Cocktail Suggestions To Help Evoke The Holiday Spirit In Your Spirits

Are you looking for a fun cocktail to make this season? 

I'm Chef Heather from The Chocolate Mousse Caterers and I'd like to offer you some quick tricks on how to embrace the holiday spirit with some Holiday spirits. 

When crafting a themed cocktail, use an alcohol or juice that's the color you're looking for, instead of using food coloring.  For example, you can make a vodka and cranberry cocktail look festive by adding a green garnish like mint.  For a green Christmas cocktail, mix Midori with pineapple juice and top with maraschino cherries.  Garnish punch or Sangria with frozen fruit, such as strawberries, peach slices, and grapes.  These cold treats will act as a flavorful, edible ice cube, and they won't dilute the flavor like a normal ice.  Lastly, enjoy eggnog through a cinnamon stick.  This will impart spicy goodness into every sip. 

For more entertaining tips and tricks this Holiday season, check us out online at ChocolateMousseCatering.com or call today to reserve your next event at 845-518-6533. 

Gingerbread Tips and Tricks

Everywhere you turn the aroma of cinnamon and spice waft through the air. Gingerbread is representative of all things Holiday spirited. These favorite treats were one of the were one of the first sweet treats used in winter celebrations, and they are still a fan favorite.


Hi, I',m Chef Heather from the Chocolate Mousse Catering and I'd like to offer you some quick tricks on how to fill your home with the fresh scent and taste of gingerbread.

Tip 1: Do not over mix your dough. Over mixed dough will create tough cookies.

Tip 2: Chill your dough for at least 1 hour then dust with confectionery sugar and flour for no hassle rolling

Tip 3: Lightly mist your cookie cutter with cooking spray for easy slip-away cutouts

Tip 4: Bake your cookies until just the edges crisp up, the cookies will firm as they cool

Tip 5: Gingerbread cookies can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and maintain their integrity and flavor. So if you're considering a large gingerbreading projects but the idea of cooking is overwhelming, go ahead and make a few pieces day by day and store them in an airtight container until you're ready to assemble!

For more baking tips and tricks this Holiday season, check out our website at Chocolatemoussecatering.com, follow us @chocolatemoussecatering on Twitter and/or visit our Facebook page

Call us anytime at (845) 518-6533 and reserve our services for your next event!

Sweet Treats for the Holidays

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

Calorie Conscience Christmas

  We are well into the wonderful time of year for celebrations of all types.  Some parties honor Tacky Christmas Sweaters while others are Classy Cocktail Gatherings, and some are Pajama Parties with Family.  Regardless of how you celebrate, there's a good chance you're heading somewhere containing a whole bunch of extra calories this weeked, next weekend, or any time between now and Jan. 2.

   Since the cold is not generally conducive to working out, I can't think of anything better than to offer some healthy cooking tips on how to stay in shape (not circular) without having to work out in the bitter cold, desperately trying to run off eggnog and candy canes.  Here are a few that come in handy with holiday baking, when calories seems to shoot through the roof:

Substitutes for:

Sugar
Vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, stevia.
   It is easy to swap out sugar in exchange for artificial substitutes such as Splenda, Equal or Sweet'n Low, but these give a pretty fake taste and aftertaste. You can pick up the natural altenatives at any grocery stores.

Eggs
Flaxseed/water mix (1tsp flax to 3 tsp water=1 egg) or egg whites (2 egg whites=1 egg).
   Not only does this cut calories, but also cholesterol!

Oil
Mashed banana or tofu, unsweetened applesauce.
   Use equal amounts applesauce as the oil that the recipe calls for. This is best for cakes, muffins, scones and bread. Mashed banana is better for cookies. For brownies use silken tofu.

Butter
Peanut butter, coconut butter.

Milk
Rice and low-calorie almond milk.
  Avoiding dairy immediately improves the health quality of any recipe.

All-purpose flour
Whole-wheat flour.
  According to livestrong.com, "Baking with whole grains, rather than all-purpose white flour, can add fiber to your diet, and high-fiber diets have been proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases."

   With all the holiday parties in full gear it is best to show up with cookies that you know aren't loaded with artificial sweeteners or sugar. How do you know? 'Cause you baked them yourself.
   Happy Baking!

Seventeen Days and Counting

    Thanksgiving is just 17 days away. For most Americans, Turkey Day is the beginning of a marathon of family, friends, football, and of course food.... and the average weight gain of 7 - 12 pounds(healthguidance.org). Ugh!

