One of my goals for next year is to improve my recipe development skills which is why I wandered around the dollar store for half an hour trying to think of a good idea. I picked up noodles, put them down. Picked up pudding, put it down. Picked up nuts, but it down. Finally, I had the idea to make a carmel apple version of nanomio bars. I found it difficult to determine what texture and ingredients should make up the middle and bulk of the bar.
My ingredients were:
1. shortbread cookies
2. powdered apple cider mix
3. apple juice
4. milk chocolate disks
5. soft carmel
First I ground up the cookies, adding some sugar and butter. This mixture was pressed into a spring form pan.
I boiled 2 cups of apple juice and 2 packs of the apple cider mix. I added 2 tablespoons of agar-agar to set it. I used way too much agar-agar. Pour into the spring form pan and let set.
Melt chocolate and drizzle over cake. Melt soft carmel and drizzle over cake.
I think the concept of carmel apple nanomio bars is a solid one but the middle layer simply wasn't that good. I did enjoy the process though. I would recommend it for anyone in a recipe development rut!
Original Post
I have been thinking of starting this for over a year. I originally got the idea from one of those chef/cooking contest shows. The chefs had to shop at one of those huge dollar stores in the states that carry frozen food and fresh fruit. I have never been in one of those huge dollar stores but ever since that episode when I am in a dollar store I walk down the food aisles and try to think of what I would make. So that's the challenge! Shop at a dollar store and see what delicious dishes you can dream up!
Rules:
Shop at a dollar store.
Spend approx 5 dollars on 5 items. (excluding taxes)
Use those 5 items and standard pantry and spice items. (Standard to you.)
The items purchased should be the star of the dish!
Deadline: 31 March 2012
Send an email to wingedsnail99 [at] hotmail [dot] ca with the following information:
- your name
- your location
- the name of the dish
- the ingredients that you got at the dollar store
- perma link to the blog post (the blog post should include a link to this blog)
- a small, thumbnail picture of the dish
Questions? Ask away!
Be creative and have fun. And come back in April for roundup!
