Cheese Grapes and Champagne Gelee

You can't have too many appetizer recipes, you just can't. Hummus is great but it isn't exactly elegant, and how many times do you feel the need to 'take watch' to ensure no double-dipping is going down?

These adorable little cheese-stuffed and covered grapes are cute and require one bite, a bonus for those times you don't want to carry around a plate with you (you need those hands for drinks and shaking.)
When I put this tray together I wanted something special on it - like edible flowers. But since we are in the midst of a polar vortex, even non-edible petals are hard to come by, that wasn't going to happen.  The tray didn't really need more food on it, but it needed just a little something to set it apart. The guest of honor and I have a penchant for Champagne, I began to look for ways to incorporate.

Yes it was a fancy and stylish party and yes, jello shots (or in this case gelee) fits right in. These aren't the nasty little neon jello shooters you get from a half-naked girls at the local club. These Champagne gelee cubes are light, tender and the perfect accompaniment to the grapes. Just a little square or two is needed; though a couple of us polished off the remainder of the pan in record time later in the night.

Below I've listed two flavor options for the grapes and a couple of options for how to put them together too. My goat cheese and lemon with toasted pine nuts version is super lovely while the more traditional blue cheese and walnuts arrangement is just a classic taste combination. In both cases, the grapes are a wonderful sweet vessel for the ingredients.

Take your next appetizer tray to a new level with Fat and Happy Grapes and Champagne.

Chocolate Mousse Cups: Gluten, Dairy and Sugar Free!

It's that time of year where sugary treats become a staple in our diets. I set out to make a dessert that is delicious but also free from sugar, flour and dairy.

I'm a big proponent of dark chocolate for its healthy properties and I love to use maple syrup in place of sugar. The rest all just fell into place- using almonds to make a dairy-free, protein rich milk and a little coffee and Grand Marnier for a hint of flavor to create a deep, creamy chocolate pudding-like mousse. Really nice.

This is the time to use your cute ramekins or little glass containers. I used a number of different dishes for a more rustic effect. If you are OK with powder sugar, sift a little on top for a finished look. If you are eating dairy, top with a little whipped cream. Or creme brulee the top of each with a bit of sugar and a kitchen torch.

The other thing I really like about this dessert is that you can serve it hot, right from the oven or serve it chilled. The preference is yours. Perfect for a brunch and even better ending a cold night; either way this Fat and Happy treat is one you can eat and without the guilt.

Dark Lord Day

Dark Lord Day at Three Floyds Brewery.  It's Willie Wonka meets Beer Fest.  It's a modern day Beerstock. It's Christmas in April and we were there. 

A Russian Imperial Stout, 700 calories a bottle, brewed only once a year, this event should be on your Bucket Lists just after 'live in New York City for a year' and just before 'bungee jumping off the Golden Gate bridge'.  Imagine thousands of beer lovers from all over the world sharing, trading and testing beers together.  New friends are made, old love solidified and many other stories and faces I can only remember in the pictures.

The Russian Imperial Stout was clearly the beer of the day.  Dark, thick, rich, tasty- completely lived up to the legend.  Th description on the bottle really sums it up best - A motor oil consistency, hellishly smooth yet divinely burnt and vinous.  The first sip coats your palate with a palatial charred fruit and chocolate blanket.  Alcohol burn wiggles its way down your throat with a thick body.  Oh sweet Jesus.


The other side of the day is hundreds, even thousands, of other beers available.  Some on tap, and some from random strangers' coolers.  I only wish we could remember all of them!  I fell in love with Bells 9,000 thanks to some great guys from Kentucky.  And there was the Goose Island Night Stalker that will make a reappearance in our fridge too.  Oh, and the St Peter's carbonated porter in the really cool bottle which turned out to be a great breakfast beer!


Super big hit was the pretzel necklaces.  Let's face it, you need a snack while sipping all day and there is nothing better than tilting your head down to find a crunchy treat.  Be forewarned though- sharing tends to be not optional... you WILL have random strangers asking for a bite - let go of your defenses and germ phobia - you'll have no choice but to go with it.


It was worth the 6 hours spent in the line waiting to buy just a mere 3 bottles per ticket -early arrivers where rewarded with 4 bottles; this became a real point of contention to the crowd.  Why would you short change and punish the people in line who didn't cut to the front.  Plus, you know how many Golden Tickets you sold... so what gives.  Three Floyds needs to get a handle on the organization of this event.  That said, it's worth a visit even if you don't score one of the famed Golden Tickets.  Get in early, plan for a day of tailgating and bring a designated driver!  Dark Lord Day at Three Floyds - it's an adventure to experience!

Chicago Water Taxi

Chicago is truly a vibrant city. Everyone says the city comes alive in the summer, but I happen to feel there is an excitement during the holidays that can’t be ignored. Walking amongst the Parade of Lights along the Magnificent Mile and skating at the ice skating rink below the Bean are natural gathering places, event throughout the year. The old tradition of looking at the Marshall Fields windows’ along State Street even though Macy’s bought Marshall Fields and the city seems to be rejecting them as a company, this tradition lives on and continues to be a holiday must-do. I remember days that were so cold, we could only view one window at a time before slipping into the nearest door to warm up enough to go out again. But we did it. We saw the windows.

There is a new tradition that I experienced today and just had to share. It’s the Fannie May Free Water Taxi and Chocolate weekends. You heard me right, a water taxi. Is that not one of the coolest ideas ever? With the Chicago River cutting right through the heart of the city, this is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get around; assuming it’s heading where you want to go. I happen to live on a stretch of the river that the taxi does not frequent, but I’m holding out hope for expansion, especially if the CTA loses funding! Lets get back to the free chocolate. Fannie May opened their first shop in Chicago over 84 years ago. That is something to be proud of. You can always count on Fannie May chocolates to be a crowd pleaser. They still have the white boxes I remember from years ago. I know there are fabulous new chocolate makers now, but Fannie May is a classic and they do know their chocolate. Fannie May and Chicago Water Taxi teamed up to offer free rides on the weekends throughout the holidays. When you board, you are greeted with a square of milk chocolate as well as a coupon for a free hot chocolate (redeemable at the Fannie May store on Michigan.)

It’s such a fun, simple activity, but one that lets you see the city from a different view. To me, these small goodwill branding efforts companies do go a long way with me. And I did go to the Fannie May store as well, which was a first for me! So these branding efforts also work! This is now earmarked as a new holiday tradition for me, next year I won’t wait until the last weekend to partake!