Celebrating 2 Years with Chocolate Agar Agar, Be Still My Heart

Tweet

First of all what is the correct term blogiversary, blogoversary or blogaversary? Beats me! I'll go with blogoversary (shrugging), just because.

I can't believe that this month, July 2011, marks the 2nd blogoversary of my baby, Spicie Foodie. When I first started kicking around the idea of becoming a blogger, I could have never imagined that it would have put me on the path I'm on. All I can say is Wow!, Thank you and I can't wait to see what the next 2 years hold.

One of the many great benefits of being a food blogger is the incredible people I've met and the new friendships I've formed. You my new foodie friends have supported and encouraged me to keep going and push harder, for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope that you will continue on this journey with me. July will be a month of celebrations with many special recipes, giveaway, contests, and some other special events. Make sure you are following me somewhere or that you visit often to stay up to date. But in the mean time I'd like to share with you the celebratory treat I prepared for us.

Previously I mentioned incredible people I've met, one of those incredibles is Maya from Foodiva's Kitchen. Maya is not only a fantastically talented woman but also very kind and giving. I love reading and of course drooling over her blog because she never lets me down. Every sweet treat is stimulating to the eyes and gets your tummy growling. Her eye for vibrant food and delicious flavor pairings is quite unique, in a very good way. You just have to see it for yourself, so stop by and say hi to Maya at her blog Foodiva's Kitchen.

This treat, or that is the Classic Chocolate Agar Agar recipe, is from one of the most adorable cookbooks I have ever seen and owned. Maya heard that I was learning to cook with Agar Agar and just had to send me this adorable book. It is called "Pretty Little Agar Agar" by Amy Wong, and if you can find it you have to buy it. It was so difficult choosing which recipe to try first because they all look so delicious and beautiful. We went with this creamy chocolate and vanilla layered agar that did not let down. If you love chocolate you have to make this. Quite simply this is the best jelly I have ever had! Plus you don't have to use disgusting gelatin made from animal "stuff" . Agar Agar is a vegan product made from seaweed. Also if you are looking for a summer treat that doesn't involve turning on the oven, agar is a great no-bake dessert. Here it the heavenly recipe that stole my heart.

Classic Chocolate Agar Agar

recipe source "Pretty Little Agar Agar" by Amy Wong

Ingredients A

4 tbsp agar-agar powder

1/2 tsp salt

1500 ml water

1 can evaporated milk

300g sugar

60g coffee creamer

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Ingredients B

150g cooking chocolate

3 tbsp cocoa powder

4 tbsp peanut butter

400 ml water

1 tsp agar-agar powder

Method:

1. Boil agar agar powder and water from ingredients B. Add remainin Ingredients B, continue boiling over low heat and filter.

2.Boil Ingredients A. Keep 1100mk fro laer use. Mixthe remaining mixture with Ingredeitns B and bring to boil again.

3. Take a mould, pour the mixtures in order: 150ml cocoa layer, 200ml white layer, 250 ml cocoa layer, 250ml white layer, 250ml cocoa layer, 300ml white layer, 300ml cocoa layer.

4. Chill in the refrigerator when it is completely set.

Remark: Make sure the mixture is half-set before pouring the next layer in, until all the mixtures are used up.

What I did different: The only thing I changed was the layering order. I was pressed for time and formed thicker layers. Also my mould though big wasn't large enough so I had a lot leftover. I used a canneles and star silicone moulds to make different shapes for the extra agar. You can find all of the silicone moulds here, Silicone Moulds .

Heavenly to the last bite! Thankfully the recipe yields enough to feed 8 or more so I have plenty leftover for snacks and desserts. Next time I need to work on getting the layers perfect so they do not bleed on to the previous layer. Oh well I'll just have to keep making more until I get it perfect ;) Thank you Maya for the lovely gift, I love it! What about you, have you ever made Agar Agar?


