Sweets for the Sweet - Chocolate Mint Fudge

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I've just finished making a double batch of this fudge for a holiday bake sale. Candy has proved to be popular at the sales that are held just before Valentine's Day and this recipe is so simple that I was delighted to contribute something, especially when it is so easy to make. This is truly a no-stress confection. There are a boatload of fudge recipes floating through cyberspace. I chose this one because the use of two types of chocolate and peppermint oil or extract make it more interesting than most. I use oil rather than extract in baking because I prefer its more intense flavor, but it is important to know that one can't be substituted for the other in a one-to-one ratio. Peppermint oil is four times stronger than extract and it does not bake off when exposed to oven heat. The oil is available at farmer's markets in my area, but Ive been told it can also be ordered from the King Arthur website. You'll notice that I've used the old-fashioned method for melting chocolate. This again is a personal preference and while I often use the microwave to melt chocolate, I've found there is less chance of it seizing in this recipe when I use a double boiler and take it nice and slow. This recipe was originally developed for Taste of Home magazine and you can their version  here.  If you are looking for something simply scrumptious to prepare for Valentine's Day, you might want to give this recipe a try. Here is how the mint fudge is made.

Chocolate Mint Fudge...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Taste of Home magazine

Ingredients:
1-1/2 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon butter, divided use
2 cups (12-oz.) semisweet chocolate chips
1 package (11.5-oz.) milk chocolate chips
1 can (14-oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon peppermint oil or 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1) Line a 10 x 6-inch pan with foil and grease it with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter. Set aside.
2) Melt chocolate chips and reserved 1 tablespoons butter in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and quickly stir in condensed milk and extracts, stirring until smooth. Spread into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Remove foil and cut fudge into 1-inch pieces. Store in refrigerator. Yield: 60 pieces.

One Year Ago Today: Catfish Fingers with Tomato Tartar Sauce

Two Years Ago Today: Paella fried Rice and Bread Soup

Three years Ago Today: Crumpets

Minted Peas, Apple Stuffing and Red-Currant Cranberry Sauce

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Our holiday menu is falling into place. The soup, salad and main courses have been decided and it's time to finalize what the other dishes will be. I chose this pea and onion combination for its unique, minty flavor and the color punch it will add to a meal whose colors are, so far, at the beige and orange end of the spectrum. I'm going to use frozen vegetables to make this dish, and because we will be feeding a large number of people, it made more sense to buy large bags of vegetables and combine them, rather than use premixed heat and eat boxes. The recipe I use can be made stovetop or in a microwave. I'll be using the microwave because all the burners have already been claimed by other dishes. I really like this combination and I hope you'll give it a try. I do have one caution to share with you. If your mint leaves are large, tear or cut them into much smaller pieces and add them to the vegetables just before serving. Here's the recipe.

Minted Peas and Pearl Onions...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons water
2 cups (10-oz.) frozen pearl onions
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups frozen petite green peas
1/2 cup small fresh mint leaves

Directions:
1) Stovetop: Heat butter and water in a pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in peas and 3/4 teaspoon salt, and cook for 2 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Do not overcook. Stir in mint. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.
2) Microwave: Combine onions and peas in a large microwave container with a lid. Add 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook on High power for 3 minutes. Stir. Cover again, and cook for an additional 3 minute, or until vegetables are tender. Drain off water. Add butter and salt and let sit until butter melts. Stir in mint. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.



I had not intended to serve stuffing with our meal, but the Silver Fox convinced me that its absence would be conspicuous. Rather than use the dressing I normally serve with poultry, I decided to give this savory apple version a try. I'm so glad I did that. This marries beautifully with the brined pork loin and it requires no gravy because it is so moist. If you are still looking for a stuffing recipe, you might want to give this one a try. It is really very nice. Here's how its made.

