"Anything is good if it's made of chocolate"

A few short weeks (okay a month, I'm behind, AGAIN) I would have agreed with Jo Brand. I now know that it's a lie, lie, lie!

Since we were busy little cooking bee's in February, my brilliant idea of a chocolate themed dinner got pushed to March. Obviously a full meal of chocolate would be fantastic, right?


Wrong. It started innocently enough. Homemade ravioli , with ricotta and chocolate, in a sage and butter sauce (Thanks Mario Battali).

Doesn't that dough look innocent? It was. And doesn't that filling look normal?




See... it even looks okay on that nice little plate there. It wasn't.

Let me assure you: do not attempt this at home. I'm not going to say it was the first cooking club fail. Fail is a strong word. First cooking club "bad idea" is probably a better description.

The only way I suggest trying this again is if Mario himself makes it for you. (You hear that Mario? Feel free to come cook for me whenever you want).

But, in true cooking in the hood style we're not quitters. We had plenty of other things to keep us occupied. Champagne does go well with chocolate, even if the chocolate isn't very good.

Let's hope my next pick for a theme has a better result.

PS. Please note. I refuse to share the actual recipe. Google it if you are that interested.

welcome to de island, mon.

For our January meeting...we decided to take a vacation. A fantastic, amazing, tropical vacation. We'd all survived SNOWPOCALYPSE 2009 and frankly are all damn sick of this cold, depressing weather. Bring on the rum, coconuts, and grass skirts.

When I came across this recipe I was skeptical at first...sweet potatoes and pinto beans? Really? But with a title like "addictive" and hoards of positive reviews, I decided to give it a shot. And guess what, they're pretty damn delicious.

Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos

from allrecipes.com
*a great thing about allrecipes.com is they have a servings converter. I carefully calculated 5 servings and promptly disregarded all proportions.


Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups canned kidney beans, drained
• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 12 (10 inch) flour tortillas, warmed
• 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash.

• 
  

• Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.

not the most appetizing pictures...but i swear the spices make your kitchen smell like HEAVEN.

• Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm flour tortillas. Top with cheese. Fold up tortillas burrito style, and place on a baking sheet.

• Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and serve.

Welcome to your island vacation. (The mojitos, margaritas, tequila sunrises, and red stripe were crucial in our travel plans.)

Go Go Go!!!

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