Finding France in Miami --and a Tropical Library

Astrid and Stephanie's creation

A La Folie, Miami Beach

A La Folie, inside

Coral Gables, FL public library

Do you have a favorite cafe? In Miami Beach we like Astrid and Stephanie's, "traditional artisan bakery and restaurant" for its authentic French menu... it's like stepping out of Miami and into France, this week we met the lovely Stephanie, "of Astrid and Stephanie," she smiled, and I savored that lovely chocolate treat.

In South Beach, A La Folie is a fabulous authentic French cafe located on Espanola Way, a great pedestrian street. You could miss it since it's at the end of the shops near the residential area, but don't--have a coffee or savory crepes with amazing fresh ingredients of your choice, wine, dessert... just a lovely cafe. I can hear the French music in my head just thinking about it. A La Folie has wooden walls lined with magazines, whetting your reading appetite, too.

We stopped by the beautiful Coral Gables library, a veritable tropical oasis, the other night to stock up for some good summer reading. I am going to blissfully soak up each remaining summer day!

Soon to come: our trip down through the North Keys yesterday--an Islamoradan and Duck Key adventure. How are you enjoying these August days? Any must-read suggestions?

xo xo, Miss Bliss

Don't forget to enter to win my favorite new book... here.

images: 1, ours, 2, 3, google images, 4, ours

Mexican Hot Chocolate: Inspired by the Luxurious Four Seasons

I once swam in this pool in Mexico.

It was a work trip...an *agonizing* work trip....

Here is the adult pool...find some shade or SUNSCREEN!


The lobby is open air... and art abounds....

you can enjoy some fresh fruit juice with the view and breezes...

Your room elevates you to a truly blissful state of mind... and this is where you can discover Mexican Hot Chocolate, brought to you by room service...
much needed tlc with the work trip...


There you are, drinking your Mexican Hot Chocolate at the
Four Seasons in Punta Mita, Mexico. Sweet Dreams!

Whether you are relaxing somewhere warm and toasty or if you are just trying to stay warm and toasty... this does the trick.

Build and customize the following All Recipes suggestion or try this one from Taste of Home as you like, the key is to add cinnamon and the chili powder... just a touch!


Ingredients
3 tablespoons instant hot chocolate mix
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch chili powder
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup boiling water

Directions
1.In a large mug, mix the hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, and chili powder. Pour in the milk. Add the boiling water and stir. Enjoy!!!

pics from here

One more from Tyler Florence at Food Network... thanks M.J. for suggesting real chocolate!

mushy warning!!! ...and now, back to watching Bridget Jones's Diary with Mr. Wonderful. When Mark Darcy tells Bridget that he likes her,
just as she is, it makes us both smile.


in the ending film with the credits... he says the little girl at the birthday party is me... she is having a big piece of chocolate birthday cake, swigging something bubbly, and swimming in the pool... then she kisses him... and this makes us smile, too... ;)

maybe tomorrow he will make me some Mexican Hot Chocolate...

A gift idea: Ghirardelli hot chocolate 4 pack

A yummy cup of hot cocoa is perfect anytime! This is on my list...

and look here, it's even a good deal right now!

I am going to need a lot of hot chocolate to survive Colorado

next week with this Miami Beach blood! The snow will be pretty, though...outside the window while I have some hot chocolate, that is....;)

Muffins for your holiday guests...and you, of course!

Chocolate, shoes, coffee.... this recipe hits two of three :) They will power you up for some shoe shopping. I've been doing my research for holiday delights... make a batch and enjoy!

BANANA MOCHA MUFFINS

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. instant coffee granules
1 tbsp. hot water
1 1/3 c. mashed ripe bananas, about 3
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 1/2 inch muffin pan cups. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Reserve. Dissolve instant coffee in hot water. Stir into mashed bananas. Reserve.

Beat together oil and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Mix in banana mixture. Stir in flour mixture until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon into muffin cups. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

pic: here

How to make Luscious Belgian Truffles for the Holidays

Chocolate frog, available in Milk or Dark

Fire Flower, dark with cayenne spike!

