Tag: party

Dig In

Unless referring to the planet itself, “earthy” is a descriptor of dubious praise. Much like the ambiguous label of “interesting,” such a word can be interpreted in many ways- Mostly negative. Mushrooms and beets can be earthy, and for as fervently as their fan clubs will tout the word as praise, their detractors just as quickly adopt it as evidence for their disdain. Telling someone to “eat dirt,” is a fairly clear insult, on the other hand, although I have no qualms recommending charcoal, ash, or lava for your next meal. Still, the mental imagery of picking up a handful of soil and chowing down inevitably leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth.

This was the war of words I battled when agonizing on this new recipe’s title. Designed as a celebration of spring, gardening, and new growth, the original title was simply “Dirt Dip.” The dirty truth of the matter is that each distinctive strata was inspired by nature; worms, dirt, pebbles, and grass. Appetizing, right? Perhaps honesty is not the best policy here. Let’s start over.

Bursting forth with vibrant flavors ideal for celebrating the vernal equinox, I present to you my layered garden party dip. A base of savory caramelized onions sets a deeply umami foundation upon which this dynamic quartet is built. Fresh lemon and mint mingle just above in a creamy yet chunky black bean mash. Briny black olive tapenade accentuates these bold flavors, adding an addictive salty note that makes it impossible to resist a double-dip. Sealing the deal is a fine shower of snipped chives, lending a mellow onion note to bring all the layers together. Make sure you really dig in deep to get a bite of each one!

Yield: 8 - 10 Servings

4-Layer Garden Party Dip

4-Layer Garden Party Dip

A base of savory caramelized onions sets a deeply umami foundation upon which this dynamic quartet is built. Fresh lemon and mint mingle just above in a creamy yet chunky black bean mash. Briny black olive tapenade accentuates these bold flavors, adding an addictive salty note that makes it impossible to resist a double-dip. Sealing the deal is a fine shower of snipped chives, lending a mellow onion note to bring all the layers together.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

Caramelized Onions:

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Large Red Onion, Halved and Thinly Sliced
  • Salt and Pepper, to Taste

Lemon-Mint Black Bean Dip:

  • 1 15-Ounce Can (or 1 1/2 Cups Cooked) Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed
  • 3 Cloves Roasted Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 3 Tablespoon Fresh Mint, Finely Chopped
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

Tapenade:

  • 1 Cup Pitted Black Olives
  • 1 Tablespoon Capers
  • 1 Clove Garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley, Chopped

Garnish:

  • 1/2 – 1 Ounce Fresh Chives, Finely Chopped

Instructions

  1. The caramelized onions will take the longest to prepare, so get them cooking first by setting a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and sliced onion, tossing to coat. Once the pan is hot and the onions become aromatic, turn down the heat to low and slowly cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 – 45 minutes until deeply amber brown. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool.
  2. Meanwhile, make the bean dip by either tossing everything into your food processor and pulsing until fairly creamy and well-combined, or mashing the ingredients together in a large bowl by hand. You want to leave the dip fairly coarse for a more interesting texture, so stop short of a smooth puree if using the machine.
  3. The tapenade is made just as easily. Either pulse all of the components together in your food processor or chop them by hand, until broken down and thoroughly mixed.
  4. Finally, to assemble the dip, select a glass container to enjoy the full effect of your work. Smooth the caramelized onions into the bottom in an even layer, followed by the bean dip and then the tapenade. Sprinkle chives evenly all over the top. Serve at room temperature or chilled, with cut vegetable crudites, crackers, or chips.

Notes

The dip can be prepared in advance if stored in an air-tight container in the fridge, for up to a week.


Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 96Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 259mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g
© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: American / Category: Dips, Dressings, Sauces, Spreads, and Condiments

Hannah (BitterSweet)11 Comments

Beeting the Odds

To everyone who survived 2016 in more or less one piece: You deserve a drink. Each passing year seems especially intense right as we prepare for the next, the most news-worthy events still fresh, stinging wounds that have yet to heal. It’s the immediacy, the fact that we’re still so close to it all, that each lurid detail snaps to mind with painful clarity. That said, this one struck me as a particularly difficult slog, through all the losses, ugly politics, and general malaise that the entire world is still struggling to overcome.

Impossibly, inexplicably, some facets of these tragedies give me hope. The worst can also bring out the best in people, and I’ve seen some incredible acts of kindness, courage, and inspiration as a result. There’s still so much to celebrate, and I sure as hell am not going to let anyone stop me from moving forward with optimism, no matter the situation. The key here is community, supporting one another in the darkest of days, which is why my festive drink of the season is one made for a crowd.

Beets sound like a terrible idea for a cocktail, granted, but their natural sweetness and mellow earthy flavors ground the mixture in a comforting, satisfying way. Brighter citrus flavors lift up the taste buds, singing with unexpected harmony, elevated by the effervescence of champagne. The essential inspiration for the combination came from Stirrings, in the form of a challenge to use their mixers in new and innovative ways. This is my entry into the contest, and I’m looking forward to raising a glass with all of the other celebratory entries sure to come. You can keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Stirrings can be found at Bevmo, Total Wines & More, Draegers, Mollie Stones, Hi Time Liquors, Pacific Ranch Market, Daniels Market, and Bristol Farms stores.

In the face of these challenges and unresolved, unsettling cliffhangers, I turn to 2017 and say: Bring it on. Do your worst. If we could manage this past year, we can tackle anything. So join me in raising a glass to celebrate the successes and failures alike, to move forward to a brighter New Year. After all, I have faith that with such perspective underneath our belts, it can only get better from here.

Yield: 10 - 14 Servings

Beet to the Punch

Beet to the Punch

Sweet and subtly earthy with a bright citrus flavor, this sparkling drink will ring in the new year with flair.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Stirrings Lemon Drop Cocktail Mix
  • 3/4 Cup Golden Beet Juice*
  • 2/3 Cup Orange Liqueur
  • 3 Cups Hard Apple Cider
  • 3 Cups Champagne or Sparkling White Wine
  • Spiralized Golden Beets, to Garnish (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl with a ladle for guests to help themselves. Serve over ice. Garnish individual glasses with spiralized beets, if desired.

Notes

*To make the beet juice without a juicer, start with at least 2 cups of raw, peeled golden beets. Chop them roughly and place them in a high-speed blender with just enough water to allow the blades to spin freely. Puree completely, until entirely smooth. Pass the resulting blend through a very fine-mesh sieve or nutmilk bag and extract as much liquid as possible. Discard or reserve the pulp for another use.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

14

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g
© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: American / Category: Beverages

Hannah (BitterSweet)13 Comments

No Surprises

Leaping to her feet instantly, arms outstretched and swinging wildly, happy exclamations filled the previously quiet room. Lipstick kisses imprinted our cheeks as the hubbub slowly died down, the birthday girl was genuinely delighted by her unexpected brunch guests and party in her honor. It may have been a surprise party for my grandma, but honestly, I was the most surprised; No one told me we weren’t expected!

No matter, even without the full details there’s no way I’d arrive at any celebration empty-handed. Far from it; The 3-layer, chocolate-smothered tower weighed quite a bit more than calculated, and I was relieved to have it out of my hands upon arriving. Knowing me, you might imagine that some wonderful, unexpected twists must be lurking inside. Some crazy flavor or bizarre ingredient, unusual preparation, funny shape, anything! But no, the surprises ended after our dramatic entry, as this is just a chocolate cake.

No, I take that back- It most certainly is not just a chocolate cake, but in fact the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake I’ve been searching for before I even knew what good chocolate cake was, when I would have been just as thrilled by a half-price grocery store cupcake as a fine French gateaux. All it took to get there was of coarse endless experimentation over the years, but also a bit of humbling. That’s because I had to enlist some help from an ingredient previously reviled and downright banned from this household… Mayonnaise.

Way back when I was 10 years old, from the time I took a bite of a croque monsieur at the Charles de Gaulle Airport on a tedious layover to Italy, I was convinced that mayo was nothing but evil in condiment form. Shocked to find this pasty, fatty white sludge lining the limp bread, it was everything wrong with airport food, and everything wrong with mayonnaise. It was the worst thing I had ever eaten in my young life, and may still hold that illustrious title today, if I cared to think of all those terrible meals past. Though that was our first chance meeting, I was done with mayonnaise forever, and very vocal about my passionate animosity. That’s why it was even harder to reach for the glass jar, and admit that this substance may actually have a place in my kitchen.

This is one accidental re-introduction that I’m blaming squarely on Dreena Burton. Yes, the wholesome sweetheart behind a string of fool–proof cookbooks. It was her fault that I needed a dab of mayo to photograph her rocking veggie burgers, her advice to get Vegenaise instead of the other gloppy stuff that’s almost worse than the original, and thus her fault that I had almost a full jar of the stuff to contend with afterwards.

Without the mayo, this cake couldn’t happen, so I’m trying to accept that painful reality. However, the cake itself isn’t hard to swallow; it practically melts in your mouth, despite its impressive density. So moist, in fact, that I could only think to name it the first thing that popped into my head, “Ultra-Moist Amazing Chocolate Layer Cake.” Not just under-baked or painfully gummy like so many other “moist” cakes, this one holds itself together with a nearly fluffy crumb, which dissolves into pure chocolate fudge in moments. Creamy bittersweet chocolate frosting is the luscious glue that holds together this tower of three tender cake rounds together, and though no further decoration is needed, a light dusting of confectioner’s sugar really seals the deal. Nothing short of a show-stopper, it may not be a surprise, but it’s sure not your average cocoa birthday cake.

Yield: Makes 12 - 18 Servings

Ultra-Moist Amazing Chocolate Layer Cake

Ultra-Moist Amazing Chocolate Layer Cake

Creamy bittersweet chocolate frosting is the luscious glue that holds together this tower of three tender cake rounds together, and though no further decoration is needed, a light dusting of confectioner's sugar really seals the deal. Nothing short of a show-stopper, it may not be a surprising choice, but it's sure not your average cocoa birthday cake.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

Chocolate Fudge Frosting:

  • 1 1/2 Cups Plain Non-Dairy Milk*
  • 1 Pound Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Finely Chopped
  • 1 Cup Vegan Butter
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Rich Chocolate Cake:

  • 3 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Cup Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder, Sifted
  • 2 Tablespoons Whole Flax Seeds, Ground
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
  • 2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 2 1/4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 1/2 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
  • 1 1/2 Cup Brewed and Cooled Coffee
  • 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Cup Vegan Mayonnaise
  • 3/4 Cup Olive Oil

To Garnish:

  • Confectioner's Sugar (Optional)

