Nothing's better than dipping anything in chocolate!

Chocolate Fondue

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, reserve 1/4 cup to thin if fondue begins to thicken
4 bittersweet chocolate bars, chopped, 3 1/2 ounces each
2 tablespoons Frangelico or Amaretto liqueur, optional
1/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts or almonds, optional

Suggested Dippables, choose 3 or 4 selections of the following:

Hazelnut or almond biscotti
Salted pretzel sticks
Cubed pound cake
Sliced bananas
Stem strawberries
Sectioned navel oranges
Ripe fresh diced pineapple


Heat 1/2 cup cream in a heavy non-reactive saucepot over moderate heat until cream comes to a low boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate. Let the chocolate stand in hot cream 3 to 5 minutes to soften, then whisk chocolate together with the cream. Stir in liqueur and/or chopped nuts and transfer the fondue to a fondue pot or set the mixing bowl on a rack above a small lit candle. If fondue becomes too thick, stir in reserved cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, to desired consistency. Arrange your favorite dippables in piles on a platter along side chocolate fondue with fondue forks, bamboo skewers or seafood forks, as utensils, for dipping.

It's creamy, luscious and sensuous.. a definite crowd-pleaser. 

Tiramisu

Copyright, 2002, Barefoot Contessa Family Style, All rights reserved
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com
 

6 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup good dark rum, divided
1 1/2 cups brewed espresso, divided
16 to 17 ounces mascarpone cheese
30 Italian ladyfingers, or savoiardi
Bittersweet chocolate, shaved or grated
Confectioners' sugar, optional

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 5 minutes, or until very thick and light yellow. Lower the speed to medium and add 1/4 cup rum, 1/4 cup espresso, and the mascarpone. Whisk until smooth.
Combine the remaining 1/4 cup rum and 1 1/4 cups espresso in a shallow bowl. Dip 1 side of each ladyfinger in the espresso/rum mixture and line the bottom of a 9 by 12 by 2-inch dish. Pour half the espresso cream mixture evenly on top. Dip 1 side of the remaining ladyfingers in the espresso/rum mixture and place them in a second layer in the dish. Pour the rest of the espresso cream over the top. Smooth the top and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

Before serving, sprinkle the top with shaved chocolate and dust lightly with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Notes: To make espresso for this recipe in your electric drip coffee maker, use enough water for 4 cups of coffee plus 1/3 cup of ground espresso.

You can find savoiardi and mascarpone in an Italian specialty store.

Sometimes it IS possible to find a recipe that tastes good and is heart-healthy.

Creamy Mocha Chocolate and Raspberry Parfait

Courtesy of The Strang Cookbook for Cancer Prevention
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com

Mocha Chocolate Mousse:
Two 10 1/2-ounce containers Mori-Nu lite, silken tofu
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Tia Maria or other coffee liqueur
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon good quality cocoa powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Raspberry sauce:
2 1/2 cups fresh raspberries, well rinsed, or frozen, thawed
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
 

Garnish:
1/2 cup raspberries
4 mint leaves

To prepare the mousse, combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and puree until creamy, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mousse to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
To prepare the raspberry sauce, combine 1 1/2 cups of raspberries and the remaining ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth. Strain the raspberry sauce through a fine strainer (rubbing with a rubber spatula to work through the mesh) into a small bowl. Mix in the remaining 1 cup of whole raspberries, cover, and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.
Spoon a 1-inch deep layer of mousse into long, narrow parfait glasses or small glass dessert bowls, spreading out evenly. Top with a layer of raspberry sauce. Repeat, ending with a layer of mousse. Chill for at least 20 minutes. Garnish with some whole raspberries and a mint leaf.

Per serving: calories - 133, protein - 8 gm, fat - 2 gm, cholesterol - 0mg
 

The following is not a simple recipe but it tastes great and is worth the effort for a special meal.

Risotto al Salto

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com 
 

Olive oil flavored cooking spray
1/2 cup Risotto with Mushrooms and Peas, recipe follows, cold
1 to 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Spray cooking spray into a small non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Shape the risotto into a round patty and add to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the risotto is golden brown on the bottom and set around the edges. Use a spatula to turn the risotto patty and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Slide the risotto onto a plate, sprinkle Parmesan on top and serve.

Mushroom Risotto with Peas:
8 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2-ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onions
10 ounces white mushrooms, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice or short-grain white rice
2/3 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, optional

Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the porcini mushrooms. Set aside until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Keep the broth warm over very low heat.
Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes (the rice will absorb 6 to 8 cups of broth). Stir in the peas. Mix in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

Try this for a simple, well-balanced meal which will satisfy you
without making you feel heavy.

Seared Ahi Tuna and Salad of Mixed Greens with Wasabi Vinaigrette

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Reprinted from FoodNetwork.com 
 

1 ahi tuna steak, 6 ounces
2 teaspoons five-spice powder, available on spice aisle
1 teaspoon grill seasoning, such as Montreal Steak Seasoning, or salt and coarse pepper
Cooking spray or vegetable oil, for brushing the grill pan
5 ounces, half a sack, mixed prewashed baby salad greens
2 radishes, sliced
1/4 European cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon wasabi paste
1 tablespoon rice vinegar or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons -virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Coat your steak with a combination of five-spice powder and grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan or griddle over high heat. Spray grill surface or wipe with a thin layer of oil. Add tuna steak to the hot cooking surface and sear tuna 2 minutes on each side. Remove tuna from heat.
Combine greens, radishes and cucumber in a bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk wasabi, vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk in oil to combine dressing. Drizzle dressing over your salad and toss to coat evenly. Slice tuna on an angle and arrange on the salad.