Day 1: Holiday Time!!! Chocolate is the Word!

It's time for the Twelve Days of Holiday Sweetness! This year I am doing a few things different. 1. I am also going to be highlighting a product that I feel is the BEST to use for the recipe. 2. Every day of the twelve days are "themed". Today's theme is Chocolate! 3. I am adding a drink recipe! All drink recipes there will be two versions. Adult and Kid-Friendly! .. And we will have a few contests during the run! 

Day 1: Chocolate

Recipes:

Hot Truffle Chocolate

Chocolate Fudge Butter Cookies  (revised)  Tomorrow... Cinnamon! 

Half "Bun" Baking Sheets.. First the origin of the name.. A full sheet is standard for bakeries. These pans are mainly to make yeast buns and these are half the size.. thus.. Half Bun Pans! If you have been at one of my classes you will always see me use these trays for prepping and also for baking cookies. Sheets of Parchment Paper ft perfectly. They will not warp, they are affordable to order at least 6! So you can have your cookies cool completely on the cookie trays. Many cookie cookbook authors only like sheets with two sides that are flat like the sheet. Its been told that the air-flow of the oven will not be even with all four sides like these cookie trays.. I say.. Bologna! If the heat in your oven can not go over 1/2-inch then you have more problems with regulation then with baking of your cookies. 

Holiday Recipes…. Soft Ginger Cookies

It's Fall... I love all of the spices and aromas that make up the fall/holiday time. Here is a spiced cooking that is very soft. I use two kinds of ginger in the recipe.

If you are looking at your spice cabinet and thinking.. I need new spices.. Then check out The Spice House out of Chicago area. They ship and its work every cent! When you open a jar of spices you will begin to notice the freshness right away.  

The Spice House

Secondly, I have a few spaces for my May 2014 trip to the south of France. If you are interested please email me at ggeary@aol.com

France Information

Here is the recipe for these great cookies: Recipe

Also, make sure you have signed up for my daily recipe for the 12 days of Christmas.. www.georgegeary.com 

Do me a favor and repost this and or send to your foodie friends.. They may just gice you my France Trip as a gift!

~~George 

It's Almost Labor Day! Glazed Lemon Cookie Time

I was a little surprised to find out that a number of school districts started back a few weeks ago. We went from the second Wednesday of September to the second week of June. One week off at Easter (Oh we can't say that.. I mean Spring Break) and two weeks at Christmas (Woops... Again I can't say that I mend Winter break) And a few other holidays like Thanksgiving (Can I say that?). Lincoln's Birthday, Memorial Day, Etc... If I would have known I would have supplied you with this cookie recipe! I also use to to grind down for my lemon cheesecake... 

Enjoy! Recipe

PS: I have some of my books on my site if you are looking for them to purchase: Books

Also, we only have a few spots left for the May 2014 France Tour. Check it out: Tour

The Taste of Shortbread and Cheesecake

The Taste on ABC & Chocolate Shortbread

It's been a whirl-wind of a few weeks. Last week I was asked if I could pack my bags and get to NYC for a few days to work on Season 2 of The Taste. It was on in January of this year. I was a Casting Food Judge to where I tasted the foods of the contestants. It was over 100F and the humidity was high also. My first night in the city I found out a college was teaching a class on Salt Block Cooking at The Meadow (They have hundreds of salts, chocolate, bitters and flowers). Mark Bitterman has a location on Hudson and also one in Portland with a second Portland coming in. Check it out The Meadow.

Here is my recipe for the week. Rich Buttery Chocolate Shortbread. It will become a family classic! No eggs! Recipe

Two weeks ago I conducted my LA Coffee Roasting to Tamales Tour. Out September Tour is sold out, but get on the mailing list for the Holiday food tours. We leave from San Diego Area.  Tours from San Diego

On Tuesday the 30th my segment on SD Living will be all on Cheesecake! From Savory (with two great cheeses) and the famous Golden Girl Cheesecake that I created for the show back in the 80s. I will post the recipe on Monday Night.. 

Lastly, we only have 2.. yes.. TWO spots left for May 2014 France Tour. This is my 18th season and it will be the best yet! A great 17th century (modern) villa and the prices are the same as 2009! Tours 

See you on TV, a class or a tour! 

George

French Butter Cookies

French Butter Cookies

I "Americanize" these.. The French would only dip on side in chocolate only.. I like to drizzle the entire cookie.  These are simple and buttery! Also, you can use the higher priced butters for more of a rich taste! Enjoy!

The Recipe