Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘#chocolate’

Did Someone say Dessert?

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Healthy Living, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Leander Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 16, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Happy Friday everyone! It’s the weekend which is the perfect time to make dessert for yourself or the whole family. Even better, these desserts only have 5 ingredients so you’ll have plenty of time to eat your cake and go play too!

Rocky Road Clusters

rocky-road-peanut-clusters

RECIPE HERE!

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

cheesecake

RECIPE HERE!

Molten Nutella Lava Cake

nutella-lava-mug-cake-18

RECIPE HERE!

Mint Chocolate Chip Avocado Ice Cream

Mint-Chocolate-Avocado-Ice-Cream

RECIPE HERE!

Have a Great & Sweet Weekend Everyone! Your Realtor and Friend for Life~ Kathy

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Happy National Backwards Day!

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Healthy Living, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Leander Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »

It’s National Backwards Day. So I thought a fun way to celebrate would be to eat your dessert before dinner. I mean let’s face it, some of us tend to do that anyway. Here is a recipe for one of my go to desserts on any given day. Super easy to make and tastes just as delicious. Enjoy!

Triple Dipped Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Pretzels

20160124-triple-dipped-peanut-butter-pretzels-9-680x1020

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups dark chocolate chips, divided
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided
15-20 large pretzel rounds (I used the 2″ish diameter ones, as opposed to the 1″ tiny ones)

DIRECTIONS:

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon coconut oil.  Heat in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring frequently, until melted.  Dunk pretzels into the melted chocolate and allow excess chocolate to drip off (is there such a thing as excess chocolate? not sure.).  Place chocolate covered pretzels on a piece of wax paper that is on top of a baking sheet (i didn’t have wax paper so I used a piece of foil rubbed down with coconut oil).  Place pretzels in the freezer for 10 minutes, or until hardened.

Now, place your peanut butter and 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl.  Heat until thinned.  Dunk chocolate covered pretzels into the peanut butter mixture and place back on the wax paper.  Return to the freezer for 10 minutes.

Finally, melt the remaining 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon coconut oil.  Dip frozen chocolate-pb pretzels into the chocolate and place on a clean sheet of wax paper.  Place in the freezer until hard.  I like to store my pretzels in the freezer and grab them as craved.

Enjoy! Your Realtor and Friend for Life~ Kathy

 

Read Full Post »

National Chocolate Cake Day!

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Healthy Living, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 27, 2017| Leave a Comment »

 

It’s Friday AND National Chocolate Cake Day. What better way to celebrate the weekend! So here’s a decadent chocolate cake recipe to get the weekend started right.

The Most Amazing Chocolate Cake

Have a safe and fun filled weekend everyone!

Your Realtor and Friend for Life~ Kathy

Keywords: “Austin homes for sale, Austin real estate luxury homes for sale, houses, properties, luxury, Austin real estates condos, town homes, townhomes, mansions, luxury fine houses estates, search listings, Austin MLS, executive, custom, new homes builders, residential, commercial, single family, buyers, agents, listing agents, relocation, relocating, Austin MLS, REIA, neighborhoods, subdivisions, FSBO, Travis County, homes for sale, housing, real estate, realty, realtor, rental, houses, apartments, condos, lofts, commercial, property, residential, renovated, remodeled, historic, homes by owner, buy, owner, for sale by owners, Remax, Remax of Texas”

Read Full Post »

Dessert Hacks That’ll Impress Your Valentine

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Healthy Living, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Leander Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , on February 12, 2016| Leave a Comment »

We all want to be extra creative on Valentine’s Day to show the ones we love how much we appreciate them. But chocolate covered strawberries and roses are so boring! It’s time to amp it up with these cool, unique treats to give to that special person this valentine’s Day.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Recipe: http://hoosierhomemade.com/easy-chocolate-covered-cherries-recipe/

Double Chocolate Raspberries

Double Chocolate Raspberries

Recipe: http://www.sugarhero.com/chocolate-covered-raspberries/

Strawberry Confetti Pancakes

Strawberry Confetti Pancakes

Recipe:  http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/03/strawberry-and-sprinkles-buttermilk-pancakes.html

Strawberry and Brownie Kabobs

Strawberry and Brownie Kabobs

Recipe: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/dessert-kabobs/

Oreo Pops

Oreo Pops

Recipe: http://lilluna.com/valentines-day-oreo-pops/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+lilluna/isXQ+(Lil%27+Luna+-+All+Things+Good)

Rice Krispie Hearts

Rice Krispie Hearts

Recipe: http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/diy-wedding-favors-rice-krispies-treat-hearts/

S’mores Popcorn

S'more Popcorn

Recipe: http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2015/01/valentines-day-smores-popcorn.html

Red Velvet Trifle

Red Velvet Trifle

Recipe: http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/red-velvet-week-red-velvet-and-strawberry-trifle/#_a5y_p=2819708

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful, chocolate filled Valentine’s Day!

