Happy St. Patrick's Day! (RECIPES: Corned Beef & Cabbage...and Mint Chocolate Brownie Trifle!)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

Regardless of your heritage, its seems everyone is "Irish" on this exuberant holiday dedicated to green beer, leprechauns, bagpipers, Irish step dancing, silly hats, MacDonald's shamrock shakes (yum!) and lively (and often debaucherous) parades and street parties in every major city. Boston has one of the largest populations of Irish and Irish-Americans in the US, and home to some of the best and most historic Irish pubs in the country. The annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade in "Southie" as the locals call it, is a tradition not to be missed! (Just be prepared for huge crowds of drunken college students, tourists and locals...and very little access to public restrooms!) Visit Boston.com for more information on all the best pubs and places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

As full-fledged Irish-American girl, I can tell you it’s an absolute must to have corned beef & cabbage with Irish soda bread to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day!  It takes 4 hours to cook, to start in the morning so it’s ready to serve by lunch time. Be sure to stock your fridge with plenty of Irish lager and stout, such as Guinness Draught and a refreshing favorite of mine, Magner’s Cider...and of course, a bottle of Irish Whiskey! This year, I’m trying out a new tradition for dessert, Mint Chocolate Brownie Trifle! It’s a richly decadent chocolate delight! Have a wonderful holiday! Erin Go Bragh! Sliante! 

Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage

This classic, Irish recipe is sure to warm your hearts and fill your bellies this St. Patrick’s Day!

Prep 10 min

Cook 4 hr 

Yield: about 6 to 8 main course servings

Ingredients

1 (3-pound) corned beef brisket (uncooked), in brine

16 cups cold water

2 bay leaves

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

4 whole allspice berries

2 whole cloves

1/2 large head green cabbage (about 2 pounds), cut into 8 thick wedges

8 small red bliss potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds), halved

8 small carrots, diced (I added these in, as i love carrots with this dish)

Freshly ground black pepper

Butter, to slather on the carrots, potatoes and cabbage!

Serving suggestion: Whole-grain mustard and/or horseradish sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Place the corned beef in a colander in the sink and rinse well under cold running water.

Place the corned beef in a large Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid; add the water, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice, and cloves. Bring to a boil, uncovered, and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Cover and transfer pan to the oven, and braise until very tender, about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Transfer the corned beef to a cutting board and cover tightly with foil to keep warm. Add the cabbage, carrots and potatoes to the cooking liquid and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cabbage to a large platter. Slice the corned beef across the grain of the meat into thin slices. Lay the slices over the cabbage and surround it with the potatoes and carrots. Ladle some of the hot cooking liquid over the corned beef and season with pepper. Serve immediately with butter, mustard and/or horseradish sauce.

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/corned-beef-and-cabbage-recipe/index.html

Mint Chocolate Brownie Trifle

This is a completely decadent and choclately dessert that is sure to be a hit this St. Patrick’s Day or any day, for that matter! Serve with an Irish Coffee (Irish Whiskey in coffee) or a little Bailey's Irish Creme!

2 packages of Brownie mix (Ghiradelli or any other brand, enough for a 9 x 13 pan)

Two chocolate mousse mixes

Two cups cold milk

12 oz. Cool Whip

Green food coloring (to tint the Cool Whip)

One large bag of Andes mints, unwrapped and chopped 

Directions:

Bake brownies and let them cool. 

Blend mousse mixes and milk according to package directions, but do not chill.

Once brownies have cooled, crumble them and place a layer on the bottom of a large trifle bowl, using about half the batch of brownies. 

Next, spoon a layer of chocolate mousse, again, using about half. 

On top of the mousse, make a layer of Cool Whip. 

Finally, add a layer of crushed chocolate mint candies. 

Repeat layers, finishing with a layer of chopped candy. 

Chill for at least three hours. Serve and enjoy!

NOTE: This basic recipe can be easily changed by substituting Heath Bars, Oreo cookies, or any other candies or cookies that you like!

Source: Adapted from “Peppermint Brownie Trifle”

http://justatitch.com/everydaylife/make-this-peppermint-brownie-trifle/

Spring Fashion for the Kids!

