One thing I did not anticipate with my pregnancy was how tricky eating out was going to become. Yes, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to eat raw seafood or cold deli meat, but there were so many other food concerns I was not aware of! I’m sure the list now is different than it was many years ago, but as a fairly adventurous eater there are many foods I’m supposed to avoid. In addition to raw seafood and cold deli meat, there’s also unpasteurized cheeses, smoked fish, pate, fish high in mercury, raw eggs and under-cooked meat. I’m probably even forgetting some!

Ordering at a restaurant for the last eight months has involved more questions than I’ve ever asked a waiter. Oftentimes I’ll order something different than what I would like to just because it’s easier and won’t require a twenty questions game. One dish I love eating, but have run into some issues is Caesar salad. Although most restaurants these days don’t use raw egg in their homemade Caesar dressing, I’ve still run into a couple that do.

The good news is this recipe I have for you today involves no raw egg. In fact, it involves no egg at all! This Roasted Cauliflower Caesar Salad is a super tasty twist on a classic dish and is perfect because cauliflower is in peak season right now. Caramelized roasted cauliflower florets are tossed with crispy croutons, fresh parsley, toasted pine nuts and plenty of Parmesan cheese.

However, the real winner here is the homemade Caesar dressing made with Greek yogurt. Just like with the homemade tarter sauce, the combination of ingredients in the dressing keeps it from tasting “yogurty” and instead it tastes just like the real deal, especially when tossed in the salad.

The only thing I might do differently next time I make this is to toss in some salad greens because I want to make a main dish out of this instead of just having it on the side since it’s so good! Enjoy, friends!

Roasted Cauliflower Caesar Salad

 

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Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 heads cauliflower, cut into large florets
• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
• ⅓ cup olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons for the cauliflower
• ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup croutons
• ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet then drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toss to coat then season with salt. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until browned and tender. Let cool.
2. Make the dressing. Whisk together the yogurt, remaining ⅓ cup of olive oil, Parmesan, Worcestershire, dijon and lemon juice. Toss with the cauliflower, croutons, pine nuts and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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 Recipe from July/August 2017 issue of Food Network Magazine.

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Lauren Uncategorized 0 Comments

Peanut. Butter. S’mores. Fudge. YES! This, my friends, is what fudge dreams are made of and you can be eating some giddy with delight in no time at all.

I’ve shared the World’s Smoothest Peanut Butter Fudge and the unreal S’mores Fudge, but it was time these two met for an insanely delicious mash-up. I came up with this combination last year when I decided to morph together Matt’s favorite fudge variation, the S’mores Fudge (which is also my favorite), with my second favorite fudge variation, the World’s Smoothest Peanut Butter Fudge. After one bite, and then a second, third, and fourth, etc. just to make sure, I was convinced that peanut butter and s’mores belong together.

I have never made a peanut butter and s’mores treat before, but this one fudge recipe has changed that forever so expect some additional future pb-s’mores combinations. In the meantime, let’s focus on this life-changing fudge recipe in front of us.

The base is the World’s Smoothest Chocolate Fudge with broken graham cracker pieces folded in. The second layer is the World’s Smoothest Peanut Butter Fudge with marshmallow fluff swirled in. Finally, it’s all topped off with some torched mini marshmallows. Yum!

I wanted this to still be a normal sized batch of fudge so we’re dividing the can of sweetened condensed milk between the two flavors and essentially making two half portions to get one regular sized batch. I promise you everyone will go nuts over this Peanut Butter S’mores Fudge!

If you’re looking for more fudge inspiration as we head into the weekend, below are all the Lemon & Mocha fudge posts. Enjoy!

World’s Smoothest Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
S’mores Fudge
Turtle Caramel Pecan Fudge
World’s Smoothest Peanut Butter Fudge
Saltine Toffee Fudge aka Christmas Crack Fudge
Dirt Fudge
Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry Fudge
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge

Peanut Butter S'mores Fudge

 

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Yield: 64 pieces

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ½ ounce unsweetened Baker’s baking chocolate
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, divided
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla, divided
• ⅓ cup broken graham crackers
• 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
• ½ ounce Baker’s white baking chocolate
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• ⅓ cup marshmallow fluff
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions

