Tag Archives: chocolate

Raphio Farwalker’s Entish Beech Treats

This recipe is based on the New York Times Cooking Recipe Bȗche de Noël (as illustrated on YouTube) using products from Raphio Chocolate in Fresno, California. It has a Mexican Chocolate flair.

Note: I realized that I have been inconsistent in my tagging. All Hobbit/Lord of the Rings recipes are now tagged “Lord of the Rings.”

Raphio Farwalker’s Entish Beech Treats

Raphio Farwalker’s Entish Beech Treats

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Jan’s Cinnamon Chocolate Mousse

Jan is making chocolate mousse to go with my 65th birthday dinner. For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. It has replaced cakes as the birthday treat in our house.

Jan’s Cinnamon Chocolate Mousse

Jan’s Cinnamon Chocolate Mousse

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Miriam’s Christmas Whiskey Balls

This year I was unable to participate in the family holiday rum-ball spectacular.  I was in Italy, and also had the stomach flu.  That is indeed as unpleasant a combination as it sounds.

So now that I’m stateside and better, Christmas Eve I did some pickup cookie assembling. I popped on A Very Murray Christmas (which I love but my parents can’t stand) and made my own twist on Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls.  Only, I used bourbon and scotch whiskeys.  The base is the same, the boozy variations follow.

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Jan’s Ginger Chocolate Mousse

For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. Jan has started to make it on anyone’s birthday. Jan spent years perfecting the techniques of making the mousse, but she got bored with making just “chocolate” mousse. She now make a different variation every time she make it.

Jan’s Ginger Chocolate Mousse

Jan’s Ginger Chocolate Mousse

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Jan’s Low Sugar Chocolate Mousse with Drambuie Butterscotch Sauce

For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. It has replaced cakes in our house as the holiday treat. Jan has spent years perfecting the techniques of making mousse, but it took her years before she dared to tinker with mom’s recipe.

Jan’s Low Sugar Chocolate Mousse with Drambuie Butterscotch Sauce

Jan’s Low Sugar Chocolate Mousse
with Drambuie Butterscotch Sauce

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Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse 2.0

Miriam requested my mother’s chocolate mousse for her birthday dinner. Jan has experimented with variations over the years, but Miriam wanted the original “plain” chocolate mousse. Jan chaffed at this restriction, until she thought of using Strauss milk.

Claudia's Chocolate Mousse 2.0

Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse 2.0

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Jan’s Chris’ Birthday Brownie

Adapted from a Rebecca Katz ‘The Longevity Kitchen’ recipe 

Son-in-law Chris’s birthday is this week, so Jan decided to bake him a brownie cake to go with my Moroccan feast. Chocolate brownie cake may not be Moroccan, but Chris loves Chocolate.  Sacrifices must be made.

Jan’s Chris’ Birthday Brownie

Jan’s Chris’ Birthday Brownie

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Jan’s Chocolate Mousse

For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. Jan usually makes it only once a year on my birthday. Jan spent years perfecting the techniques of making mousse, but she has not dared to tinker with mom’s recipe. For this year’s birthday dinner, she made some variations to make it her own.  I may just have a new favorite.

Jan’s Chocolate Mousse

Jan’s Chocolate Mousse

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Jan’s Stalwart Brownies for Charlie the Barbarian

Adapted from Obsidian Stout Brownies

Backstory:  Charles Worstell, who recently passed away, loved to hold court in his local cafe.  When I knew him in the 1970’s it was at the Cafe Midi.  More recently it was at the Revue in the Tower District in Fresno.  He would frequently bring brownies, since he loved to drink beer and eat brownies. This recipe was adapted to honor him.

Jan's Stalwart Brownies for Charlie the Barbarian

Jan’s Stalwart Brownies
for Charlie the Barbarian

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Jan’s Celebratory Mocha Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Adapted from a recipe by Robyn Stone

Eilene had a few friends over to celebrate graduating from high school. Jan decided to make cupcakes to celebrate.  Jan thinks the coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate, so she will frequently add some to her chocolate cakes. It was a very hot day so the buttercream frosting suffered a bit.

Jan’s Celebratory Mocha Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Jan’s Celebratory Mocha Cupcakes
with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

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