Cherry Cordial Mocha

 love buying the new flavours of Hershey Kisses and I usually buy a few bags as you never know when they are going to disappear.  Sometime before Christmas I bought a bag or two of Cherry Cordial Hershey Kisses and my plan was to make fudge with at Christmas time... but I ran out of time and there they sat taunting me in the cupboard.

I was thinking of a post to write for on our e- magazine Daily Dish and  remember about the Cherry Cordial Kisses.  A light bulb came on and I thought they would make a great drink.  Perfect for Valentines.

Cherry Cordial Mocha

A perfect blend of coffee and chocolate with a hint of cherry

1 cup brewed coffee

2 cups milk

2 heaping tablespoons condensed milk

2 tbsp cocoa 

9 Cherry Cordial Hershey Kisses

Place all ingredients in pot and heat over medium heat until steaming but not boiling and kisses are melted.  Stir with whisk while heating.  Enjoy!

This recipe makes 2 -3 cups depending on the size of cups.  Garnish with whipped cream and drizzle with cherry syrup if  desired.

Enjoy!

Marlys

This recipe was also posted on the Daily Dish and for more great drink recipes go HERE.

Related articles

• Salted Caramel Mocha Latte (marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com)
• All Natural Keurig Kcup Cafe Mocha (crosscountrycoffeeblog.com)

Links:  Freedom Fridays , Foodie Friends Friday, Tasty Thursday, In and Out of the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesdays, Valentine's Saturday Dishes

Chicken Yassa -Yassa au Poulet

Last year before my birthday I sent a list of things that my husband could buy me from Amazon.  One of the things I asked for was a recipe book "Cooking the West  African Way" by Montgomery and Nabwire.  I read the book but haven't really made anything from it.  A few weeks ago my husband was telling me about this chicken that we should make.  I had thought he was getting the recipe from his mom but he had found it is in the cookbook.
As we were making it, I really wondered how it would taste, but it was good.  The flavor was wonderful.

Chicken Yassa

This is a recipe from Senegal that is served at special occasions.

1/4 cup lemon juice

4 large onions sliced - I used one large red onion 

5 tbsp peanut oil

1 habanero pepper ~ I used a hot pepper that received at the African market

1 2 1/2 - 4 1/2 lb precut chicken - I used 4 chicken breasts

1/2 cup water

salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

In a deep bowl, mix the lemon juice, onions, salt, pepper and 4 tbsp peanut oil.  Using a fork pierce  the pepper and add to marinade  Let the marinade  sit for 15 minutes and then check for spiciness.  If hot enough remove pepper, if not let stand for a bit longer.

Once marinade spicy enough and you have removed the pepper (I left my pepper in the marinade for the whole time), add chicken and stir to coat.   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator over night ( I only marinated the meat 6 hours). 

To cook, preheat broiler.  Remove the chicken pieces from marinade and place on tinfoil on the broiler rack.  Broil briefly until the chicken is lightly brown.  Place on plate and set aside.

Strain the onions from the marinade.  In a large frying pan, heat 1 tbsp peanut oil over medium heat.  Add onions and saute until soft and tender.

Add the rest of the marinade and cook until the mixture is heated through evenly.

Add brown chicken pieces and water.  Stir to coat.

Lower heat, bring mixture to simmer and cover.  Cook at least 30 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked.

Serve the yassa hot over rice.

Enjoy.  I ate mine with quinoa

 Even thought we didn't use as much chicken as the recipe called for the marinade seemed to be enough and not too much.  If you use more chicken I would probably make more marinade.  I would also next time use more onions as most of the flavor of the marinade was in the onions.

Marlys

Links: Foodie Friends Friday

Foodie Friends Friday ~ January 25/13

Another week, another party and I am sure it will be a great one. 

We always have so much fun here at

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party

I have forgotten to tell you that I now have a board with the recipes that have caught my attention

on Pinterest..go here to see if your recipe is on my board.  Each week I will be adding to the board.

But remember you must link back to Foodie Friends Friday or one of the hosts to get a place on this board.

This week we have some more great giveaways...

Growing Up Gabel  ~ knitted dishcloths

Shared Joy ~ button earrings and headband

Homemade White Chai Concentrate

I am a big tea drinker... love tea and Chai tea especially...

I have at least once cup a day if not more often. 

I have thought many times to make my own and today was the day..

Maybe because it is -40F degrees out and we have 10 feet of snow outside...

