Wednesday, February 13, 2019

11 Surprising Foods to Dip in Chocolate Fondue on Valentine’s Day

easy chocolate fondue recipe

Chocolate fondue is a natural for Valentine’s Day, and for good reason: Dipping luxurious foods in molten chocolate is delicious and, let’s face it, pretty sensual. It’s fine to serve the usual fondue contenders—strawberries, bananas, cookies, graham crackers, cubes of angel food cake—but consider adding some more interesting options too, to hit that sweet-salty spot, provide some piquancy, or marry some interesting textural contrasts (opposites attract, after all). Here are some deliciously intriguing ideas for what to dip in chocolate fondue.

VonShef Cast-Iron Swiss Fondue Set, $39.95 on Amazon

With six forks and a capacity of just over a quart, this will serve nicely for a small group, or just a couple.
Fondue It

1. Bacon

how to make crisp bacon

Shutterstock

Chocolate-covered bacon is a beautiful thing, but it takes a little time to make, what with the coating on all sides and the letting it set. Why not just cook it to crisp perfection, drain it, and dip it straight into a pot of molten chocolate? Sweet-salty seduction.

2. Rice Krispies Treats

Dried Berry Rice Krispies Treats recipe

Hungry Girl Por Vida

Make ’em in any flavor your heart desires (infused with booze, even), then cut them into dainty little cubes for spearing on your fondue forks and dipping into your pool of chocolate…you really can’t go wrong. (And you can make them vegan and gluten-free too.) Try this fetchingly festive Berry Marshmallow Crispy Treats recipe.

3. Marshmallows

chocolate stout fondue recipe with homemade lambic beer marshmallow recipe

Melissa Cole

Skip the rice cereal and just go straight for pillowy-soft, chewy marshmallows—which maybe aren’t that much of a novelty when it comes to dunking in chocolate, but can be if you opt for different flavors, like matcha marshmallows, bourbon marshmallows, or salted caramel marshmallows! Or put a boozy twist on both parts of the equation and make the Lambic Marshmallows with Chocolate Stout Fondue recipe pictured above.

Rose Gold Rose Marshmallows, 12 for $19.95 on Etsy

Made with pink wine and topped with edible glitter, these are also pretty perfect for V-Day.
Think Pink

4. Potato Chips

Same basic principle as bacon, but suitable for vegetarians too—and less work. Salted pretzels are an equally excellent choice. Bonus points if you make your own, but any nice, thick, kettle-style chip from the store will do just fine. (While not so salty, another savory and super-crunchy option is grissini, those long, thin Italian bread sticks often sprinkled with sesame seeds; the pairing of them with fondue hearkens back to the traditional Catalan pairing of dark chocolate with olive oil and toast.)

Sanders Dark Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips with Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, $15 on Amazon

No fondue pot? Try these chocolate-covered chips.
Snack On

5. Hurricane Jelly Shots

hurricane jello shot recipe

Chowhound

With two boozy layers (representing both white and dark rum), plus chopped maraschino cherries and passion fruit juice, these are bursting with flavors that would complement dark chocolate, and they’d provide an interesting texture and temperature contrast too. For something simpler, try coffee gelatin, or various fruit flavors like raspberry or strawberry. Get all our Grown-Up Jelly Shot recipes.

6. Cake Balls

red velvet cake ball recipe

Gimme Delicious

Basically, you’re making cake pops, but instead of coating them all in chocolate at once and letting them set (let alone impaling them on their own individual sticks), you’re leaving them naked and dipping each one as you eat it. The Chowhound community is fond of this no-bake rum balls recipe made with Oreo cookies, and we wouldn’t turn ’em down either, that’s for sure. But to minimize the risk of getting crumbs in your fondue pot, make sure your cake balls are nice and firm—the initial crumbled cake and frosting mixture should hold together well, and then you should chill them for at least a couple hours. Chocolate on chocolate is always a good option, but red velvet cake is also especially appropriate for the occasion. (You can also dip energy balls instead, for a relatively healthier option!) Get the Red Velvet Cake Balls recipe.

