My Chocolate Fantasy

You have your favourite cake; perhaps you have several. Have you ever wondered where yours fares on the top ten list of homemade cakes? Read on and find out.

1. Mile High Chocolate Cake.

For chocolate lovers this is the ultimate cake recipe. It consists of four dark chocolate layers with milk chocolate filling. It is rich and decadent and easy to make.

2. Fresh Coconut Layer Cake

Vanilla cake layers brushed with a syrup made from coconut water and sugar make for a moist and delicious cake. The frosting includes fresh toasted coconut for the most intense flavor.

3. Rum-Scented Marble Cake

Everyone likes a little rum, and finding some in your cake is always a nice surprise. This bundt cake has a choclate center flavored with rum, guaranteed to please.

4. Persian Love Cake

This is a cake to be remembered. Combining a lemon-cardamom chiffon cake with saffron and rose scented whipped cream, it also has pistachios and candied rose petals for a stand-out middle eastern effect.

5. Semisweet Chocolate Layer Cake with Vanilla Cream Filling

This moist dark chocolate cake has a delicious fluffy cream filling, reminiscent of Oreos or Hydrox cookies. Complete with a chocolate ganache, it is chocolate cake at its creamiest.

6. Mixed Berry Chiffon Cake with Almond Cream Frosting

Sometimes berries make for the finest dessert, especially when they’re in season. Excellent for a summer outing, this cake is filled with almond custard and raspberry preserves and crowned with a multitude of fresh berries.

7. Twelve Layer Mocha Cake

If you like a little coffee with your cake, here is a great recipe. With espresso soaked spongecake, hazelnut meringue, chocolate souffle’ along with coffee and mocha buttercreams, it may not be the easiest cake to make but it is well worth the effort.

8. Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake with Cream Cheese and Butterfinger Frosting

The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a favorite with many people. This cake uses golden brown sugar for an extra burst of flavor. And the vanilla cream cheese frosting is to die for.

9. White Chocolate Layer Cake with Apricot Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

You cannot have a top ten cake list without a white chocolate one making a showing, and this one is a real winner. Using apricots when they’re in season adds to the flavor. Walnuts pressed into the frosting make an ultimate finish.

10. Cherry-Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake

A variation on the familiar Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, this creation utilizes a more rustic flair. It is cooked in a skillet then turned out onto a serving platter, exposing caramelized sugar and fruit. A little balsamic vinegar on the side turns up the taste to a new level.

These are only ten of many favourite cakes from around the world. You can find a multitude of cooking websites that will list other cake recipes and cake baking products. However, the ones listed here can be completely satisfying in your hunt for the best homemade cakes to be found.

We enjoy camping and hiking during the Summer season here on the East Coast 4-6 months of every year. As seasoned campers, we prefer to make our own snack mixes to take along.All of these recipes are easy to make. If you are going camping, store the snack mixes in plastic containers. If you are going hiking, you can place the mix into a plastic zipper close bag. You will want to make sure that you keep the moisture out.Mountain Trail Mix1 cup pumpkin seeds1 cup raisins1 cup salted peanuts1 cup small pretzel sticks1 cup plain M&M’s chocolate coated candies1 cup oyster crackers1 cup sunflower seedsUsing a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients together in the order that they are listed. Store mixture in airtight containers. This recipe will make seven 1 cup servings.Tangy Nut Mix4 cups salted roasted peanuts1/3 cup barbecue sauce2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheesePreheat oven to 300 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine nuts and barbecue sauce, stir until coated. Spread mixture onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until nuts are dry. Place on waxed paper to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container.Savory Pretzels2 bags broken salted pretzels1/2 lb. butter, softened1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce1 envelope onion soup mixMelt butter in your microwave. In a medium-sized bowl, combine soup mix and Worcestershire sauce. Pour mixture over pretzels and mix well. Cover and let stand until all of the liquid is absorbed, stirring every once in awhile to coat mixture. Place pretzels pieces in a warm 250 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The longer you bake them, the crunchier the pretzels will be. Once cool, store in an airtight container.

For some of us, store-bought candy just can’t compare to the flavors of the homemade sort. Many people mistakenly believe that candy creation is a very complex process, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of candy recipes available that are not only quite easy to make, but quick, as well! In this article I have included a few of my favorites for you to try out.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ingredients:1 jar maraschino cherries3 3/4 cups powdered sugar4 tbsp cream1/2 cup butter1 tsp maple flavoring2 sqs. semi-sweet chocolate2 tbsp. butter1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips2 inch sq. Paraffin wax

Mix the powdered sugar, cream, and butter together. Add 1 teaspoon of maple flavoring, then cover the cherries with the sugar and cream mixture. Place the cherries into the refrigerator to cool. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate, butter, chocolate chips, and paraffin wax and stir well. Dip the cherries into the mixture, then place on wax paper to cool.

