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Home , Baking chocolate, Chocolate liquor, Dark chocolate

This month is very special and dear to my heart, because it Kitchen3 Academy is national month !! Blog

When you think of February, you think of Valentines Day, and that makes ME think of chocolate !! 4 Recipe Recap

Not only is California beautiful, but the climates of the coast in large parts of the state help make the PERFECT 7 terroirs for growing many different wine grapes Wine 101 1 Today is the LAST DAY to vote for your favorite dishes for 8 Kitchen Academy Challenge 3 !! Kitchen Academy Challenge

9 Chef Fabio Viviani uses fresh ingredients to prepare easy-to-follow recipes, simple comfort food dishes, Chow Ciao! and flavorful Italian meals in 15 minutes.

Each week I will answer your questions here Fol- 10 low @Fabioviviani on Twitter or on Facebook to ask questions for the panel !! Fabio QA 12 Upcoming Events 2 Kitchen Academy Blog

Happy February #TeamFabio, I hope you are having a great first few days of the month !! This month is very special and dear to my heart, because it is national CHOCOLATE month !!

I do not know if you know this about me, but I am a , and this week I am going to have a serious relapse, because we are having chocolate recipes ALL WEEK !! The recipes are all amazing and you will have perfect time to practice your chocolate cooking skills with them so you can make something EXTRA special for your loves on Valentines Day next week ; ). Cooking with chocolate is not something that everyone does too much, so this week I am giving you a crash course in chocology !!

Baking: Not sweet at all. It is like the build- Semisweet: this chocolate is another com- ing block of all other forms of chocolate. It mon one you will see in recipes with any is made by mixing with kind of chocolate. It has more than to make it into a shape. If you have Baking bittersweet, but it is still bitter compared to chocolate and other ingredients you can something like milk or . make all the other kinds of if you White: this chocolate does not have any have time. You can use for “” !! The solids are the purest brownies and cakes, because you are add- forms of chocolate without the fatty parts ing sugar separately. If the recipe calls for that make them into solid forms. It is more chocolate, you should use baking chocolate like a powder, and the solids have all the unless it says bittersweet or semisweet in health benefits that chocolate can give you. the ingredients. So when you are eating white chocolate, Bittersweet: Chocolate with a little sugar there is none of the antioxidants or the heart added, added , sometimes healthy benefits that you get when you are lecithin, and vanilla. If a recipe calls for bit- eating “real” chocolate. It is tasty, but it is not tersweet or semisweet chocolate, you can good for you !! cheat and use either one so you do not have Cocoa Powder: This is another common in- to go to the store again if you already have gredient in many recipes. You can get either one of either ; ) natural or dutch processed cocoa powder. Milk: this chocolate is made with milk, that is When you are cooking you have to be care- a no brainer !! In the USA has ful with your cocoa powders, because when to have at least 10% chocolate liquor. Choc- you mix the dutch with a recipe that has bak- olate liquor is like baking chocolate without ing soda you might get a soapy flavoring in the added hardening ingredient. So with a your recipe. Please do not make soapy chip minimum of 10% of actual pure chocolate, cookies. you see that milk chocolate is barely even chocolate !! But it is still delicious and sweet. 3 Recipe Recap

When you think of February, you think for the person you care about instead of Valentines Day, and that makes ME of getting store bought. Making some- think of chocolate !! This week I will thing comes from the heart !! Any- be focusing on chocolate recipes to one can just BUY something, but why make for your valentine. Nothing says not MAKE something !? Besides, since romance like chocolate !! I think it is they’re MY recipes we all know they are much more thoughtful to make these much better than anything else ; ).

Chocolate Apricots Chocolate is so easy to get lost in !! You can put it in cakes, muffins, and even on fruit !! Choco- late with fruit has so many different combina- tions, and it is something that everybody should experiment with and try. Apricots are so tasty and delicious, and good for you !! When you mix choco- late and Apricot, you get delicious but healthy treat : ) CLICK FOR RECIPE!

