Chocolate Ricotta Mousse

So often when you are done with your recipe that you bought your big container of ricotta for (and you always buy the bigger one because it is more cost effective that way), you still have ricotta left and you don’t know what to use it for. I decided to go on the hunt for a healthy dessert that I could indulge in without feeling guilty.

This comes together in about 5 minutes (plus a little bit if you want it chilled) so you can whip this up any time you are craving something slightly sweet and chocolaty. If you are used to making healthy switches in your diet this will be more than perfect for you. If you are, like my family, not used to subbing healthy alternatives in for other things – this may not satisfy your sweet tooth. If you (or your family) want it more sweet – just add more sweetener!

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows – “Smore’s Pops”

We love S’mores around here! One of the great joys of the summer is relaxing around a campfire just hanging out with friends. While enjoying that fire – marshmallows toasted (or burnt) to perfection are just right! After enjoying that fire you come inside to head to bed and realize that you now smell like you’ve been camping all week.

Well -FEAR NO MORE… I have your Smoke-Free-S’mores here!

Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes

Most everyone enjoys Chocolate (and those that don’t need their heads checked, but that’s just my unsolicited opinion). Also, almost everyone can also find a Red Wine that they like (even if they don’t agree with those around them on what makes it good).

These Cupcakes combine the love of chocolate & wine.

For these Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes I figured the Cupcake Winery wine would be a perfect pairing! Cupcake Winery’s Red Velvet is a combination of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah – which has all of the perfect elements to pair with chocolate! But, if you enjoy sweet fruits a great wine would be a nice Blackberry or Strawberry Wine – that would make this a very sweet variation but I can’t wait to try that!! No matter what, the flavor of the wine will be a nice subtle undertone to the cupcakes but will shine through more in the frosting, so be sure to use something that you like!

Chocolate Truffles

We have been programmed to believe that “Nothing says Love like Chocolates [and flowers]”.

I really enjoy chocolate more than anything – so that is the type of love we are featuring here today!

In honor of Valentines Day, I share my love with you!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Recently my ‘kids’ at Big Boulder requested that I make them some goodies. This always works out to be a win-win-win because I get to try new recipes and Rich gets some treats left at home and I get to make others smile! You can easily make others smile by making them these for Valentines Day, since almost everyone loves the combination of Chocolate & Peanut Butter!

I also brought some of these to my parents & mom’s immediate reaction was that I needed to make these again (which was also the reaction of others who tried them). These are so easy and totally delicious – a great balance between the sweet and salty… amazing!