Deep Fried Garbanzo Beans are $4 on the weekend brunch menu at Dad’s Kitchen. Who knew garbanzo beans could taste this amazing? Move over, hummus.
Archives for February 2012
Busy Mom Dessert
I have always had a sweet tooth and as a new mom, my window of opportunity to sit down and bake something elaborate is no longer a reality. When I found this fun, simple recipe that was a cute riff off of the classic rice krispy bars, I couldn’t wait to give it a shot! As an added bonus, I can’t wait to make this ooey-gooey mess with my son once he is older. Meanwhile, he enjoyed being my little helper as you can see below.
Smores Bars
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons butter
1 (10.5-ounce) bag mini marshmallows
1 (12-ounce) box Golden Grahams
1 (12-ounce) bag milk chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Crush the Golden Grahams. I like to have a good mix of rubble and bigger pieces. It helps if you have a good assistant.
2. Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the marshmallow and cook until they melt completely. You can also do this in the microwave.
3. Mix in the Golden Grahams. Coat completely with the marshmallow. Careful! It gets really sticky here.
4. Pour the mixture into a 9×13 pan coated with cooking spray. You can sprinkle in some of the chips now, but they start to melt. I like my chips to stay whole, so I add them later.
5. I spray a piece of wax paper or parchment with a little cooking spray and press it into the pan.
6. Sprinkle with milk chocolate chips and enjoy!
Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival – and a Giveaway!
Who doesn’t love beer and chili? But eating a variety of delicious chili, while sipping local beer to the tunes of area musicians, is even better when you’re doing it in the name of charity. The 1st Annual Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival kicks off on Saturday, March 3, towards the end of Sacramento’s third annual Beer Week, rain or shine at Southside Park.
The proceeds from the fun event will benefit art programs for Sacramento at-risk children, and local kids who are part of homeless families. Donations will also be accepted and used to help support Sacramento regional schools’ Adopt-a-School Art Program.
The tasty day will include a chili cook-off with three categories: individual, corporate and industry. There will be a wide variety of meat and vegetarian options to experience. Regional and local beer vendors include: Sutter Buttes, River City, Track 7, 21st Amendment and Lost Coast.
If you’ve got a scrumptious chili recipe that you think will knock out the competition and have patron’s mouths watering, then try entering the cook-off competition! An entry form can easily be filled out online or mailed to the Sacramento Arts Council. Click here to visit the event website and get all of the details.
Tickets are a steal, at only $15 for chili tasting and $35 to sample both chili and beer. Tickets can be purchased online or at Little Relics or Dad’s Kitchen. There will also be tickets available for purchase the day of the event for only $5 more.
Luckily, for our SacFoodies followers, we are giving away a pair of tickets for the event! It’s easy, just leave us a comment here or on our Facebook page telling us what brewery you are most looking forward to trying and we will pick one lucky winner! You’ve got until March 1 (one week), to give us your answer and we will notify the lucky winner that day!
Pair of Tickets is for Beer & Chili tasting, must be 21 to win.
More Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Last week, we posted a chocolate-covered strawberries recipe from Pinterest, and this week, another SacFoodie shares her version of this classic, sweet treat!
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
I’ll be the first to admit it – I don’t spend as much time in the kitchen as I’d like to. But let’s be honest, with only 24 hours in a day and at least 36 hours worth of to do’s daily (whether they’re wants or needs), you have to cut corners occasionally. That’s why chocolate covered strawberries have become my go-to for a quick and easy crowd-pleaser. This Valentine’s Day, I wanted to do something nice for the lovely people I work with (get it?), but knew I couldn’t afford to spend time slaving over the stove.
Now talk to most dessert lovers, and they’ll say the one essential component to any good chocolate covered strawberry is a double-broiler for the chocolate. I say double-broiler, double-shmoiler! The truth is, it’s easy to make decadent strawberries using store-bought chocolate chips and your trusty old microwave. The key is not to over-cook the chips.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
20 strawberries
1 bag chocolate chips (my preference is milk chocolate, but any will do)
Directions
Rinse strawberries and lay out to dry on paper towels. Pour chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium heat for 45 – 60 seconds, depending on the power of your microwave. While the microwave is going, gently pat the strawberries with another paper towel, ensuring that they are dry. Remove bowl of chocolate chips from microwave and stir gently. Note: the chips will often appear un-melted at first, only to melt together upon stirring, as the warmer chocolate will be closer to the bottom of the bowl. If needed, microwave in additional increments of 15 second each, removing and stirring after each until completely melted. Dip strawberries one at a time, twirling each to ensure full coating. Lay dipped strawberries on waxed paper atop a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.
Wordless Wednesday: Cafe Bernardo
The Three Cheese Lasagna, made with housemade pasta, mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheese with a béchamel tomato basil sauce at Cafe Bernardo. Part of the “Dinner for Two” special available Monday – Thursday from 5-9pm, you and a dining partner can each enjoy this lasagna, a side salad and a carafe of wine to split for just $25!