Nutella Rice Squares

Ahhh !! Nutella !! We all know how I feel about Nutella… I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Like I said before, putting nutella on any of your favorite sweets makes it a flavor explosion !! Nutella is the perfect blend of rich creamy cocoa and hazelnuts.So you take a rice krispie treat and and add nutella. . . It is hard to put into words, you just have to try it for yourself !! World NutellaC LICK FOR RECIPE! Day

4 Recipe Recap Bitter

The ultimate comfort food !! Chocolate cake, but not just any old chocolate cake… FABIO style chocolate cake. That’s right !! A simple, easy recipe, that can be done by anyone. But be careful, it’s so good and easy to make that you will want to eat it to yourself in one sitting !!

CLICK FOR RECIPE!

Chocolate French Toast

Sometimes we wake up in the morning and need to get energized… what better way to do than treating yourself to some chocolate french toast !? It really gives you a reason to get up in the morning ; ) !! With this simple tasty recipe, you’ll be ready to go out in the world with a smile on your face. CLICK FOR RECIPE!

Double Chocolate Profiteroles

Oh boy !! Double Chocolate profiteroles !! The dessert formerly known as cream puffs. So tasty, and flaky they just pop right into your mouth, and before you know it you’ve had a 10 of them !! I am such a chocolate junkie, so any recipe including it makes me excited to make it, but it gets better !! It is , CLICK FOR RECIPE! which is even better and chocolatey tasting : ) 5 Recipe Recap Fruity Chocolate Fondue

Dark chocolate, Bananas, pineapples, peaches, strawberries… and chocolate !? Yes, that’s right, it’s time for Fabio’s fruity chocolate fondue, and you know it’s going to be amazing right ? ;) It’s a sim- ple, tasty treat to whip up and bring to a party !!

CLICK FOR RECIPE!

Mexican

What is a better way to spend a Sunday other than sipping some Mexican hot chocolate ? Now Mexi- can Hot chocolate is different from the normal hot chocolate you’re thinking of !! Mexican hot choc- olate has got a deeper chocolate flavor, to where it’s almost bitter, and in my recipe I add some chili powder for an extra kick !! It’s delicious and simple. CLICK FOR RECIPE!

Rich Chocolate Muffins What a great way to end chocolate week with some chocolate muffins !! But not just any choc- olate muffins… FABIO’S RICH chocolate muffins. Full of flavor, fluffy and so simple. These -muf fins are so simple to make yet, so rich, fluffy, and tasty to eat !! But watch out not to eat them all to yourself, share with some friends : ) CLICK FOR RECIPE! 6 Wine 101 : CALIFORNIA WINE HISTORY 2/5

Nowadays, when you think of wine It was not smooth sailing from the regions of the world, California is gold rush though. Phylloxera, the little definitely one of the top answers for the bugs that destroy wine grapes, helped best or the favorites. Not only is California’s vineyard industry become California beautiful, but the climates of stronger because the crops in Europe the coast in large parts of the state were damaged so much. So there was help make the PERFECT terroirs for a big boom in Californian wine around growing many different wine grapes.. this time. BUT, in America they did Coming from the wine-rich Italy, there this silly joke for 15 years where they was only a few places I could feel at banned all alcohol sales in the country, home in the United States, and the so naturally, the wine industry wine country of California helps !! suffered in California and the rest of the USA. During this silly time, over But how did wine get to California? 600 of these wineries closed down. In the late 1760s, (before the United States was independent from England It took more than 30 years for Cali- !!) the Spanish missions that sprouted fornia wine to get back on its feet, but up all along California brought grape soon enough, California wine was on vines to California from Mexico for top of the world in blind taste testing. religious sacraments. So you can thank But why California ? What is it about this god for the wine in California today ; ) state that makes it so good for wine ?