Instructions

    1. Unlike most standard cake-making procedures, you’ll want to start by preparing the frosting first, since it takes some time to cool and set.
    2. Place the non-dairy milk in a medium sauce pan, and bring just the the brink of boiling. You only want to scald it, so quickly take the pan off the heat, and add in the chopped chocolate. Let sit for a few minutes to melt, and then stir the mixture thoroughly until smooth. Cut the butter into tablespoon-sized pieces, and add them into the melted chocolate, stirring until completely melted and mixed in. Incorporate the vanilla, and let sit at room temperature until cool. Transfer into the fridge to chill. It may take as long as 2 – 3 hours to fully cool, but bear in mind that it will not thicken to the point of being pipe-able; This is a very soft, silky frosting, more like ganache than buttercream. Once it’s merely spreadable, it’s ready to use.
    3. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease and flour 3 8-inch round cake pans. You can also do this successfully with just two pans, as long as you measure your batter carefully and have patience.
    4. In the bowl of your stand mixer or just a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, ground flax seeds, salt, baking powder, and soda. Make sure that all of the dry goods are evenly distributed throughout.
    5. In a separate bowl, combine the non-dairy milk, coffee, vinegar, and vanilla, and let sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. At that point, add in the secret ingredient here, the vegan mayo, as well as the oil, and mix well.
    6. Add the liquids into the bowl of dry ingredient, and slowly mix, just until the batter is mostly smooth and homogeneous. A few lumps are fine, as long as you don’t over-mix. That would cause your cake to come out very tough and chewy, which is not what we’re looking for! Don’t worry if the mixture seems excessively soupy- That is indeed the correct consistency.
    7. Divide your batter evenly between your three prepared baking pans. [If you're only using two, measure out the full amount of batter, and divide by three. You should end up with somewhere around 2 1/2 of batter in each pan. Reserve the remaining third in your fridge while the first two cakes bake, and allow the cakes to cool completely before turning them out onto a large plate. Quickly rinse and dry one of the pans, re-grease and flour, and bake the final amount of batter in the same manner.]
    8. Bake for 35 – 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out cleanly, with perhaps a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Let cool completely before assembling and frosting.
    9. To achieve the decorative pattern on top of the cake as pictured above, first chill the frosted cake thoroughly so that chocolate frosting can set slightly. Take a large doily and gently place it on top, without pressing down, and sprinkle powdered sugar all over. Lift the doily straight up without shaking it, which will remove the excess and leave a lovely, lacy design in its place.

Notes

*Chose a full-fat, richer variety for the best results; I prefer almond milk that’s slightly on the thicker side. Coconut milk would also be a good choice here.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

18

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 556Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 528mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 3gSugar: 45gProtein: 6g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimates.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes & Cupcakes

Hannah (BitterSweet)88 Comments

Olive You

Despite the fact that the 4th of July is perhaps the most predictably scheduled holiday on the calendar, I still feel blindsided by its seemingly sudden approach. It’s hard to believe that it’s even July already- What happened to the other 6 months that are supposed to come before it? I can’t recall a single one.

No need to panic though, Independence Day is such a laid back and happy-go-lucky event that there’s rarely much preparation to be done in advance. Slice up a big watermelon, pack a giant cooler full of ice, sodas, and beer, and I’d say that you’re all set for a party. Once your guests come, toss some veggie burgers and dogs on the grill, and then drag the kids down to the beach at night to watch the fireworks. Sounds like a pretty good day, right?

Well, if that’s not enough for you, here’s one super simple hors d’oeuvre that you can whip up and impress your friends with. Tapenade, a basic paste made of pureed olives, is not a new concept in the least, but only recently have I gained an appreciation for olives and discovered how delicious they can be. Now, I’ve found myself smearing this chunky dip over crackers, in sandwiches, and even stirred into hot pasta. My version is somewhat heavy on the garlic, but not so much so that you have to worry about garlic breath after enjoying a dollop.

Although some tapenades are completely smooth, I prefer mine with a bit of texture, so I only pulse the mixture in the food processor. You’re welcome to puree the heck out it if you prefer.

Yield: Makes 1 Cup; 16 Servings

Roasted Garlic Tapenade

Roasted Garlic Tapenade

This chunky kalamata tapenade is is somewhat heavy on the garlic, but not so much so that you have to worry about dragon breath after enjoying a dollop.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Place all of the ingredients in your food processor or blender, and pulse until everything is well-incorporated but still slightly chunky. Dish it up alongside chips or crackers for a “self-serve” kind of snack, or spoon a dollop on small pieces of toast and top with fresh chives for easy little crudites.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 27Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 54mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dips, Dressings, Sauces, Spreads, and Condiments

Hannah (BitterSweet)21 Comments