Rocky Road Fudge

Ingredients:1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips1 (10 oz.) pkg. miniature marshmallows1 can Eagle Brand milk2 cup dry-roasted peanuts2 tbsp butter

Directions:Add the chocolate chips, milk, and butter into the top portion of a double boiler. Warm over a low heat until melted. Be sure to stir constantly. Remove from the heat, then stir in peanuts and marshmallows. Line a 9 x 13-in baking dish with wax paper, then pour in the chocolate mixture. Chill for at least 2 hours. Cut into squares and keep stored in the refrigerator.

Glazed Nuts

Ingredients:1 1/2 cups cashews, almonds, raw peanuts, or pecans2 tbsp butter1/2 cups sugar

Directions:Add the butter, sugar, and nuts to a skillet. Bring to a medium heat and stir until the sugar is melted and the nuts are toasted. Spread the nuts out onto wax paper or aluminum foil. Clump them into clusters, if desired. Allow them to cool.

Salt Water Taffy

Ingredients:1 cup sugar2/3 cup corn syrup1/2 tablespoons cornstarch1/2 cup water1 tablespoon butter1/2 teaspoon saltPreferred flavoring

Directions:Add the sugar, cornstarch, corn syrup, butter, and water into a sauce pan over a high heat. Stir until the mixture starts to boil. Remove from heat and add salt to the mixture. Pour onto a greased countertop and allow it to cool slightly (at least until it can be handled). “Pull” the mixture until it turns a light color. Divide into portions and add color and flavoring to each portion while it is being pulled. Wrap in wax paper to store.

White Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Ingredients:1 lb. white chocolate1 sm. bag mini pretzels

Directions:Melt the chocolate using a double-boiler. Drop in handfuls of pretzels and ensure that they get an even coat. Remove the pretzels and place on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for a minute or two, then remove them to an air-tight container for storage.

Restricting carbs does not mean that people cannot have a piece of cake too. In fact, there are many recipes to choose from to satisfy the cravings for something sweet. Cake is not the only sweets one can get being on a low-carb diet. To give you an idea on what kinds of sweets people can have on low-carb diets, we give you few recipes to follow.

1. Cream Puff Shells – To prepare, it needs ingredients such as ½ cup of shortening, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of boiling water and 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour and 4 eggs. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Except for flour and eggs, mix all the ingredients and heat until the mixture boils. Minimize the heat while adding the flour all at once and stir vigorously until the mixture forms the ball. Take it out from the oven to add eggs one at a time and beat the mixture thoroughly until it becomes thick and breaks from the spoon.

Spoon the mixture onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Minimize the heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and further bake for 20 minutes more or until golden and sound hollow when being tapped. Cool and fill.

2. Cream Cheese Tart Shells – Its ingredients include 3 ounces of softened cream cheese, ½ cup softened butter and 1 cup all-purpose flour. Blend butter and cream cheese together and stir in the flour until the mixture is completely mixed. Chill for one hour (this can be prepared earlier and chilled for 24 hours). Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and start to shape the dough into 24 one-inch balls. Press the small balls into ungreased 1 ½ inch muffin cups (the size of mini-muffin) to prepare a shallow shell. Fill with your favorite filling and bake for 20 minutes or until brown.

3. Delightful Fruit Dip – This is very delicious and easy to prepare low-carb dessert. It is nutritious too for it uses fresh fruit to prepare. The ingredients are 4 ounces of cream cheese, 1 and 1/8 cups of marshmallow fluff, ½ cup of vanilla yogurt and 1 dash food coloring. The fresh fruit choices are strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, and apple. Mix cream cheese, yogurt, marshmallow crème, and food color until smooth. Serve with fresh fruit.

4. Ganache II – The ingredients include 16 ounces of bittersweet chopped chocolate, 1 cup heavy cream and ½ cup unsalted butter. Put the chopped chocolate in a large stainless steel bowl. Using a large and high-sided saucepan, heat the cream and butter and stir frequently until it starts to boil. Remove from the heat when it boils and pour over the chopped chocolate and begin stirring until the chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Let it cool and then store in fridge. It can be reheated using a double boiler over simmering water.