Your Realtor and Friend for Life!

~Kathy

Read Full Post »

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day!

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Client Testimonials, Community Events, Healthy Living, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Leander Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Cake and chocolate, need I say more. I think this day needs to be recognized more than once but for the time being here is one of my favorite, decadent chocolate cake recipes. And it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day just around the corner! BEWARE: This cake has many steps but trust me when I say it’s worth it. And I’m sure your significant other will agree as well!

Red Wine Chocolate Cake

Red Wine Chocolate Cake - with red wine in the cake and chocolate ganache! The raspberry filling is the perfect compliment! Such a moist cake! LOVE!

Ingredients

Red Wine Chocolate Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sweet red wine
Raspberry Buttercream
1/2 cup salted butter
1/2 cup shortening*
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup raspberry puree (from about 1/2 cup of raspberries pureed in a food processor)
Chocolate Buttercream
1 cup butter
1 cup shortening
3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
6 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 tbsp milk or water
Chocolate Ganache
6 oz (about 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sweet red wine

 

Instructions

1. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and combine.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil and vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Slowly add wine. Mix well.
5. Divide batter evenly between cakes pans and bake for about 30-33 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
7. While cakes cool, make icings. To make the raspberry buttercream, beat the butter and shortening together until smooth.
8. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
9. Add raspberry puree and beat until smooth.
10. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Set buttercream aside while you make the chocolate buttercream.
11. To make the chocolate buttercream, beat the butter and shortening together until smooth.
12. Add the cocoa and 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
13. Add vanilla extract and 3-4 tbsp of water or milk and beat until smooth.
14. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until smooth, adding remaining water or milk as needed to thin out the icing.
15. When the cakes are cool, put the cake together. Remove the tops of the cakes with a large serrated knife so they are flat.
16. Place the first layer of cake on cake stand. Top with half of the raspberry buttercream and spread into an even layer.
17. Add second layer of cake and remaining raspberry buttercream and smooth into a smooth layer.
18. Top cake with remaining cake layer.
19. Ice the outside of the cake with the chocolate buttercream. Here’s a tutorial for getting a smooth finish.
20. To make the chocolate ganache, place chocolate chips in a medium sized bowl.
21. Combine heavy cream and wine and microwave just until it begins to boil.
22. Pour heated cream/wine over the chocolate chips and cover the bowl with clear wrap. Allow to site for 5-7 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Allow ganache to sit for 10-20 minutes to thicken. You could also set in the fridge to cool more quickly. You want the ganache to be pourable and spreadable, but not too thin.
23. Pipe ganache around the top outside of the cake, then use an offset spatula to spread it out and over the edges of cake.
24. Place raspberries around the back of the back, near the edge of the ganache.
25. Place “hello” chocolate wording onto cake. For instructions, please refer to blog post above. You’ll use the chocolate Wilton candy melts for this.

 

Read Full Post »

Happy Birthday!!

Posted in Austin Texas Neighborhoods, Community Events, Kyle Texas Neighborhoods, Leander Texas Neighborhoods, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I wanted to wish a very Happy Birthday to my wonderful new assistant! She’s turning 21 and I’m sure we can all remember what it was like at that age. While she is out living it up I thought I would share with you all one of my favorite cake recipes in honor of her birthday. This cake is not healthy by any means but it’s nice to indulge from time to time, and this recipe delivers on all fronts! Also, chocolate cake? Need I say more!

Sandy’s Chocolate Cake

cake

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups packed brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup baking cocoa
  • 3 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/3 cups sour cream
  • 1-1/3 cups boiling water
  • FROSTING:
  • 1/2 cup butter, cubed
  • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour three 9-in. round baking pans.
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Stir in water until blended.
  3. Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
  4. For frosting, in a metal bowl over simmering water, melt butter and chocolates; stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
  5. In a large bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 16 servings.

Read Full Post »

%d bloggers like this: