About Me

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Born a mid western girl but an ocean girl at heart! My soul belongs to the sea....I am obsessed with the color TURQUOISE and all things beachy. I love nature, the outdoors, dogs,cooking,wine,art backpacking, cycling and reading. I also have a passion for photography and I absolutely love photographing the beach that is where my soul is happiest.! I hope you enjoy following me and my adventures so welcome to my blog, I hope you are inspired. HAPPY BLOGGING !

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Dark Chocolate Chili Truffles & Saugatuck Weekend

Hello and happy Wednesday to you! I am so happy, guess what I came home from work and saw my tulips just peeking out a bit to say HELLO! Spring is finally on the way... The birds have been very active this week and I have even noticed some of the trees buds are just starting to swell. I think everyone who lives in the midwest is ready for spring. This winter has been brutal and very challenging on my soul I must say. So every year we take a little weekend get away to Saugatuck with our good friends, and believe me it was much needed for the soul! We had so much fun it should have been illegal! I don't think you can ever have a bad time in Saugatuck no matter what time of year you go. We had lots of yummy food and vino and then some more vino...
It's so nice to get out of town and just forget about all your worries and just breathe and have Fun , and that is exactly what we all did. I can't tell you how much that lifted my spirits. This winter has been so brutal and it has been a challenge to try and keep a positive attitude when they days are grey and the temps are frigid. I am so looking forward to the spring thaw.
So for now I will just await springs arrival and just BREATHE! sometimes you really just need to slow down, relax and just breathe...
I really love this picture of the stairs it seems to be inviting your soul somewhere.... For me it is saying dare to dream and dream BIG and to always follow your own path in life.

Speaking of breathing on our way home from our weekend in Saugatuck we popped on over to the beach to take some photos and take in the beautiful blue skies! it truly was a beautiful day.I just took in the beauty and truly appreciated the day and the good things in my life. That is one reason I love the beach and ocean so much I love to sit quietly and take in all the beauty that surrounds me. The ocean has a way of speaking to your soul, it is so powerful.
So now to the decadent stuff... Dark Chocolate Chili Truffles!
So I thought I would surprise my husband for Valentine's day and make him dark chocolate truffles but with a twist. I buy dark chocolate bars infused with chili and cinnamon and thought I wonder if I could do that with my truffles, of course you can!


So to make these little yummies you will need...


6 oz of semi sweet chocolate or 1 large bar of your favorite chocolate I use Ghirardelli


6 oz dark chocoloate
6 tbs of butter ... never said these were low fat Hee Hee, but I do use smart balance butter, hey you gotta lighten it up where ever you can :-)


1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
1 to 2 tsp of chili powder, I like a little more heat so add desired amount depending on how much kick you want.
1-2 tsp of cinnamon


Bring cream to a boil then add in the butter, chili powder  cinnamon and chocolate.
Whisk all ingredients until til velvety smooth.
Pour mixture into a baking dish and refrigerate for at least 2 -3 hours 


Use a ice a small ice scream scoop to semi form round balls then roll each piece in your hands to desired ball shape.


Roll truffles in cocoa powder 
Roll truffles in hazlnuts 
roll truffles in pistachios.


Serve truffles with your favorite red wine!


Enjoy~


It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  ~Mark Twain