you to my Foodie Friends list!

Chocolate Dipped Almond Orange Biscotti

I feel compelled to share this as the very first recipe on my blog. It is through these Biscotti that the notion of "Fifi's Fine Foods" was born! About 5 years ago, I decided to take these delectable biscotti (along with a few other varieties) on the road, so to speak. I prepared baskets full of them, individually wrapped for purchase at a local coffee shop, as well as selling them by the dozen in boxes. It was a successful endeavor! Until unfortunately, the charming little coffee shop burned down. I stll enjoy making them though, and they're real crowd pleasers. These little treasures are perfect for party or wedding favors, and needless to say, delightful to munch on with a cozy cup of Java.
 If you want to wrap them individually, it's easy to find the little cellophane bags at Michael's craft store, and you can attach ribbon and a hang tag with a message, sentiment or photo. That is, if you can keep people from devouring them before you package them! In the words of Napoleon Dynamite: they're......"incredible". (That was sooo six years ago, but you get the point.) From time to time I am coaxed out of retirement and I honor requests for special orders. In the meantime, here is the recipe...give it a go!

CHOCOLATE DIPPED ALMOND ORANGE BISCOTTI
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 cup Triple Sec or any other orange flavored liqueur
zest of one orange, grated
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
12 oz. of your favorite chocolate (dark, milk, semi-sweet, whatever works for you)

Grease and flour baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients, except for the orange zest. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour all liquid ingredients into the well. Slowly blend the two until they are thoroughly mixed. Then add orange zest and mix throughout.

Form the dough into a flat bottomed cylinder and place it on the greased baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Then slice into individual biscotti and lay each biscotti on its side. Place back in oven and brown slightly (about 7 minutes).  Flip each biscotti onto other side and repeat. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Melt chocolate in saucepan, and dip each biscotti halfway into the chocolate. Lay on waxed paper to cool. (If you are in a rush, pop them in the freezer for a few minutes). Then they are ready to serve. Woo hoo!