Image by FL4Y

Oreos and Bananas. Grab a glass and layer in the following order: 1 Oreo, sliced bananas, nuts, whipped cream. Repeat layering till glass is almost full. Top with more nuts and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Chocolate Banana Pops. Dip a peeled banana in melted chocolate. Roll in crushed cornflakes. Wrap in foil and freeze overnight.

Fried Chocolate and Banana Wraps. Dice bananas. Mix with chocolate chips. Place a spoonful of the mixture at the center of a wonton wrapper. Fold into a triangle, sealing with water or beaten egg. In a heated pan, melt butter, then fry the chocolate-banana wraps till golden. Serve with powdered sugar.

Banana Chocolate Smoothie. In a blender, place a banana, chocolate milk and crushed ice. Blend till smooth!

Chocolate Banana Sandwich. Smear one side of bread with chocolate spread. Top with slice bananas. Cover with another piece of bread. Heat in toaster oven for 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Post from: Blisstree

Chocolate and Banana Snack Ideas

Recognizing that not all traveler cannot afford dinnertime gourmet, restaurants are meeting the lunchtime dining needs of its patrons with creative menus and pricing, all the while still maintaining a very upscale experience.

In a city with dining choices ranging from cheap-o buffets to high end gourmet dining, food lovers can rejoice in an affordable (and yummy) prix fixe lunch offer at Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro at Las Vegas’s Caesars Palace.  For $19 (not including beverage, tax, or tip), you can savor three delicious courses from award-winning chef François Payard in the beautiful restaurant dining room, designed for an upscale French bistro experience.

The summer menu is still in effect, giving you a choice of a Caprese Salad or Taboule for your starter, a choice of Halibut Riviera Style or Flat Iron Steak for you lunch entree, and a choice from the delicious selection of French pastries for dessert.  Schedule a late lunch and you can skip dinner all together!

Payard’s also has a casual walk up chocolate and pastry shop featuring signature chocolates, desserts, sandwiches and pastries, along with made-to-order crepes, coffee drinks, ice cream and sorbet.  Stop off for a morning coffee and pastry fix (almost as good as if you were in Paris), as well as to pick up goodies for a picnic lunch.

Payard Pâtisserie is located in Caesar’s Palace on the energetic Las Vegas strip:  3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South.  Lunch is served 11:30 – 3 pm.  The pastry counter is open 6:30 am – 11 pm.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

$19 Gourmet Lunch at Payard Pâtisserie, Las Vegas

Chocolate Chip Potato Poppers

INGREDIENTS :

* Cooking spray
* 1 1/3 cups flour
* 2/3 cup instant Idaho® potato flakes
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup skim milk
* 2 egg whites
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375˚ F. Coat the cups of 2 mini-muffin pans (24 cups) with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, potato flakes, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt until mixed. Stir in the milk, egg whites, oil and vanilla extract until blended. Add the chocolate chips and mix well.

3. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full. Bake 14 – 17 minutes, or until golden in color and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Loosen the edges of each muffin with a knife, and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Doesn’t the picture look great? I’m quite surprised at how easy to make it also. Who knew potatoes and chocolates could complement each other?

(Image/Source : Idaho potato)

Post from: Blisstree

Chocolate Chip Potato Poppers

Apricot Preserves Chocolate Loaf

INGREDIENTS :
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped into small pieces
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
1 3/4 cups flour

FILLING :
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup apricots preserve
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup sour cream
extra apricots preserve as garnish

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a loaf pan lightly. Line it with baking parchment.

Melt the 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate. Set aside.

Beat eggs and sugar together in a mixing bowl until thick and creamy. Stir in sour cream and melted chocolate. Fold in the flour using a metal spatula.

Pour the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for about an hour or until springy and firm to the touch. Cool it the pan for a fe minutes then turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Melt apricot preserves over gentle heat. Melt the other batch of 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate. Combine the apricot preserves with the melted chocolate. Stir in the sour cream.

Slice the loaf across into 3 layers. Spread 1/3 of the filling onto 1 layer. Repeat with the other layer then spread the remaining filling on top of the loaf. Add a little bit of apricot preserve on top as a decoration.

Apricot Preserves Chocolate Loaf

The recipe which I altered by using apricot preserves instead of bitter orange marmalade is from my CHOCOLATE by Christine McFadden and Christine France cookbook.

(Images © Dexie Wharton)

Post from: Blisstree

Apricot Preserves Chocolate Loaf

Yes. Lovapalooza is an annual event held all over the world on Valentine’s Day (or on any date close to it) and its sole purpose is to break a Guinness World Record by gathering as much couples as they can and have them kiss for a minute. (Current world record is around 5,300++ couples, I think)

In my country, it’s considered the biggest and most romantic kissing festival. The Lovapalooza 2007 was held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Newsbit: Lovapalooza 2005

Now, I’m a lot curious as to how many couples will participate in an event like this one. Has any of you ever been in one of these things? Come on — share!

This post is the original content of Dating Dames. If you are reading this post and it appears anyplace besides Dating Dames — please report it back to us so that we may take proper action to end the continued theft of our content.

Post from: Blisstree

Time For Some Lovapalooza!