Quick Appetizers for the holidays

The holidays are a time for breaking out those elegant, entertaining-ready recipes, but they can also be among the most busy and stressful days of the year.

Chef Heather from The Chocolate Mousse Caterers and would like to help you start the Holiday Season, stress-free! Impress your party guests with ease by relying on a few freezer and pantry staples.

You can get endlessly creative customizing puff pastry by wrapping it around an assortment of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and even fruits before baking. Your treats can be served with your favorite dipping sauce.

Marinate Olives in a blend of Herbs and Spices for an easy up-scale treat.
Or toss any variety of shelled nuts in a mix of spices, butter, and brown sugar. Bake for 10 minutes then cool and you have a stellar bar snack.

For more super-speedy options to help you up your hosting game this Holiday season, check us out online at ChocolateMousseCatering.com or call today to reserve your next event at 845-518-6533.

That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles...

But it doesn't have to be!    Your probably still waddling after the large consumption of Thanksgiving treats... and now you need to prepare for National Cookie Day (Dec 4)!  In an attempt to help lessen the impact of the seasonal bulge, I'd like to offer you some healthier baking substitutions this cookie season. (National Cookie Month is October... but who ever heard of cookies in October?!?  It is clearly supposed to be in December!)

 

Flour Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Increase the nutrients and fiber:

    1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour mixed with 1/2 cup White Flour

 

    Go Gluten Free:

    1/3 cup Rice Flour + 1/3 cup Millet Flour + 1/3 cup Almond Meal

    

    Low Carb / Calorie and high in Fiber:

    1 cup Black Bean Puree                                                                          

 

Sweetener Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Reduce Sugar content by Half:

    1 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce

 

    Reduce the Calories by 400 Calories per cup:

    1/2 cup Sugar + 1/2 Tbs Vanilla Extract

 

    No Brown Sugar?...

    1 cup White Sugar + 2 Tbl Molasses = Light Brown Sugar

 

    1 cup White Sugar + 3 Tbl Molasses = Dark Brown Sugar

 

    Ran Out of Confectioners Sugar?...

    1 cup White Sugar + 1 Tbl Cornstarch... process in food processor until powdery

 

Fat Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Butter:

    Reduce the Fat and Calories by half:

    1 cup Mashed Avocado (this will tint your recipe slightly green)

 

    1 cup Mashed Bananas

 

    Oil:

    1 cup Stiffly Beaten Egg Whites

 

    1 cup Greek Yogurt

 

Dairy Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

     Heavy Cream:

     Cut Calories and Fat:

     1 cup Evaporated Milk       

 

     Buttermilk:

     1 cup Milk + 1 Tbl Lemon Juice OR Vinegar

 

Leavener Substitutes (for 1 tsp) -

     Baking Powder:

     1/3 tsp Baking Soda + 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

 

     Baking Soda:

     2 tsp Baking Soda and Omit the Salt from the recipe

 

     Cream of Tartar:

     1 tsp Lemon Juice

Sweet Specials