7. Candied Citrus

Easy Candied Citrus recipe

What’s Gaby Cooking

Chewy, bright, and sweet-tart, candied citrus is a way more exiting fondue partner than pound cake and strawberries. You can just use the peels (like in our Candied Grapefruit Zest recipe), or do whole slices, of oranges or Meyer lemons, for instance. (For a similar, fresher option, try kumquats too, the sweet-outside, bitter-and-tart-inside fruity gems that provide juicy pops of flavor!) Candied citrus often has a sandy sugar coating that can come off in your fondue, so you may want to go with a recipe like the one pictured above, where the fruit is cooked in a sugar syrup that dries into a smooth glaze. Get the Candied Citrus recipe.

9. Candied Ginger

Similar to candied citrus, but for those who like things a little spicy. Fresh crystallized ginger should have a nice soft chew, more gumdrop than taffy. Look for it in the bulk section of your grocery store, where you can often find it in larger cubes ideal for dipping.

10. Dried Fruit

Homemade Dried Fruit recipe

Nutritious Eats

Other dried fruit options like mango slices, apricots, apples, and papaya can make interesting additions to your array of fondue dippers, though some are harder to spear than others, so watch your fingertips while dipping. Get the Simple Homemade Dried Fruit recipe.

11. Halvah

what is halvah?

Shutterstock

This tahini-based confection has a deep, complex flavor that is dynamite with chocolate, and the slightly crumbly, fudge-like texture against the silky-smooth fondue…well, um, is it getting hot in here? You can buy halvah ready-made, or try your hand at a Homemade Halvah recipe.

Russ & Daughters Marble Halvah, $10/pound on Goldbelly

Get this dark chocolate-marbled halvah delivered to you straight from one of New York's best delis.
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Related Video: How to Make a Valentine’s Day Cocktail with Kombucha

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David Pistrang wrote the original version of this post on February 8, 2013; it was updated by Jen Wheeler with new links, text, and images on February 13, 2019.



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What Is the Difference Between Ravioli and Tortellini?

When you’re Italian, the mixture of sauce, cheese, and carbs is essentially the Holy Trinity of ingredients. You never stop to consider the differences between pasta shapes and fillings because you’re too busy indulging. And just when you think you couldn’t possibly fit another bite into your mouth, that’s when your grandma plops another scoop on your plate. It’s a cycle that constantly repeats itself.

But as many times as I’ve enjoyed a bowl of ravioli and marinara or scooped out the tortellini in my vegetable broth, I’ve never actually stopped to consider what makes each unique. My ancestors are probably looking down on me with disappointment. They definitely wouldn’t offer me a second helping after I’ve confessed to not knowing the difference between ravioli and tortellini. Both are filled with either cheese or meat, so what’s the big deal?

Well, starting with the obvious, the shape of these Italian favorites is different—ravioli being square and tortellini being round and sporting a slight hole at its center. Various pastas receive their names according to the way in which the dough is molded and prepared. Ravioli, the plural being “raviolo,” translates to “little turnip” whereas tortellini’s diminutive, “tortello,” translates to “stuffed cake.” Ravioli is two layers of pasta that form a pillow-like shape whereas tortellini is folded into hat-like shapes akin to dumplings. It’s more likely for tortellini to be used in a broth, though it’s common for both to include either a cheese or meat filling.

Bialetti Pasta Pot with Strainer Lid, $29.99 on Amazon

No matter what type of pasta's in your pot, a built-in strainer makes draining it a cinch.
Try It

Though both selections pair perfectly with red sauce, it wasn’t until the 19th century that tomatoes were introduced to various pasta shapes. The origins of ravioli and tortellini is oftentimes disputed, but both were created in the Middle Ages in Italy and rose to popularity, particularly in the 17th century when they were able to be mass produced. Originally, pastas were considered a rare and expensive meal.

