Archive for the 'Cooking Stuff' Category

Fannie May – the Finest Chocolate Treats Available All over the Globe

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Even though Fannie May is an easily recognizable name throughout the Midwestern US recently, the organization had simple origins. The story began in Chicago, IL in the early 20’s. And so this much loved company has evolved from a single store into a flourishing network providing the nation with fabulous goodies. Fannie May’s ability to blend the best ingredients in the perfect manner made them such a favorite with the public they expanded to just below 48 shops in just 15 years. Many people aren’t aware that the management were so devoted to the standard of their sweets they opted to shut the company temporarily rather than change their formulas during wartime food shortages. Some of these traditional recipes are even being used and enjoyed all these years later.

Almost as fine as their scrumptious chocolate are the decorative boxes they arrive in. Don’t forget to select a lovely presentation box when the chocolates are for a gift, it will add a finishing touch. The scale of a chocolate gift is entirely up to you, from simply one chocolate treat to a hamper bulging with various types of truffle, praline and every other filling you can imagine from Fannie May. There are a selection of extraordinary gifts on the internet site, or you can purchase special fillings and then pick which box you want. Fannie May nowadays own branches not only in the nation but in numerous other countries worldwide. This makes it easy for you to send these celebrated candies anywhere in America and all over the world without even having to leave the comfort of your home. While there are a few delivery restrictions during the warmest weather, this chocolatier will happily deliver gifts 365 days a year and always guarantee the freshness of the chocolates when they reach their destination. Particular dietary needs aren’t any problem. Bakery items and other treats are available not to mention chocolates that are suitable for diabetics. If you need a lot of smaller gift boxes or special gifts for a wedding dinner, Fannie May can assist you there as well. You merely have to phone them up to tell them precisely what you require.

Fannie May has grown into such a booming chocolate company and it’s all down to its dedication to produce quality products, its service and such a great selection of offerings. Indeed, with varieties ranging from white to dark chocolate, fruit, and mint centers, the most difficult task is deciding what not to send!

Presents for Chocoholics from Fannie May

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Even though Fannie May is a household name throughout the US these days, the company had humble beginnings. The story began in the Windy City in 1920. Pushing forward this celebrated business has developed from a single shop into a booming organization supplying the nation with delicious treats. Fannie May’s ability to combine cocoa, sugar and other ingredients in precisely the right way made them such a favorite that they expanded to about 48 stores in just 15 years. As a point of fact the company was so devoted to the standard of its sweets they preferred to shut their doors instead of changing their recipes during wartime food rationing. Some of these traditional recipes are being produced and sold today.

Almost as wonderful as their gourmet chocolates are the decorative presentation boxes they arrive in. Exquisite presentation boxes add that something special and you’ll have a gift anyone will appreciate. How much you give is altogether up to you, going from simply one chocolate treat to a basket filled with various sorts of chocolate truffle, nuts and every other center you can imagine manufactured by Fannie May. If you wish to request unique fillings you can, nevertheless a huge selection of carefully put together gift boxes are on offer too.

To make life even less complicated, Fannie May is pleased to have a dependable network of providers across America and the world. So you can place an order from your computer and have your gift box delivered anywhere at home or abroad. There are some sensitive items that are not suitable for shipping during really hot weather, nevertheless Fannie May has the business network to deliver the majority of their products all over the world.

Particular dietary needs will not be any problem. Tasty cakes and other treats are available as well as premium chocolate that are suitable for low sugar diets. If you are supplying a large event like a wedding, tiny gift boxes and wedding favors are available as well. You only need to phone them up to tell them exactly what you need.

It’s easy to see why Fannie May wares are such a tremendous hit with the public. So, the hard task is selecting from the large array of gift boxes on the internet site. With everything from mints to pretzels to select from, you are going to find exactly the ideal gift.

A Rant about Chocolate

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Regardless of the fact that Fannie May is a distinctive name throughout the USA in recent years, the business started out small. It all began in Chicago in 1920. Pushing forward this celebrated company has expanded from one store into a flourishing organization plying the nation with delightful goodies.

Fannie May’s ability to mix premium ingredients in just the right way made them so popular they grew to about forty eight branches in merely fifteen years. During the second world war rationing, the doors of the candy shops were temporarily closed, because they refused to depreciate the quality of any of their candies. Some of these closely guarded recipes are being used and enjoyed all these years later. Of course the chocolates look as fabulous as they taste. Remember to opt for a lovely presentation box or tin when the chocolates are for a gift, it will add something extra. The scale of a chocolate gift is wholly up to you, ranging from simply one perfect chocolate treat to a tower bulging with each flavor of truffle, praline and even gourmet pretzels. If you want to to choose special chocolates that’s easily done, nevertheless a large selection of premade gifts are available as well.