Who ever said that dieting and eating healthy had to be boring? Certainly not the group over at Bariatric Food Products, who’s owners Gene Carbonell and Jan Chadwick have developed 4 outstanding new recipes featuring the very bariatric-friendly products they sell on their online store.

The following recipes, in addition to the many others featured on their website, combine bariatric approved foods and other natural, fresh foods to create new and exciting ways to prepare meals, drinks, desserts, and snacks. The idea is to simply provide dieters and post-bariatric surgery patients with some flexibility in their diets. These recipes also allow dieters to keep their diet interesting and exciting… something, as most of us already know, is very difficult to do.

Without further ado, here are 4 exciting recipes for dieters and post bariatric surgery patients: Wildberry Sparkler

Our first recipe is a beverage called “Wildberry Sparkler”. A wildberry sparkler is a fruity tasting drink that is not only a healthy, refreshing choice for a lunch or dinner beverage, but one that is also post-bariatric surgery friendly.

To make a wildberry sparkler, combine 1 packet of Wildberry Drink Mix with your choice of either 8 ounces of diet 7-up soda or diet seltzer into a blender. Blend on low for 10 seconds, and then serve over ice. You may garnish the beverage with a fresh mint if you desire.Nutritional Information for Wildberry Sparkler

Calories: 100

Protein: 15g

Carbohydrates: 7g

Fat: 1.5gSweet Potato and Fruit Fritters

Our second recipe is for a super sweet dish called “Sweet Potato and Fruit Fritters”. Yum! While this dish promises to be absolutely delicious, it also promises to be both diet-friendly and post-bariatric surgery approved.

To make this dish, combine 1 package of Vanilla Creme Pudding, a 1/2 cup of cooked mashed sweet potato (canned sweet potato works great too), a 1/2 of a mashed banana, 2 tablespoons of crushed pineapple, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg into a mixing bowl. Mix ingredients and then flatten batter into 5 patties. On medium heat, cook each patty in a frying pan until golden brown and crisp. Top with artificial sweetener or sugar-free maple syrup, and serve.Nutrition Information for Sweet Potato and Fruit Fritters:

(per serving)

Calories: 216

Protein: 14g

Carbohydrates: 38g

Fat: 3gCreamy Spinach Chicken

Our third recipe is for a hearty and healthy entrée called “Creamy Spinach Chicken”. This rich creamy chicken and garden vegetable combination is ideal for lunch or dinner, and is both diet and post-bariatric surgery friendly.

This recipe starts off with bringing 4 ounces of water to a boil and adding in 1 package of Cream of Chicken Soup with Vegetables, your choice of either 1 cup pre-cooked frozen leaf spinach or broccoli, and an 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder. Stir well. Once ideal consistency has been reached, pour sauce mixture over 2 ounces of pre-cooked, boneless chicken breast.Nutritional Information for Creamy Spinach Chicken

Calories: 202

Protein: 34g

Carbohydrates: 13g

Fat: 2.5g

Fiber: 5gChocolate Covered Pretzel Surprise

Our last recipe is an absolute fantastic dessert called “Chocolate Covered Pretzel Surprise”… a dessert so wonderful tasting that you’ll have convinced yourself that you’ve cheated on your diet. Don’t worry though, before sentencing yourself to the corner for a timeout, rest assured that this recipe is both diet and post-bariatric surgery friendly.

We start this recipe with 1 packet of Chocolate Pudding with Marshmallows and Chocolate Chips. Prepare the pudding according to the package directions. When finished, open up a package of Pretzel Twists and proceed with dipping each pretzel into the prepared pudding and then placing it on a sheet of wax paper. Then, freeze your chocolate covered pretzels for 40 minutes, and serve. Nutritional Information for Chocolate Covered Pretzel Surprise

(per recipe (15-20 pretzels per package)

Calories: 200

Protein: 24g

Carbohydrates: 16 g

Fat: 4 g

Fiber: 5 g

For more information on Bariatric Food Products.com or on the products and services that are offered, please visit the Bariatric Food Products.com website at http://www.bariatricfoodproducts.com or call Gene Carbonell and Jan Chadwick at (678) 398-0330.