Naturally, these fantastic foods stood the test of time because they’re delicious and there’s no end to the dinner possibilities that abound. We’ve come to love them so much that there’s even a National Tortellini Day (Feb. 13) and a National Ravioli Day (March 20).

If you think these Italian classics are cause for celebration all year long, try your hand at the recipes below.

Tortellini With Spicy Sausage Ragu

Chowhound

This classic Italian dish gets a little va va voom thanks to hints of red pepper flakes and kalamata olives—two great ways to spice up the lovely combination of tortellini, tomatoes, and sausage. Go the extra mile and sprinkle some Parmigiano over the finished product and you’ll really have yourself a treat. Get our Tortellini With Spicy Sausage Ragu recipe.

Mozzarella and Pecorino Ravioli

Sweet dreams are made of cheese, and this ravioli dish is a double whammy. If the dairy selection at specialty stores unleashes your inner Augustus Gloop a la “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” this recipe is a must. Bonus points for being a fun vegetarian option. Get our Mozzarella and Pecorino Ravioli recipe.

Vegetable Minestrone with Tortellini

Chowhound

If there’s one way to spice up a serving of vegetables, you better believe it’s with some carbs. Take your soup to the next level by throwing a handful of cheese tortellini in your broth. What was once a starter dish can easily be upgraded to a main course thanks to this addition. Get our Vegetable Minestrone with Tortellini recipe

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage-Brown Butter Sauce

Chowhound

There’s no better way to segue into the cooler months than with comfort food like this. Red sauce is a tried and true pairing for ravioli, but sometimes you need to shake things up, and this fall fruit selection is the perfect way to do so. (Yes, squash is actually a fruit, not a veggie.) Get our Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage-Brown Butter Sauce recipe.

Baked Tortellini with Chard, Mushrooms, and Mozzarella

Chowhound

This selection totally separates the standard tortellini recipes from the tortellini recipes of champions (obviously being the latter). Baking this pasta is a genius take on the food, and with the taste of the chard and mushrooms, we’re ready to be blown away. Get our Baked Tortellini with Chard, Mushrooms, and Mozzarella recipe.

Egg Yolk Ravioli With Bacon-Sage Sauce

Chowhound

Let’s face it: Anytime bacon is thrown into the mix, you know you’re in for a treat. This dish is basically tortellini’s answer to breakfast, especially thanks to that runny egg yolk. Whether you’re having this for brunch or dinner, it’s always a winner. Get our Egg Yolk Ravioli With Bacon-Sage Sauce recipe.

Pumpkin Tortellini with Sage and Pumpkin Seeds

Chowhound

Whenever fall swoops in, we receive the pumpkin treatment in our coffee brews, sweets, and baked goods. Now pasta is even getting into the spirit of the season thanks to this dish’s filling, complete with Cinderella pumpkin or butternut squash, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg, among other ingredients. In lieu of the typical meat or cheeses, this filling is the perfect introduction to autumn. Get our Pumpkin Tortellini with Sage and Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake

Life with the Crust Cut Off

Nothing is better than a classic sauce with a twist on raviolis. This dish is the ultimate cheat that’ll satisfy the most intense cheese cravings. Get the Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake recipe.

Tortelloni in Brodo with Mustard Greens

What better way to get your daily dose of greens than with this selection? There’s no need to feel guilty about over-indulging in carbs with this meal that’s complete with carrots, parsley, and vegetable stock. Get our Tortelloni in Brodo with Mustard Greens recipe.

Fresh Corn Ravioli With Herb Cream Sauce

Love and Olive Oil

Cream, corn, and carbs, comin’ right up. Though it sounds pretty filling, the light white wine, cream, and herb sauce for this meal will keep you just satisfied enough so that you still have room for dessert. Get the Fresh Corn Ravioli With Herb Cream Sauce recipe.

Related Video: These Squash Tortellini Are a Friendsgiving Must

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— Head photo illustration by Chowhound, using: Foodal.

Note: This post was originally published on August 7, 2017 and was updated with new formatting, links, and text on February 13, 2019.