According to my favorite chocolate place in Boulder, CO: (they sell wine, too) here is how to make amazing truffles:

Ingredients:
1 pound Callebaut semisweet or milk chocolate, or equivalent
10 ounces hazelnut paste
2 ounces finely chopped hazelnuts, almonds or pecans
5 ounces finely ground chopped roasted almonds to finish the chocolate

Break 3 ounces of chocolate into small pieces and place in a double boiler. Stir together the hazelnut paste and 2.5 ounces melted chocolate mixture and stir well.

Remove the mixture from the heat and add the 2 ounces of chopped nuts. Stir well to combine.

Pour the mixture onto waxed or parchment paper to a thickness of one half-inch thick. Let it sit until hardened. If mixture will not harden, place in refrigerator for a few minutes. When hardened, cut shapes with a cookie cutter or scoop balls with a teaspoon.

Melt the remaining chocolate in a double boiler and stir well. Mixture should not be heated to more than 90 degrees. Allow to cool to 78 degrees. Return to double boiler and heat semisweet chocolate to 87 degrees and milk chocolate to 85 degrees. This will keep the chocolate shiny and unstreaked.

Using two toothpicks or a dipping fork, dip hearts or balls of chocolate one at a time in melted chocolate. Shake off the excess and cover with the finely ground roasted almonds. Place on parchment or waxed paper. Refrigerate.

Be as patient as possible and then enjoy!!!

Chocolate Goldfish

I did not know Pepperidge Farm added chocolate to the goldfish line!!!!

these chocolate sea shells and fish are not on my beach :(

...which chocolate fish would you most prefer?--Miss Bliss

Some niceties from Sur La Table

How lovely is this pink rubber covered toaster? No more fingerprints!

Cute eye rescue!

Here's a bright way to pour your beverages...

and a little something sweet: French sugar sticks...ooh la la

I have really loved Mr. Wonderful's introducing me to the French Press

And how cute is this espresso machine???

This one would be a nice one for the office

and for your happy hour...lovely little vino glasses

and last but not least, dessert! You can use your chocolate breaking fork
to do some serious deconstruction...

What would make your life a little sweeter?

images from sur la table

The Fine Art of Self-Care: massage, iced mocha, cupcake,...and then the shopping began...

So, I decided to do some "Blissing" today... a random Tuesday... I was thinking about getting the oil changed, and realized that was not an important matter, but I really needed something new to wear (and my own tune-up)! So, headed to the Sunset Place, South Miami Ann Taylor Loft for some serious summer markdowns... so much cute stuff and such deals! I also used my 15% off educator discount...gotta love that. I didn't remember the code from a time I registered in this educator discount system at their site a while back, but a manager was able to put in the code since I had my faculty ID.

After this, I headed into the Barnes and Noble for a cool-down drink... it was up to 93 here today... and had to go for a cupcake with my iced mocha. While there, I spotted a great Godiva deal!!! Buy one Godiva box, get one 1/2 off!!! Great score for gifts for someone you appreciate, and by the way, this was turning into a self-appreciation afternoon. I managed to restrain myself at the Godiva on sale option...for today anyway.

There is an amazing outdoor drop-in massage guy there... I am all about body work to alleviate the "blogging" muscles in my upper back!!! ;) He hooked me up and he was so good that he even got some cracking noises out of my back... at one point when he was working on the upper brick, I mean upper back/shoulder area, I heard cracks and I actually wondered if they were coming out of me or if he was being injured and cracking his own finger bones on my upper brick, I mean back. :)

I stopped in quickly to The Gap and found some fabulous little headbands with three little rosettes! One red one was left, and after I tried on every color, I realized of course it was the cutest and that was why there was only one left... also found a great top in there... for work...of all things. (I tried to find a pic of the headband, but it's not on their site...but I did fall in love with these shoes, pictured above, there today!) Again, deals... I am so not about paying retail prices. Really, normally I am not even that big of a shopper, preferring the beach to the retail environment!