1. Line an 8" x 8" pan with wax paper and set aside.
2. Melt the butter and the Baker’s chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Pour in the chocolate chips and stir with a heatproof rubber spatula until fully melted.
4. Carefully stir in half of the can condensed milk to combine and remove from the heat. Stir in the ½ teaspoon of the vanilla extract and the broken graham crackers.
5. Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the spatula.
6. When the double boiler is cool enough to clean, wash and dry to use for the second layer. Melt the peanut butter and the Baker’s white baking chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
7. Pour in the peanut butter chips and stir with a heatproof rubber spatula until fully melted.
8. Carefully stir in the remaining half of the condensed milk to combine and remove from the heat. Stir in the remaining ½ teaspoon of the vanilla extract and the marshmallow fluff.
9. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan on top of the chocolate layer and smooth the top with the spatula. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over top and lightly press down. Toast mini marshmallows in a broiler or with a kitchen torch. You can do this before or after the fudge has set in the fridge. If using the broiler be sure to watch it carefully so the marshmallows don’t over-toast.
10. Refrigerate until the fudge is set then cut into bite size pieces. Best eaten straight from the fridge.

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Lauren Uncategorized 2 Comments

Good morning, everyone! Fudge week is continuing here on Lemon & Mocha with this Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge. Similar to Monday’s variation, the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge introduces a tart element that pairs extremely well with the rich chocolate.

Sometimes in the fall and winter flavors can become really heavy so I love having a dessert with a bright fruitiness or acidity, which is exactly what we get with this Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge. I’ve taken our classic chocolate fudge base and added raspberry extract before topping it off with some freeze dried raspberries and mini semisweet chocolate chips.

If you’ve had the World’s Smoothest Chocolate Fudge then you know it’s quite rich in its chocolate flavor so it takes a bit to break through all that chocolateyness. The amount of raspberry extract and freeze dried raspberries we’re adding allows the fudge to balance the fine line of the raspberry flavor being present while being neither overpowering nor too subtle.

The reason we’re using freeze dried raspberries instead of fresh raspberries is because when they are freeze dried the flavor becomes more concentrated, which is exactly what we need in this recipe. Also, we’re able to get the raspberry flavor without any additional moisture that fresh fruit would bring. You can find freeze dried raspberries in quite a few stores; I’ve bought them in both Target and Trader Joe’s.

Don’t forget the mini semisweet chocolate chips on top! Since they’re just chocolate on top of more chocolate they don’t actually add any flavor nuances to this fudge, but they make it look even cuter between all the pops of red from the raspberries and adding a nice textural bit to the topping. Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge

 

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Yield: 64 pieces

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 ounce unsweetened Baker’s baking chocolate
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon raspberry extract
• Freeze dried raspberries for topping, about 3 tablespoons
• Mini semisweet chocolate chips for topping, about 3 tablespoons

Directions

1. Line an 8" x 8" pan with wax paper and set aside.
2. Double Boiler Method: If not using a double boiler, skip to the next step. Melt butter and the Baker’s chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Pour in half the bag of chocolate chips and stir with a heatproof rubber spatula to help melt. Once partially melted add the rest of the bag of chocolate chips and stir until fully melted. Carefully stir in the condensed milk to combine and remove from the heat. Stir in the raspberry extract. Skip to step 4.
3. Saucepan Method: Melt the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a medium nonstick saucepan over low heat, stirring regularly with a heatproof spatula to make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and stir to combine. Let the mixture get a little warm then pour in half the bag of chocolate chips. Stir to help melt. Once partially melted add the rest of the bag of chocolate chips and stir until fully melted, being sure to scrape the bottom as you stir. Stir in the raspberry extract and remove from the heat.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the spatula. Top with the freeze dried raspberries. Let cool very slightly then top with the mini chocolate chips. Press down lightly and refrigerate until the fudge is set. Once set cut into bite size pieces.

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Lauren Uncategorized 2 Comments

Fudge season is back! I know I posted the Dirt Fudge recipe this summer and talked about how fudge is delicious all year round, which is true, but it still peaks during the holiday season. I have a special 12 Days of Christmas Cookies planned so my holiday post schedule filled up quickly, which is why I’m sharing this Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry Fudge recipe with you all when it’s still October.

It’s never too early to start planning holiday baking and treat gifting! In fact, to help you out I’m sharing brand new fudge recipes with you all week long. That’s three new epic fudge creations!

I’m kicking off Lemon & Mocha’s fudge week with something simple. I’ve taken Diane’s classic, tried-and-true, World’s Smoothest Chocolate Fudge and I’ve added some chopped pistachios and sweetened dried cranberries. The crunch of the pistachios plus the tartness of the dried cranberries are a perfect addition to this rich and creamy dark chocolate fudge. And, bonus, how cute do the little bits of red and green look for Christmas time?

