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Engaging stories of love, joy, comfort and friendship with proven scrumptious, healthy recipes, we celebrate LOVE as the secret ingredient for wonderful food!

Maddy’s Sweet Shop Peppermint Chocolate Mousse Trifle

December 19, 2014 by Mary 6 Comments

Maddy's Sweet Shop single trifle in a glass cup.Shortbread cookies, peppermint candies, chocolate mousse, and whipped cream, all in layers of scrumptiousness – what could be better? I made this Maddy’s Sweet Shop Peppermint Chocolate Trifle recipe with the fourth item in our MARY’s secret ingredients winter box, Maddy’s Sweet Peppermint Shortbread cookies. You could call it heaven in a glass!

Maddy's Sweet Shop Peppermint Snaps.First of all, these peppermint shortbread cookies are so good, people will ask you if they’re homemade! (say yes!) Dusted with powdered sugar and buttery rich, yet light, bet you can’t eat just one. Then, the chocolate mousse is a riff on an easy-to-make recipe I used to make a lot, years ago. However, if I were to make this trifle again, I think I’d use bittersweet chocolate instead of semi-sweet. I’d prefer the super-dark chocolate flavor rather than the added sugar. Whatever your preference, this trifle recipe is easy and  keeps well. I ate my dessert over the course of 3 evenings, savoring every bite! The cookies didn’t even get soggy. This is a perfect dessert for a holiday meal. I hope you get a chance to make it and enjoy!

While I know this really isn’t a true trifle, I’m calling it that because it sounds fancier than just a layered dessert, don’t you think? I love Benedictine Liqueur, but you could easily substitute Grand Marnier, Triple Sec or even a wonderful, dark rum.

Maddy's Sweet Shop chocolate mousse in a work bowl.
MADDY’S SWEET SHOP PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TRIFLE– serves 4

Make the Chocolate Mouse – serves 8 (you will have half of this leftover for another wonderful dessert!)

3/4 lb. semisweet chocolate or bittersweet if you prefer a darker, less sweet mousse
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup Benedictine Liqueur or Grand Marnier
2 egg yolks
1 cup of heavy cream, chilled
2 Tbs. sugar
4 egg whites
Pinch of salt

Cut the chocolate into chunks and melt in a heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring; add the milk, then stir in the Benedictine Liqueur. Let cool to room temperature. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.

Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff. Whip the cup of cream until thickened, then gradually beat in the sugar, beating until stiff. Gently fold the egg whites into one-half of the cream. Reserve the rest of the cream for use in layering the trifle. Cover and store in the refrigerator.

Stir about one third of the cream and egg white mixture thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. Then gently fold in the remaining cream and egg white mixture into the chocolate until thoroughly combined.  Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until set.Maddy's Sweet Shop Chocolate Mousse in a bowl.

Assemble the trifle:
One 7 oz. package of Maddy’s Sweet Shop Sweet Peppermint shortbread cookies – cut all the cookies into chunks
One-half of the chocolate mousse from the above recipe
Remaining whipped cream

Take your prettiest clear glasses and alternate layers of chocolate mousse, cookies and whipped cream (make two layers) and then top the final whipped cream layer with a few more cookie pieces.

Serve with LOVE and enjoy!!!Four glasses of Maddy's Peppermint Shortbread Chocolate Trifle.

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: chocolate desserts, chocolate mousse recipe, chocolate trifle recipe, chocolate trifle with peppermint shortbread, easy chocolate desserts, Maddy's Sweet Shop

MARY’s secret ingredients winter box

December 10, 2014 by Mary 2 Comments

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It’s been a whirlwind first year for this subscription box business and I’m delighted to share with you the products in our MARY’s secret ingredients winter box!! It’s the last box of the year so we made this one extra special, overflowing with goodness, giving you a great foundation to start the holiday season with some super unique items. We’ve got bitters to brighten your cocktails, teas to warm your heart on a cold winter night, along with buttery rich peppermint cookies – now that’s a great nightcap! Both the hot pepper sauce and smoked peppers in the chili paste will add some terrific new flavors to your life and then you can go make some wonderful muffins in the prettiest paper cups. You could do some hiking to work it all off with the best trail mix, or wait for my most unexpected recipe using this product. A fun time is coming!!

We hope we’ve made your cooking more inventive and stretched your boundaries a bit. We’ve certainly had quite a fun time testing and choosing the most interesting, different and fun products to work with. We wonder, for those of you who didn’t order a box, do you find these “box posts” boring? Should we move them all to the MARY’s secret ingredients site? Or do you find them interesting?

Take a look at our lovely Marie Anello, once again opening the box in this video to the tune of a seasonal classic, Let It Snow!

Here are all the products, along with a tidbit about each company.

Chelsea MaGran Luchito Smoked Chili Paste.rket Baskets – Gran Luchito (Smoke and chilli combine for total deliciousness!)

Their founder’s passion for inspired specialty foods and thoughtfully designed gifts led to the creation of Chelsea Market Baskets in 1993. Owner David Porat continues to search the world for innovative products that are distinctly high quality, fresh, unique, and have a certain indescribable charm. Chelsea Market Baskets’ ultimate goal is to delight their customers through their Chelsea Market retail shop in New York City, their mail order gift business, and their wholesale imports. They believe in product integrity and a high level of customer service. Their mission is to heighten each and every customer’s experience with these core values. And they make great holiday gift baskets!