Ok maybe not -40 but at least -7F and we probably only have about 3 feet but it felt like 10 feet when I was shoveling today.

So a cup of Chai just hit the spot.

I decided that I would make my Chai with white tea instead of black.

I found a few recipes that sounded good to make a recipe. 

These are the recipes that I read ~ Tasty Yummies, Tasty Kitchen and Healthful Pursuits

and this is what I came up with...

Homemade White Chai Concentrate

4 1/2 cup water

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp peppercorn

3/4 of fresh nutmeg

7 cardamom

1/4 tsp anise

1 star anise

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 in fresh ginger

1 tsp orange peel 

1/2 tsp lemon peel

1 vanilla pod

8 white tea bags

1 tbsp honey

Cheesecloth and twine

Place cheesecloth on table and add peppercorn, nutmeg, cardamom, anise, ginger, nutmeg orange peel, lemon peel and vanilla pod (cut in thirds).  Bring up edges of cheesecloth and tie around spices.  Set aside.

In pot place water and brown sugar, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.  Add tea bags, spice mixture, star anise and cinnamon sticks.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Cool and place in jar.  Makes approximately 1 quart.  Can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Spices

add teabag, cinnamon sticks and star anise

To make Chai Latte, add chai concentrate to milk of your choice.  Most instructions say to use 1 part chai concentrate to 3 parts milk but I like to do it half and half.  I also like to use French Vanilla Creamer in my Chai... So I used evaporated milk and French Vanilla Creamer.  I did run out of Creamer so used French Vanilla Syrup instead of the creamer and it tasted just as good.  You can always heat the milk if you want, it makes the tea warmer.  Chai can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Chai Latte and Chai concentrate

Enjoy!

Marlys

Related articles

• chai tea - for those long January days when you just can't shake the cold (omamas.com)
• Go On! Have a Cup of Airmieth's Naturals New England Chai (airmeithma.wordpress.com)
• How to Make Chai Tea Powder Without Really Being Prepared (thewellnesskitchen.wordpress.com)

Links:  Foodie Friends Friday, Tutus and Tea party - pinterest party, In and out of the kitchen

Turkey and avocado Panini

Do you know that I have to look up the spelling of panini every time I mention them? It is one word that I have a hard time with.  Also did you know that in Italy a  Panini or Panino is a sandwich that is made with bread other then sliced bread.  They use bread like chiabatta,rosetta or baguette.  They are filled with deli meat and cheese or other foods and often are served warm after being put in a warming press.
 Here in United States and  Canada we have adopted the word for any type of sandwich that is pressed or toasted.  ( Panini)  So sayng that is a grilled cheese sandwich that a I make in my panini press a grilled cheese panini sandwich?  Not sure and I am even not sure if this sandwich  that I am writing about is really a panini but that is what I am going to call it... I did use french bread, although I sliced the bread and probably should have just cut it horizontally and then maybe it would have been a real panini.. Well, maybe not! You decide.
I do know that whether or not this is really a panini it is good...

Turkey and Avocado Panini 

2 slices French Bread cut thick

left over turkey

onions

1/4 avocado

1/2 ounce Monterey Pepper Jack cheese

1 ounce Tillamook Chedder cheese

2 tsp Henri Bacon and Tomato dressing

butter or olive oil

Cut French bread thick, spread dressing on both inside slices.  Add turkey, onions, avocado, and cheeses to sandwich.  Spread butter or olive oil to outside of sandwich and place in press. My panini press tells me when it is done, but you would cook them until the bread is a crusty brown colour.

 You can also make this in a pan and press your sandwich down with your spatula.  A George Foreman grill would also work great.

Ready to cook

My panini press is a Bella Cucina.

Enjoy!

Marlys

Related articles

• Tiny Grilled Brie and Apple Panini (emmycooks.com)
• Rania's Recipes: Panini With Roasted Tomatoes, Squash & Mozzarella (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com)
• Smoked Chicken, Roasted Pepper and Onion Panini with Avacado Mayo (kathskitchensync.wordpress.com)

LINKS:  Superbowl and chili Party

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party - January 18/13

Last week we had a wonderful party with a great turn out of recipes.

Thank you everyone for linking up.

This week, I know that we are going to have another great party and

I want to introduce you to our sponsor giveaway...

I just meet her last week and she graciously offered to sponsored our giveaway

Stacy from Origami Owl and you can follower here...

website:  Origami Owl, Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest 

Head over to one of her sites and see the great designs that they have to offer.