Next, Mr. Wonderful was staying late in the lab at UM tonight to finish some projects, and asked for some dinner on my way back there tonight. I picked up sushi for us at Whole Foods, and of course, checked in on the aisle I like to think of as SPA products. They have a deal right now on ALBA extra moisturizing shower cream, score, and I also picked up the Ginger Mint Aura Cacia bath foam...can't get enough of that stuff....bliss in a jar that makes bliss in your tub... :)

Before you think I was having too much fun today, keep in mind that I did teach a class in the morning, and another one this evening. I just know how to squeeze in the good stuff when necessary!!! Sometimes a little self love and appreciation is in order...or, as I am trying to practice for the rest of my life, it's always in order, sometimes you just need a little extra time and tlc just for you, just because!!! I'm coming into the home stretch on teaching these summer classes, and can't wait for a nice little break before the fall semester.

Sometimes just the little things suffice for how I show myself some love: the yummy blueberries I've been scarfing since they are in season and so delicious, and my body just really wants them right now...or the sweet strawberries Mr. W. just brought me as I was writing about berries!

How do you show yourself some love? Is it taking time to read a book? Stare at a beautiful view? Travel? Remind yourself that... ???

I LOVE MISS BLISS

"Mr. Wonderful" here........

I need to step Miss Bliss' blog up a couple of notches but until I can I did a little "Summer Look" for the blog to freshen it up. I put all you faithful followers front and center of the page to celebrate all of you who make her so happy! Sometimes it is should be mentioned how we all benefit from the comments of others and the information that is passed. Recipes for chocolate concoctions to shoe sales to great beaches to mention just a couple.

I also thought it good to put the followers up front as they are really contributors and deserve recognition.

So Happy Recognition Day and for those of you who are "ghosting" the site join in and have fun!!!

how do you prefer your brownies?

Can you believe this? Brownies that are all edges!

I actually like the middles, while Mr. Wonderful likes the edges, so the normal pan works for us.

I love the creative mind that comes up with this kind of solution for the edge lovers.

Which one do you need?

Godiva delivers again!

Dear shiny Godiva chocolate store in the Village of Merrick Park of Coral Gables, FL,

As you know, I could not resist you today. After probably a dozen times of passing you by, today your beckoning could not be ignored, the truffles called out from the shiny glass case.

And now you have Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles?? And a Key Lime truffle?

And a Bananas Foster truffle?? And a special free *peach* truffle?

What exactly are you trying to do to us? I live at a beach, you know. They were superb, of course.

Please keep it coming; you know I'll be back the next time I cannot ignore your premium chocolate calling out to be enjoyed...

Chocolate S'mores Cake

Here is a nice weekend project: Chocolate S'mores Cake! The man behind this recipe is also the one behind an insane thing called "Quadruple Chocolate Brownies." Keep 'em coming, Michael Rechiutti!

Birthdays and the Narcotic aka Ben and Jerry's

Miss Bliss writes:

Mr. Wonderful did have a great birthday... we especially enjoyed the Ocean Drive drinks: Modelo beer and rum punch. I am looking forward to our next year of his life together and hope it is his happiest yet.

The other night, he kindly walked to our little South Beach bodega and brought back Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk for me and Ben and Jerry's Banana Split for him. I read the ingredients, but they did not the list the narcotic they obviously put in their product... guess it's just the chocolate.

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos." -Don Kardong

pic source

Thank you, Lindt chocolate...

Lindt dark chocolate bar: Ecuador's 75% = highly recommended!


Deep cocoa-y flavor, slow lingering savory melt factor! Delicious and complicated range of chocolate notes...a small break off from the bar was very satisfying... no biting! Let it melt like a true chocolate connoisseur...








Totally worth it! Entering the chocolate driven-falling in love euphoric state!!






What is your absolute favorite chocolate??? Open to blissful research.

bliss seekers

I once read a book called Girl Seeks Bliss, and it made a lot of sense! So much non-bliss automatically falls in our laps, we have to arrange some bliss and be able to have free time for bliss to just cross our paths!