Spring is almost here! It's time to start stocking up on new spring clothes for your ever-growing little ones (and for yourself too!).  As children grow so fast, clothing can get really expensive. So, I have scouted out the best places to buy cute but affordable clothing...and remember to always look for the best sales, hunt through the bargain racks & use all of your coupons. Why pay full price?! Here are my favorite stores for kids fashions:

Target
Target is by far my favorite place to shop for my daughter's clothing. Not only are the pieces affordable, but the style is so adorable, modern and cool! I always check the new crop of clothes, but be sure to hunt in the discount racks where items are often 50% off. I just got a bunch of cute & colorful sweatshirts & sweatpants, leggings with funky tunics and two adorable bathing suits! And, they always have guest designers each season like Missoni, and Gwen Stefani's Harajuki Mini collection (image at left) which is so whimsical and cute. These tend to be a little higher priced, but one or 2 pieces are fun to add to your child's wardrobe. This season has a lot of Nautical-inspired stripes & sailor looks, which I love!

Carter's
Carter's is the classic American children's clothing store. Most major department stores tend to carry Carter's as well, such as Kohl's, Macy's and Toys R Us, so many of daughter's first clothes were Carter's, especially when she was an infant/newborn. I find the quality lasts and I usually buy the sets which are a great value. Some of the outfits and dresses can be pricey, especially the bathing suits and party dresses, so I always use my coupons when shopping at Carter's. Be sure to register for their email offers and use their frequent shopper punch card too. It's best to shop at Carter's when there is a major sale. We have even been to Carter's outlets up in Vermont...where you can be sure to get a great deal. Cute Easter fashions in store now.

H&M
H&M is great place to find fun, fashionable & affordable kids clothes. They have some really cute looks, including Hello Kitty for girls and sell sets of t-shrits and leggings too. The only issue is not every H&M store has a Kids Department, so be sure to call or check the website first. I usually have to go to the Boston Downtown Crossing H&M for kids & maternity clothes, as the Dedham Legacy Place store near my house only has Women's. Love the Nautical stripes in red, white & blue.

Gap
I never buy "full price" at the Gap...let's face it, the kid's clothes are quite pricey. As much as I love most of their designs, I just can't bring myself to spend $30 for a size 2T embellished t-shirt for my daughter...sorry folks! Luckily, the Gap has a great sale rack, so be sure to check back often...you can usually find a few cute things in there. And when they have sales or coupons, that is your time to head back to the Gap. I just got an email flyer that Diane Von Furstenburg has created a children's line at the Gap. It is quite pricey, but really adorable...so I may splurge on one cute spring party dress for my daughter...or wait for it for go on sale. :)

Old Navy
Old Navy is great kid's clothes. I have had great luck finding my daughter some fun outfits, dresses and shoes. Very reasonably priced and always cute. They have Hello Kitty, Disney and other popular character items too. Recently, I haven't found a big a selection for toddlers (2T and up), so it's touch and go. I look forward to seeing what they have coming this spring. The Easter looks (pictured above) are adorable!

Kohl's

Kohl's has a great children's section, and carries their own line of clothing called Jumping Beans which I like a lot. They sell t-shirts, leggings, skirts, etc. ala carte, so you can create your own outfits which I like a lot. They are priced really low, like at Target, so I tend to get a lot from Kohl's and Target.  The great thing about Kohl's, is that there is ALWAYS a sale and you can always use your store coupons if you have a Kohl's charge. The best time to shop at Kohl's when they are doing their special $10 cash back with every $50 spent...you can really make out "like a bandit" at Kohl's when all of the stars are aligned. :) Happy Shopping!

Recipes: Pineapple Lemon Pudding Pie & Strawberry Jello Pie!

I wanted to share my two favorite summertime pie recipes from when I was a child...oh, the memories! Thanks to the invention of instant Jello and pudding, these recipes are so simple, yet so delicious (and pretty low calorie)!  These will be your new favorite desserts to serve your family & friends too!

Nana’s Pineapple Pudding Pie 

I remember my Nana Fannon making this when I was a little girl. I love the tangy-ness of the lemon and the pineapple with the sweetness of the Cool Whip...takes me back in time!

Prep: 10 min. + chilling

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups cold 2% milk

1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix

1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple (drained)

1 pre-made graham cracker crust (9 inches)

1-1/2 cups Cool Whip topping, thawed

1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted

Optional: 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

In a large bowl, whisk cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in pineapple. Pour into crust. Spread with whipped topping. Sprinkle with toasted coconut (and walnuts, if using). Cover and refrigerate. YUM!

Mom’s Strawberry Jello Pie

My mom used to make this every summer! I always loved it so much... and now I will be making it for my family & friends! So easy, light and delicious!

