Chocolate Mint Parfaits with Chocolate Hearts

Chocolate Mint Parfaits with Chocolate Hearts

Chocolate Mint Parfaits with Chocolate Hearts

With just five ingredients, a few minutes, and some cute little serving glasses – you can prepare a delighful dessert that is elegant enough for fancy entertaining, yet humble enough for family dinner. A classic flavor combination of chocolate and mint, a striking color combination of chocolate brown and pale green, plus an artsy chocolate heart make this an enchanting sweet treat.

And since chocolate mint parfaits are perfect any time of year, you can serve them for almost any holiday. Just adorn them with the corresponding chocolate shape. On Valentine’s Day make chocolate hearts, on Saint Patrick’s Day make chocolate shamrocks. You get the idea – stars, crosses, pumpkins, baby showers, wedding showers, graduation…

Chocolate Mint Parfaits Recipe

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Savory Korean Breakfast Pancake {Breakfast Bindaetteok}

Savory Korean Breakfast Pancake {Breakfast Bindaetteok}

Savory Korean Breakfast Pancake
Breakfast Bindaetteok

Mung Bean Pancake (Gluten-Free, Low-Carb)
Nappa Cabbage Kimchi, Scallion
Topped with a Sunny-Side-Up Egg
Gochujang Sauce

It’s those savory caramelized bits of kimchi that make this pancake so irresistible. Dried-peeled-split mung beans are soaked overnight in water, then pureed in a blender to produce a pale yellow batter that yields a tasty low-carb, gluten-free pancake with an interesting slightly chewy texture.

The pancake is topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Gochujang sauce made from fermented red chilis, is spicy and slightly sweet and makes the perfect condiment for this breakfast which is a twist on the popular Korean appetizer called bindaetteok.

Savory Korean Breakfast Pancake Recipe

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Bison Chili with Heirloom Cranberry Beans, Poached Egg

Bison & Heirloom Bean Chili with Poached Egg

This recipe was loosely adapted from the Chasen’s Recipe, the famous chili that was shipped to Elizabeth Taylor when she was filming in Italy back in 1962. Heirloom cranberry beans and flavorful wild bison make this chili one that could be a contender in the next chili cook-off!

Smoked paprika and chili de arbol powder balance the chili with sweet smoke, earth, and heat notes. And I eschew the ubiquitous shredded cheese and diced onion topping for a silky poached egg. The runny yolk adds richness to the spicy stew.

Bison Chili with Poached Egg

Bison Chili with Heirloom Cranberry Beans & Poached Egg

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Korean Macaroni and Cheese with Beef, Kimchi, Cheddar

Korean Macaroni and Cheese with Beef, Kimchi, Cheddar

Korean Macaroni and Cheese with Beef, Kimchi, Cheddar

One stellar food pairing is kimchi plus cheddar. So when it came time to create a macaroni and cheese dish for Food Network’s Comfort Food Feast event, I immediately thought of kimchi. Funky tangy kimchi partners with sharp creamy cheddar, ground sirloin, and gochugaru, a Korean red chili powder that is definitely spicy – but also has a balanced fruitiness, slight smokiness and depth of flavor from the sun-dried red peppers. The resulting fusion dish is an irresistible grown-up full-flavored mac and cheese.

Korean Macaroni and Cheese with Beef, Kimchi, Cheddar

Beef & Kimchi Mac ‘n Cheese Recipe

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Shrimp and Grits in Mini Cast Iron Skillets

Shrimp and Grits in Mini Cast Iron Skillets

Shrimp and Grits in Mini Cast Iron Skillets

Whether it’s the charming presentation in mini cast iron skillets, or the fact that the time to prepare this “fisherman’s breakfast” originally from the Carolina Low Country is less than 15 minutes – Shrimp paired with Grits is a wonderful dish, both for the diner and the chef.

Serve it as a savory breakfast like they do in the South, or on the brunch buffet, an appetizer, lunch, dinner, or even a midnight snack. Creamy cheesy grits and large pink shrimp are highlighted by flavors of tangy lemon, piquant hot sauce and chiles, while scallions, garlic and mushrooms balance out the flavors in the not-too-heavy buttery sauce. Delightful – any time of day!

Shrimp and Grits Recipe

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