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Make Your Kitchen Fancy with These Carrara Marble-Inspired Accessories

Whether it’s a permanent fixture in your bathroom or kitchen, or you’re dreaming of the days when you can plaster the stone all over your beachside mansion, there’s no denying the beauty, versatility, and strength of marble. But it was Kanye West of all people who put a particular type—Carrara—on the map after his over-the-top nuptials with wife Kim Kardashian.

The controversial rapper, never one to skimp on the details, famously ordered a custom marble piano, massive marble table, and 10 marble statues for the cliffside ceremony, all hailing from the mines of Carrara, Italy. Needless to say, Yeezy can have quite the influence on trends and pop culture, which led to a 30% increase in Carrara marble sales since 2009.

Since most of us are Carrara-marble minded, but on a laminate budget, the easiest way to incorporate marble into our living spaces is through accessories. And what better way to upgrade your boring kitchen than with Carrara marble-inspired tools and gadgets?

We’ve rounded up some of the most affordable (and beautiful!) options we could find. Scroll down for budget-friendly design ideas and you too can live a life like Kanye (or at least fake it until you make it).

Marble Pastry Board, $32.88 on Amazon

Amazon

Your raspberry and cheese danish never looked so good atop this gorgeous mini slab. Who needs plates when you can enjoy a traditional Italian breakfast with timeless luxury underneath?See It

Marble Paper Towel Holder, $27.99 on Amazon

Amazon

With white accessories, there’s no denying that you’ll be utilizing this tool more often than not. Just be sure to get a marble-friendly cleaner. It’s worth the splurge to keep your collection looking museum-quality spotless. Get the link.See It

Marble Utensil Holder, $22.99 (was $24.99) on Amazon

Amazon

You may think stainless steel will pale in comparison to this accessory’s metallic streaks, but they actually complement each other quite well. Avoid embarrassment at any future dinner party by using this for plastic cutlery.See It

Marble Fruit Bowl, $28.50-$39.99 on Amazon

Amazon

Frankly, an apple or grapefruit look so much more enticing when served on a luxurious platter. We’ll have to use this for our vegetables, as well.See It

Marble Wine Cooler, $20.83 (was $30.o0) on Amazon

Amazon

Now’s your chance to even more classy AF. In fact, you may want to change your last name to Kardashian before busting out the wine cup to cool that bottle of Merlot.See It

Marble Butter Dish Crock Keeper, $21.49 on Amazon

Amazon

You better believe it’s butter that’s going into this dish crock keeper. Any fat substitute, other than a high-quality olive oil, would just be offensive.See It

Marble Spoon Rest, $16.99-$36.83 on Amazon

Amazon

It almost seems blasphemous to splatter this dish with a bright red marinara, but it’s got to serve its one true purpose. Reward it by only dirtying it with delicious homemade sauce and nothing out of a jar.See It

Marble Oven Mitt, $14.95 on Amazon

Amazon

Real marble oven mitts would certainly be an interesting invention, but this product gets the job done while matching everything else in your kitchen. A true design win-win.See It

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9 Baking Mix Hacks to Transform Basic Dishes into Fancy-Ass Appetizers

Whatever the occasion—Valentine’s Day dinner, swanky Oscars party, holiday appetizer cocktail hour—you need some shortcuts, but you sure as hell don’t want anyone to know you took them. Use a baking mix box, and hide the box! And don’t be lame and make the recipe from the back of the box. Pancakes, biscuits, muffins, and loaves of bread do not a sophisticated appetizer make, but these ideas incorporate box mixes and other tricks that we never dreamed could create something nice enough for a cocktail party nibble (or fancy, nibble-focused dinner). But it can happen! Here’s how.