Prep: 10 min. + chilling

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients: 

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust 

1 small box strawberry jello mix 

1 (8 oz.) package of Cool Whip topping, thawed 

1 pint of fresh strawberries 

Optional: Fresh mint

Instructions:

If you use fresh strawberries, cut in half, put in bowl and sprinkle small amount of sugar over them. (If using frozen strawberries, thaw and add when jello has cooled.) Dissolve jello in 3/4 cup of hot water in large bowl. Let cool at room temperature. 

Fold whipped topping and strawberries into the jello. Mix well and pour into the crust. Refrigerate for a little while before cutting. Garnish with sliced strawberries,  dollup of Cool Whip and fresh mint. Enjoy! 

Recipes: Wolfgang Puck's Oscars Governor's Ball Party Menu!

Oscar Dish: Wolfgang Puck's Truffled Chicken Pot Pie

A Classic Dish With Even More Flavor

Courtesy Wolfgang Puck Catering

Servings:6

Difficulty: Easy

Cook Time: 30-60 min

This recipe uses a classic French chicken veloute scented deliciously with winter black truffles. You may substitute or add to the vegetables we've used below according to your taste, however, please do make sure anything added to the veloute mixture is as dry as possible. A vegetarian version of this can be made by substituting a vegetable or mushroom stock for chicken stock in the veloute recipe and by adding more vegetables in place of the chicken. This recipe is part of Wolfgang Puck's menu for the 2010 Governor's Ball on Oscar night.

Ingredients

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1 quart enriched chicken stock 

1 cup creme fraiche

2 tablespoons black truffle oil

1/4 cup chopped black truffle

1 lemon

Salt (or truffle salt) to taste

White pepper to taste

2 cups cooked pearl onions (red and white)

2 cups cooked baby carrots (yellow and orange, cut into 1/2 " pieces)

2 cups cooked (or defrosted if frozen) green peas

18 slices black truffle

Meat from chicken cooked from enriched chicken stock (not fine shredded)

6 each approximately 10oz. ramekins or 4" wide soup vessel

Puff Pastry, cut into circles that overlap your ramekin or vessel by 1.5"

2 whole eggs +1 egg yolk for egg wash

Cooking Directions

Make a roux by melting the butter in a pot. Once completely melted, whisk in flour. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes while continually whisking. Slowly add enriched stock to roux. Bring veloute up to a boil and then turn heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Veloute should be slightly thick. Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Add truffle oil, creme fraiche, and chopped truffle. Whisk thoroughly, season to taste with salt and pepper and juice from lemon. Check for consistency. Make sure its not too thick, loosen with more stock if necessary.

Preheat a "still" or low fan oven to 350 degrees. Make sure veloute and all ingredients are completely cool before you begin. In a wide bowl or a wide pot, combine veloute, vegetables, and chicken and mix well with a rubber spatula. Spoon mixture into ramekins, leaving about 1/2" room from the top. Place 3 slices of shaved truffle on top of mixture in each ramekin. Prepare an egg wash by whisking whole eggs and egg yolks together in a separate bowl. Make sure puff pastry is cool enough to work with. (Leave in the freezer and take out 5 minutes before using). Brush outside edge of ramekins with egg wash about 1" from the top of the rim, all the way around. Cover each ramekin with puff pastry and secure the puff pastry by pressing around the outside of the ramekin. Brush puff pastry with egg wash and bake in the oven until golden brown (usually 20-23 minutes). Glaze again with egg wash halfway through cooking. 

(Source: Good Morning America)


ARTICLE reposted from ABCNews.Go.com

1,450 Pounds of Lobster?: Wolfgang Puck’s Governor’s Ball Menu and Shopping List
ABC News’ Sarah Kunin reports:

Wolfgang Puck, celebrity chef and owner of over 70 restaurants across the country, will be creating the Governor’s Ball Menu for this year’s Oscars  for his 18th consecutive year. Instead of the traditional seated dinner Puck was used to doing, he will prepare over fifty small dishes that will be passed throughout the evening to 1500 guests.  This undertaking required a culinary staff of 350 people along with 950 other staff members.

The Ultimate Movie-Themed Oscar Party Menu
At the event, guests will dine on some of Puck’s old classics like smoked salmon, as well as new dishes like Shanghai lobster with coconut curry.  The wait staff, decked out in four different uniforms, will pour 12,000 glasses and 1,000 bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne, roughly 200 bottles less than last year’s event.

