Recipes We Love for Spring | Recipes for Spring

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

Winter has come and gone and in just a couple of days we will usher in Spring with its longer days and warmer nights. But seasons aren’t just about the weather! So get fresh with some recipes for Spring using asparagus, artichoke, rhubarb, and other seasonal favorites. From drinks to desserts here are some spring-time favorites.

Cool and refreshing this Home-made Ginger Ale is pretty simple to make and is great for guests of all ages.

And now, if you are looking for just the right adult spring concoction . . . here it is. This strawberry rhubarb sangria is crisp and delicious and most definitely has a kick to it. One of many great recipes for Spring!

Fresh fava beans, baby spinach, frisee and mint, accented with rich goat cheese makes for the perfect spring salad.

This Italian flatbread is a keeper. The thin crust topped with fresh vegetables and mozzarella cheese is just light enough yet still bursting with flavor. Great for any gathering.

Usher in Spring with a crowd pleasing Artichoke Pasta that celebrates the season. Plus they offer two different phenomenal versions of this vernal meal here.

Braised chicken beside a bed of seasonal vegetables is not only delicious but easy enough to handle for any week-night dinner! Can you ask for more?

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with cheesy spinach is not only mouth-watering pasta dish but also a great way to sneak in those good-for-you veggies and make your vegetarian friends happy all at once!

These coconut-topped cupcakes make eating dessert feel like a tropical vacation.

Last but not least Papa Ben’s delicious Lemon Blueberry Mandelbroyt! The citrus flavor fused with the sweetness of the blueberry is perfect for Spring. So good you’ll have to try not to eat the whole box at once!

Nine Nutella Novelties

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

We missed it and so our thought is maybe you did too. But did you know last Wednesday was National Nutella Day. Yes you read it right, a day dedicated to NUTELLA. All it means is that you can eat all the Nutella you want and it doesn’t count. Here are nine Nutella novelties that will make your mouth water. Share your favorite Nutella desert.

Warm or cold this Nutella Pudding gets better with every spoonful.

Nutella Brownies, nothing more than a divine intervention.

These bite-size Salted Nutella Peanut-Butter Cookies make perfect party treats.

Indulge in this Nutella Banana Stuffed French Toast for breakfast or brunch.

Nutella Fudge, a fun change up to your traditional chocolate fudge.

Nutella Peanut-Butter Crepes, easy like Sunday morning!

Nutella Cheesecake Bar made from Oreo-crust, Nutella & cheesecake. What’s not to love?

Breakfast or dessert this Nutella Bread Pudding goes over great with the guests!

A Nutella Banana Smoothie, almost makes you feel healthy 😉

And just for fun, we say drizzle Nutella on your favorite Papa Ben’s Kitchen Mandelbroyt. We love it on the Chocolate Espresso Bean mandelbroyt flavor. It is rich yet delicate, and adds just the right amount of bittersweet to your palate. Tickle your taste buds with the healthy treat that fuses the sweetness of chocolate with the rich taste of espresso bean. It will take your coffee break to a whole new Nutella novelty loving level!

Enjoy!

PBK

Designing The Perfect Cheese Platter

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

Love cheese? Who doesn’t. Putting together just the right cheese plate can be a little more difficult than it sounds but the other night Papa Ben’s got so close to perfect we just had to share. Here are a few quick and easy tips for all you cheese lovers out there.

When entertaining make sure to have about one ounce per person per cheese – and stick to about 5 to 6 cheeses total.
Choose a VARIETY: different textures, countries and milk types (the 3 milk types are goat, sheep and cow).
The cheeses we choose above are: 1) Mt Tam, Cowgirl Creamery’s insanely creamy brie 2) La Tur, you will see will disappear first 3) Pyrenees Brebis, with a great nutty flavor and pairs well with fig jam 4) Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, loaded with earthy flavors 5) Gruyere, nothing if not a gracious wine pairing partner and 6) Cambozola Black Label a delicate and under-stated blue cheese
Serve all the cheeses on one big board. You typically want your guests to start with the mildest and work up to the strongest, so place the cheeses in “clock order” from mildest to strongest.
To experience the full flavor and texture cheese should be at room temperature. So take the cheese out of the fridge at least an hour before serving.
Make sure you have different cheese knives for the different textures.
Oh and don’t forget your adornments! In addition to the usual baguette and/or crackers be sure to add nuts, charcuterie, olives, honey and dried fruits.
Wine and cheese – a natural pair. Enjoying a good wine and a good cheese can enhance the flavors of both. It’s counterintuitive but surprisingly white and lighter red wines are the way to go when pairing with cheese. The lack of tannins in white and light red wine, which are particularly tough on creamy cheeses help bring out the complexities of the cheese. If you are dead set on a bold red wine, drink Cabernet and drink it with harder cheeses (such as cheddar or jack). Lastly always remember sweet wine loves blue cheese!
Leftovers? Don’t store the leftover cheese in Saran Wrap, it will only make it sweat. Cheese needs to breathe – so wrap it in parchment or wax paper and keep it in the most humid part of the fridge (aka the vegetable drawer).

