May 1, 2012 | Chocolate and Cocoa
Roasted meats, mashed potatoes and even roasted root veggies rejoice — rich Cacao-Onion Gravy will make you sing! OK, maybe that’s over-selling it — but just by a bit.
As part of the six unique recipes I came up with for my exploration into the World of Cocoa (courtesy of Savory Spice Shop) here on GF, I’ve trotted out savory Cocoa-Dusted Bleu Cheese Truffles, brightly flavored Strawberry-Arugula Salad with Cocoa Vinaigrette and Spiced Cocoa-Crusted Pork Loins Chops so far. (Hope you’ve enjoyed them — I know we did!)
Today, I’d like to introduce you to cocoa or rather ground raw cacao powder in this rich gravy. Cacao powder is essentially cocoa powder but in its purest, most unadulterated powder form. This powder is made by cold-pressing raw cacao beans with the temperature never exceeding 120° F (this is what qualifies it as raw.) Regular cocoa powders are often exposed to temperature as high as 300°. The minimal processing of cacao powder allows for maximum flavor, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. (more…)
Apr 29, 2012 | Chocolate and Cocoa, Quick and Easy Meals
Spiced Cocoa-Crusted Pork Loin Chop
The other night, we ate the MOST decadent, deliciously chocolate-laden meal and dessert of my life — and it’s all because of YOU, my dear readers. You see, because of you, I was not satisfied with making just one dish for the Savory Spice Shop promotion — nor was I content with the two I already posted. No — I needed a full six course meal full of cocoa-liscious recipes. (more…)
Apr 16, 2012 | Chocolate and Cocoa, Cocktails & Appetizers
As any loyal reader knows, I have a thing for chocolate so when Savory Spice Shop approached the Virtual Potluck (VP) gang and we were all charged with choosing a section — I chose the baking section because Savory Spice Online has six different kinds of cocoa/cacao powder residing there. Ah! The rich splendor of cocoa!
For the rest of this month, The Groovy Foody will be exploring the world of cocoa with a total of six recipes (one for each type) including a bevy of savory entries, because if you haven’t experienced cocoa or chocolate in it’s non-dessert form, you’re only getting half the picture. (more…)
Mar 4, 2012 | Breads and Rolls (NOT GF), Comfort Food, Gluten-Free
What? Wait? Did I say, “corn dog muffins?” OK, I did — but did I really say, “Gluten-Free?” (Yes!)
“No way,” you say, “there’s all kinds of fillers in hot dogs and usually that means wheat.”
Not when you use hot dogs that are filler and preservative-free (no nitrates or nitrites and no MSG — YAY!) and the great thing is these corn dog muffins taste every bit as decadent as their recipe title sounds (sans the gluten-free moniker.) I made them as something a little different for lunch one day and with a hubby and a young son in the house, for whom hot dogs are always a welcome sight, it felt like a no-brainer. (more…)
Feb 20, 2012 | Chocolate and Cocoa, Low or No Sugar, Luscious Desserts
I’m in the midst of building a better me (gluten-free and lower sugar) — but that is a hard road most days, because I’m a chocoholic. Luckily the VP gang and I all received big boxes, chock full of avocados from So Cal Avocados. Delicious good-for-you-fat, avocados, that help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, while boosting your good cholesterol.
That extra creamy fat-feel on your tongue can also translate into less fat on your thighs too, because when you replace other fatty food cravings during a dietary change, with avocado, your body feels more satiated — leaving you less likely to binge. And avocados are fiber-licious, helping you to feel fuller and aiding in your body’s digestion. Not only that, but these little alligator-skinned beauties are like nutrition bombs — packed with potassium and vitamins A, C, E, and K. (more…)
Feb 9, 2012 | Comfort Food, Holiday Fare, Luscious Desserts
Nobody wants to spend their whole night in the kitchen on Valentine’s Day. You want to cook, present, eat and get on with the canoodling– am I right? In this, our final V-Day menu we show that cooking at home on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be super labor intensive — just scrumptious.
The four courses we’ve have paired here are easy for most anyone to make but still elegant and tasty. Sometimes simplicity is the key.
Each week, four of our 12 bloggers has put their best food forward as part of a 4 course “Lovers Feast” and what Valentine’s Day is complete without a TASTE-y libation? We teamed up with Otis over at Taste on The N8tion.com for custom cocktails to go with each course — they even whipped up some yummy non-alcoholic beverages for those of you who don’t imbibe (See week 1.)
Final Valentine’s 4 Course Lover’s Feast Menu
APPETIZER: Milisa at Miss in the Kitchen serves up sensually Creamy Mushroom Egg Rolls
INTERMEZZO: Donna at Cookistry: Flowered Cheese Course (an array of tasty cheeses with a touch of romance)
ENTREE: Here on The GrooVy Foody: Steak Frites with Gorgonzola sauce, caramelized onion and sauteed mushrooms