These Are The Top 10 Viewed Recipes On Spicie Foodie: (based on analytic page views)

- Mexican Chorizo
- Heavenly Nutella Banana Bread
- Homemade Non Separating Almond Milk
- Vegan Indian Cauliflower Mash, or Aloo Gobi Mash
- Ukrainian Hangover Cure Cocktail
- Somen (Nyumen) Miso Soup, Ready in 10 Minutes
- Spicy Spaghetti with grated Zucchini
- Zanahorias en Escabeche or Mexican Spicy Pickled Carrots
- Baharat Spiced Beef Stew (A Wacky Stew)
- What do The Godfather and A Scruffy Terrier Have In Common?

Read more...

Watermelon Feta Salsa with Fresh Horseradish, Euro-Mexican Fusion

Tweet

**July 8, 2011, Recipe Featured on Gourmet Live **

Thanks for voting this into today's (July 5th) Foodbuzz top 9.

To me no other fruit says summer like the heavy, green, oval fruit with a bright red center and little black seeds. Im talking about watermelon of course. It’s not like watermelon is the only summer fruit or that it is necessarily my favorite summertime fruit. I think it is because of my personal summertime memories that repeat summer after summer in homes all across the world. You see when I picture a hot, sweaty summer day I see a child with his or her face buried in a large slice of watermelon gobbling up the sweet fruit. Every bite squeezes out more juicy goodness that runs down the child’s face, arms and most likely down the top half of their clothes. As adults that is not an acceptable sight or one that other adults will find as funny and cute as watching a child take such pleasure in a slice of watermelon. Kids get to have all the fun! Nonetheless I think we can all relate to that childhood memory of sitting on the grass in the summer sunshine refreshing our bodies with a chunk of watermelon.

The recipe I have for you today is a little more grownup than just a slice of watermelon. Not that there is anything wrong with a juicy serving of watermelon. I came up with this salsa as a way of using up what was leftover in my refrigerator. In fact it’s not much of a recipe but more like a guide of throw this and that into a bowl to create a dish that takes advantage of the bounty of summer. The salsa is so in name but more like a fusion of ingredients so not specifically from one nation. But since I served it like a salsa and a good portion of the ingredients are European, we can call it a Euro-Mexican fusion.

Here is what went into my watermelon salsa, watermelon, cubed and seeded. I threw in some cubed feta cheese along with roughly chopped red radishes. If you do not have red radishes then substitute with finely chopped onion, red would be good. Then I finely chopped a small bunch of chives and added them to the bowl. Guess what there was also a lime, so I squeezed the juice over the other ingredient. Then in the back of the vegetable crisper I found some fresh horseradish root to grate into the salsa, that is where the spiciness was going to come in. The horseradish root gives more of a nasal spiciness than a back of the mouth spiciness that a chile would give. Nonetheless it was a great addition to the salsa. Before you grate the horseradish make sure it is thoroughly rinsed as dirt and debris can become logged in the curves of this root. Then using a vegetable peeler, peel away the darker outer layer until you’ve reached the white and woody layer. Grate as much as you like into the salsa. Lastly gently toss the ingredients together until well combined. Taste and adjust anything you like. Serve it in a bowl or inside the leftover watermelon rind.

The salsa was sweet, salty, a little tart and yes, spicy. That is the perfect combination of flavors! I served the spicy watermelon salsa with grilled Nile perch and grilled chicken. In fact this would be the perfect accompaniment for any grilled meats or fish. You could also serve as an appetizer or snack with some corn chips. Since the 4th of July means cookouts why not make the salsa and impress your guest. Enjoy it!

Other watermelon recipes:

- Agua de Sandia -Mexican Watermelon Water

- Summer Sunshine In A Bowl by Alisha Randell via Honest Cooking

- Grilled watermelon and haloumi salad by Scandi Foodie

- Tofu Feta, Watermelon and Basil Salad by Happy Healthy Life

- Watermelon Sugar Cookies by Megan's Cookin'

Read more...