Stop by Robin Chocolates this Sat Nov 2nd 2013 for tasting samples and chocolate demos as part of their two-year anniversary!
Robin Chocolates
600 S Airport Rd
Longmont, CO 80503
720 204 8003
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Robin Chocolate Celebration Sat Nov 2nd
Stop by Robin Chocolates this Sat Nov 2nd 2013 for tasting samples and chocolate demos as part of their two-year anniversary!
Robin Chocolates
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Cupcakes
If you haven't been to Tee and Cakes in Boulder, Colorado, I would suggest going. They make incredible cupcakes. My favorite one is the triple chocolate, of course, but all of the flavors are outstanding.
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| Red Velvet and Triple Chocolate |
Monday, October 28, 2013
French Broad Chocolate Bars Review
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| French Broad Chocolates: http://frenchbroadchocolates.com/ |
The Man and I were very excited to try French Broad chocolate bars. Before I go into the taste, I have to say how beautifully the bars are packaged. A different colored ribbon is wrapped around the foil on each bar, so just a hint of color shows outside of the paper wrapper. A single bar would make a lovely gift. If you are going to a dinner and want to bring the host something nice, a bar of chocolate like this would be appropriate. The presentation is very elegant.
The first thing I noticed was that I could smell the chocolate upon opening the package. I was immediately swooning over the incredible chocolate aroma. Some chocolates don't have a strong or enticing scent, but French Broad chocolates will make your mouth water before you even taste them.
We started off sampling the 81 percent dark chocolate bar. That's a pretty dark bar! It has a nice, sharp snap when you break off a piece, like good chocolate should, and it tasted fresh. Surprisingly, this bar was not bitter at all. Even the finish is nice with a pure cocoa flavor that lingers in your mouth. The descriptions on the French Broad website are accurate, but don't be turned off by what they call the sandy texture of this one. The grittiness is subtle and not at all unpleasant. It actually adds a nice texture to the chocolate, and it quickly melts into a smooth mass in your mouth. There's no doubt about the high quality of the chocolate. It's not at all chalky like some darker bars can be. The flavor was bold without being overpowering. It was truly an outstanding bar. I was so impressed, and even the Man, who's more of a milk chocolate fan, liked it.
The second bar we sampled was a 75 percent dark chocolate bar with sea salt flakes. We noticed that the salt wasn't too pronounced but it did enhance the chocolate. Even though it was a dark bar, it had a lightness to it and a tang that was reminiscent of good milk chocolate. I absolutely loved it. I thought this bar was outstanding in every way: taste, texture, aroma and balance. We noticed a definite trend, and it seems that all of the French Broad chocolate bars are not overly sweet but not at all bitter.
The third bar we tried, a Malted Milk Chocolate Bar, is a 45 percent cocoa bar that will knock your socks off. Again, this wasn't overly sweet, which was a nice surprise, as so many milk chocolates are on the too sweet side. In fact, the bar has no more sugar added to it than the 70 percent dark chocolates the French Broad Company makes. The Man was in heaven. Right off the bat, you can detect notes of caramel as the nutty, milky flavor of the malted milk emerges. The taste of rich chocolate quickly follows. As far as milk chocolate goes, this is exceptional. The flavors are unique, and all true milk chocolate lovers will appreciate this bar. The texture of the bar is smooth, yet it clings nicely in your mouth after it melts, allowing the well-rounded flavor to emerge more fully. As the Man pointed out, it has a great mouth feel.
Actually, our name is quite, um, couth. It is inspired by the mighty French Broad River, a brief account of which we have included below. We were awestruck at the age and majesty of the river running through our chosen home town, and we’re proud to identify with it. It helps us establish our local identity, while having the added benefit of some great double entendre. To us, indulging in handmade chocolate truffles is a sexy and sensual experience, and the suggestive nature of the name “French Broad” speaks well to that.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Chocolate Mousse Recipe
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| Chocolate mousse with fresh berries |
This recipe for chocolate mousse is from Bobby Flay:
Ingredients
5 1/4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
14 ounces cold heavy cream
3 large egg whites
1-ounce sugar
Sweetened whipped cream, for garnish, optional
Shaved bittersweet chocolate, for garnish, optional
Directions
Place chocolate in a large bowl set over a bain marie or in a double boiler at a low simmer. Stir chocolate until melted. Turn off the heat and let stand.
Beat the cream over ice until it forms soft peaks. Set aside and hold at room temperature. With a mixer, whip egg to soft peaks. Gradually add the sugar and continue whipping until firm.
Remove the chocolate from the bain marie and using a whisk, fold in the egg whites all at once. When the whites are almost completely incorporated, fold in the whipped cream. Cover the mousse and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour or until set. Serve in goblets topped with more whipped cream and shaved chocolate, if desired.
