Lorraine's Cuisine: Chocolate Pate with Raspberry Sauce

I don't believe I've discussed this before ... but I do love to cook. I consider myself an "amateur" foodie. Not an expert ... but definitely a connoisseur of good food. And so ... since we speak about elegance, style, and beauty ... I truly believe we can't leave out some of the simplest pleasures in life:  Food.  Therefore, I decided to share some of my favorite recipes with you. From my kitchen to yours as a new blog feature:  Lorraine's Cuisine.

And bien sur ... let's just start out with a bang, n'est-ce pas? Let's go straight to chocolate ... and not just any chocolate, let's start at the mother load of all chocolate dishes up my sleeve: Chocolate Pate'.

What I love about this recipe is that it is bursting with flavor, elegance, and yet ... it truly is easy.  My fave!!  Something that takes a minimal amount of effort, but tastes like you slaved in the kitchen for ages!!  And, for those of you who are true 100% made from scratch Foodies ... I know some of this may offend ... but I'm being realistic here.  Sometimes we need elegance but don't have the time to do everything from scratch.  That's where this recipe comes in.  A realistic guilty pleasure!

So, let's get started ... I promise ... just reading this recipe will transport you to Chocolate Heaven!

Ingredients:
PATE:
      16 oz. quality bittersweet chocolate (and don't go cheap on this ... a really good one or not all all!  I promise it's worth it!)
      1/4 cup red wine or Zinfandel 
        (for non alcoholic drinkers, a dark red cooking sherry will do ... but you truly want this to balance out the flavors)
      1/4 cup heavy cream

SAUCE:
      seedless raspberry jam

GARNISH:
      whole red raspberries

Directions:
      Line the bottom of a small, straight-sided loaf pan (9” X 2½“X 2”) or pate mold with parchment paper (wax paper also works if you don't have parchment). Combine the pate ingredients in the top of a double boiler or heavy-bottomed pan. Cook gently on low heat for one or less minute, being careful not to overheat. Whisk just until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Return to heat briefly in between whisking if necessary. Pour into prepared mold or pan. Refrigerate over night (I've put this in the freezer for 4 hours in a pinch - pull out of freezer 15 minutes before you begin dinner and it should be just right when you're ready for dessert).

      To serve: Unmold the pate and remove paper. Slice with a knife that has been dipped in hot water. Melt the seedless raspberry jam in the microwave until sauce consistency. Put a dollop (turn on your inner chef and create a swirl or zig zag) of the melted jam on a plate and top with a slice of pate. Garnish with whole berries.

Notes:
      This pate is strictly for hard-core chocolate users!  Just a little bit goes a long way.  Eat slowly, letting the chocolate melt on your tongue.  It is something that everyone should experience at least once in their life!!


Now … what we all have been waiting for … Go to my Paper Crafting 2.0 page (up above) … Tevis has knocked one out of the park with her Coco inspired Paper Crafted necklace.  Here’s a teaser:

Freebie Friday 04/12/2013 and Coco's Electronic Fashion Picks

Well, Mes Amies,

I hope you are having a wonderful week! Are you having fun draping yourself in Coco's pearls of wisdom, checking out her "picks," and soaking in her wisdom? I definitely am!!

I wanted to share a few things today to help you in your quest for elegance AND style. Actually some tips that I think Coco would approve of, if she were with us today. Yes ... I'm talking about electronic fashion tips - whether you are on a strict clothing budget, maybe a little more "curvy" than the average girl, or for those who aren't quite sure yet what your style is. So let's get started!!



TIP #1 POLYVORE: For those of you who don't have a clue what to wear, what looks good on you, etc. One of the best things you can do is to not over-think it. Go with your gut. It's usually right. It's when we start looking at what everyone else is doing that we get into trouble. If we are in tune with our "true" inner self, we're usually on target. Not the inner self riddled with baggage who says "You're too fat," "You're not pretty enough," "You would look ridiculous." It's the true inner self that loves the "true you." The one that says ... "I'm worth this," "I CAN be elegant," and "I WANT to be stylish." So, as a little aid ... try out the App from Polyvore. It's awesome. It will allow you to explore looks, colors, and trends that "speak" to you, before you ever spend a penny. Whether you have Apple or Android products, there is an app for you. Check out your app store ... I promise you will love it!



TIP #2 POSHMARK: Have a beer budget, but Champagne taste? POSHMARK App is amazing. You can trade, buy, or sell clothing and accessories to other "girls" out there in the same position. Maybe you've lost weight and want to sell items that are still in great condition but a little too big, and then turn around and buy new clothes in your new size. You can on POSHMARK. My daughter started using this app and I have been absolutely amazed at how little she has paid for some really, really nice brands. Again ... it's an app that's available in your App store, whether for Apple or Android.



TIP #3 Gwynnie Bee (for Americans only - but for those of you living elsewhere ... this would be an amazing enterprise to start in your country!!): Are you a little curvier and want one of the most amazing opportunities to expand your wardrobe exponentially, but at a regular budget price point? Then go to Gwynnie Bee's. You are, in essence, renting clothing every month. You choose how many clothes you have out at one time, but you get to turn them in as many times as you want every single month (postage included). So, quite literally, for a set fee, you have unlimited wardrobe options. However, these are not tent dresses, mes amies, they are really stylish. You also have access to a style consultant to help you figure out what suits your body style. They are now offering sizes US 10-26. Seeing is believe with this site. You can click HERE to go directly to their site.