Ultimately have fun and don’t be afraid. Try new things and let the flavors be your guide, trust your taste buds and get started designing the perfect cheese platter of your own today!

3 Unbelievable Must Try Cookie Recipes

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

Of course, if you are reaching for a cookie, your go-to will always be Papa Ben’s Mandelbroyt cookies, but if you want to mix it up a little, here are some of our favorites. These, now, tried-and-true must try cookie recipes may seem unorthodox to some but soon enough they will become time-tested favorites in your household. Just take our word!

Brownie Salted Carmel Cookies . . . . if you are a brownie fan you must give these a try, come to think of it even if you’re not you’ll find it hard to just have one. The brownies are soft and chewy and the caramel creme center lightens up the chocolate giving the entire cookie a cloud-like texture. To tell the truth, the brownie alone is enough to highlight this cookie.

Everyones seems to be making some sort of red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes, but red velvet cookies? And with M&M’s? These M&M Red Velvet cookies are sure to be a crowd favorite among the must try cookie recipes.

Nutella-Filled Everything Cookies, need we say more?! Not only are these cookies oozing with Nutella but they are also jammed with five different types of chocolate chips as well, plus the dough will have you mystified, perfectly puffy! Perfect for the chocolate lovers out there.

If you would rather have someone else do the baking for you, you can always reach out to us! Papa Ben’s Kitchen Chocolate Espresso Bean Mandelbroyt is rich yet delicate, and adds just the right amount of bittersweet to your palate. Tickle your taste buds with the healthy treat that fuses the sweetness of chocolate with the rich taste of espresso bean.

This all natural Mandelbroyt is dairy free and loaded with flavor! Try this one or any of our 5 delicious flavors delivered right to your door or click here to find us at a store near you!

Last Minute Valentines Day Ideas from Papa Ben’s Kitchen

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

The holiday may have snuck up on you this year but don’t worry! There is still plenty of time to get working on some great crafts, favors and desserts. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for this years Valentine’s Day!

It’s still not too late for these little favors for party, school, family and friends. Simply fill your bags with some Valentine’s Day treats and secure them with a festive clothespin.

Conversation hearts make a great addition to any Valentines Day floral decor. They are amazingly sentimental and could not be more festive.

A Shirley Temple-inspired cherry bomb is not only festive but will also take you back to your childhood with just one sip.

Its not a proper holiday without something sweet. We found this brown sugar blondie recipe and could not say enough about it!

Heat things up this Valentine’s Day with some of our very own Papa Ben’s Kitchen Mandelbroyt! Our Spicy Chipotle Flavor with Ginger and Dark Chocolate doesn’t just look luscious, they are incomparable to anything you’ve ever tasted. Take the slight kick of Chipotle chili; sprinkle the fresh and tangy flavor of ginger root and swirl in ribbons of dark chocolate to create an unsurpassable scrumptiousness that will linger in your palate. These Mandelbroyt are dairy free and kosher and sure to spice up your Valentine’s Day!

For that final touch to your Valentine’s Day treats check out these printable tags on Etsy. Simply print, trim and use as gift tags, valentines, cupcake toppers, candle medallions, gift embellishments, holiday art and more!

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Papa Ben’s Kitchen!

