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Confection

Salted Vanilla Caramels – A Cookbook Review

By Denise Pare-Watson

Redpath Sugar has helped Canadian bakers for over 160 years.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to review the new Redpath Canadian Bake Book. The book is a collection of favourite classic recipes originally brought to Canada from all corners of the world.  The cookbook has tested and perfected recipes. This book has already become a favourite in my kitchen. The Redpath Canadian Bake Book has over 200 recipes that include cakes, breads, desserts, special occasion recipes, many baking tips and secrets, and even a section on confection, which makes this pastry chef very happy.  One recipe in particular, Salted Vanilla Caramels, caught my eye.  These delicious and very addictive caramels can be made easily and quickly in only 6 minutes in your microwave oven.

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Salted Vanilla Caramels | urbnspice.com

 The cookbook has many interesting features:
  • The story of Redpath Sugar:  the beginning, the history, the commitment to environmentally conscious sugar manufacturing.
  • How Redpath crafts its sugar:  I learned about the series of steps it takes to clean, filter, boil to the final crystal and drying stages.
  • The Baker’s Kitchen:  a detailed section outlining what it takes to be prepared for baking day:  pantry stocking, refrigerator and freezer staples, must have equipment, and even how to test raising agents (yeast, baking powder, baking soda) for freshness.
Salted Vanilla Caramels are garnished with sea salt and cut into pieces | urbnspice.com

Salted Vanilla Caramels are garnished with sea salt and cut into pieces

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Filed Under: Confection, Cookbook Reviews, Desserts and Sweets Tagged With: Candies, Caramel, Confection, Cookbook Reviews

How to Make Homemade Maple Molasses Caramel Popcorn

By Denise Pare-Watson

CULINARY HISTORIANS OF CANADA 150 FOOD BLOG CHALLENGE SERIES

Prelude: I am a proud Canadian. When the Culinary Historians of Canada (CHC) invited food bloggers to participate in the “CHC Canada 150 Food Blog Challenge”, I knew that I wanted in! What a great way to celebrate and honour Canada’s 150th birthday by featuring a different Canadian dish or discussing a topic which reflects on what it means to be Canadian. For October, the Culinary Historians invited bloggers to post about all things autumnal, including the special foods we associate with Thanksgiving, Hallowe’en and other festivals. The first thing that came to my mind was the treats that my Mom would prepare for the trick or treaters at Hallowe’en. The neighbourhood children knew that my Mom would be giving away some type of special homemade treat like colourful popcorn balls, candy apples, fudge and the ever-popular bags of Maple Molasses Caramel Popcorn, commonly known as Cracker Jacks.

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Maple Molasses Caramel Popcorn | urbnspice.com

Maple Molasses Caramel Popcorn

When I was a child, homemade Hallowe’en treats were the norm. We lived in a small village in the country where children worked very hard to earn their Hallowe’en treats as most of the houses were spaced quite far apart. I loved helping with the preparations for Hallowe’en. My father grew some of the biggest and best pumpkins in the area in his large vegetable garden. We set aside a day to carve pumpkins, which became a neighbourhood event with the local kids. Our large front porch was decorated festively with corn stalks and all our jack-o-lanterns. The best part for me was helping to make all the Hallowe’en treats!…

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: CHC Canada 150 Food Blog Challenge Series, Confection, Dairy Free Recipes, Desserts and Sweets, Food Fun, Gluten Free Recipes, My Recipes, Preservative Free, Refined Sugar Free Recipes Tagged With: Canada 150 Food Blog Challenge 2017, Canada150, Caramel Corn, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Snacks

32 Classic Homemade Candy Recipes by Food Bloggers of Canada

By Denise Pare-Watson

RECIPE ROUNDUPS

Time to play in the kitchen with 32 Candy Recipes from Food Bloggers of Canada, including a recipe from UrbnSpice, called Dark Chocolate Truffles. Have fun!

32 Homemade Candies by Food Bloggers of Canada

Here is the link to making your own candy today!

32 Classic Homemade Candy Recipes by Food Bloggers of Canada

 

Chocolate Truffles | urbnspice.com

If you would like to try your hand at making some of my easy Dark Chocolate Truffles, here is your link:

Dark Chocolate Truffles by UrbnSpice

Dark Chocolate Truffles | urbnspice.com

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Chocolate, Confection, Desserts and Sweets, Food Fun, Holiday Baking, My Recipes, Recipe Roundups Tagged With: Candy Recipes, Chocolate, Confection, Food Bloggers of Canada, Sweets

Dark Chocolate Truffles

By Denise Pare-Watson

What do you do with a bit of leftover dark chocolate ganache?  Make Dark Chocolate Truffles, of course! You can make these truffles in a snap and they make wonderful hostess gifts and they are also great additions to a cookie plate.  Besides, they are fun to make and a great activity if you have children helping in the kitchen.  There is no complicated tempered chocolate dipping with this recipe – the outside of the truffles are covered easily in Chocolate Vermicelli.  Anyone can make these – give them a try!

