BLT's with Basil Mayo

 Sometimes, I find there’s nothing quite as sating as a BLT.  

Bacon.  Who can resist that?  Warm, crunchy and chewy freshly baked bread.  Yes, please!  Lettuce and tomato.  Okay, fresh crisp veggies never hurt anyone!  I was craving this perfect combination of ingredients a few days ago and thought I’d make an herb mayo to compliment all the flavors.  Basil just seemed to fit perfectly.  Slightly sweet and incredibly aromatic, this mayo will give your BLT’s (or any other sandwich for that matter) the extra ummmmmmph that we all need from time to time. 

4 slices of cooked bacon (I like chewy bacon for these BLT’s versus crunchy)

1 tomato, sliced thinly

Iceberg lettuce, torn

2 slices of fresh Sourdough bread

Basil Mayo (recipe follows)

Lay out the ingredients, so it’s easy to assemble your sandwich. 

Toast the Sourdough bread in a toaster or under the broiler.  Spread a healthy* tablespoon of basil mayo on each slice of bread.  Lay a couple leaves of lettuce on top and then put the tomato.  I never put the tomato right on the bread because it gets soggy.  Top it off with the chewy bacon and place the other slice of bread right on top.  Press down gently and cut the sandwich on the bias.  Perfection.  

*Healthy = oversized and proud of it

Basil Mayo

Sweet, in a licorice kind of way, Smooth & Aromatic.  Yumm. 

¾ C. Mayo (I use Hellmann’s)

¼ C. Basil, finely chopped

Salt & Pepper, to taste

This couldn’t be any easier!  In a small bowl, mix the mayo and basil together.  Season it with salt and pepper until it tastes delicious.  Cover and refrigerate for a couple hours so the basil can infiltrate the mayo.  Serve on toast or sandwiches or use as a dip for French fries! 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Truffles

Last year, I posted about this UH-MAZING truffle recipe.  Did you try it?  And how far did it knock off your socks?  Across town?  I thought so.  This year, I had to take it one step further.  So, Natural Sugar is celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, truffle-style.  Sorry, we won’t be stuffing ‘lords-a-leaping’ or ‘swans-a-swimming’ into these truffles.  But they will be packed with some mouth-watering, unusual, surprising and incredible flavors.  Come back each day through Christmas Eve for a new, delicious and approachable holiday truffle.  

Without further ado…

On the 1^st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

A Traditional, Cocoa-Covered Truffle

A luscious and creamy chocolate ball, dusted with cocoa powder.  

You can never go wrong with a classic!

On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A White Chocolate Drizzled Truffle

A milk chocolate center, encased in a semi-sweet shell, 

drizzled in smooth White Chocolate.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Cereal & Sugar Truffle

A milk chocolate center, playfully tossed in cereal and powdered sugar.

On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A White Chocolate Peppermint

A milk chocolate and peppermint center, wrapped in white chocolate and candy canes.

On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Peanut Butter Buckeye

I can't ignore the ubiquitous Buckeyes of Ohio State University, so this is my rendition of the peanut butter and chocolate sensation!

On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Smoked Paprika Truffle

A chocolate ball, infused with smoked paprika and drizzled in white chocolate. 

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

An Orange Zest Truffle

Chocolate.  Orange Zest.  Amazing.

On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Lemon Raspberry Truffle

A raspberry and milk chocolate center, generously dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled ever so lightly with lemon zest.  

On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Sriracha Truffle

A spicy chili chocolate ball, wrapped in a semi-sweet chocolate shell.  
Unique and delicious!

On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

An Amaretto Truffle

A milk chocolate center, infused with Disaronno with a 

semi-sweet chocolate shell and topped with slivered almonds.

On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

An Espresso Truffle

A deep and dark espresso chocolate inside.  Semi-sweet shell outside.

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A Chai Truffle

A chai spice flavored milk chocolate center, encased in 

semi-sweet chocolate and golden sprinkles.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  

Wishing you a prosperous new year!

Basic Truffle Recipe

7 oz. of your favorite milk chocolate

6 oz. heavy cream (3/4 C.)

Pinch of salt

Your favorite candies, nuts, and other holiday ingredients to dress up your truffles

Set up a double boiler.  Bring a sauce pan filled with water to a boil.  Set a metal or glass bowl on top of the pot, making sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the surface of the water.  In the bowl, heat the milk chocolate and cream, stirring until smooth and incorporated.  Add the salt and stir to combine.  Allow to cool to room temperature and place the mixture in the refrigerator to set overnight (or at least 3 hours). 

Take the refrigerated mixture and scoop out small spoonfuls, rolling them into balls with your hands.  Place them on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet that will fit in your freezer.  You will need to work quickly because they will begin to melt.  If the mixture becomes too soft to work with, place it in the refrigerator for several minutes.  Once you have made all of the balls, set the cookie sheet in the freezer so they firm up. 

Now comes the fun part!  You can dress these truffles up or down, with whatever ingredients you like.  Melted chocolate, candy, nuts, fruit, extracts, liqueurs, anything!  What are you favorite truffle flavors and combinations?  Please share them and comment below!

Click here to see the 

Original Truffle Post - December 2011