Fannie May now own stores not only in America but in numerous other nations worldwide. This makes it feasible for you to send these celebrated treats across the US and internationally without ever leaving your desk. There are a few delicate chocolates that are not recommended for shipping during the summer, even so Fannie May has the franchises in place to deliver the vast majority of gifts all over the world. Particular diets are not an issue. Fannie May’s make chocolates with no added sugar and other delicacies besides. If you want a lot of smaller gift boxes or special gifts for a wedding banquet, Fannie May have a variety to choose from. You merely have to shoot them an email and let them know what you want. Fannie May has become such a successful chocolate provider because of its commitment to excellence, its uncompromising support and its vast variety of. Indeed, with varieties like every sort of chocolate, fudge, and vanilla flavors, the hardest part is not ordering their entire stock all at once.

5 Wonderful Ways to Enjoy Fresh Fall Apples

Friday, June 20th, 2008

At this time of year fresh, new-picked apples are at their scrumptious peak. We enjoy simply biting into a fall apple, with the sweet tart juices and the crispy texture that are only to be found in a fruit not long off the tree. However, in autumn apples come in such affordable abundance that we look for ways to use them in our cooking throughout the day. Here’s my menu for a day of apples: from breakfast muffins, to lunch salads, to mid-afternoon snack bars and evening supper (not to mention dessert!).

Honey Apple Muffins

4 large eggs, beaten
1 cup honey
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1-1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 medium Empire or Cortland apples, peeled, cored and diced
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 medium Empire or Cortland apple, peeled, cored and sliced into 24 thin crescents

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Grease 24 muffin tins or line them with paper muffin cups. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, oil and 1 cup of sugar. In another bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir the flour mixture and the diced apples into the egg-honey mixture just until mixture moistened and smooth. Do not over-stir. Divide mixture evenly into 24 muffin tins. In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon, nutmeg and 2 tablespoons sugar. Add apple slices and gently toss to coat. Place an apple slice on the top of each muffin. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Makes 24 muffins.

Honey Mustard Waldorf Chicken Salad

1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon grated zest of lemon
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
2 Gala apples, cored and diced
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup minced green onion
1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds

Stir together honey, mustard, poppy seeds, lemon peel, juice and oil. Toss in chicken, apple, celery, green onions and almonds. Serves 2 as a main dish or 4 as a side dish.

Apple Caramel Bars

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Golden Delicious apples, cored and diced
1 cup caramel candies, unwrapped and cut into quarters
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking pan. In a mixing bowl combine 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour mixture into prepared baking pan and evenly into bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes. In a mixing bowl beat eggs, vanilla, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Stir in apples, caramels, and nuts. Pour over bottom crust. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden. Cool about 5 minutes and while still warm cut into bars. Cool completely before serving. Makes 16 bars.

Boudin Blanc (White Sausage with Apples)

This is a traditional dish from Normandy, France, made with Calvados, an apple-flavored liqueur. If you don’t have Calvados, substitute apple juice or apple cider with a splash of cooking sherry.

1/3 cup unsalted butter
4 Macintosh apples, cored and quartered
8 boudin blanc or other mild, white sausages, pricked
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup Calvados

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat half the butter over moderate heat. Add the quartered apples and cook, turning, until golden and just tender. In another skillet heat the remaining butter over moderate heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning, until lightly browned. In a shallow baking dish, arrange the sausages and the apples, sprinkle with the Calvados and bake for 20 minutes or until juices run clear and sausage is cooked through. Serves 4.

Apple Cranberry Pie

1 pie crust for a 9-inch, deep dish, double crust pie
1 cup fresh cranberries
3 cup apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter

Pre-heat oven to 400 F. Combine cranberries, apples, sugar, flour and salt. Mix well. Pour into crust. Dot all over with small bits of butter. Cover with top crust, crimp decoratively. Cut vents in top of crust for steam to escape. Bake 50 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden. Serves 6 to 8.

Mimi Cummins is food editor of FinerKitchens.com, an online store featuring gourmet cookware, bakeware, cooks’ tools and tableware.

Mimi is also webmaster of SeasonalRecipes.com, where you can find many other autumn recipes and recipes for every season.