Video: Chef Jacques Torres Shows How to Make Easy Quick Chocolate Lollipops

From Denny: Here's a simple quick recipe that would be great for holiday gift-giving! Famous chef Jacques Torres shows us how to make our very own chocolate lollipops. Listen, kids, move over, the adults will make a stampede into the kitchen for these goodies! :)




food video, chocolate video, Jacques Torres, chocolate candy

Cheeky Quote Day! at The Social Poets 2 Sept 2009

From Denny: It's Cheeky Quote Day! over at The Social Poets! To enjoy some really great funny quotes and a short bio on one of America's funniest men in history, Will Rogers, go here.

Blogger Followers and Google Connect Gadgets Erasing People

From Denny: I've contacted Blogger several times and no response for the past two almost three months this has been going on. Apparently, there are hundreds of bloggers on blogspot with the same issue and yet there are others who have no problems.

Thinking it might be the placement of ads on the sidebar, I moved them to other places on the blog. When that didn't work, I just removed many ads. That didn't work either. Tried other bright ideas and none of them worked.

In total frustration, just removed the offending gadgets that are not working right. Can I tell you that I'm not happy with Blogger and Google right now over what should be a simple fix? :) It's rude to allow the erasing of other people like they don't exist. People want that connection to you as a blogger and the free marketing feature of their sites connected too.

What's the temporary solution until these disappearing faces on the gadgets get resolved? The next best solution is that even if you are not a blogger you can have your face and site featured on my other gadgets that do seem to have their act together: MyBlogLog, BlogCatalog and FuelMyBlog. I'll try and get more featured gadgets by joining some more blog directories. Then there's Twitter Counter too for advancing your Twitter followers' count and marketing your site.

Thanks for your support, everyone, and sorry for this inconvenience.

Video: Learn How to Make Professional Chocolates by Hand

From Denny: Before there were automated machines to make chocolate in factories check out how they still do it by hand for mass production in The Netherlands: impressive and so tasty looking! Good thing they don't have "smell-a-vision" like chef Emeril Lagasse chuckles or we would all be on the first plane to this chocolate factory. They also give lessons to people so they can learn how to do these awesome chocolates as professional as a big company.




how to make chocolates, The Netherlands, food video

Recipe: Appetizer - Oriental Tuna Steaks

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: This was one of many popular appetizers (no photos of these appetizers, guess they didn't last long enough to photograph!)that were a big hit here in Louisiana at a recent chefs' preview party where volunteers who are home cooks made appetizers for the local top chefs, caterers and restaurateurs. They were honored for their service in the Capital Chefs’ Showcase which benefits Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge.

This year is most special as it is the 50th golden anniversary of the Cancer Services. This organization helps over 5,000 people annually with free services, assistance and support.

This is a recipe easy enough for the home cook to make as these ladies proved to the top chefs in the city!

From: Cheri Lasseigne from a “Body for Life” cookbook

Serves: 8 as a main dish or about 50 as an appetizer. Serve hot as an entree or cold as an appetizer.

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1/4 cup peeled and coarsely chopped fresh ginger

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 Tablespoon raw honey

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil

2 pounds tuna steak, about 1-inch thick

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Freshly ground pepper

1 bunch green onions, chopped

3 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

1. For sauce: Place garlic, ginger, mustard and soy sauce in food processor; process until blended.

2. Add honey and vinegar and process again. With motor running, add sesame oil and coconut oil gradually, blending until sauce thickens and emulsifies.

3. For tuna steaks: Brush tuna steaks with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side on a grill or broiler.

4. If serving as an entree, place tuna steaks on warmed plates. Spoon sauce over steaks and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. If serving as a cold appetizer, take tuna off grill and coat with sesame seeds. Cut into bite-size pieces and place on a tray over ice. Sprinkle some sauce over the tuna and garnish with green onions. Serve with additional sauce on the side and bamboo skewers or toothpicks like they did at the party.

Note: If serving as an entree, this dish goes well with steamed string beans with toasted almonds and mashed potatoes.

For more appetizers from this party check out my other food blog: Comfort Food From Louisiana.