Playlist for 10/26/13
I threw in Union of Knives - Opposite Direction at some point:
Meeting In The Aisle - Radiohead
by Juni44ever 103,262 viewsThis is "Meeting In The Aisle" from the Airbag/How Am I Driving EP.-
3
TV On the Radio Dirty Whirl
by Matt Goldman 64,796 viewsMusic video for TV On The Radio's Dirty Whirl.… -
4
Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
by iggy majstorinho 1,907,742 viewsTHE killer single from duo Sleigh Bells. Enjoy! -
7
Citizen Cope- Let The Drummer kick That
by Sockaci 1,425,060 viewspicture Video for the song "let the drummer kick that" please enjoy. i also googled the pics for it also… -
8
AWOLNATION- "Burn It Down" (with lyrics)
by babygotdotdotdot 818,923 viewsCheck out AWOLNATION's music video for "Burn It Down" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcClvRt9g2Q… -
9
6 Underground (The Umbrellas of Ladywell Mix)- Sneaker Pimps
by Dentz55 43,314 views6 Underground (The Umbrellas of Ladywell Mix #2) - Sneaker Pimps… -
10
California Soul Remix Music Video (diplo)
by veach52 359,040 viewsSpinnin' wheels. Marlena Shaw Remix. done by diplo. chill. -
11
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At ( Official Video ) Rooty
by Basement Jaxx
490,396 views
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At (2001) - Directed by Traktor
from the album "Rooty"… -
13
Girls Don't Poop - PooPourri.com
by Poo~Pourri 17,539,926 viewsYes Poo~Pourri is a real product. Yes Poo~Pourri is clinically proven to work. You can buy it at http://PooPourri.com/?a=…
Friday, October 25, 2013
Robin Chocolates
The Man and I took a quick trip to Robin Chocolates in Longmont where we had some to die for chocolates. We even got to try a new chocolate S'mores item on the menu! Another sample that was outrageously good was the Chocolate Caramel Fleur de Sel. Ohhhhh this little chocolate will float around in my head for days to come.
We will be doing an interview and a full write up after we take another trip to Robin Chocolates next week, so stay tuned for the full scoop!
Chocolate Caramel Fleur de Sel
Caramel layered with chocolate caramel and sea salt in a dark chocolate shell
Robin Chocolates
From their website:
We often hear from our customers that our chocolates are too beautiful to eat. We couldn't disagree more. While we do agree that they are beautiful, our goal is to make them taste at least as good as they look. Chocolatier and pastry chef Robin Autorino refers to them as edible art - art for your eyes and your mouth. While we would never recommend tasting a Monet, Picasso, or Rembrandt, we do highly recommend our artisan chocolates and confections.
600 S Airport Rd Bldg B Ste D Longmont CO 80503
We often hear from our customers that our chocolates are too beautiful to eat. We couldn't disagree more. While we do agree that they are beautiful, our goal is to make them taste at least as good as they look. Chocolatier and pastry chef Robin Autorino refers to them as edible art - art for your eyes and your mouth. While we would never recommend tasting a Monet, Picasso, or Rembrandt, we do highly recommend our artisan chocolates and confections.
600 S Airport Rd Bldg B Ste D Longmont CO 80503
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Chocolate Ice Cream
Ice cream, more specifically chocolate ice cream, is my weakness. Below is a Ggirl original ice cream recipe. It is GOOD. Trust me:
2 good cups whipping cream. (Good cups are extra full cups)
2 good cups milk
6 egg yolks
A scant 3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups bitter-sweet chocolate (about 16oz)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp chocolate extract (optional)
A pinch instant coffee (optional)
Scald the cream and milk in a thick-bottomed pan over medium-high heat and set aside. Beat the yolks in a metal bowl. Add the sugar and pour in the cream/milk mixture while beating. Transfer into a clean heavy-bottomed pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring until the mixture coats the spoon. Stir in chocolate and stir over very low heat until chocolate is completely melted. Add in remaining ingredients and cool. When mixture is cool, freeze according to directions on the ice-cream maker.
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| This is not a picture of my ice cream, but doesn't it look yummy? |
Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream
2 good cups milk
6 egg yolks
A scant 3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups bitter-sweet chocolate (about 16oz)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp chocolate extract (optional)
A pinch instant coffee (optional)
Scald the cream and milk in a thick-bottomed pan over medium-high heat and set aside. Beat the yolks in a metal bowl. Add the sugar and pour in the cream/milk mixture while beating. Transfer into a clean heavy-bottomed pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring until the mixture coats the spoon. Stir in chocolate and stir over very low heat until chocolate is completely melted. Add in remaining ingredients and cool. When mixture is cool, freeze according to directions on the ice-cream maker.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Lillie Belle Review
Anthony Bourdain may have been right that after sampling the Good Evil bar, all other chocolates will be ruined. Actually, that's not entirely true, but the Good Evil bar is a hard chocolate to follow. It didn't help that the chocolate we sampled was not quite spectacular.