Gran Luchito Smoked Chilli Paste: An authentic Mexican smoked chilli paste made in Mexico using chilies that have been ethically sourced directly from local farmers. When you try the product, the first thing you’ll notice is the smoky flavor, but then you’ll notice a hint of agave sweetness, perhaps the nuttiness of garlic and, of course, a medium heat. 

Dutch's Spirits trio of American Era Cocktail Bitters.Dutch’s Spirits: (Aren’t these just so cute?? I love the hats!)

Dutch’s Spirits is an artisanal distillery. Named after an infamous New York mobster of the Prohibition era, Dutch’s Spirits inhabits the same location as Harvest Homestead Farm, where Dutch Schultz set up his bootlegging complex. Dutch’s Spirits has steeped their bitters production in a heady combination of historical reference and dedication to the American cocktail craft.

American Era Cocktail Bitters: Inspired by the United States’ colorful history, Dutch’s Spirits crafted bold new recipes blending unique flavors from each era to create a truly distinctive line of cocktail bitters. The variety 3-pack includes:

Colonial Cocktail Bitters: Wild spicebush berries and Kinnikinnick leaf combined with chamomile blossoms, rose petals, lavender, bitter orange, angelica seed, juniper, allspice and cinnamon. A classically aromatic bitters blend.

Boomtown Bitters: Combines the ingredients of sarsaparilla and wintergreen with flavors representing American whiskies of the day such as coconut and oak from the maturing cask. This is an alternative bitters variety for bourbon and whiskey drinks.

ProhiBitters: Blend of flavors tailored to tweak the usual gin martini. Predominant citrus notes blend with licorice, hibiscus, ginger root and coriander. 

Maddy's Sweet Shop Peppermint Snaps.
Maddy’s Sweet Shop: (Bet you can’t eat just one!)

At Maddy’s Sweet Shop they continue to do things the old-fashioned way. Their delightful products are crafted in their artisanal bakery with time-honored recipes and the finest ingredients. Their award winning Lil’ Maddies are delectable shortbread cookies with a sweet candy crunch, covered in a unique powdered sugar coating.

Peppermint Snaps: Refresh your taste buds with the cool flavor of peppermint. It will wake you up and put a smile on your face. This is a surprisingly light and refreshing shortbread cookie with a peppermint candy crunch inside that is perfect for any time of the day.

 

Paper Chef Culinary Parchment Lotus Cups.PaperChef: (Make your cupcakes and muffins spectacular!)

PaperChef, a Toronto-based company founded in 2010, is a subsidiary of Culinary Papers and McNairn Packaging, a family business that has been making paper products for the food industry since 1882. The company is committed to bringing “The Art of Cooking with Parchment” to North America and the globe. The PaperChef line of products includes parchment rolls, parchment cooking bags and parchment baking cups.

Lotus cups: These cups are 100% biodegradable and they add personality to culinary creations while helping them to look their best. The cups’ inherent non-stick properties make them easy to peel away while keeping their shape, with little to no clean up.

 

Peeled Snacks apple APLENTY trail mix package.

Peeled Snacks: (Hiking never tasted so good – and wait until you see this recipe coming up!)

At Peeled Snacks, they know that food starts out delicious and nutritious. It doesn’t need a machine to improve it or an engineer to perfect it. They strive to bring you natural, premium ingredients so you can feel good about snacking. Eating well doesn’t have to mean eating tasteless, bland foods. It does, however, mean eating a healthy, wide range of foods from every food group.

apple APLENTY: This trail mix is a 100% organic, rich and tasty balance of sunflower seeds, walnuts, and peanuts, mixed with juicy Peeled Snacks raisins, dark chocolate, and apples. Whether you’re out on a hike or in for the night, apple Applenty will get you through, and help you bypass the doctor’s office. Enjoy!

 

Red Snapper Wildwood Arbol Sauce.Red Snapper Sauce: (No this is not made of fish – the name is a misnomer and the sauce is hot – a tiny bit goes a long way!)

The story of Red Snapper Sauce and the history of the McVea family are essentially one and the same. Some of the family’s happiest memories have been made while gathered around tables stocked with their legendary Louisiana-style hot sauce. Since they can’t invite each of you to their table, they’re sharing their history and family pride in each and every bottle.

Wildwood Arbol Sauce: This medium heat sauce is made with Chile De Arbol peppers, (a relative of the cayenne), and is quickly becoming the condiment of choice on many food lovers’ tables. It is extremely flavorful, with a woody base. Every bite increases the heat, giving warmth and flavor to any dish.

 

SerendipiTEA HolidayCheer and Once Upon a Tea with a mesh tea ball.SerendipiTea: (Just the cutest names!!)

SerendipiTea is committed to the highest quality loose-leaf tea, selecting fine certified organics when available. They work closely with tea gardens, estates and specialists around the world, maintaining knowledge and expertise regarding all facets of tea and its production.

Holiday Cheer: Spread some Holiday Cheer this season! Enjoy this hand-crafted blend of warming spices, festive orange peel, invigorating mint & a touch of Black Tea for fortitude.

Once Upon a Tea:  A fairy tale beginning with a delectable ending! Boldly based on rooibos, the mellow notes of vanilla, rich texture of chocolate & the defining essence of mint all blend together, deliciously ever after.

Filed Under: Dinner Tagged With: Chelsea Market Baskets, Dutch's Spirits, food subscription products, Gran Luchito, great subscription boxes, Maddy's Sweet Shop, Mary's Secret Ingredients, Paper Chef, Peeled Snacks, Red Snapper Sauce, SerendipiTea

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Mary Frances

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