Last night my Mr. Bliss, aka the chocolateshoesandcoffee poster, (and founder!) made me some Ghiradelli Double Chocolate brownies, and kicked it up with dark chocolate M and M's on top. Yum!


For my birthday this year, he bought me a two month yoga card I requested... sadly I haven't been going as much as I should, but we are coming up on some time off, and I will be able to use it a lot more. Looking forward to the yoga happy body during our time off, and lots of beach walks, salty swims, and writing.


Hope you are having a blissful weekend!


What brings you bliss???

Coffee break muffins with chocolate chips...

Yummiest photo of the week, must ask my hubby to make these for us...the recipe calls for instant espresso powder and cooled strong coffee... my kind of baked good!!!! We will get back to you with our report.

Thank you, to the food librarian!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.foodlibrarian.com
February 2009
Recipe from Dorie Greenspan's Baking book
added mini chocolate chips

Proposal in Bloomie's shoe department! Chocolate and champagne!!

The newly engaged couple with sales associate Suzaune Pourshahriari / All photos courtesy of Bloomingdale's


According to Bloomingdale's press release, "...girlfriend, Stephanie Chow, selected a pair of Dior boots, which the sales associate went to the stockroom to retrieve. She brought out the boots to Stephanie as requested, with the ring tucked into the toe.

“Stephanie first put on the left boot (sans ring), then reached to unzip the other when she found the ring. George promptly got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage.

“There must have been 75 people around who watched and cheered when George jumped up and said loudly and proudly, ‘She said YES!’

“Bloomingdale’s staff ushered in champagne and chocolates for the newly engaged couple and their friends that were hiding nearby.

“When asked why the Bloomingdale’s shoe department was picked for the proposal, George replied, ‘It’s our favorite, favorite, favorite store, and she LOVES shoes!’”

Stephanie might not have loved the Dior boots because she got LAMB summer boots instead.

Caramel Truffles revisited

Dear Whole Foods,

Thank you for the lovely Caramel Truffles! Your 365 house brand of truffles is just what I needed yesterday. (and today.)

Would they be too caramel-y inside, I wondered, but no, you solved that by making it a truffle with caramel infusion.

Delicious!

The fact that they are also on sale for 3.99 a box for 27 truffles makes me pretty happy too!

Chocolate Gift, check, Shoe Gift, check, and Coffee Gift, check : Hint Hint, Great Present Ideas!!!

Our three favorite topics make the perfect gift...

Chocolate comes in any size and fits all occasions... holidays, birthdays, just because days. One of our absolute favorites, Chocolove, made in Boulder, CO, has an adorable new size, perfect for little presents.

My friend Mo will tell you her shoe size is 7, even if she is not sure who you are when you text her a pic of a fabulous shoe find. Shoes are a perfect gift: they come boxed and wrapped in tissue paper. You can always offer a present perfect for the season, to add to your giftee's shoe wardrobe.

Mo's husband, in an admirable accomplishment, built her adequate shelving for her shoe collection. Can we have a picture, Mo?

Finally, coffee is the perfect gift because you can never have enough, just like shoes and chocolate. When our friends gave us the most fabulous Christmas gift ever, it included lots of coffee, chocolate, and books. It was the perfect package to come home to after a road trip, making home feel homier again and less like a truck stop with all our suitcases and road weary selves.

It soothed our souls, knowing the house was stocked once again with fresh choices in coffee and gourmet chocolate, not to mention books picked just for us. We could curl up with a blanket, a book, and a hot cup of java, or hot chocolate from our bounty.

With the love of your life, amazing friends, bubble baths, and presents like this, what else do you need?

A delicious finish

Dark Chocolate Tartufo, Cannolis, Machiaato, and Cappucino with yummy foam on Rosinella's at Lincoln Road... a perfect finish to a shared mini-Italian meal while we were out and about...

...seeing even more excitement than usual in our town with the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, set up on the beach, sponsored by one of our favorite channels, Food Network.