ON THE SET: Taste Testing the Butterscotch Vodkatini Cocktail

Above: KQ partner Chef Philip is ready to taste the cocktail.

ON THE SET: Taste Testing the Butterscotch Vodkatini Cocktail

The KQ Butterscotch Vodkatini cocktail is a sweet mix of vodka, butterscotch liqueur and light crème de cacao. This butterscotch and chocolate flavor profile provides an almost caramel like cocktail experience. Look for this drink to be demonstrated in an upcoming KQ video!

Below: The KQ Butterscotch Vodkatini.

NEW VIDEO: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Above: Graphic for KQ Season 4, Episode 23.

NEW VIDEO: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

KQ host Mitch Hightower demonstrates dipping mini pretzels in white chocolate. To finish the pretzels, Mitch uses a variety of decorations including sanding and sparkle sugars, nonpareils, as well as flaked coconut. While this presentation caters to a winter holiday color theme, (red, green, gold, blue, white), other colors are also shown, including purple, pink and rainbow sugar options. Mitch also shows off a gift worthy presentation of pretzels in a gold candy box. This sweet and salty treat is sure to please at a holiday party buffet or on a special game day. KQ partner chef Philip Buchan appears as the guest taste tester for Kitchen Queers Season 4, Episode 23, Number 83, (S4E23N83-HD).

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCuvEzudLy0

Below: A variety of dipped and decorated mini pretzels.

Above: Pretzels in a candy box ready for gift giving.

ON THE SET: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Above: Mitch on the KQ kitchen set for Season 4, Episode 23.

ON THE SET: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

KQ host Mitch Hightower is back on the KQ kitchen set to tape the Chocolate Dipped Pretzels episode. Mitch explains the ingredients, how to use them, demonstrates several decorating options and provides ideas on serving, as well as gift giving ideas. In addition to red, green, gold and blue for the winter holidays, ideas for other color schemes are also included.

Look for this new episode on the KQ YouTube® next week!

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/KitchenQueers

Below: A variety of chocolate dipped and decorated mini pretzels. 

NEW VIDEO: Retro Grasshopper Cocktail Tutorial

Above: Graphic for KQ Season 4, Episode 20.

NEW VIDEO: Retro Grasshopper Cocktail Tutorial

KQ host Mitch Hightower is back behind the bar to demonstrate the Grasshopper cocktail. This mint-chocolate dessert cocktail is made with crème de menthe, crème de cacao along with half-and-half. Rich, sweet and very easy going down. Using flaked chocolate on the glass rim is also demonstrated. Chef Philip Buchan appears as the guest taste tester for KQ Season 4, Episode 20, Number 80. (S4E20N80-HD).

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da2LZ3yOVx8

Below: The Retro Grasshopper Cocktail with a flaked chocolate rim.

RECIPE EXPERIMENTS: Holiday Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Above: A few holiday pretzels.

RECIPE EXPERIMENTS: Holiday Chocolate Covered Pretzels

KQ host Mitch Hightower has been experimenting with various techniques for dipping and decorating pretzels for the winter holidays. This batch features traditional shaped mini pretzels dipped in white chocolate and decorated with sanding sugar or nonpareils. Look for a video demonstrating these ideas coming soon!

Watch all the KQ videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/KitchenQueers

Chocolate Covered Spoons

Above: KQ Chocolate Covered Spoons.

Chocolate Covered Spoons

View a tutorial on how to create tasty Chocolate Covered Spoons, which can be used in a variety of hot drinks and make excellent gifts.

Go here: http://www.kitchenqueers.com/beverage/chocolatespoons

HALLOWEEN CANDY: Make Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Truffles

Above: Peanut Butter Truffles covered with white chocolate.

HALLOWEEN CANDY: Make Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Truffles

Try something easy yet upscale, make your own truffles.  Kitchen Queers host Mitch Hightower shows you how to make a tasty peanut butter truffle filling, as well as how to use white chocolate for the outer shell of the candy.  

Watch KQ Season 2, Episode 4 here:

https://youtu.be/SU_E_V3lknk

NEW VIDEO: KQ Peanut Butter Truffles, Season 2, Episode 4

Above: Graphics for KQ Season 2, Episode 4.

NEW VIDEO: KQ Peanut Butter Truffles (S2E4-HD)

The newest installment in the Kitchen Queers video series is now available to view. Check out KQ host Mitch Hightower demonstrating how to make peanut butter truffles.

KQ on YouTube®: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_E_V3lknk

Above: The truffles are coated in white chocolate and dusted with crushed nuts.

CANDY MAN: Red Chocolate Truffles

Above: KQ Red Chocolate Truffles.

CANDY MAN: Red Chocolate Truffles

by Mitch Hightower

Beautiful to look at, easy to make and decadently delicious, these Red Chocolate Truffles are sure to please the chocolate lovers in your life.  What could be a more perfect gift for your Valentine?

Check out the recipe and photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/redchocolatetruffles

NEW VIDEO: Jacked Up Chocolate Bark

NEW VIDEO: Jacked Up Chocolate Bark

Check out KQ Host Mitch Hightower in Season 1, Episode 8 where he shows how to make an updated version of a holiday candy classic.