Are you an old pro when it comes to making delicious desserts? Do your guests rave about your cakes and pies? The next time you have company over for dessert, why not try something different. Chocolate fondue has been in and out of fashion since the seventies and most people have tried it at least once. But if you want to try something new and exciting There are many different dessert fondues out there to satisfy just about anyone with a sweet tooth.Recently dark chocolate has been in the news being declared as a new heart healthy food. Dark chocolate retains more flavonoids that other varieties of chocolate such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, cocoa or chocolate syrup. New research has also determined that eating a diet high in flavonoids helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Obviously this doesn’t mean that you should run to the store to buy some candy bars. But it does mean that when eaten in moderation, dark chocolate can be a healthy choice as a dessert.And whether is good for you or not, who can resist a fondue pot of hot melted chocolate just waiting for your to dip something into it. What better way to enjoy strawberries, bananas and other ripe fruits. But don’t stop there. Be sure to try dunking some salty treats into the chocolate such as pretzels and potato chips. Mixing sweet and salty foods creates a unique flavor that you are sure to enjoy.So not only is chocolate delicious, but it is now considered a heart healthy food as well. Those are some excellent reasons to add a few chocolate fondue recipes to your recipe book. Why not try one of these chocolate fondue recipes tonight?Dark Chocolate Fondue12 ounces Premium Dark Chocolate (chopped)3/4 cup Whipping Cream2 teaspoons Kahlua or other coffee liqueur (optional)Over low flame, heat whipping cream until warm (DO NOT BOIL)Slowly add the chopped dark chocolate while stirringStir until the mixture becomes smoothStir in liqueurTo Dip:Strawberries, Bananas, Sliced Apple, Cubes of Pound Cake, Cubes of Angel Food Cake, Pretzel Sticks, Chunks of Pineapple, Marshmallows, Potato ChipsMint Chocolate Fondue1/2 cup Heavy Cream2 tablespoons Peppermint Liqueur8 ounces Semisweet ChocolateWarm the heavy cream over medium low heatAdd liqueurGrate the chocolate or break into small pieces and slowly add to mixture while stirringStir until the chocolate is meltedTo Dip:Candied Fruit, Pears, Peach Slices, Cubes of Pound Cake, Cubes of Angel Food Cake

Sweet for the sweet is the theme of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is the best time to spend the day in the kitchen creating time honored snacks with the little ones.
White chocolate with dark chocolate swirls will be a wonderful treat for a Valentine Day dessert buffet. Kids like chocolate and strawberries. The combination makes for a yummy and fun activity.
Red Strawberries & White chocolate fondue
Ingredients:
* 1 cup whipping cream
* 10 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
* 2 oz white chocolate, chopped
* Fruit to fresh strawberries, sliced bananas, orange
* Sara Lee Pound cake cubed
Instructions:
1. Pour the whipping cream into a small saucepan
place over medium heat.
2. Bring cream just to a simmer
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add the semisweet chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth.
5.Transfer mixture to a small ceramic fondue pot over a tea light candle.
6.Sprinkle the chopped white chocolate over the dark chocolate mixture.
7.Let stand for a minute or two to allow it to melt
8. Gently run a spoon through the mixture two or three times, just until marbled.
9. Serve with strawberries, and other fresh fruit and chunks of cake for dipping.
Valentine Day Cupcakes
A special treat to serve on Valentine’s Day
INGREDIENTS:
* Red Velvet Cake Mix
* Cream Cheese Frosting
* Cinnamon Hearts
* Heart shaped cake molds
Instructions:
1. Make your cupcake batter according to the package directions
2. Pour into cupcake cups in the cupcake pan.
3. Frost and decorate with cinnamon hearts.
These cookies are so easy, even the tiniest of helpers can participate in the excitement. Quick assembly and cooling is all that is required.
Valentine Day Cookies
Ingredients:
* 1 box Vanilla wafer cookies
* 1 pkg. Round pretzels
* 1 bag of Hershey’s Kisses
* 1 box Candy hearts
* 1 8oz Valentine M&M candies
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Place vanilla wafer cookies 1-inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Set a Hershey’s chocolate Kiss on the center of each cookie.
4. Bake at 200 degrees for 5 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and gently press an M&M candy or a candy heart into the center of the softened Hershey’s Kiss.
Allow to cool completely to let the chocolate harden again. You can cool in the refrigerator, but the chocolate will soften again after coming out of the refrigerator. Just allow them to sit long enough to harden up again.
Valentine Day PRETZELS
Place pretzels 1-inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Place a Hershey’s chocolate Kiss in the center of each pretzel and bake for 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and gently press an M&M candy or candy heart into the center of the softened chocolate.
When pushing down you may want to wiggle the chocolate around a little to fill in any gaps between the chocolate and the pretzel. This will help the chocolate adhere to the pretzel. Allow to cool completely.
Next time you are looking for Valentine’s Day recipes or any day you want to make something special with or for your children, pull out these recipes and give them a try.

