Welcome to The Urban Spork’s culinary laboratory! Ok, it’s really just a place for us to share new recipes, old favorites and kitchen experiments. Food is never just about the recipe – it’s about the way we use it to celebrate life. From everyday pleasures to big occasions the recipes matter, but it’s what the food says that really counts!
COOK
Chocolate Dipped Fruit
Now this is my kind of candy! This Chocolate Dipped Fruit has got to be one of the easiest recipes on this site. From start to finish, you can be done in about 10 minutes – not bad at all for a treat that’s this delicious. As you can see from the photos, I chose to use one of my favorite dried fruits – apricots, but it also tastes great on dried papaya, mango or even fresh strawberries.
Ingredients
- 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
- dried fruit (apricot, mango, papaya) or fresh strawberries
Directions
To make tempered chocolate – chop the chocolate into pieces and place 4 oz. in a small glass bowl and microwave for 20 seconds. Stir the chocolate and continue to microwave for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth and shiny (it took me about 80 seconds total). Add the remaining 2 oz. of the chocolate and stir until smooth. The chocolate should register 87° F to 89° F on a candy thermometer.
Dip each piece of fruit into the tempered chocolate and place on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 2 minutes to set.
adapted from a recipe found here
Beef Chili
The arrival of Fall means the beginning of soup and stew season – one of my favorite times of the year! While I constantly look for new and interesting recipes, there is no denying that you can’t beat the classics. This Beef Chili is the ultimate cold weather meal – a little spicy, full of flavor [...]
Maine Lobster Rolls
Maine is one of my favorite places to visit – especially in the Fall. The amazing scenery, changing foliage and delicious food are just a few reasons that make this special place well worth the visit. Lobster Rolls are a must when you visit this part of the country and on a recent visit, I [...]
Spicy Dill Pickles
For the last year I’ve been obsessed with finding the perfect pickle – the sour kind with a serious kick. My search led me to some great pickles including Bubbies and McClure’s, but as good as they were, I still kept searching. When I came across this recipe it was like a light-bulb going off [...]
Lemon Yogurt Cake
This lemon yogurt cake is the perfect summer dessert and even tastes better on the second (and third) day after baking. It’s so easy to make, you don’t even need an electric mixer! Try it with a side of fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For those interested in making a healthier [...]
Apricot and Honey Jam
As you may know, I have a longtime obsession with jams and jellies and am always looking for new, interesting, spreadable combinations. A resource that I always go to (and one of the most interesting cookbooks I own) is Mes Confitures, by Christine Ferber. Throughout the book, Ms. Ferber not only shares her secrets to [...]
Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise
This delicious vanilla bean Creme Anglaise (English Cream) has a rich, smooth texture and can be served either warm or cold with cakes, pies, puddings or my personal favorite – drizzled over fresh fruit. Not only is this cream easy to make, but it’s the perfect addition to your favorite summertime dessert. Makes 2 cups [...]
Lemon-Rosemary Pickled Green Beans
I realize that this post seems a little unusual – pickled green beans?! I know, it isn’t something that sounds too exciting, but when I came across a Bloody Mary recipe that used these as a garnish, I knew that I needed to make them. The Bloody Mary recipe is coming soon – in the [...]
Flour Tortillas
My love for flour tortillas goes way back. I have great memories of watching my grandmother and great-grandmother make huge batches of tortillas and cook them on an old wood-burning stove. Something about that stove seemed to add the perfect flavor to the tortilla and brown it in all of the right places. I’d anxiously [...]
Spinach, Roasted Garlic & Goat Cheese Dip
A few weeks ago I ordered this dip for the first time from a neighborhood restaurant. I expected something similar to a traditional spinach dip, but was pleasantly surprised at what I received. This version is much more creamy than a typical spinach dip and the roasted garlic really enhances the flavor. I really like [...]
Roasted Garlic
Roasted garlic is amazing – sweet, caramelized, spreadable – endless culinary possibilities! Not only does it add great flavor to your favorite dips or vinaigrette, but you can eat the warm, toasty cloves right out of the garlic head. I like to spread the garlic on a piece of crusty baguette. Depending on how I [...]