First, you need the baking mixes. The recipe suggestions below use these products:

Bisquick All-Purpose Mix, $3.33 at Walmart

Not just for pancakes and biscuits anymore.
Buy Bisquick

King Arthur All-Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Mix, $5.24 at Walmart

Often out of stock online, but use the store locater on the King Arthur site to find out where it's on shelves near you.
Go Gluten-Free

Jiffy All-Purpose Baking Mix, $5.96 at Walmart

Whip up impressive appetizers in a...well, you know.
Get Jiffy

Bob's Red Mill Buckwheat Pancake Mix, 2 for $7.34 at Walmart

A hearty option that goes beyond breakfast.
Buy Bob's

Now, here’s how to transform them into stunning bites:

Fig, Brie, and Honey Pinwheels

Betty Crocker

When is the pairing of brie and fig preserves ever a bad idea? I mean, really. And it takes no more than 35 minutes to make. All you need besides the ingredients in the title is butter, milk, Bisquick, and walnuts. Get the Fig, Brie, and Honey Pinwheels recipe.

Buckwheat Blinis

Bob’s Red Mill

Small yeast-leavened pancakes from buckwheat pancake mix do double-duty as a snazzy appetizer. Serve with a dollop of tapenade, hummus with an herb topper, pesto, or something creamy with a salty kick like crème fraiche and caviar. Get the Buckwheat Blinis recipe.

Spinach-Cheese Balls

Betty Crocker

These are a great make-ahead appetizer that you can create up to a month ahead of time and freeze. Then you just bake them for 25 minutes or so. Several people said it’s a good base recipe that you can adjust to your taste, adding another egg, more spices and stronger-tasting cheese, such as parmesan. Get the Spinach-Cheese Balls recipe.

Gluten-Free Cheddar-Chive Sausage Bites

King Arthur Flour

Talk about easy. There are six ingredients, and one is optional (the cayenne pepper). With the prep at 15 minutes and baking at 20 max, ending up with 36 savory, cheesy—and gluten-free!—bites is not a small feat. Get the Gluten-Free Cheddar-Chive Sausage Bites recipe.

Tomato Artichoke Appetizers

Betty Crocker

They’re toasty, pretty, and a refreshing combination that’s a little less typical than the pairing of spinach and artichokes. This is also a 2013 Bisquick Family Favorites Recipe Contest award winner, developed by Karen Haldeman, at the Ohio State Fair. Get the Tomato Artichoke Appetizers recipe.

Pastry Baked Brie

pastry baked brie Jiffy Mix recipe

Jiffy Mix

Baked brie is a decadent classic in which the rich cheese oozes outside its pastry shell. Using Jiffy Pie Crust Mix is a way to make it easier.  Put the contents of a jar of pesto or olive tapenade inside too, and that’ll really make it something else. Get the Pastry Baked Brie recipe.

Cheesy Broccoli Puffs with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Betty Crocker

By buying a package of frozen broccoli that includes cheese sauce (and using Bisquick, obviously), you save a lot of time. This recipe could take only about 20 minutes in actual work. Make extra Sriracha mayo, because it’s good on everything. Get the Cheesy Broccoli Puffs with Sriracha Mayonnaise recipe.

Ham and Cheese Tarts

ham and cheese tarts Jiffy Mix recipe

Jiffy Mix

It’s a tart, so it’s fun and schmancy. And ham and cheese are a standby favorite. Sometimes you don’t need to do that hard of a twist. You could always use Iberico ham, the finest in the world, plus a cheesemonger-recommended selection to make it more high end. Get the Ham and Cheese Tarts recipe.

Mini Crabcake Bites

Betty Crocker

This might be the easiest appetizer recipe of all using Bisquick, especially if you buy pre-chopped onions, peppers, and celery, plus pre-shredded cheddar. You’ll need a mini-muffin tin, which you can also use for extra-tiny pies. Get the Mini Crabcake Bites recipe.

For more handy hacks (that aren’t necessarily so fancy), check out our Easy Recipes to Make with Crescent Rolls.

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Why Is There Vodka in Vodka Sauce?