In reading reviews and articles about the company, I have to say that I love what Lillie Belle is about. I believe that people will enjoy all the products that Lillie Belle has to offer. The chocolate seems to be a high quality chocolate, and the flavors of the bars are interesting. There's something for everyone. In fact, the Man was absolutely sure that he would devour the Oregon Bacon Bar in one sitting if I let him. I'm not a big bacon and chocolate fan, but, of all chocolate-bacon combinations I have tried, this bar is the best. The bacon flavor is subtle and not overly smoky, something I can't stand in chocolate. No, this is a nicely balanced maple bacon flavor. The little crunchy texture in the milk chocolate is due to the caramelized bacon pieces, and it's wonderful. What's nice, too, is that the added smoky salt in the bar results in a very light smoky finish, not that overpowering and obnoxious smoky flavor many chocolate-bacon bars have. For a milk chocolate, it wasn't overly sweet, which I liked. Overall, this is a great bar.
Do check out the Lillie Belle website, as I think they company is downright cool. I would love to try their caramels, bon bons and truffles. I'm guessing those would be fantastic, and they look beautiful.
From the Lillie Belle website:
"Lillie Belle Farms uses only organic chocolate for all our gourmet chocolate creations. We have scoured the globe for some of the best cocoa beans on the planet and flavors that are truly out of this world! From silky smooth organic milk chocolate bars filled with toffee and toasted nuts to pure single-origin chocolate bars, we have something for every chocolate lover. Lillie Belle Farms Chocolates began 10 years ago on a whim. I asked my daughter, Lillie and my wife, Belle if I could start selling truffles at the local farmer's markets and name them after them. They reluctantly agreed thinking that it was nothing more than a weird culinary phase. In the beginning it was all trial and error, but people kept coming back and demanding more. Without looking back, I dove head-first into the world of gourmet chocolates made in the grand traditions. Using the finest ingredients I could get my hands on, many of which I grew on my own organic farm, I set out to create a chocolate experience that rivaled the best in the world."
Week 5
Anthony Bourdain may have been right that after sampling the Good Evil bar, all other chocolates will be ruined. Actually, that's not entirely true, but the Good Evil bar is a hard chocolate to follow. It didn't help that the chocolate we sampled was not quite spectacular.
In reading reviews and articles about the company, I have to say that I love what Lillie Belle is about. I believe that people will enjoy all the products that Lillie Belle has to offer. The chocolate seems to be a high quality chocolate, and the flavors of the bars are interesting. There's something for everyone. In fact, the Man was absolutely sure that he would devour the Oregon Bacon Bar in one sitting if I let him. I'm not a big bacon and chocolate fan, but, of all chocolate-bacon combinations I have tried, this bar is the best. The bacon flavor is subtle and not overly smoky, something I can't stand in chocolate. No, this is a nicely balanced maple bacon flavor. The little crunchy texture in the milk chocolate is due to the caramelized bacon pieces, and it's wonderful. What's nice, too, is that the added smoky salt in the bar results in a very light smoky finish, not that overpowering and obnoxious smoky flavor many chocolate-bacon bars have. For a milk chocolate, it wasn't overly sweet, which I liked. Overall, this is a great bar.
From the Lillie Belle website:
"Lillie Belle Farms uses only organic chocolate for all our gourmet chocolate creations. We have scoured the globe for some of the best cocoa beans on the planet and flavors that are truly out of this world! From silky smooth organic milk chocolate bars filled with toffee and toasted nuts to pure single-origin chocolate bars, we have something for every chocolate lover. Lillie Belle Farms Chocolates began 10 years ago on a whim. I asked my daughter, Lillie and my wife, Belle if I could start selling truffles at the local farmer's markets and name them after them. They reluctantly agreed thinking that it was nothing more than a weird culinary phase. In the beginning it was all trial and error, but people kept coming back and demanding more. Without looking back, I dove head-first into the world of gourmet chocolates made in the grand traditions. Using the finest ingredients I could get my hands on, many of which I grew on my own organic farm, I set out to create a chocolate experience that rivaled the best in the world."
The Man and I talked about the creepy Bobbit worm. This video is terrifying and will probably give you nightmares:
http://vimeo.com/28280553
****** **** ***** ***** ****** *****
Sex Position: Moon Over Miami
I mistakenly called this the slinky, but the slinky wasn't well defined. There were several different explanations of this position. Instead we tried the Moon Over Miami position and found that it doesn't work too well. The guy would have to have an enormous dick in order for it to work. I'm sure it would be OK for some kind of oral stimulation, but I wasn't going to go there. The Man gave it a thumbs down. This is not a Man approved position, and Ggirl didn't like it much either.Sunday, October 20, 2013
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