Love comes in many forms, and on Valentine’s Day, we have a habit of focusing on that butterfly-inducing, rom-com style of young love. The beautiful reality for most of us, though, is that we share love with lots of people in our lives, and Valentine’s Day is a celebration of […]
Chocolate Mousse
Makes 4 to 6 servings Heating the egg whites and egg yolks not only pasteurizes them, making them safe to eat without further cooking, but it also dissolves the sugar and denatures the proteins. This creates a smooth and strong structure in your egg foams that helps to keep your […]
Coconut Joys
Makes 81 pieces This coconut filling is similar to some well-known candy bars. It can be dipped in either milk or dark chocolate, depending on your taste. Placing a whole almond on each piece before dipping adds a nice crunch. Ingredients 2 oz (1/4 cup) water 6 oz (3/4 cup) […]
Decorating Holiday Cookies
Decorating cookies is fun any time of the year, but ‘tis the season for extra special treats to share with your friends and family! Whether you bring them as a gift to your teachers or to grandma’s house, there are so many easy ways to dress up your favorite cookies […]
Fruit Powders for Colorful Fruit-Flavored Desserts
You probably buy fresh fruit, and you may love the sweet and chewy dried fruits—but do you ever buy freeze-dried fruit? Unlike chewy dried cranberries and apricots, freeze-dried fruit is crisp and crunchy with an ultra-concentrated flavor. They are a great snack, but we love them for their baking and […]
Fudgy Walnut Brownie Pie
Makes one 9-inch pie The filling for this pie is reminiscent of a fudgy, dense brownie studded with walnuts and bittersweet chocolate chunks. The crispy chocolate crumb crust is an added bonus in both flavor and texture. If you prefer a moister, denser texture to the filling, bake for 35 […]
Homemade Pasta for Two on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is less about being in love and more about sharing love, whether that’s with a partner, a family member, or your very best friends. We may be biased, but here at The CIA, we don’t think there’s a much better way to show someone you care than to […]
Meltaways to Celebrate your BFF!
The best part of Valentine’s Day (besides the chocolate!) is celebrating the people we love—whether that’s our parents, our brothers and sisters, girlfriends and boyfriends, or just our besties! And, sure, we think part of celebrating your BFFs is doing something fun, a special little treat can certainly help. We […]
Mint Meltaways
Makes 81 pieces They are called meltaways for a reason: When coconut fat is mixed with chocolate, the result is a mixture that melts very quickly in the mouth. Add flavoring to it, and you have a singular sensation. No need to dip these in chocolate—just dust with powdered sugar […]
Polenta Gnocchi with Truffled Cheese Fondue
Makes 6 servings Unlike potato gnocchi, these dumplings are a bit more dense and toothsome, though still nice and light. The truffled cheese sauce is decadent and rich, making it perfect for a special occasion. Ingredients Polenta Gnocchi 1 quart water 4 teaspoons kosher salt 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil […]
Say “I Love You” with Chocolate
We don’t know about you, but when we think about Valentine’s Day, we think chocolate! Chocolate candies, chocolate cookies, chocolate brownies. Hm. Cookies and brownies… If one is great, how good would they be combined!? This Valentine’s Day, if you want to bake something for a special person – maybe […]