Sweet and Savory this weekend...

It's time to experiment with the sweet and savory, yet I don't want to much sweet at all, so I thought I'd make a brunch recipe.

What do you think, Savory French toast with a fig balsalmic dressing(scroll all the way down to the savory section of the recipes with chocolate and you'll find it) ? The dressing has a little cocoa in it and thus the sweet appears on the scene. It's a nice balance to the goat cheese and the salt from the turkey ham or canadian bacon in there, it should be a winner. If you try it before me, tell me what you think.

Getting away for the weekend...sort of

It’s like a European Market as you wander through the aisle and appreciate the Artisanal quality goods of local business’. It’s warm with the lighting filtering in from the outside and the variety of things to buy is growing each weekend. When you’re done shopping you can go through to the River Arts Gallery and see what brings a lot of people to the area-inspiration and the creative spirit channeled into art of all kinds. It’s easy to imagine that you’re somewhere else when you’re in the Market, because it buzzes with energy and life.

Ok, here’s the other reason I’m going to be there. The Painted Truffle, is one of the Chocolatier featured at the third annual Bucks County Chocolate Show, and is also at the Stockton Market now. Tom Sciascia, Owner, is having a chocolate tasting. He’ll have cabernet cordials, sea salt caramels and hot chocolate. When his tasting at The Four Seasons got canceled due to the snow, he was ready to share even more with the locals at The Stockton Market. Where do I fit in? In the spirit of Valentines Day, I love to bake. The Chocolate Bar will have samples of the impish chocolate cupcakes with Chambourg and black current basalmic ganache that are featured at the Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy benefit for A Woman’s Place tonight, chocolate chunk cookie samples tomorrow and both days: tickets to the Bucks County Chocolate Show will be available for sale.

So if you feel the same way I do and just need a break from the winter cold, come warm up at The Stockton Market at 19 Bridge St, Stockton, N.J. next to River Arts Gallery (formerly Erico’s market). Spread the word!


Gretchen, The Chocolate Muse

It's easy, it's delicious and it's yours...

It's really cold, it's been hard to get out and shop or focus on the best way to show I care, so the recipes I've come up with helped solve the problem...

Starting out with a Naked Smoothie with raw cacao, a fritatta omelet with roasted potatoes in olive oil and crushed rosemary, and impish chocolate cupcakes with blackcurrent balsalmic ganache!

I'll be at the Stockton Market (19 Bridge Street Stockton, NJ next to River Arts Gallery) sharing some samples of the cupcakes and selling tickets to the Bucks County Chocolate Show. Pair it with a tasting from The Painted Truffle and buy some chocolates to go with your tickets...walk through the European style indoor market and pull together some other delights for your menu and it will be the most relaxing, memorable Valentines Day (or weekend if you prefer not to focus on Valentines Day).

Have to go to work-have a great valentines day and tell me how yours worked out.

It's hard to say what's the best feeling is when it comes to Valentines Day...maybe excitement, maybe apprehension. I avoid commercial Holidays and this one is no exception. I can overlook what's happened to February 14th because it's paired with one of my favorite things...chocolate.
So let's dip, let's bake, let's revel in all things chocolate. Impish chocolate cupcakes are on the way....come back tomorrow for the recipe.
What's your favorite chocolate delight in the middle of the winter?

Finding an oasis in the middle of a winter island

Fairchild Gardens was an oasis in the middle of a winter island. Yes there was chocolate at this island too, of course. There were some new products on the scene that I'm sure you'll see more of soon~at the Bucks County Chocolate Show I hope! L'Atelier Gourmet by Franck Monnier was food art and Ecuadorian Chocolate by Marco Paumino was the pure earth in a bar. There were lots of others in between that I'll tell you more about-like Oliver Kita, the Artisanal creations with a variety that is sure to delight any fan.

So we're moving into the Valentines Day marathon. What are you going to do? What type of recipes do you want me to find for you? It looks like Stockton Market (an indoor European style farmers market) is going to be a wonderful place to get things for your snowy weekend and of course to create a stress free Valentines Day. See you there!