    Well, I'd like to help you be the best Dinner Guest by giving you some great, easy appetizer recipes that you can take to any gathering... and they are also friendly on your waist!

    Enjoy!

Vegetable Pate                                                                                

1-1/2 lb Fresh Green Beans

2 Hard Boiled Eggs
3 Onions
1 clove Garlic
1/2 c Roasted Almonds
1 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pinch Salt and Pepper

1- Steam Green Beans
2- Brown the Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil
3- Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth
4- Serve with fresh vegetables and/or crackers

Baked Brie                                                                                     

1/3 c    Dried Cranberries
1/3 c    Frozen Peaches, chopped and thawed
1/4 c    Sliced Almonds
1/4 c    Honey
1 tsp    Chopped Fresh Thyme
1 sht    Frozen Puff Pastry, thawed
1         8-ounce Wheel of Brie
1         Egg White

1- Preheat oven to 400°F.
2- Combine Cranberries, Peaches, Almonds, Honey, and Thyme
3- Roll Puff Pastry to 12-inch square. Trim top rind off Brie and center cheese on pastry. Top with fruit mixture.
4- Beat egg white in a small bowl and brush some egg wash along pastry edges. Gather dough up around Brie, twisting into a topknot. Chill in freezer for 15 minutes.
5- Brush pastry with egg wash and place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Bake for 35 minutes.

                                                                                                                                                        

Stuffed Apricots

1 package Whole Pitted Dried Apricots

1/2 c cubed Asiago Cheese

8-10 slices bacon, cut into thirds

1- Stuff apricots with a piece of the cheese.
2- Wrap one piece of the Bacon around each stuffed Apricot and secure with a toothpick.
3- Place on broiler pan with a rack.
4- Broil bacon wrapped apricots 4-6" from the heat source for 9-12 minutes, turning twice during cooking time, until crisp.
5- Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve.

Fig and Proscutto Crostata                                                                                            

4 oz       Dried Figs

1/4 c      Lemon Juice

1 Tbs     Fresh Thyme Leaves
2 cloves Garlic
1/2 tsp   Sea Salt
1            Pie Dough
4 oz       Goat Cheese, softened
2 oz       Prosciutto, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1            Egg White

1- Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F.
2- Place the Figs, Lemon Juice, Thyme, Garlic, and Salt in a food processor and process until smooth. Set aside.
3- Roll the Dough into a 13-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
4- Transfer the Dough to a baking sheet and gently spread the Goat Cheese onto the Dough, leaving a 3/4-inch-wide border around the edge.
5- Spread the Fig mixture over the Goat Cheese and fold the border edge over the fig mixture to form a 12-inch crostata.
6- Top with the Prosciutto and lightly brush the edge of the Dough with the Egg White.
7- Bake until golden -- about 15 minutes.
8- Cool on the sheet for 10 minutes.



Who Needs Tricks When They Can Have Treats?

          Tis the Season for Ghosts and Ghouls... my favorite time of year.  With just under 2 weeks until Halloween, my husband and I are a bit behind in finding just the perfect costumes for our 3 year old Goblins.  It's not that we haven't tried or that we haven't stewed on it for a year... we just haven't found the perfect get-up for their first real trick-or-treating excursions. 

 

Even though the boys haven't been transformed yet, I have some perfect disguises for your ordinary cupcakes.  From Wacky Witches to Perfect Pumpkins, any boring  cupcake can be made extraordinary.   All you need is icing (buttercream is my favorite), food coloring, chocolate, candy, and some imagination.

Here is a fantastic Icing Recipe to get you started:

Butter Cream Icing Recipe3/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon butter extract

4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons milk

(to make Chocolate... add 3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder)

Pumpkin Cupcake                                                                   

White or Yellow Cupcakes

Orange Colored Buttercream  Icing

Orange Sugar or Sprinkles

Pretzel

Green Buttercream

1- Ice your cupcake with Orange Frosting

2- Cover with Sugar or Sprinkles

3- Use Pretzel as a Stem

4- Pipe leaves with Green Frosting
5- ENJOY!

 If you need help with any of your Halloween Treats, don't hesitate to call on us... In the meanwhile, readers, I am calling on you... Costume ideas anyone?



Chef Heather
The Chocolate Mousse
http://www.chocolatemoussecatering.com/
845-518-6533