We all know that the way to a woman’s heart is through chocolate. And chocolate treats that you make yourself is sure to win her heart this Valentine’s Day. These three chocolate baking recipes are simple ones to make that hardly take any time at all. She will love the fact that you took the time to make something yourself. It always means more to get something that you have made for her than something you bought.

Chocolate Creams

1 package (8 squares) semi-sweet chocolate squares

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

finely chopped pecans

In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate squares with the butter over low heat. Take it off of the heat and add in the confectioners’ sugar, cream and vanilla. Chill in the refrigerator until it holds together when shaped (about 1 hour). Form into balls and roll them in the pecans. If you want to take a little more time to make your Valentine’s Day treat even more special, shape the dough into hearts and put red and pink sprinkles on them. Make sure to store them in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

1 package chocolate cake mix

1 large package (6 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 cup water

1/4 cup oil

4 eggs

1 container chocolate frosting

pink and red sprinkles

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, and eggs. With an electric mixer, beat the mixture for 2 minutes. Grease (take butter and smear it over the bottom and sides of the pan) and flour (put about 1/4 cup of flour in the pan after you’ve greased it and shake it around, covering the bottom and sides completely) a 9 x 13-inch pan. Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until cake tests done (put a toothpick in the center and when it comes out without anything on it, it’s done). Allow to cool for 30 minutes to an hour and then frost with the chocolate frosting. Shake the red and pink sprinkles evenly over the top of the cake for added Valentine’s Day decoration.

Fudge Cookies

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 square semi-sweet chocolate

1/2 cup milk

3 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup coconut

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, butter, chocolate, and milk. Stir almost constantly. When mixture starts to boil around the edges, start to stir it constantly. Allow the mixture to boil for one minute. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the oatmeal, pecans and coconut. Drop the mixture by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets covered in waxed paper. For an added Valentine’s Day touch, put a candy heart on top of each one. Put in the refrigerator to set until hardened (overnight works best). Be sure to store them in the refrigerator.

Hosting an Easy Fondue Party is easy. First you have to decide what type of fondue party to have. You can either do a sit down party where everyone gathers around a table or you can do a buffet party where fondue pots are set up in various locations around the house.If you decide to host a sit down fondue party, limit the number of guests to 8 or 10 as everyone needs to be able to reach the fondue pots. If you want to host more people, choose the buffet party and set up pots around the house.Once you determine the type of party and the number of people you will invite, it is time to organize your fondue equipment and select your recipes.Fondue PotsThere are many styles to choose from but basically it comes down to the heating source and the size of the pot.Electric Pot — Rival Fondue Pots are reliable and work well for any kind of fondue party. They are convenient and easy to use because you do not have to worry about the heating source and their non-stick interior makes clean up a breeze.Sterno Pot — You will find several sterno fondue pots on the market. Rachel Ray, the Food Network host, has a series of sterno pots in various colors which work especially well when you do not want to worry about people tripping over electric cords. The sterno units last for several hours too.Tea Light Pot — I especially like fondue pots that use a tea light for the heat source. You can buy a huge bag of tea lights very cheaply at any craft store and you can find the pots in varying sizes so they work well with savory and dessert fondues.If you are going to host fondue parties regularly, it is a good idea to have several different pots available so that you are ready for any situation.Next, you need to choose your recipes. For a party of 8, serve 2 or 3 savory fondue recipes and 1 dessert recipe.Savory Recipe — Garlic Cream Cheese Fondue1/3 cup onion, finely chopped1 clove garlic, minced2 tablespoons Canola oil2-8oz. packages cream cheese, cubed1/2 cup milk8 oz. sour cream1 teaspoon dry mustardDippers such as Italian bread, apples, broccoli, steamed potato chunksIn a heavy saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until translucent.Add cream cheese, milk, sour cream and mustard and stir until melted.Pour mixture into a fondue pot set to low and serve with dippers. This one is fantastic served with bread and potato chunks.Dessert Recipe – Chocolate Caramel Fondue12 Turtles or another chocolate caramel candy1/2 cup whipping cream1/4 teaspoon cinnamonDippers such as pound cake, strawberries, shortbread cookiesCoarsely chop Turtles and place in a microwavable bowl. Add whipping cream and cinnamon.Microwave on medium heat for about 1 minute, stir and then cook another 30 seconds or until candy is completely melted.Pour into a fondue pot and set to low. Serve warm with dippers.The most important thing to remember about hosting an Easy Fondue Party is to keep it casual. That is what fondue parties are all about. It is what your guests expect. Good food, good company, casual environment.

