Best Chocolate Sauce Recipe


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This is one of those sauces that is a must in every chef's repertoire. It's a classic. In a matter of minutes you can turn a simple sweet into chocolate decadence. So set aside the guilt and go ahead - dip, drizzle and dunk your way through fresh strawberries, ice cream and cake. Make it for your Valentine, the clock is ticking.

A few bits on chocolate:

One study has shown that the smell of chocolate may actually relax you by increasing theta waves in the brain. Yes, we all have them.

Does chocolate contain any nutrients? Yes, it does, in small amounts. A 1.5-ounce milk chocolate bar contains recommended daily values of the following vitamins and minerals:

 • 3 grams of protein • 15% of the Daily Value of riboflavin • 9% of the Daily Value for calcium • 7% of the Daily Value for iron

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When choosing chocolate, look for a shiny finish, which is a sign that the chocolate was heated at the right temperature for the right amount of time. Also, look for a crispy snap when chocolate is broken into pieces. Choose a good chocolate source for sauce like Lindt, Callebaut, or Scharffen Berger. In a pinch chocolate chips will do. This very decadent sauce is ideal served with fresh strawberries. Note: this chocolate sauce recipe is not ideal for coating dipped strawberries. That's another post. 

The Best Chocolate Sauce

Makes about two cups

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

3 Tablespoons pure cane granulated sugar

3/4 cup cream

3 Tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Optional: 1 Tablespoon Brandy or Grand Marnier

Place chopped chocolate in a bowl and set aside. 

Place cream, sugar, and corn syrup in a small pot. Heat to a boil stirring constantly. As soon as it reaches a boil pour directly over chocolate and stir until all chocolate has melted. Add vanilla and brandy.

Use immediately or cool, cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks. To reheat, heat the amount you need over a double boiler and stir until just melted.

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
$19.95

AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
$24.95

This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.


George Starts your year off right!

George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches

Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run

Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.

Join Us This Sunday...

“Food is the common denominator, the soul of life, the heart of the community” G. Hirsch

good times and paying it forward

good times and paying it forward

LIVE STREAM Sunday Jan 9th, 4 PM EST 

I am such a long-time supporter of CFN network / TelecareTV and their TV ministry as many other supporters. Over the years I have enjoyed many good times with Msgr Jim on Real Food and their Good News programs. I hope you join us and Tune-in or LIVE STREAM Sunday Jan 9th, 4 PM EST when Alex and I chat and chew with Msgr Jim. And, of course we’ll be dishing up some popular recipes from Georg Hirsch Lifestyle.

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For my NY/LI friends, Tune-in/dvr GHL WLIW21 Saturdays 2:30 PM

Thank you in advance for supporting your local PBS station.

Check local listings for the new season of GHL Celebrating Chef George's 25th anniversary on PBS and Public TV Stations. Click to watch TV Series Preview

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
$19.95

AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
$24.95

This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.


George Starts your year off right!

George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches

Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run

Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.

Steak Frites

For my NY/LI friends, GHL is on a one week hiatus to support PBS and public TV stations, Tune-in/dvr WLIW21 Saturdays beginning Feb 15 2:30PM

Thank you in advance for supporting your local station.

Check local listings for the new season of GHL Celebrating Chef George's 25th anniversary on PBS and Public TV Stations. Click to watch TV Series Preview

kyf.png

Hanger steak is a tasty cut of meat mainly because of the marbling, the flavorable fat. The French might beg to differ and say it's because of the traditional and only way to serve steak—with a good size pat of butter on top. The other French suggestion, serve with homemade fries aka pommes frites, the perfect companion for any kind of steak.

If hanger steak is not available, by all means you can adapt recipe to any London broil cut. Enjoy!

George Hirsch's Grilled Hanger Steak Recipe

(aka skirt steak or Romanian steak) | Makes two-four servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 pound skirt steaks (flank or T.R. London broil), trimmed

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup bourbon (optional) substitute red wine or O.J.

1/2 cup homemade or prepared barbeque sauce

4 cloves garlic, chopped fine

2 Tablespoons each: parsley and basil

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons hot sauce

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Day one, time to think ahead: marinate for 24 hours 

To keep steaks from curing up, make diagonal cuts 1/8 inch deep about every one inch through the skirt steak on both sides. 

Mix together the olive oil, bourbon, garlic, parsley, basil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, hot sauce, and black pepper in a large bowl or large plastic zip bag. Remove 1/2 cup of marinade and reserve in refrigerator to baste steaks while grilling on Day two.

Add the skirt steaks and mix to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 23 and a 1/2 hours. You’ll need the extra half hour to get the grill ready. 

Day two, and not before.

Remove the steaks from the marinade, drain and discard marinade.

Preheat grill to high temperature.

Grill the steak for 4-5 minutes each side or to desired doneness. Brush steaks on both sides lightly with the reserved 1/2 cup marinade mix. Flip the steaks over only once. 

Remove steaks from the grill. To serve sliced steak, wait five minutes allowing juices in steak to rest before slicing thin pieces, cutting against the grain.


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Pommes Frites 

Recipe by George Hirsch | Makes four servings 

8 large Russet potatoes, well scrubbed 

approximately 3-4 cups canola or vegetable oil, enough to fill a deep sided sauce pan 1/2 way. 