Seared Scallop Pasta recipe with Lemon and Vodka

Pasta with vodka sauce is undeniably delicious, but does it make sense? To put vodka in a pan with tomatoes and cream in the first place, especially when all the alcohol cooks out? I’ve come to accept that not every ingredient has to have a purpose, but there actually are good reasons for adding vodka to pasta sauce—read on to learn what they are.

As for other ingredients that really don’t “need” to be there, take red velvet cake for example: it doesn’t need to be red, but without all that food coloring, would it feel just as delightful? Doubtful; it would just be an ordinary cake. Or consider a decorative sprig of parsley nestled at the edge of the plate, which instantly makes anything look like it’s worthy of the grand dining room at the Waldorf Astoria. Take it away and your dinner loses a little sparkle.

But whenever I’ve come across vodka in recipes (cocktails excluded, of course), it’s always made me ask why, without an obvious, instinctual answer immediately occurring to me, especially when it shows up in sauces. Vodka’s purpose isn’t clear, because A) it’s neutral, B) it’s typically added in such small quantities that it barely provides any alcoholic bite, and C) much of that alcohol is evaporated off by heat, anyway. So what’s the use?

Vodka (prices vary by location) on Drizly

Whether you want it for drinking or cooking, you can get vodka delivered from Drizly in this golden era.
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As it turns out, the reasons against adding vodka to sauce actually provide clues as to why it can be a big benefit. This article from Fine Cooking helps explain: alcohol is a great solvent for aromatic compounds. It’s also volatile and evaporates easily, so as its particles drift into the air, they carry those aromas with them. As you chew, that translates into more flavors that reach the back of your mouth, creating a heightened sense of complexity. At high concentrations, alcohol’s sting can overwhelm these flavors, but in small volumes, that sensation is balanced and pleasant.

Additionally, alcohol has a magical emulsifying ability, bonding with both water and fat, encouraging the two to coexist smoothly. In recipes like penne alla vodka, it helps the sauce become a creamier, tomato-ier, more cohesive whole. You could use wine or other alcohols that would impart their own distinctive flavors, but in a rich sauce like that it’s not entirely necessary.

So I’m sorry, vodka, for ever doubting your place. Carry on and keep doing your thing, the way you do in these recipes.

1. Ina Garten’s Pasta Alla Vecchia Bettola (Pasta with Vodka Cream Sauce)

Ina Garten's Pasta Alla Vecchia Bettola (Pasta with Vodka Cream Sauce) recipe

Alexandra Cooks

How does tomato sauce on pasta go from being basic to sublime? By adding garlic, cream, and a generous shake of cheese (plus vodka, of course, to make it all the more amazing). Get Ina Garten’s Pasta Alla Vecchia Bettola (Pasta with Vodka Cream Sauce) recipe.

2. Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Vodka Sauce

Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Vodka Sauce recipe

Chowhound

Not in the mood for a tomato-vodka sauce that’s heavy and filling? This version keeps things lighter and looser, with slightly wilted grape tomatoes that give spread out bursts of flavor. Get our Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Vodka Sauce recipe.

3. Pizza with Vodka Sauce, Parmesan and Arugula

Pizza with Vodka Sauce, Parmesan and Arugula recipe

Keys to the Cucina

There’s also way more to tomato-vodka’s potential than just as a coating for pasta. Plop it on a pie with greens and sharp cheese for a pizza with extra bite and zest to it. Get the Pizza with Vodka Sauce, Parmesan and Arugula recipe.

4. Seared Scallops with Lemon and Vodka

Seared Scallop Pasta recipe with Lemon and Vodka

Chowhound

Vodka can also help lemon and cream come together in a silky sauce that works brilliantly on seafood and pasta. Get our Seared Scallops with Lemon and Vodka recipe.

5. Chocolate Ganache Tart

Easy Chocolate Ganache Tart recipe

Chowhound

Alcohol can even add its magic to sweet dessert sauces, helping fruit and spice flavors reach new heights. Here, it adds extra depth to the cherry-vanilla-vodka compote that’s served alongside this rich ganache tart. Get our Chocolate Ganache Tart recipe.

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.



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