The design of this year’s ball is more modern than in the past.  750 LED lighting fixtures will catch the light of 1,400 strands of Swarovski crystals and the ceiling will be covered in 21,000 square feet of fabric.  More than 2,000 yards of fabric were used to create 476 pieces of custom-made furniture.
Jonathan Jacobs, aka the “Vintage DJ,” will add to the event’s ambiance by spinning original 78′s, 45′s and 33′s on two Audiotronics Classroom record players.
Click here for full Oscars 2012 coverage.

Governor’s Ball Grocery List
How much food goes into planning such a large event?  Take a sneak peak at the some of the outrageous amounts of food required for such a grand event.
1300 Farmed Oysters
5 kilos of American Farm Raised Caviar
1450 pounds Maine Lobster
7500 Individual US Shrimp
30 gallons Cocktail Sauce
1250 Stone Crab Claws
10 pounds of Black Winter Truffles
20,000 pieces of California Grown Micro Greens
6000 pieces of Mini Brioche Buns
5000 Cage-Free Eggs
200 quarts Heavy Cream and 200 quarts Milk
800 pounds L’Etoile du Nord Bittersweet Chocolate
25 pounds Edible Gold Dust

84th Annual Academy Awards® Governors Ball Menu
Tray-Passed
Smoked Salmon on Oscar® Flatbread with Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Spicy Tuna Tartare in Sesame Miso Cones with Masago
Mini Kobe Cheeseburger with Remoulade and Aged Cheddar
Pork Belly Dumplings with Soy and Ginger
Crab Cakes with Remoulade
Arrancini with Tomato, Basil and Parmesan
Tempura Shrimp with Wasabi Glaze
Vegetable Spring Roll with Sweet Chili Sauce
Assorted Pizzas

Cold Appetizer Platter
Lobster Taco with Tomato and Pickled Shallots
Caprese Skewer with Bufala Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil
Potato Latke with Smoked Sturgeon and Horseradish
House Made Pretzel Bread with Beer Cheddar Fondue and Mustard Aioli
Prosciutto Grissini

Small Plates
Chicken Pot Pie with Shaved Black Truffles and Roasted Vegetables (RECIPE above!)
Fuji Apple Salad with Crumbled Blue Cheese, Arugula, Shaved Red Onion and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Beet Tortelloni with Goat Cheese and Toasted Hazelnuts
Gold Wrapped Baked Potato with Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Slow Braised Short Rib with Polenta and Romesco
Crab and Lobster Louie with Horseradish Panna Cotta and Marinated Tomatoes
Macaroni & Cheese with Aged Cheddar
Shanghai Lobster with Coconut Curry, Jasmine Rice and Pickled Ginger
Chinois Lamb with Cilantro Mint Vinaigrette
Beet Salad with Pistachio Butter, Burrata and Citrus Balsamic

Seafood and Sushi Buffets
Sushi with Wasabi, Soy and Ginger: Rolls, Nigiri and Sashimi
Shellfish with Mustard and Cocktail Sauce: Prawns, Lobster, Stone Crab and Oysters

Passed Dessert
Almond, Orange-Brown Butter Cake with Blood Orange
Date Cake with Sticky Toffee Pudding and Toffee Orange Sauce
Chocolate in 3D
Golden Candy Apple
Banana Cream Pie with Candied Popcorn
Tart Tatin with Pretzel Pastry and Caramel Gelato
Chocolate Mousse in Golden Egg Cups

Dessert Buffet
Raspberry Rose Eclairs
Strawberry Shortcake Push-Up Pops
Red Hot Macaroons
Star Shortbread with Silver Sugar
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pops
Brown Sugar Lemon Meringue Cones
Chocolate Pudding Push-up Pops
Long Stem Strawberries
Chocolate Buffet
Chocolate Fountains with Farmers Market Long Stem Strawberries
Chocolate Paninis
Triple Chocolate Cupcakes
Warm Coulent Souffle Cakes
Chocolate Dobos Torte
Earl Grey Tea Truffles
White Chocolate Coconut Rum Truffles
Milk Chocolate Caramel Truffles
Chocolate Dipped Pop Rock Cakes
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple Chocolate Toffee Crunch Cookies
Chocolate Coffee Cups
Chocolate Toffee Cups
24 Karat Chocolate Oscars

Fun, Family-Friendly Events in the Greater Boston area!