I’ve always made fudge using a double boiler as that is how Diane taught me, but last year I had success using just a nonstick saucepan. I tested it out for quite a few batches and had positive results every time so I’ve included both the double boiler method and the saucepan method in the recipe below. I can’t wait for you all to experience the rest of Lemon & Mocha fudge week – the next two recipes are outrageous!

Dark Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry Fudge

 

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Yield: 64 pieces

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 ounce unsweetened Baker’s baking chocolate
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup shelled pistachios, chopped, plus more for topping
• ⅓ cup sweetened dried cranberries, plus more for topping

Directions

1. Line an 8" x 8" pan with wax paper and set aside.
2. Double Boiler Method: If not using a double boiler, skip to the next step. Melt butter and the Baker’s chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Pour in half the bag of chocolate chips and stir with a heatproof rubber spatula to help melt. Once partially melted add the rest of the bag of chocolate chips and stir until fully melted. Carefully stir in the condensed milk to combine and remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract, the pistachios and the dried cranberries. Skip to step 4.
3. Saucepan Method: Melt the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a medium nonstick saucepan over low heat, stirring regularly with a heatproof spatula to make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and stir to combine. Let the mixture get a little warm then pour in half the bag of chocolate chips. Stir to help melt. Once partially melted add the rest of the bag of chocolate chips and stir until fully melted, being sure to scrape the bottom as you stir. Stir in the vanilla extract, the pistachios and the dried cranberries and remove from the heat.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top with the spatula. Top with additional pistachios and dried cranberries, lightly press down.
5. Refrigerate until the fudge is set then cut into bite size pieces. Best eaten straight from the fridge.

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Lauren Uncategorized 5 Comments

It’s time for the final seasonal cupcakes on Lemon & Mocha! Of course not the last seasonal cupcakes I’m ever going to post, just the final ones this year. For those of you who haven’t been following along, last year for my birthday my goddaughter gifted me with unique cupcake toppers from Etsy for each season. The cute toppers inspired plenty of delicious cupcakes all year long, including winter’s Hot Chocolate Cupcakes, the Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes in spring and summer’s Classic Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream.

There are so many warm and inviting fall flavors to choose from so I decided to go with two of my favorites: apple and maple. These are Apple Spice Mini Cupcakes with Maple Brown Sugar Buttercream – and they are crazy delicious. The cupcake is moist, loaded with shredded apple and filled with plenty of the warming spices you find in apple pie, such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

The buttercream on top balances both the maple and brown sugar flavors while bringing the perfect amount of sweetness to the little apple spiced cupcakes. There’s also a hint of saltiness in the buttercream, which really works well with the sweet flavors.

I chose to make mini cupcakes this time because I’ve been baking so many desserts that just a little mini cupcake (or two) was preferable to having a huge cupcake every time. They were super easy to frost with a piping bag, too, because each one just needs a little dollop of frosting.

I was worried about making a cupcake filled with fruit because sometimes it can add too much moisture to the batter, as seen from a few failed experiments I had this summer. I’m excited to report that the combination of straining and squeezing the shredded apple dry to get as much liquid out as possible worked perfectly to allow for a moist apple-filled cupcake, while still having that light and springy texture an ideal cupcake should have. I hope you all love these cute fall mini cupcakes as much as we do!

Apple Spice Mini Cupcakes with Maple Brown Sugar Buttercream

 

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Yield: 48 mini cupcakes

Ingredients

for the cupcakes

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ¾ cup buttermilk (see note)
• 3 cups peeled, shredded and strained gala apples, about 3-4 medium apples

for the frosting

• 2¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup real maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

for the cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24 cup mini muffin pan with mini cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high for 2 minutes, scrapping down the sides as needed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Add the buttermilk and beat on low until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat on low until a few streaks remain. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the shredded apple, making sure you’ve strained the water out and squeezed the apple shreds dry with a paper towel or cheesecloth.
4. Use half the batter to fill the 24 prepared mini cupcake liners. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs and the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Let cool for a couple minutes in the pan then carefully move the mini cupcakes to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Add 24 more cupcake liners to the pan and repeat with the rest of the batter.

for the frosting

1. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar, butter and salt, first on low then on medium until fluffy. Add the maple syrup and vanilla then beat on medium-high until combined. Frost the cooled cupcakes. If piping on the frosting, use a Wilton 1M tip to pipe small star swirls onto each mini cupcake.

Notes

To make your own buttermilk: pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in a liquid measuring cup. Pour milk, any fat percentage, into the measuring cup until you have ¾ of a cup. Let sit 5 minutes before using.

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Lauren Uncategorized 2 Comments