DIY Peanut Butter Cups

Photo: Tara Fisher

Peanut Butter Cups
Makes 12–16 mini-muffin-sized cups

It’s hard to resist the combination of peanut butter and chocolate; it’s one of those marriages made in foodie heaven. Here’s my quick take on a much-loved classic. I’ve chosen not to temper the chocolate in this instance, but feel free to do so if you’re after a more classy treat. But whichever way you make these, as always, use the best chocolate that you can lay your hands on.

2 oz white chocolate, chopped
1⁄3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 oz milk chocolate, finely chopped
5 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped salted peanuts

Equipment
24-hole mini-muffin pan
Pretty paper or foil
Mini-muffin cases 

Line the mini-muffin pan with paper cases.

Start by preparing the peanut-butter filling. Put the white chocolate in a small heatproof bowl and melt either in 10-second blasts in the microwave on a low setting, or over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Remove from the heat, stir until smooth, and add the peanut butter and vanilla extract. Mix to combine and set aside.

Place the milk and dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl and melt over a pan of barely simmering water, stirring frequently until silky smooth. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the melted chocolate into each paper case, then spoon roughly 1 level teaspoon of the peanut butter and white chocolate mixture into each cup, flattening the mixture slightly with the back of the spoon. Cover the peanut butter with another teaspoon of melted chocolate and tap the pan gently on the work surface, so that the chocolate covers the peanut butter in a smooth layer.

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Top 7 Foods Men Can Eat to Enhance Sexual Stamina

As many as one out of three men may be affected by premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The website Ask Men states that premature ejaculation occurs when a man ejaculates too early or before the woman orgasms. Erectile dysfunction occurs when a man becomes sexually excited, but his penis does not fill with enough blood to cause an erection, or when the man cannot maintain an erection long enough to complete a sexual act.

Many times men become embarrassed when they have difficulty producing and maintaining an erection, or when they ejaculate too early because sexual endurance is often seen as a measure of sexual satisfaction and enjoyment.

While a regular exercise routine is beneficial for increasing sexual stamina, a healthy diet consisting of blueberries, figs, raw oysters, peanuts, garlic, bananas and chocolate can give you the boost in sexual stamina that you seek.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries are considered a “super sexual” food for men because they function like Viagra, according to The Singles Cafe. Blueberries are packed with compounds that help relax the blood vessels and improve circulation within the body. In addition, blueberries are loaded with fiber, which helps to push excess cholesterol out of the system before it can be absorbed and deposited into the arteries. Lower cholesterol and increased blood flow results in a surge of blood to the penis during sex, causing firmer and longer erections.

2. Figs

Kate McCracken, personal trainer and owner of the website Kurvaceous, states that figs are high in amino acids (the building blocks for all hormones), which can increase sexual stamina. A deficiency in amino acids can cause decreased sexual stamina and/or desire for sexual activity.

3. Raw Oysters

According to the website Eat, Drink Better, raw oysters contain a large amount of zinc, which is vital for testosterone, sperm, and semen production. Testosterone production affects sexual desire, vigor and sexual stamina in men. In addition, raw oysters contain dopamine. Dopamine creates a feeling of happiness, which can increase a man’s desire to prolong sex. A deficiency in zinc can cause sexual dysfunction, impotency and sexual performance problems in some men.

4. Peanuts

Peanuts are a rich natural source of the amino acid, L-arginine, which is essential for increasing sexual stamina in men, according to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, board-certified dermatologist and healthy aging expert. L-arginine relaxes the blood vessels in the penis causing more blood flow to the region, and increasing sexual stamina during sex.

5. Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound that is thought to increase blood flow to the sexual organs. Increased blood flow to the penis causes it to stay erect longer, thereby increasing sexual stamina during sex.

6. Bananas

Natural News states that bananas can increase sexual stamina by increasing the male’s energy level during sex. Bananas contain an enzyme called bromelain, which improves male potency, sexual stamina and increases libido. They are also a good source of B vitamins, which increase the body’s energy level during sexual activity.

7. Chocolate

Chocolate may be beneficial in improving sexual stamina in men because it contains the endurance boosters, phenylethylamine and alkaloid. Phenylethylamine is a chemical that promotes good feelings during sex, while alkaloid’s caffeine effect increases energy, thereby improving sexual stamina.
Source: livestrong.com
Image credit: curejoy.com

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Baked Parmesan Eggplant Chips Recipes

Baked Parmesan Eggplant Chips
Ingredients
1 whole Japanese Eggplant Or Regular Sized Eggplant
2 Egg Whites
2 cups Bread Crumbs
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
¼ teaspoons Garlic Powder
¼ teaspoons Italian Seasoning
½ cups Finely Ground Parmesan Cheese
Grated Parmesan Cheese For Sprinkling
Marinara Sauce, For Dipping

Preparation
Preheat your oven to 375 F.
Slice your eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds.

In a shallow baking dish beat your egg whites until nice and foamy. Throw the eggplant slices into your egg whites and smush them all around to coat.

Mix the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese in a shallow dish.

Dredge each egg covered piece of eggplant into the breadcrumb mixture and place them in a single layer on a cooling rack that you’ve set inside of a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with some grated Parmesan cheese.
Dip into your favorite marinara sauce.

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Olive Garden Adds Burger in Challenge to Chili's

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The burger by Darden Restaurants Inc.'s Olive Garden is topped with mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, pesto tomatoes and aioli spread. (Source: Darden Restaurants Inc.)

Olive Garden is beefing up its menu -- literally.