Her giveaway includes:

1 person will win one chain with locket and 3 charms

2 people will win 2 loved based charms

USA shipped only

Make sure you fill out the rafflecopter for your chance to win

Rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now for this week's Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party

This week, the recipes will be rotated so they may fall anywhere in the group.

Hosts: 

Please stop by and check out all the hosts blogs...

Foodie Friends Friday http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com

Tracy at Busy Vegetarian Mom http://www.busyvegetarianmom.com

Robyn's View http://www.robynsview.com

Marlys at This and That  http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com/

Lois at  Walking on Sunshine http://walkingonsunshinerecipes.com

Michelle at  From Calculus to Cupcakes http://www.fromcalculustocupcakes.com

Cynthia at Feeding Big  http://www.feedingbig.com

Jodie at Binomial Baker http://www.binomialbaker.blogspot.com

R Dawn at Spatulas on Parade http://www.spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

Angie at A lil Country Sugar http://www.alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com

Kelly at http://www.adornedwell.blogspot.com/

Cindy at Cindy's Recipes and Writings: : http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com 

Joanne at Winelady Cooks: http://www.wineladycooks.blogspot.com

Marlene at Nosh My Way: http://www.noshmyway.com

Jutta at Hungry Little Girl: http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/

Erika at Chef Picky Kid: http://www.chefpickykid.com/

Rules:

Please take a minute to read the rules, we ask that everyone follows them.  Please also link back your recipe to foodie friends friday or the host blog that you link up with.  If you are linking up on my blog, I would love if you would let me know so that I can personally  thank you. 

Last week's Party winners: 

Sponsor Winners

Voted Top 3

Most Clicks

Host Favorite

This week's host favorite goes to Cozycakes Cottages for her 

 Madeline's Paris Apple Cake with brown sugar glaze

I love the story Madeline and this apple cake sounds delicious.  I was hoping to make it today,

but I have to go to work... So, hopefully I will be able to make it tomorrow so I can leave you my picture of 

Danielle's creation.

Picture credit:  Cozycakes cottage

Starting next Monday you will be able to find all the Foodie Friend Friday's host favorite over at the Daily Dish.  So head over there on Monday and find out if your recipe was picked.

Breakfast Granola Scones.

 I love scones... they are something that can be eaten at anytime.  You can have them at breakfast, morning or afternoon coffee or tea, evening snack or you can grab one for that on-the-go pick me up.  The same goes for granola, so when I came across this recipe from Michael Ann of The Big Green Bowl for her granola scones, I just knew that I had to make some.
I had some granola samples from Gypsy Girl Granola that I had won before Christmas from Hun What's for Dinner 12 days of giveaway that I knew would just be perfect for these scones and they were.
 So, yesterday morning I was up bright and early that seems to happen quite frequently for me and I decided that this would be a great morning to make these.  Hubby can grab one on his way out the door as we head out for church.  He didn't but he did have one with his smoothie this morning and the only thing he said was that they needed more fruit.. So next time I make them, I will be adding double the amount of dried fruit.

Breakfast Granola Scones

 Breakfast Granola Scones

 adapted from The Big Green Bowl: Granola Scone 

1 2/3 cup flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

2 1/4 cup tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

1/3 cup unsalted butter -chilled

1/4 cup local honey

1/3 cup milk ( I used egg nog)

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla 

1 cup granola ( I used Coco Cabana from Gypsy Girl Granola )

1/2 cup mixed dried fruit (I used Welch's dried fruit and will be adding more next time I make these)

Preheat oven to 375 degree F.  Lightly butter a baking sheet, I used a baking mat so didn't butter.

 Mix flours, baking powder, nutmeg cloves and salt in a bowl. Add chilled butter that is grated as you add.  Stir frequently.  In separate bowl add honey, milk and eggs and mix.  Add to flour mixture.  Add granola and dried fruit and mix well using your hands or a spoon.

Pat mixture into an 8 inch, using a pizza cutter or knife cut into 8 wedges.  Bake at 375 F for 20-25 minutes.

So yummy and thanks Michael Ann for your wonderful recipe.  This is going to be a frequent breakfast food in our household.

Pat into an 8 inch circle and cut into 8 wedges before baking.

Enjoy

Related articles

• Granola Bars... the most delicious ones yet. (marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com)
• Christmas Morning Scones (lilsuburbanhomestead.wordpress.com)
• Scones Everyday- Blueberry Pecan (seriousbreadseriouscheese.com)
• Cranberry Orange Scones (challengeu2cook.wordpress.com)