Dark Chocolate Truffles: Truffles are easy to make | urbnspice.com

Truffles are easy to make  

A ganache filling can be used for many things, including making truffles.  Other uses include top brownies or squares; layer in between a crumb crust; sandwich in between cookies or macaroons. I have used ganache to coat a cake and spread on a cake as a frosting. In other words, ganache is extremely versatile, so making a little extra is a good thing. You can freeze ganache in an airtight container or an airtight sealed bag using a food sealer.

Dark Chocolate Truffles | urbnspice.comCloseup of Chocolate Vermicelli Coating

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2014-2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Chocolate, Confection, Desserts and Sweets, Food Fun, Gluten Free Recipes, Kids in the Kitchen, My Recipes Tagged With: Chocolate, Confection, Desserts & Sweets, Gluten Free, inspiration of the day, Sweets

Crumb Truffles! A Journey in Gluten Free Recipe Development

By Denise Pare-Watson

What are Crumb Truffles?  I have a little story and words of encouragement for you if you have ever tried to develop or follow a recipe and it did not go exactly as planned.  Follow me as I tell you about my journey in Gluten Free Recipe Development.

Crumb Truffles as part of a Mignardise plate | urbnspice.com

Truffles as part of a Mignardise plate

 

CRUMB TRUFFLES!

A Word of Encouragement

In every journey, there a few tumbles.

Recently, the Urb’n’Spice kitchen is a hive of activity testing for a new cookbook in the series,

“Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious”.

This book is a little different in that all of the recipes are gluten-free

– and all chocolate.

In gluten-free baking, we can expect

that there is the possibility of, shall we say, “interesting” results.

I have had more than my share of fiascos during the research,

testing and tasting for this book.

My words of advice:

Do not let disappointing results discourage you!

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

In other words, if your gluten-free baking experiments

Inadvertently provide you with more crumbs

than you can think of ways to use them,

Make CRUMB TRUFFLES!

Crumb Truffles by urbnspice.com

Crumb Truffles!

That is exactly what I did!

And, they were a hit!

The Formula:

Place the crumbs in a mixer  with a paddle attachment

Add any chocolate ganache (roughly 4 to 1 ratio)

(this is why it is great to make a little extra ganache)

If it is a little too sticky, add more crumbs. A little dry? Add a bit more ganache.

Mix until it becomes friendly – a nice moldable dough of sorts.

Use a small cookie scoop. Roll into balls. Chill until firm.

Roll the chilled balls into Chocolate Dip

(or tempered chocolate for my pastry chef colleagues)

Decorate the truffles, if you want with a little chopped chocolate,

chocolate jimmies,

or, as in the photo, a little chocolate caviar!

A medley of Crumb Truffles by urbnspice.com

A medley of Crumb Truffles

Crumb Truffles!  Share!  Enjoy! 

“Nobody knows the truffles I’ve seen”

LEARNING TIPS:  

Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

  • Cream
  • Ganache
  • Perseverance
  • Vanilla Extract
    __________

More like this:

Dark Chocolate Truffles by Urb’n’Spice

A Unique Cheesecake:  Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with Chocolate Pecan Crust

How to Make Decadent Dark Chocolate Tart

Chocolate Almond Torte

Want More Chocolate?

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Gluten-Free Chocolate Desserts

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2016-2017 Urb'n'SpiceAll Rights Reserved
Original content here is published under these license terms: X 
License Type:Commercial
License Abstract:You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

Filed Under: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!, Confection, Experiments Tagged With: Chocolate, Food Fun, Gluten Free Desserts, Gluten Free Techniques, Kids in the Kitchen, Sweets

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Meet Denise – The Urbnspice Chef

Welcome to Urbnspice - A Taste of Heart and Home. Inspiration in my kitchen is often a trip to the market or an experimental coincidence! Come and join me on this culinary journey where I share my passion for the creative, technical and teaching components of the profession and unravel culinary quandaries for you with fun and easy to follow user-friendly recipes, tips & techniques.
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