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!

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.

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!