Apple, Sage and Sausage Stuffing...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Whole Foods

Ingredients:
1 loaf sourdough hearth bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 11 cups)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 pound fresh mild pork or chicken sausage, bulk or removed from casings
4 Braeburn, Gala or other apples, cored and diced
3 ribs celery, thinly sliced
1 large onion, diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Spread bread cubes out on two baking sheets and bake until dried but not browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
2) Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking up chunks with a spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add apples, celery, onion and butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until apple and vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes more. Add to bread. Stir in broth, sage, salt and pepper.
3) If using to stuff a turkey, cool completely before stuffing. If baking separately, heat oven to 350 degrees F; bake in a buttered casserole dish until lightly browned and crisp on top, 50 to 60 minutes. Yield: 12 to 14 servings.



This condiment is another attempt to bring vibrant color to the table. The sauce is sweet but not cloying. If you like heat, you might want to add hot pepper flakes to the ingredient list. Here's the base recipe.

Red-Currant Cranberry Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Martha Stewart

Ingredients:
1 bag (12 ounces) frozen cranberries
1 jar (12 ounces) red-currant jelly

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries and jelly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and liquid has reduced to a syrup, 20 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, and let cool.

Persian Fried Chicken

The Valley of the Fairy Chimneys

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is an absolutely wonderful dish that I first sampled while we were in the Valley of the Fairy Chimneys in Turkey. The dish is actually Persian, but I had the good fortune to have a cooking instructor whose husband was Iranian and she often prepared this chicken for him. Working on the assumption that all Americans love fried chicken, she also made the dish for us. Strangely, despite requests, she refused to share her recipe with us. Her rationale was that the dish was Persian and we had come to her kitchen to learn Turkish cooking. Her logic may have been convoluted, but her resolve was a straight as an arrow and she refused to be swayed. After the fact, I realized that her language skills were limited and that while she spoke English, she couldn't write it. Her wonderful recipes had been translated for us by someone else and her refusal was not as arbitrary as I first had thought. I so liked the chicken that I refused to give up on it, and, once home, began to search for something like it. Thanks to Google and The New York Times I've found it and can now share the recipe with you. I think you, too, will love the dish. The chicken is very easy to prepare, but it is a bit pricey and requires some advance planning. The chicken must marinate for several hours before it can be cooked and the marinade contains that costliest of spices, saffron. I promise the wait and cost are worth it, and as long as you don't serve it every week, I think a good case can be made for an occasional caloric splurge. Here's the recipe. Enjoy and hold onto your socks!

Persian Fried Chicken...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of The New York Times

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon saffron
2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon dried mint
1 tablespoon salt, more for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Oil for frying
1 cup walnut pieces
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions:
1) In a small bowl, combine saffron with 1 tablespoon water and let soak 10 minutes. Place in food processor with yogurt and garlic and purée until smooth and yellow. Place chicken in glass or ceramic bowl; pour yogurt mixture on top, turn to coat; cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
2) In a medium bowl, combine flour, paprika, mint, salt and pepper. Heat a generous half-inch oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Drop in a bit of bread to test temperature; oil should bubble vigorously. Working in batches to avoid crowding, dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture, then fry until golden brown on both sides, about 7 minutes a side. Remove and drain on paper towels.
3) Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately, topped with walnuts and lemon wedges. Yield: 6 servings.


***The photo of the Fairy Chimneys was taken by Dick Wolfe who traveled with us throughout Turkey. He is a great photographer and an even better companion. Thanks Wolfie :-)***








One Year Ago Today: Tibetan Momo
















Two Years Ago Today: Mulled Cranberry and Apple Cider

Double Chocolate Mint Brownies

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I wanted to post this recipe on the odd chance you have not yet tried Maida Heatter's Chocolate Mint Brownies. While they are delicious at any time, their layer of mint cream makes them especially appropriate for the St.Patrick's Day holiday. This is a layered treat. It begins with a dense fudgy brownie that is covered with peppermint cream and then coated with a gleaming, dark chocolate glaze. The peppermint cream can, of course, be tinted for those who wear the green and love overt symbols of the holiday. Brownies are one of the easiest dessert that can be made in our kitchens. They rarely require special equipment and this recipe can be made with a couple of bowls and a wooden spoon. Despite the ease with which these can be made, I promise you they are delicious. Just don't overbake them. While these can be made several days ahead of serving, they lose their sheen when refrigerated. I love the chocolate-mint combination and use it often. It works especially well here. If you need a dessert for St. Patrick's Day, I think you'll love this one. Here's the recipe.