To incorporate the essence of intimate passions into cooking, individuals with such desires should impart aphrodisiac recipes into meal preparation.

Exploration, in the medium of research, can conjure up a host of aphrodisiac recipes suitable for any meal, any day or any occasion.

Enterprising enthusiasts of the aphrodisiac prophecies should slant their respective shopping skills and culinary talents through the resources of aphrodisiac recipes.

Supplemental and subliminal rewards, through an individual’s embracement upon preparing aphrodisiac recipes are in the perception, motif, tone and mood that are achieved. Such achievements can only enhance and inspire romance and intimacy, in creating the ultimate in desirability and arousal.

Aphrodisiac recipes are plentiful in their bounty. Such recipes, with a heavy accent on romance, include appetizers, dip, spread, non-alcoholic beverages, flavored coffees and teas, breads, soups, salads, fondue, vegetables, complete entrees, desserts, and decadent chocolate buffets.

Erotic finger food, amid aphrodisiac recipes, involved the minimal preparations and artistic placement of varieties of cubed cheeses; hot and spiced frankfurters of the cocktail variety; black olives, large and generously stuffed; green olives, also large and generously stuffed; an assortment of vegetable, pickled; hot peppers; and, as a feature delicacy, smoked oysters; all, on an elegant platter.

Remaining on the erotic finger food theme, as a continuation of aphrodisiac recipes, upon a vividly colorful platter, display fresh fruits, to include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, chunks of pineapple, seedless green and red grapes, dates, figs, sliced mangos, sliced papaya, sliced kiwi, watermelon pieces, sliced cantalope or honeydew. Amid the fruit, place in the center of the platter an appropriately sized bowl, filled with melted chocolate, sherbet or cottage cheese. Add various types of crackers to the platter.

A most alluring, among aphrodisiac recipes, calls for pepper jelly to be spread upon sliced honey ham. Cook some asparagus spears, place the vegetable atop the jellied topped ham, and proceed to roll in up, as with a jelly role. Allow the asparagus tips to extend from either edge of the rollup. Hold the rollup together by spearing it with a toothpick containing a nicely stuffed olive.

To add that naturally sweet touch to a bread item amid the host of aphrodisiac recipes is sweet potato biscuits. Ingredients include one cup of flour, two teaspoons of baking powder, a quarter teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of sugar, one cup of mashed sweet potatoes, three tablespoons of butter, and a combination of honey and butter combined to make a spread. The oven should be preheated to three hundred seventy five degrees. With the exception of the honey and butter spread, mix all of the other ingredients together to create nice dough. Roll the dough out to flatness, and cut such dough into biscuits. Bake the biscuits for a period of twenty minutes. Remove the hot biscuits from the oven, and apply melted butter to the tops of the biscuits with a brush. Split the biscuits open, and spread the honey and butter spread inside of each biscuit. Serve the sweet potato biscuits warm.

As decadent chocolate would be amongst aphrodisiac recipes, a chocolate fondue would enrich any occasion. For such a fondue, have available two-thirds cup of a light corn syrup, a half-cup of whipping cream, and one package or eight squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate. To prepare such decadence, combine the corn syrup and whipping cream within a large bowl that is microwave safe, on a high setting, for a duration of one and a half minutes or until such mixture reaches a boil. Remove the bowl containing the hot mixture from the microwave, and immediately stir in the chocolate, until the entire mixture is fully melted. Pour the mixture into a fondue pot. Serve warm, as a fine dip for a host of goodies, including sliced fresh fruit, whole strawberries, cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, cubed pound or angel cake.

A crowning piece within the array of aphrodisiac recipes for a dinner would be prime rib with herbed au jus. Choose a nice four-pound beef prime rib roast. Also shop for shallots, rosemary, salt, black pepper and parsley. Bake the roast in the oven for two hours at three hundred fifty degrees. For making the essential au jus, utilize the pan drippings from the roast. With the drippings as a base, add one tablespoon of shallots, one teaspoon each of black pepper, parsley, rosemary and salt, along with one cup of water. Bring the au jus mixture to a boil.