Warm Up Winter with Our Minty Dark Chocolate Mandelbroyt

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

For some of us out here on the west coast winter had a slow start this year. But that does not mean we must forgo all that is winter! You may be missing the cooler weather and longer days but don’t let that stop you from cuddling up next to your wood burning fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa and Papa Ben’s Mandelbroyt. There is no better way to serve this time of year than with a Papa Ben’s twice-baked Minty Dark Chocolate Mandelbroyt. The delectable flavor blends a cool and fresh sensation with the dark scrumptiousness of a rich chocolate to create a mouth-watering delicacy. Seems impossible that something so tasty could be all-natural and dairy free, but it’s true… so indulge! You’ll find it hard to just have one. At just 80 calories per slice, our Mandelbroyt is sure to keep you satisfied (but not feeling guilty). Perfect for the the cold, or not so cold, nights with a cup of hot cocoa. And if your looking for an adult rendition to your hot cocoa here is our family secret recipe:

Ingredients:

6 cups skim milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until lukewarm; stir the cocoa powder and sugar into the warmed milk until dissolved. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, chili powder, nutmeg, and cloves and heat for another 5 minutes. ENJOY! From our family to yours! PBK

Holiday Bark Desserts – Check Out All the Great Flavors

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

Chocolate-Almond Wood-Grain Bark

There’s a lot involved in getting ready for the holidays. And if your season is going anything like ours, its hard to believe its already December. But hey, what better time than now to whip up some savory holiday sweets. We completely understand that it can be hard to find the time this time of year, which is why we’re sharing these holiday bark desserts with you today. They only call for a few ingredients and a bit of hands-on time. Shared by Martha Stewart herself, these recipes are super easy to make, the hardest part will be picking which recipe to make? Oh and did we mention they make a great homemade holiday gift, if you’re not already giving Papa Ben’s Kitchen Mandelbroyt!

Cherry and Orange Peel Bark

S’mores Bark

Crackly Two-Tone Bark

Lime and Macadamia Nut Bark

Movie Theater Bark

Pistachio, Dried Cranberry, and Toasted-Coconut Bark

Peppermint Bark

Cookies-and-Cream Bark

Last Minute Halloween Ideas

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

Hard to believe it’s Halloween! Where does the time go? We appreciate that everyone is busy this time of year, with school in full swing and the holidays quickly approaching. So we’ve put together a list of last minute Halloween ideas that are quick and easy to pull off in time for the festivities.

Try this easy and inexpensive idea for your centerpiece this Halloween. Don’t worry we won’t judge if you dip in to your new decor 😉

With all the candy getting passed around it’s nice to have something healthy to nibble on. Arrange your healthy veggies in the shape of a jack-o-lantern.

Carve your pumpkin in to a festive cooler this Halloween. Be sure to line the gourd with a glass or plastic bowl to prevent it from becoming waterlogged. And finish by filling the bowl with ice and bottled drinks.

Serve these spooky treats tomorrow night and have your guests coming back for more. Quick, easy and in the spirit of the holiday.

Didn’t have time to carve pumpkins this year. Don’t worry, we have you covered. These no carve pumpkins will be sure to get some attention this year. Plus they will last you longer than your traditional Jack-O-Lantern. Follow these directions for a magical display of pumpkins.

Pumpkin Desserts, Our Five Fall Favorites

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Papa Ben's Kitchen

There is no question about it; pumpkin is the quintessential fall flavor. And with farmers’ markets packed with gourds and grocery stores lined with pumpkin puree, there’s no denying that Fall is here. There is nothing we love more this time of year than pumpkin filled desserts. With classic recipes like pumpkin pie and new favorites like pumpkin cupcakes fall has never tasted so good. Check out our family favorite recipes and don’t hesitate to share yours!

Pumpkin Bundt Cake is the perfect addition to your fall menu. It’s a nice twist to your traditional pumpkin bread.

These pumpkin cookies won’t last long. Chocolate and pumpkin, need we say more?

This old Maine Pumpkin Bread recipe is a staple this holiday season. Full of flavor, moist and easy to make (follow the recipe, no need to tweak it!). The bread, surprisingly, is even better the day after it is baked making it perfect for gift giving.

The wait is worth it with this Pumpkin Pie. It does take a bit longer than expected to prepare this pie from scratch, but we promise it doesn’t get any better than this.

We just picked up this Pumpkin Cupcake recipe from The Joy of Baking and had to share. Perfect for any fall gathering, these small bite size treats are full of fall flavor.

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