Double Chocolate Mint Brownies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Maida Heatter

Ingredients:
Brownie Layer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1-1/4 cups granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mint Layer
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract or 1 to 2 tablespoons creme de menthe
Green food coloring (optional)
Chocolate Glaze
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven.
2) Line a 9 x 9-inch pan with aluminum foil, covering bottom and two opposite sides of pan. Foil is used to lift brownies from pan. Set aside.
3) In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, melt butter and chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon after each addition. Stir in flour and salt and beat, with a wooden spoon, until batter is smooth and glossy and comes away from sides of pan (about one minute). Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until brownies start to pull away from the sides of pan and the edges of brownies are just beginning to brown. A toothpick inserted in center of brownies will come out almost clean. Remove from oven and place on a rack to completely cool.
4) To make mint layer, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, heavy cream, peppermint extract in a small bowl and beat until smooth. Add a few drops of green food coloring if you wish. If frosting is too thick, add a little extra cream. (Frosting should be just thin enough to spread.) Spread frosting evenly over cooled brownie layer. Place in refrigerator for about 5-10 minutes, or until firm.
5) To make chocolate glaze, melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Spread over mint filling and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until chocolate glaze starts to dull.
6) To serve, remove brownies from pan by lifting with ends of foil and transfer to a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut into 30 squares. These brownies can be refrigerated for several days or else frozen. Yield: 30 squares.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Chocolate Mint Brownies - David Lebovitz
Salted Fudge Brownies - Verses from My Kitchen
Peanut Butter Brownies - Being Suzy Homemaker
Cakey Chocolate Brownies - Cookerati
Chocolate Brownie - The Purple Foodie
Quick and Easy Mocha Fudge Brownies - The Perfect Pantry
Oreo Brownies with Buttercream Frosting - Love from the Oven
Pecan Caramel Fudge Brownies - The Art of Baking
Hot Chocolate Brownies - Sugar Plum
Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie - Almost Bourdain
Kahlua Brownies - Simply Recipes
Iced Butterscotch Brownies - Culinary in the Dessert
Mexican Chocolate Brownies - One Perfect Bite
Bittersweets:The Ultimate Brownie - One Perfect Bite
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies - Baking Bites

Peas with Onions and Mint

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...and because man cannot live by bread alone, it's time to feature a vegetable or two. I've been testing vegetable recipes for our Easter dinner. I found one in The Gourmet Cookbook that I really like. It's easy to do and it uses ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. It may surprise you to learn that the recipe calls for frozen, rather than fresh, peas. Those of you who are gardeners know that peas, particularly English peas, become starchy if they are not used shortly after they are picked. If you're not using peas freshly plucked from the garden, it is much better to go with the frozen variety. The Gourmet recipe produces a lovely side dish. I've altered it slightly because I think the ratio of onions to peas was too high. When you glance through the recipe you will see that the quantity of onions is given as a range. This is a case when I think less is more and I use the smaller amount. Be forewarned, that fresh mint is essential to the success of this recipe. I love the color this dish adds to the table. This recipe is so easy and inexpensive that there is no reason not to make it on a regular basis. I think those of you who try this dish will love it. Here's the recipe, which can, by the way, be doubled.

