ChickSpeak

Have you ever thought of food as a relationship builder? Cooking together can help bond relationships with family, friends, and significant other.

If you don’t have a lot of time to cook together with family or friends –try to reserve a Sunday during the month as a day to spend some time to prepare a dish or a whole meal from scratch or make it together with someone special in your life.

Anything chocolate makes a great special treat for that special `someone for Valentine’s Day!

Here is one of my favorite recipes to make with special friends or family. It is an Italian version of  American brownies:

Tortini di Cioccolati

(Italian Style Brownies)

serves 4

¼ cup European butter

¼ cup dark chocolate pieces

1 whole egg

1/2 cup sugar

¼ cup flour

¼ cup walnut pieces

1 fresh orange 

2 tblsps butter to butter pan

2 tblsps plain breadcrumbs

*Soften butter in bowl until it cuts into small pieces

*Break egg, separating the white and egg yolk in 2 different bowls

*Break chocolate into pieces and place in glass bowl

*Place glass bowl in microwave for 30 seconds, or until melted (all microwave times vary, so leave on for 15-30 seconds first.

*place softened butter and sugar in another bowl. Mix until comes to a smooth mixture. Add in egg yolk and continue to mix. Add in melted chocolate, a little at a time until totally mixed in.

Add in flour a small spoonful at a time, continually mixing until totally blended in.

*Grate ½ of orange and add in peel and chopped nuts. Mix well.

*beat egg white until peaks have formed and gently fold into chocolate mixture.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Butter round cake pan or cover with baking paper. Dust bottom with plain breadcrumbs. Pour in batter. Cook in oven for 30 minutes. To be sure it is done, place toothpick in center, it must come out dry. If necessary cook for 5 minutes more.

When done remove from oven. Dust serving plates with powdered cocoa. Cut cake into squares; serve with thin slice of orange.

For more ideas and recipies from Maria, our Food & Fete genius, check out her website at www.marialiberati.com