Salon du Chocolat New York 2019

I was thrilled when I heard the Salon du Chocolat was coming back to New York this year. I had attended for a few years when they were in the city, including their last in 2011 along with the amazing fashion show. This is a great even for the chocolate lovers, lots of chocolate to taste, purchase, demos on how to bake with chocolate and the fashion show. Admission is $25 for Adult in advance, $35 at the door and for Children 6-12 $10, under 6 years old free. 

Here are some of my photos from the past shows, including the amazing fashion show, where all clothes were made from chocolate. 

Salon Du Chocolat 
Saturday, November 16, 2019 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 17, 2019 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001

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Nielsen-Massey's Vanilla Mocha Latte Shooters

Milkshake-Style Shooters Make a Memorable
New Year’s Eve Party Drink
Vanilla Mocha Latte Shooters burst with flavor from ice cream and
Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Sugar and Pure Extracts

This is NOT a sponsored post. 

I am a HUGE fan of Nielsen-Massey's products, and if you see any recipes I show on the blog that I bake myself, their vanilla is always in sight. I personally love the Vanilla Bean Paste because it has the flecks of the vanilla bean right inside, and makes for a wonderful flavor to any recipe. I found this recipe below pretty fabulous and thought you would enjoy for your New Year's Eve parties! 

Waukegan, Ill. (December 12, 2013) – Looking for a festive new drink to wow your guests at this year’s New Year Eve party? Surprise them with scrumptious ice cream-based Vanilla Mocha Latte Shooters. Infused with Nielsen-Massey’s fine extracts and garnished with vanilla sugar this delicious drink packs a flavorful and festive punch in a single shot glass for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party.

“Most people know that our products add flavor and distinction to food and desserts, but using our extracts in drinks is an easy way to quickly add layers of flavor to beverages,” said Craig Nielsen, CEO of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. “These shooters are a fun and whimsical way to dazzle your guests with this delectable, creamy creation.”

Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate and Coffee Extracts as well as Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract are universally loved flavors that bring a new dimension not only to food but also to beverages. In Vanilla Mocha Latte Shooters, the extracts are added to vodka, then chilled in the freezer. Pure Chocolate Extract imparts dark chocolate flavor and subtle, cocoa distinction while Pure Coffee Extract enhances the drink with full-bodied flavor from fine coffee beans. Rounding out these stronger flavors is Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract, a delicate vanilla featuring floral, fruity, cherry-like notes.

Vanilla-Mocha-Latte Shooters (Serves 8)

Ingredients

½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract
½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Coffee Extract
½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract
½ cup chilled vodka
2 tablespoons Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar (for rimming glasses)
½ cup heavy cream
3 cups firmly packed vanilla ice cream (about 6 large scoops)

Directions
In a small bowl, combine chocolate, coffee and vanilla extracts and vodka; cover and place in freezer until chilled.

In a small shallow bowl, add just enough water to moisten glass rims. In an additional small shallow bowl, add vanilla sugar. Dip each shooter glass rim into water and then into sugar; set aside.

Add cream and ice cream to an electric blender container, cover and blend on high, about 10 seconds. Add chilled vodka-mixture, cover and blend until smooth. Pour milkshake mixture into a piping bag or a large glass measuring cup and carefully fill 8 (2.5-ounce) glasses. Serve.

Once chilled, the unique vodka and extract mixture is combined with heavy cream and ice cream for milkshake-like body and texture. To serve, shot glasses are rimmed with Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, which is a flavorful blend of gourmet baker’s sugar and the most exquisite vanilla. Divide the milkshake mixture among eight shot glasses, and you have perfect potables to ring in the New Year.

Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Coffee Extract and Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract are just a few offerings in the company’s high quality line of products. Not only are they made from superior ingredients but they also offer convenience, quality and consistency for home cooks and bakers. A small amount of pure flavor extract adds a boost to a dish without having to take the time to chop, zest or juice–let alone find the more exotic ingredients. All products are kosher and gluten-free certified as well as all-natural and allergen-free.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar, Organic Fairtrade Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Beans. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas also offers a full line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are All-Natural, Allergen-Free, GMO-Free, and certified Kosher and Gluten-Free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. 

You can also view my use of the Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste HERE with the Vosges Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix review. They were pretty amazing I must say, as I LOVE  a tasty chocolate chip cookie! 

*Disclaimer: There has been no monetary compensation for posting this content. Brands mentioned are not affiliates or sponsors of this blog post. The opinions expressed are completely my own based on my experiences.

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Lick the Bowl Good by Monica Holland Book Review

Disclosure: I received one copy of Lick the Bowl Good for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of baking and baked goods. I come from an Italian family, where everything was made from scratch. I was thrilled when the publisher contacted me about reviewing this baking book from the blogger, Monica Holland, titled Lick the Bowl Good Classic Home-Style Desserts with a Twist. The title of her book is also the name of her blog, and what a great accomplishment to have a book published of your recipes!  Monica's recipes have been featured on The Huffington Post and People.com. 

As I looked through the book, I had a hard time deciding what to try. You knew peanut butter would be involved, don't you ? I love that this book is very old-fashioned. The recipes are simple, not a ton of ingredients, but makes desserts that will have everyone smiling! 

Sugar cookies shaped like pretzels, chocolate gingerbread and pina colada mini cheesecakes  

These look amazing, and they actually have a tablespoon of nutella in the center, along with the Ferraro Rocher candy on the top!! 

My favorite vanilla to use is Neilsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste as it has the specks from the actual bean within the extract, and gives you a most wonderful vanilla flavor. I think I love vanilla as much as chocolate.  

So what did I make? Well one of my Mom's favorites is Peanut Butter Cookies, and since she has been so under the weather this whole year, I thought something like this may cheer her up. The recipe includes cinnamon in the batter, and rolled in a cinnamon sugar mix. I love cinnamon, and it is so good for you too! 

Here they are ready to go in the oven. The batter was very simple to mix up, and smelled amazing. There is nothing like a kitchen smelling of peanut butter!! 

Out of the oven, they looked wonderful. I use parchment paper when I bake, as I find it saves my baking sheets. We have 2 that were my Mom's from many years ago, and you cannot find them with that good quality anymore. I also love the way my cookies come off the baking sheet without using a spray or more butter. 

The finished product was really yummy! The cinnamon was just the right touch with the peanut butter. I used a peanut butter with honey, which also gave it a nice flavor. These ingredients work so well together. Simple, classic, home desserts!! 

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Cookies via Lick the Bowl Good 

Cinnamon Sugar 

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Peanut Butter Cookies 

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar, packed 

1 large egg 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

For the cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, mix and combine the 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Set aside for later. 

For the cookies: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine, and set aside. 

In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla to mix and combine. Then add your flour mixture, carefully, until well incorporated. 

Using a small cookie scoop, 2 teaspoon size, portion out the dough. Roll the dough in between your hands to form balls, then roll the balls into the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Place on cookie sheets, flatten down to keep the balls from rolling around. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden. 

Allow cookies to cool on pan for 5 minutes before removing. 

Makes about 4 dozen cookies 

This book is great for beginner bakers, or those who have been baking a long time. The recipes are just wonderful, and most of the ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. We have quite a cookbook collection, but the books that are complicated, we tend to not really go to that often. It is a book like Lick the Bowl Good, that I will go to often because it is easy to make and tasty at the same time. The fact that this is under $20.00 is fabulous, and makes a wonderful holiday gift that won't break your budget. I am excited to try more of Monica's recipes in this book, and I am now receiving her blog posts in my email basket!

Today's Words of Wisdom: A Party without Cake is just a Meeting - Julia Child 

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