Minted Peas and Onions...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, adapted from The Gourmet Cookbook

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 to 12 ounces sweet onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely chopped mint
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Heat butter in a 12-inch skillet over moderately low heat until foam subsides. Add onions, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add peas, mint, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until peas are heated through. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Snap Pea Salad - Sense and Sensibility
Peas with Lettuce - Never Enough Thyme
Sauteed Peas with Mint - Chantel's Cooking Blog
Sugar Snap Peas with Mint Oil - One Perfect Bite
Simple Pleasures-English Peas - Bunky Cooks
Three Types of Peas with Bacon and Leeks - Sara's Kitchen

Sugar Snap Peas with Fresh Mint Oil

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of my favorite summer dishes. Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow and English peas and they are one of the easiest of vegetables to prepare. They are crisp and sweet and, unlike the English pea, even the pod is edible. It is, however, advisable to remove the strings from both sides of the peas before cooking. This is done by removing the tip of the pea, pinching the string between your fingers and pulling downward towards the opposite end. I love to make this version of snap peas when I grill lamb chops. The mint oil that is made to dress the peas can also be used as a marinade for lamb chops, assuring that nothing goes to waste. This is a five ingredient recipe that is sophisticated in its simplicity. The peas can be served hot or cold. I usually make them ahead of time and serve them at room temperature. It is one less thing to worry about when trying to get dinner on the table. I must warn you that these are addicting. I have to slap my own hand when I make them. If you are looking for new ways to prepare old standby vegetables, I know you'll love this recipe. You simply can't beat fast, easy and delicious. Here's the recipe.

Sugar Snap Peas with Fresh Mint Oil...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Grace Parisi

Ingredients:
2/3 cup fresh mint leaves
2/3 cup canola oil
Salt and ground pepper
1 pound sugar snap peas, strings removed
Optional: Lemon wedges and sea salt for serving

Directions:
1) Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan. Add mint and blanch just until it is limp and turns bright green, about 30 seconds. Remove mint from pan with a slotted spoon. Plunge into cold water to stop cooking and set color. Drain mint, squeezing out excess liquid. Place mint in blender jar and pulse until finely chopped. With blender running, slowly add oil and blend until mint is pureed. Transfer to a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2) Add salt to water in which mint cooked. Bring to a boil. Blanch peas until tender and bright green, about 3 minutes. Plunge peas into a bowl of cold water to stop cooking. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a bowl. Toss with 2 tablespoons mint oil. Arrange on a serving platter. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt if using. Garnish with lemon wedges. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Sugar Snap Peas with Sesame - One Perfect Bite
Asian Sugar Snap Peas - For the Love of Cooking
Flavorful Sugar Snap Peas - The Baking Beauties
Snap Peas and Feta Salad Dressing - Twin Tables
Honey Butter Snap Peas - Rachael Ray Show

Fresh Mint Ice Cream - Outdoor Wednesday

          This recipe has been featured on Yahoo! Shine



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Mint has been banished from our slopes and is now under house arrest. We had a bumper crop last year that all but strangled anything it its way. Between spearmint and peppermint our hillside had enough of the herb to supply every green grocer in the county. Now potted in containers, it's hard to remember the havoc caused by the unrestrained exuberance. This beautiful shrub-sized plant is the source of the peppermint used to make the mint ice cream that is my contribution to Outdoor Wednesday, an event sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. The ice cream recipe comes from David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop. I found the recipe at Serious Eats. This is a lovely ice cream. You're gonna love the way it tastes.




Fresh Mint Ice Cream...From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
Pinch of salt
2 cups lightly packed fresh mint leaves
5 large egg yolks

Directions:
1) Warm milk, sugar, 1 cup cream and salt in a small saucepan. Add mint leaves and stir until they're immersed in liquid. Cover, remove from heat, and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.
2) Strain mint-infused mixture through a mesh strainer into a medium saucepan (milk will be a lovely shade of emerald). Mine was a pale green, not emerald. Press mint leaves to extract as much flavor as possible, then discard them. Pour remaining 1 cup heavy cream into a large bowl and set the strainer on top.
3) Rewarm mint-infused mixture. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks. Slowly pour warm mint liquid into egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape warmed egg yolks back into saucepan.
4) Stir mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping bottom as you stir, until mixture thickens and coats spatula. Pour custard through strainer and stir it into cream. Stir until cool over an ice bath.
5) Chill mixture thoroughly in refrigerator. Then freeze it in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Turn into a storage container and freeze until ready to use. Yield: 1 Quart.