But that is not the whole story!! California’s climate is so good for wine When the gold rush came to california because it has a mediterranean climate. in the middle 1800s, more people This is the same climate where wine came, more people wanted to drink was first pioneered by the Greeks and wine, and actual wineries began to Romans, so it is the PERFECT condition sprout in what we know now as Napa for growing all kinds of wine grapes !! County, and that is STILL what we know as wine country in California!! CLICK TO CONTINUE!

7 Kitchen Academy Challenge #3

Today is the LAST DAY to vote for your favorite dishes for Kitchen Academy Challenge 3 !! If you really want the cookware you need to make sure that you get everybody to vote !! You do NOT need a Pinterest account to like the entries. What foods do YOU think should be in the next challenge?? Tweet me @FabioViviani #FKAChallenge !!

CLICK FOR more!

8 ChowCiao on Yahoo.com Fabio’s Hot Wings

You asked for them, you get them: Fabio’s secrets to making restaurant wings at home.

Also Check out last week’s Episode of Grandma’s Meatloaf! Delicious mini-meatloaf baked up easy. Great for kids of every age.

Click for more ChowCiao! Check out Fabioviviani.com for more videos of Fabio !! 9 Ashlie Gott @Thrashlie Asks: Where’s the craziest place you have cooked? #FabioQA

Fabio: Well…I don’t know if this counts as cooking but I did make food !! I was on a glass bottom submarine ride, and there was a kid who wouldn’t stop crying. His mom couldn’t figure out how to make him quiet..so I made him a turkey and mayo sandwich out of their picnic box..and the kid stopped crying !! : )

Sean Corenki @SeanCoaster Asks: Chef is it ever OK to use chopped garlic from a jar?

Fabio: If we are fine with breast implants, Botox, blow up dolls, and Viagra…then I guess compared to that, garlic from a jar doesn’t look so bad !!

Susan Connors Asks: I can not eat anything with peppers of any kind. Is there anything that can be substituted for peppers to add flavor without the heat?

Fabio: Any kind of dry herbs does a fairly decent job at replacing pep- pers. Herbs have no heat !! I recommend using herbs like oregano, tarragon, or chopped rosemary.

10 Ann Marie Lopinto Asks: What R U making 4 Superbowl Sunday?

Fabio: Any party should have lots of good appetizers and finger foods right ?? Here are some of the dishes I recommend when you’re having a fun get together with your friends : )

5 Herb and Cheese and Ricotta Dip Pepperoncini Dip

Doughnuts not Organic Fried Corn Bread

Jennifer Hamann Black Asks: What is your favorite dessert recipe with chocolate

Fabio:You are in luck, since this week’s newsletter is ONLY chocolate recipes !! : ) Some of this week’s recipes include Chocolate Cake, Rich Chocolate Muffins, Nutella Rice Squares, and Chocolate French Toast !! You can find all of my recipes on Recipeasy on my website !

CLICK ME!

11 Upcoming Events

CHOWCIAO New Episode February 11, 2013 Valentine’s Day Dinner @ Cafe Firenze & Osteria Firenze February 14, 2013 Custom 4 Course Champagne Inspired menu $75/seat Reservations: @Cafe Firenze 805.532.0048 @Osteria Firenze 818.760.7081 Cooking Show and Dinner with Fabio @Cafe Firenze February 11, 2013 6:00pm - 8:30pm

12 Upcoming Events

Fabio Charity Dinner

Fabio is auctioning and hosting a charity dinner event for you and three friends!

Dinner includes a five course tasting menu cooked by Fabio at one of his LA Restaurants. The package also includes 4 complimentary cooking lessons at any of his Los Angeles Restaurants as well as books signed by Fabio and his mom!

bid NOW!

The proceeds of this event are going to RainCatcher, an organization devoted to providing clean water and education for children in the developing world through the use of economical and sustainable solutions. Contaminated water is responsible for millions of deaths per year. RainCatcher has already provided water to children and communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Haiti.

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