Watch video now on the Kitchen Queers YouTube® Channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qPiEcS81s

DON'T BE AFRAID OF DESSERT: Chocolate Egg Rolls

Above: A KQ Chocolate Egg Roll has been plated atop raspberry coulis and dusted with powdered sugar.

DON'T BE AFRAID OF DESSERT: Chocolate Egg rolls

by Chef Mitch

We make egg rolls often.  For this incarnation, we decided to go in the direction of dessert.  So these egg rolls are filled with chocolate and cream cheese and deep fried until golden.

Review the recipe and photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/eggrollsCHOCOLATE/

Below: White and dark chocolate chips combine with cream cheese for the egg roll filling. 

BAKING TUTORIAL: Pate A Choux Dough and Profiteroles

Above: Pate A Choux Dough has been used to make Profiteroles.

BAKING TUTORIAL: Pate A Choux Dough and Profiteroles

by Chef Mitch

Pate A Choux dough is often considered an "advanced" baking technique.  But it's not as hard as some chefs want you to think; all you have to do is follow the directions.

Recipe and photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/profiteroles/

REMINDER: Enlarge the BLOG images by clicking on them.

Below: A profiterole has been filled with chocolate buttercream. 

Above: Profiteroles have been filled with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate ganache.

TIPSY TUESDAY: Blue Carnation

Above: Chef Mitch pours a KQ Blue Carnation.

TIPSY TUESDAY: Blue Carnation

by Chef Mitch

Try this chocolate orange cocktail, check out the photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/beverage/bluecarnation/

REMINDER: Enlarge the BLOG images by clicking on them.

Below: A duo of the KQ Blue Carnation cocktail. 

TIPSY TUESDAY: Pink Diamond Cocktail

Above: The KQ Pink Diamond Cocktail.

TIPSY TUESDAY: Pink Diamond Cocktail

by Chef Mitch

Learn to make this delicious cocktail, view the KQ photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/beverage/pinkdiamond/

Learn to make the White Chocolate Swizzle Sticks here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/beverage/chocolateswizzlesticks/

Below: Chef Mitch pours a duo of Pink Diamond cocktails. 

VALENTINE CANDY: Make Peanut Butter Truffles for Your Favorite Sweet Tooth

Above: KQ Peanut Butter Truffles have been placed in a tissue paper lined box for gift giving.

VALENTINE CANDY: Make Peanut Butter Truffles for Your Favorite Sweet Tooth

by Chef Mitch

Impress someone on your Valentine gift list with a box of homemade candy.  This recipe is easy and not too time consuming.  It's sure to be a hit with anyone who loves peanut butter and white chocolate.

Check out the recipe and photo tutorial here:

http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/peanutbuttertruffles/

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.

Below: Peanut butter balls are dipped in melted white chocolate. 

Above: The soft peanut butter filling for the truffles has been rolled into balls.

Very Easy Chocolate Fudge

Above: Fudge has been cut into squares.

VERY EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE

by Chef Mitch

Check out the recipe and photo tutorial for the very easy to make KQ Chocolate Fudge, go here: http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/chocolatefudge

This fudge would be a great Valentine gift!

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.

Below: Chef Mitch spreads the fudge batter in a foil lined pan. 

 

Above: The fudge was cut into 1 inch squares, placed in candy papers and presented in a gold-foil gift box.

TIPSY TUESDAY: Pink Diamond Cocktail

Above: The KQ Pink Diamond cocktail garnished with white chocolate swizzle sticks.

TIPSY TUESDAY: Pink Diamond Cocktail

by Chef Mitch

Tequila, cream and chocolate liqueur combine in this frothy cocktail.  It's rich and decadent.  View the recipe and photo tutorial here: http://www.kitchenqueers.com/beverage/pinkdiamond/

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.

Learn how to make the White Chocolate Swizzle Sticks, CLICK HERE.

Below: Chef Mitch pours a round of Pink Diamond cocktails. 

CONFECTION ALERT: Fudge Has No Calories During the Holidays

Above: KQ Peppermint Fudge served at a Holiday Buffet.

CONFECTION ALERT: Fudge Has No Calories During the Holidays

by Chef Mitch

I finally got the results I wanted and perfected my fudge recipe.  So I took a batch to a holiday party and the hosts put it out on the buffet table.  It was one of the first plates to be emptied and I got several nice compliments.  I consider food a success when it disappears from a buffet table quickly.

When I told Chef Bob about how much the guests liked the fudge, he said, "[The fudge] was popular because everyone knows that fudge has no calories during the holidays".

Find the new KQ Peppermint Fudge recipe and photo tutorial here: http://www.kitchenqueers.com/food/peppermintfudge/

REMINDER: Enlarge the images by clicking on them.

Below: The finished fudge batter is being spread in a foil lined pan. 

Baking on a Rainy San Francisco Day

Above: KQ Butterscotch Brownies.

BAKING ON A RAINY SAN FRANCISCO DAY

by Chef Mitch

After three years of drought, we finally got a good soaking the past 24 hours.  Rainy days always put me in the mood for baked goods.  Chef Philip whipped us up a batch of Butterscotch Brownies earlier this afternoon and we just finished gorging on them.  Chef Philip likes the edge and corner pieces.  I like the middle pieces with no edge.  Chef Bob seems to like them all.

Below: Chocolate cookies are another good rainy day baking choice.