Spring is just around the corner, and I know we all can't wait to be able to let our kids run wild in the playground, go to the Zoo, play in the backyard and have picnics in the park again! There are so many wonderful events, kids play zones, museums and attractions in and around Boston! So, I wanted to put together some great resources for parents, that feature new and interesting ideas in addition to places we all know, such as the New England Aquarium, Children's Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Science, and the Public Gardens beautiful parks and swan boat rides.


EVENTS CALENDAR Websites:

• Meetup.com - I always suggest to new parents to join your local Meetup.com groups, as they are great way to find events in your area, meet new moms/parents and set up playdates for your kids. I have really enjoyed meeting new friends for me and my daughter in my Meetup groups, and encourage you find one in your town!
• Boston Central - Great, go-to resource for all kinds of kid-friendly events in the Boston area. Very comprehensive.
• Boston.com - The Boston Globe is another good place find things to do for the whole family.
• MomsEvents - Another good place to search for event in your area.
• Eventful.com - A good website to find events that interest you.

My Favorite FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS:

Franklin Park Zoo

I LOVE going to the Franklin Park Zoo once the weather is nice! It's such a wonderful place to spend the day to spend with your family. My daughter loves seeing all the different animals...and we love it too! There are lots of hands-on attractions like a petting zoo, mini carnival rides and other fun things to see, learn and do. You can bring your own picnic lunch, or buy lunch at one of the concession stands for typical "ball park food" like burgers, hotdogs, chicken fingers and fries. You can even buy a membership if you plan to go a lot with your children this spring/summer.

DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park

51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA

781-259-8355

Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Family Day at the DeCordova

11 am—3 pm

The wonderful thing about the DeCordova is the that is both an indoor museum filled with modern art & kid-friendly exhibits...and an outdoor Sculpture Park! We love going when the weather is nice and walking around to see all of the amazing and beautiful outdoor scuptures. Highly recommended! 

Monkey Joe's Indoor Playground

Monkey Joe's in North Attleboro, MA looks like a great place for kids to run around, play and work out their winter energy! It's for children under 12 only, and there is a separate Toddler Play Area for kids under 3, so you can be sure your little ones are safe in their own age group. You can have your kid's birthday party there, buy a membership, or just do the daily Walk-In ($9 per kid on weekdays and $10 on weekends and parents are always FREE.) There is a concession stand also. They highlight on their website that they are a safe & clean environment that is constantly cleaned and sanitized.


[NOTE: I will post more Fun Ideas & Places to Go as the weather gets nicer!]


STORY TIME for Babies & Kids:

Every week I bring my daughter to different story times around my hometown. These events are not only FREE, but educational...and a great way for your child to meet other kids, explorer reading, singing and being creative, playing musical instruments and having fun in a safe, warm environment. One time an African musician came to do an wonderful hands-on drumming class, while another time a Medeval Jester performed his "unusual" one man show for the audience. Also, I have met many great parents and caregivers...so it's a nice time for adults too! 


Here is a listing of libraries South of Boston...many which have special programs, musical guests, magicians or puppeteers! Be sure to check your local library for times and events in your town or state, as times and dates may have changed. 


Walpole Public Library
(The newly built Walpole Library will be opening on February 28th!)
Baby Book Time - Babies up to 2 1/2 yrs old. Monday mornings at 10:30 am
Preschool Story Time - Children 3-5 yrs. Thursday mornings at 10:30 am.
Music, Movement & Me - Children up to 4 yrs old. Tuesdays at 10:30 am.


Wrentham (Fiske) Public Library 
Baby/Toddler Playgroup - Birth to pre-walkers with Mom, Dad or caregiver meets on Fridays at 9:30. Toddlers (walkers) to age 2 1/2 with Mom, Dad or caregiver meets on Fridays at 10:30. Meet new friends, play with the new toys and gym equipment purchased with funds from the Friends of Fiske!!!  Come join the fun! No registration required just DROP IN. If arriving before 10AM please ring doorbell.




Foxboro (Boyden) Library
(All story times are being held at the Episcopal Church while the library is under renovation.)
Story Time - Tuesdays. Ages 3-5 yrs. 10:00 a.m.
Mother Goose on the Loose Story Time - Tuesdays and Thursdays. Infant - Age 3 11:00 a.m. 
Story Time -Wednesday Group Ages 3-5 1:30 p.m. 


