Today is National Chocolate Souffle Day.

Makes 6 servings

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 6 individual soufflé dishes and sprinkle with the 2 tbsp sugar; set aside.
2. In a bowl over boiling water melt the chocolate constantly stirring. Remove the bowl from heat and stir in the egg yolks.
3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with salt on medium high speed until they hold soft glossy peaks. Continue beating egg whites on high speed, gradually adding the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, until the egg whites hold stiff peaks.
4. Gently stir 1/3 of the eggs whites into the chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in the remaining egg whites.
5. Spoon the chocolate into your prepared dishes and bake for 12-15 until risen and crusty.

Today is National Strawberry Day and National Kahlua Day.

Here are a couple of drink recipes to enjoy.

Kahlua Recipes

Butter Chocolate Bliss

1. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail glass, stir, and serve.

Brown Cow

1. In a champagne flute with ice, add kahlua and top with milk. Stir. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Chocolate Raspberry Brownie

1. Fill the glass with ice cubes. Pour in the liqueurs and then top with cream. Garnish with chocolate shavings on the top.

Today is National Pistachio Day. 

1. Carefully peel open an edge of an apricot and stuff with a nut. You can also use a knife. Place on baking sheet till they are all done.
2. In a double boiler or bowl over a pot of bowl water melt the chocolate.
3. Using a fork, dip each apricot in the chocolate making sure they are completely coated and shake off any access before placing on wax paper. Repeat with remaining apricots.
4. Let harden then store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place up to 1 week.

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day and National Clam Chowder Day.

It’s really easy to make this treat.

You need:

In a bowl over boiling water begin melting the chocolate in batches.

I’ll melt a little bit then add more chocolate to keep it smooth and evenly melted.

I decided to make a batch with just almonds and another with almonds and dried apricots.  I chopped the apricots up into small chunks.

Spread the nuts and fruit (if using) on a foil lined baking sheet. Here I have one side with almonds and the other side almonds and fruit.

Once the chocolate has been completely melted carefully pour it evenly over the nuts and fruit. 

You can use a spatula to smooth it out evenly and eliminate any bubbles. Leave it to cool.  If you are in a hurry to get your taste buds on these you can increase the hardening time by placing the the baking sheet in the freezer.

Once completely hard break up into large pieces of  ‘bark’.  The top piece has the fruit in it while the bottom is just plain nuts.  Be warned.  While breaking into manageable pieces you will feel inclined to sample multiple times.

Chocolate Nut Bark Full Recipes

1. In a bowl over boiling water melt the chocolate.
2. Spread the nuts out on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper and pour melted chocolate over top. Let cool before breaking into pieces.

*Add chopped dried fruit to the mix for an added bonus.

Today is National Tortilla Chip Day.

It’s not hard at all to make your own tortilla chips at home.

Spray some soft tortillas with cooking spray and bake in a 350 degree F oven until crispy 8-10 minutes. Cut to the size you want.

Sprinkle them with different spices like chili powder and chipotle to get more flavour.

For something a little sweeter, sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and serve with a fruit salsa.

Today is National Banana Bread Day.

Feel free to add a 1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts to this recipe 

1. Cream together the sugar and butter. Add the banana, eggs and vanilla and beat together well.
2. In another bowl combine dry ingredients except chocolate and stir into the first mixture just until moistened.
3. Fold in chocolate chips until well incorporated.
4. Pour batter into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Today is National Margarita Day.

Here’s a recipe for the classic version.

Margarita

1. Mix tequila, triple sec, and lime juice with ice in a shaker.
2. Rub rim of a chilled cocktail glass with a piece of lime and then dip it in a saucer of salt until it is evenly coated.
3. Strain Margarita mixture into glass and garnish with a thin slice of lime.

Today is National Sticky Bun Day.

You could also make these individually in muffin tins, just as long as you divvy up the ingredients accordingly.

makes 8 buns

1. Sprinkle pecans in the bottom of a buttered 12-cup Bundt pan
2. Make sure the dough is separated in 8 balls of dough and arrange them in pan on top of pecans and sprinkle with dry pudding mix
3. Stir together butter, brown sugar and cinnamon and pour over rolls. Cover, and chill 8 hours.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Invert onto a serving plate and serve immediately.

Today is National Cherry Pie Day.

1. Combine egg and 1 tablespoon water to make egg glaze.
2. In 9-inch pie pan, place 1 piece of pastry. Brush with egg glaze.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
4. Combine fruit, reserved juice, tapioca, salt, sugar and extract. Stir and let mixture stand for 5 minutes.
5. Spoon mixture in prepared crust and dot with butter cubes.
6. Roll out second crust and cut into strips to make a lattice top on pie. Pinch edges together and brush with egg glaze.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until crust is golden.

Today is National Chocolate Mint Day.

I thought I’d give you a little something different today.

Mint Chocolate Dream

1. Mix the three alcohols in highball glass. Fill with ice cold milk, and serve.