Alright mes amies ... it wouldn't be Friday if I didn't share a Freebie Friday, so here it is. What is so amazing to me is that the dress illustration is from 1932!!!! It definitely proves the point of Coco's Pearl! As always, feel free to click on the photo, right-click to save. However, no mass production - personal use only. Feel free to share or pin so that others can come here to get their own copy and help them on their way to Elegance and feeling Beautiful!



Have a Wonderful Weekend!!

Bonjour,

Lorraine

Freebie Friday April 4/5/2013 or Coco's Spring Cleaning

One of the most revolutionary ideas that Coco Chanel offered, was that you could be comfortable AND elegant. No more corsets, no more fabrics that didn't breathe or move with your body. No more styles that didn't compliment your body. While, some may argue that it's almost become too easy to be casual, and we forget the word "elegant" when doing so ... there are still ways to maintain elegance AND be comfortable.

So, for today's Freebie Friday, I've created a vintage couture poster that shows two women strolling through Paris (see how comfortable, yet elegant they look? I'd wear what they have on today, if I could afford to!!). I'd like to think it is the spring time due to the colors, but the actual illustration was for Winter. I'm vetoing that and we're calling it Spring, because where I am ... the trees still look like that, even though I DID see some crocus blooming in someone's yard yesterday which gave me SUCH hope!!

So, in order for you to download today's Freebie, click on the photo and then right-click to save to your computer. You may use for personal use only, to print out, to craft with (a card would be awesome) or to use as wallpaper. BUT, I'm adding a request with today's printable. Look in your wardrobe over the weekend (we can call it Coco's Spring Cleaning). If you can't attach the word elegant to comfortable. Ask yourself these questions:

1) What are you doing with it?
2) Why are you compromising your standards?
3) Why would you allow yourself to feel less than you are by wearing something so unflattering?

Here is a picture of a very young Coco who is very casual, but still maintains some elegance:



See how she is wearing very casual clothes, but they fit her well, and still exude some style. That's what I'm talking about.

So here is your inspiration Printable. Now hop to it, and Be Fashionable Forever!! And, if you need some moral support and can't be objective, ask your BFF to help you. You know the one ... the one who won't lie to you and will tell you straight up ... "NO ... put it in the bag for the homeless shelter, Goodwill, etc.

Bonjour Mes Amies ... Have an incredible Weekend. And on Monday ... I want to hear some reports about how your experience went!!

Living la Vida Oo La La (or Taking the Bull by the Horns)

I can't wait to tell you about my evening the other night. I was definitely going to post my freebie friday, but something came up, and so I have to get it sent out today. I think you'll forgive me when you hear what happened.

For years, everyone has been telling me how beautiful my jewelry is, and when will I start selling it. I have seen it as a very fun hobby. But as I mentioned in my profile and about my store, I decided that I truly want to create this new life where designing and making jewelry and therefore helping women feel beautiful is my calling or career. But, there has been a little part of me that has still questioned ... "Can I really do this?" Am I really going to make this happen?

Well, the answer is YES!! Last night my husband and I had a hot date, we went to see Woody Allen's new movie, "To Rome with Love." Funny, yes (especially the showering Italian - don't worry, no spoilers here), but not as good as the Paris movie, in my opinion.

Anyway, afterwards we were craving Italian food. So, we went to Macri's, which is an amazing Italian restaurant here. No greasy spaghetti here, there are TWO chefs in the kitchen and a whole assortment of gelato's made on the premises, need I say more? So, our waiter starts telling us about the Italian festival that will be coming up on July 20th and 21st. He gives us a brochure, and I see the tiny, tiny, little word "vendors" at the bottom. Before I give it any thought, out of my mouth pops "Do you still need more vendors?" YES, he says. I'll have the owner come over and talk to you.

Well, I, of course, had my Nook with me, so I was able to show him my Etsy store and a sampling of my jewelry. He loved them, gave a quote, I paid the bill, I got my invoice and receipt. And now I'm committed!! I will be a vendor at an event that generally attracts around 10,000 people!

WHAT HAVE I DONE? I can't decide if I want to jump up and down with delight, or stop long enough to let the fear set in. But, the primary emotion I feel is ... well, picture Sally Field at the Oscars, when she says "You like me, You like me, ... you really like me!" That's how I feel. And then the question begs to be asked ... why does it take a complete stranger to validate that I am a creative artist? Why do I shrug off the compliments and praises from people who I admire and love, and just consider them as being "nice." Someday, ask me about the word nice ... and to my sister Michelle ... that bit was for you!

So, in keeping with the brand new development and the excitement that I'm on the cusp of a new beginning, I've created the following Freebie. I truly hope you enjoy. And, I also pass along my best wishes that you are creating the life you want to live. Sometimes it just takes not thinking too much, and opening your mouth!

I love the picture in this Freebie. It is from a vintage hat advertisement from the 1920's. Not Chanel, but I would like to think that Coco wouldn't be offended. As always, feel free to click on the picture and download for personal use. I only ask that you do not mass produce or use for profit in any manner, without express permission from me. Of course, you may direct any and everyone to my site to download their own free copy.

Bonjour Mes amies ... go create some elegance in your day!

Love, Lorraine (a VENDOR, aka a Jewelry Designer)