Today the Italian chain will start serving a $9.99 six-ounce burger to better compete with fast-casual and other sit-down dining chains. Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), Olive Garden has been refining its menu as it struggles to attract Americans amid fierce competition in the aftermath of the economic downturn.
Darden Chief Executive Officer Clarence Otis has been advertising three-course meals aimed at budget-conscious diners and small plates to lure the young, bar-hopping crowd. The chain's same-store sales dropped 4 percent in the three months ended Aug. 25, and, in October, hedge fund Barington Capital Group LP took a 2.8 percent stake and began pushing for changes.
Olive Garden conducted research to figure out which competitors were picking up the diners it was losing, said Jim Nuetzi, executive chef at the 820-store chain. "A lot of times we were losing them to a burger craving."
Competitors have been selling and refining burgers for years. Chili's, the eatery owned by Brinker International Inc. (EAT), sells bacon, guacamole and mini burgers with sauteed onions. DineEquity Inc.'s (DIN) Applebee's restaurants have quesadilla burgers and a bourbon black and bleu burger slathered with spicy mayo.
Olive Garden's menu got too expensive and they didn't remodel stores fast enough, said Peter Saleh, a New York-based analyst at Telsey Advisory Group.
McDonald's Pasta
He said the chain needs more than one burger to boost sales and isn't convinced it fits Olive Garden's Italian roots.
"It would be the same as McDonald's trying to do some sort of pasta meal," he said. "I'm not seeing it."
Neither were executives at Olive Garden, at first.
"There was hefty debate" and some couldn't imagine what an Italian burger would look or taste like, said Nuetzi. Others were worried that arugula wouldn't appeal to Olive Garden diners, most of whom are better acquainted with iceberg lettuce. Nuetzi convinced the opposition by cooking an Italian-style burger for them to try.
Nuetzi, 41, has been cooking since he was 14 years old -- first dishing up pizzas at an Italian eatery in Atlanta. He started at Capital Grille in 1998, now owned by Darden, and moved to Olive Garden last year. One of his first moves has been creating the Italiano burger, something that came naturally as he's also behind Capital Grille's signature burger with pureed bacon and onion mixed into the beef. Olive Garden's burger is topped with mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, pesto tomatoes and aioli spread.

Messy Tomatoes

The burger was tested twice earlier this year. Nuetzi tweaked it after diners weighed in -- doubling the aioli spread, slicing the tomatoes instead of dicing them into small pieces because they fell out of the bun and made a mess. Perhaps the biggest change: French fries.
All Olive Garden sandwiches used to be served a la carte. Starting next month, they'll be paired with Parmesan garlic fries.
"It just became obvious," Nuetzi said. "You've got to serve a burger with fries."
Through Nov. 29, Darden shares had gained 18 percent this year, while Brinker jumped 52 percent and DineEquity advanced 26 percent.

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Bell-less, Whistle-less, Darn Good French Toast

. Bread. Eggs. Cream. Butter. Just your run-of-the-mill ingredients, right? They're probably sitting on your shelf right now, happily embracing their plain-ness and versatility, looking safe and unassuming in their shades of beige.
That's about to change.


It's about to change because said bread, eggs, cream, and butter are about to be made into Bell-less, Whistle-less, Darn Good French Toast (the winner of Your Best French Toast contest). The recipe cuts to the chase, forgoing spices and extracts, focusing instead on said eggs, cream, bread (challah bread), and butter. You whip together the eggs and cream, which form a custardy mixture, then dip the eggy bread into this custard, making sure to gently squeeze the bread with your fingertips to draw the eggs and cream to the center. Then, you fry the bread in butter. Outside is a crisp crepe-like shell. Inside, pudding. What are you waiting for?
>>RELATED: 9 Breakfast Recipes that are Good Enough for Dinner

Bell-less, Whistle-less, Darn Good French Toast by Kayb
Serves 4
1 loaf challah bread
3 eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
butter, for grilling and serving
Good maple syrup, for serving
1. Slice challah into 3/4 to 1-inch thick slices.
2. Whisk together eggs and cream.
3. Heat a griddle or flat grill pan over medium high heat, and add 1 tbsp butter for every two pieces of French toast it will accommodate; swirl butter around to cover surface.
4. Dip slice of bread in egg and cream; flip and repeat. Add to griddle, and grill until golden (approximately 90 seconds) on one side; flip and repeat.
5. Serve with additional butter, if desired, and good quality maple syrup. The experience is enhanced with the addition of good quality smoked bacon.

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Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter Pie

This delicious whipped-cream-topped peanut butter pie from Allison Kave and Keavy Landreth offers the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. More Delicious Pies and Tarts

Creamy Peanut Butter PieCreamy Peanut Butter Pie
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces peanut butter sandwich cookies, such as Nutter Butters
Salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 3/4 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup salted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat the oven to 350°. In a food processor, pulse the cookies with 1/4 teaspoon of salt until finely ground. Scrape the cookies into a 9-inch pie plate. Stir in the melted butter, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, until the crumbs are the texture of wet sand; you may not need to use all of the butter. Using your fingers, press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the side of the pie plate. Freeze the crust for 15 minutes.
2. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, until lightly golden. Let cool on a rack.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter with the cream cheese, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and mix until thoroughly blended. In another bowl, whip 3/4 cup of the heavy cream until stiff. Whisk the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture. Spread the peanut butter filling in the crust in an even layer. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
4. In the same whipped-cream bowl, whip the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of sugar with the vanilla until stiff. Spread the whipped cream over the pie. Sprinkle the pie with the chopped peanuts, cut into slices and serve.

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