Norfolk Library
Babygarten - Wednesdays at 10:30 am at Lafayette, Pretlow, Downing branches (or 11:00 am at Park Place and Janaf branches). Infant to 24 months. Spend the morning singing and playing with your baby! Babygarten features actions rhymes, movement activities, shared book reading, and playtime. This program is especially for babies and toddlers and their caregivers. No registration is necessary. 
Babygarten - Thursdays at 11:00 am. Check the website for locations.

Recipes: Decadent Chocolate Treats for your Valentine!

It's February, that devilish month that brings us freezing cold weather, terrible viruses & endless sniffles...but luckily, it also gives that oh-so-sweet holiday...Valentine's Day! When it's cold outside, I just love to bundle up at home, eat comfort food & treat myself and my family to some sinfully, sticky chocolate sweets! Let's face it, what girl doesn't love a big box of chocolates on Valentine's Day (or any day for that matter - hint hint! Godiva, Laughing Moon, Ghiradeli, heck...even a Whitman's Sampler will do!) Here are some of my favorite chocolate-y recipes from Family Circle to make and enjoy! (For more chocolate recipes...click here)

Ice Cream Chocolate Cake Roll 

(My mother-in-law Chris makes an amazing version of this at Christmas time called 'Boche du Noel’ that is so heavenly!)

Makes: 10  servings

Prep:   20 mins 

Freeze:  4 hrs 

Bake:   12 mins  350°F 

Servings Per Recipe 10

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

4 eggs

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

3 cups mint chip ice cream, softened

Chocolate syrup, for serving

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with waxed paper. Spray paper.

2. Stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes, until very light yellow. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.

3. Fold flour mixture into egg mixture until no lumps remain. Pour into prepared pan, spreading level. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.

4. Dust a clean kitchen towel with confectioners sugar. Turn cake out onto towel. Roll up towel and cake from short end; cool completely.

5. Unroll; spread with softened ice cream to within 1 inch of edges. Reroll cake without towel; wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight. If frozen overnight, let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving. To serve, carefully remove plastic wrap and drizzle cake with chocolate syrup.

Chocolate Pots de Creme with Sea Salt

Makes: 8  servings

Prep:   10 mins 

Chill:  6 hrs 

Cook:   15 mins 

Stand:   3 mins 

Servings Per Recipe 8

Ingredients

5 egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Sea salt flakes (such as Maldon) or coarse sea salt

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together yolks and sugar. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine cream, milk and salt; pour in yolk-sugar mixture. Stir continuously until the temperature registers 175 degrees to 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer or it coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. (Do not overcook, as the eggs could scramble.)

2. Immediately pour hot mixture over chocolate in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 3 minutes. Uncover, add vanilla and stir to completely combine.

3. Pour into 8 4-ounce ramekins and let cool. When room temperature, cover each with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

4. Before serving, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt flakes.

Recipes & Video: Superbowl Party Winners! (Go Patriots!)

This Sunday, I'll be cheering on my very own New England Patriots as they (hopefully!) win the Superbowl and defeat the New York Giants! Truth be told, my favorite part of the game (and I'm sure many of my family & friends will agree) is always the food (and waiting for Tom Brady to take his helmet off)! I always seem to get into the Tex-Mex vibe when making "game day" food. I always make a big pot of turkey or beef chili,  yummy guacamole & salsa with chips, some tangy lime or mango Margaritas, and a bucket of Corona beer ... So, here is one of my favorite TV chefs, Bobby Flay (a diehard New Yorker) preparing his favorite guacamole and nachos for your party.  So, whether you are rooting for the Pats or the Giants...you really can't "lose" with these recipes! YUM! 

Bobby Flay's Roasted Corn Guacamole with Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips

Here's the recipe:

Roasted Corn Guacamole with Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips

Total Time: 30 min

Prep: 20 min

Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy

Ingredients

Cumin Scented Tortilla Chips:

6 white corn tortillas

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons ground cumin

Roasted Corn Guacamole:

3 avocados, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped

2 ears corn, grilled and kernels removed

1 jalapeno, finely chopped

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons creme fraiche

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the tortilla chips: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the tortillas with the oil on both sides and season one side with salt, pepper and cumin. Place on a baking sheet and bake until lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut into eighths or break into chip-size pieces.

For the guacamole: Combine the avocados, corn, jalapeno, onions, cilantro, lime juice and creme fraiche in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the cumin scented tortilla chips.

Bobby Flay vs. Anne Burrell: A Tale of Two Nachos (Sausage Ragu vs. Chipotle Honey Glazed Chicken Nachos)

Find ALL the Recipes from "Game Day with Bobby Flay" HERE.