USE CAUTION: Fill pan with oil No More Than 3/4 full, or oil could boil over. 

Sea salt to taste

Cut potatoes evenly with skin on, into 1/4 inch thick strips. For this step it's helpful if you have a mandolin. For uniform cooking while frying the potatoes, cut in uniform size pieces. After cutting, submerge potatoes in cold water for at least twenty minutes, changing the water at least two times, until the water is clear. Dry the potatoes well with paper towels. A good tip; use salad spinner to dry.

Cooking will require frying potatoes in two stages, blanching in first stage then crisp and brown in stage two.

First stage of cooking: For first frying, heat oil to 320 degrees F.

Without overloading fryer, cook the potatoes 1 cup at a time, for about 5 minutes or until cooked through, (but not browned during this first stage of cooking). Remove and drain potatoes with a skimmer or basket, then place on a plate lined with paper towels. 

Second stage of cooking: Second Frying, heat oil to 375 degrees F.

Fry potatoes again in stages without overloading fryer until golden brown and crispy, for about 1-2 minutes. Remove with a skimmer or basket, pour on to a shallow pan and sprinkle with sea salt. 

Serve immediately with favorite condiments.

Pesto Mayo

Blue Cheese

BBQ Sauce

Caramelized Garlic Mayo

Peanut Sauce

& any type of flavored Ketchup

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
$19.95

AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
$24.95

This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.


George Starts your year off right!

George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches

Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run

Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.

George's Hot Chocolat Royale

For my NY/LI friends, GHL is on a one week hiatus to support PBS and public TV stations, Tune-in/dvr WLIW21 Saturdays beginning Feb 15 2:30PM

Thank you in advance for supporting your local station.

Check local listings for the new season of GHL Celebrating Chef George's 25th anniversary on PBS and Public TV Stations. Click to watch TV Series Preview

Warning: Drinking hot cocoa in moderation may cause extreme amounts of happiness!


Chocolat L’Africain

In 1903, the Austrian confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer established Angelina in France, named after his daughter-in-law. For over a century, this tearoom has been the reference for Parisian gourmet delicacies. Angelina became the meeting-place for the Parisian aristocracy. Proust, Coco Chanel and the major French fashion designers all crossed each others’ paths there.  It is the place to enjoy the famous Chocolat L’Africain (named after it’s Ivory Coast cacao beans) or aka, hot chocolate and the classical Mont Blanc gateau. With locations throughout France and three within Paris—the tea room close to the Louvre art museum, is a favorite venue of local Parisians and all chocolate lovers. Cafe Angelina's hot chocolate recipe is a highly kept national secret. I've offered you my recipe, which does come with a warning as it's no Swiss Miss.

chocolat-royale.jpg

Good To Know:

Better tasting chocolate will contain at least 30-40% cacao. The percentage can be found on the label of all good quality chocolate.

George's Hot Chocolat Royale

Makes 4 small cups, or 2 large 

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle 

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup half and half

2 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar

6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate- 40% cocoa, finely chopped

2 ounces milk chocolate, - 40% cocoa, finely chopped

1/2 cup fresh whipped cream

Optional: serve with a touch of cognac or brandy

Heat half of the milk, half and half, and sugar over medium high heat with chocolates stirring until chocolates are melted. Whisk the remaining milk and half and half until warmed and chocolate is completely smooth. Remove the pot from heat.

Pour into pre heated cups/bowls. Serve with a side of fresh whipped cream and optional cognac. 

PARIS Locations:

Angelina Rivoli

Opening hours: every day from 9:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75 001 Paris

Tel: +33 (0)1 42 60 82 00

Angelina Porte Maillot

Opening hours: every day from 9:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Address: Palais des Congrès, 2 place de la Porte Maillot, 75 017 Paris

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 68 22 50

Angelina Louvre

Opening hours: every day from 9:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except on Tuesday

Adress: Musée du Louvre, Aile Richelieu, 75 001 Paris

Tel : +33 (0)1 49 27 93 31

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one
$19.95

AS SEEN ON PUBLIC TELEVISION & CREATE TV- SEASON ONE
FEATURING CHEF GEORGE HIRSCH DEMONSTRATING HIS SAVORY COOKING, BAKING AND GRILLING RECIPES; WITH HIS EXPERT CULINARY TIPS & TECHNIQUES, ALONG WITH VISITS TO HIS INSPIRING HAMPTON LOCATIONS.

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book
$24.95

This easy to live with lifestyle plan; with more than 165 of George's easy-to-prepare gourmet recipes, you can lose weight, maintain energy, look better, and enjoy a longer active life, by eating great food!
M.Evans and Company, Inc.


George Starts your year off right!

George Hirsch Living it UP
Recipes for a Healthy Active Life
Product Details
Hardcover: 240 pages; $24.95
Publisher: M. Evans and Company, Inc.; 2000
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0871319241
ISBN-13: 978-0871319241
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches

Creative Cooking tips
Fast Easy recipes that allow for an active lifestyle
A 30-Day Menu Plan you can adapt throughout the year
Support and motivation for staying on a healthy eating & exercise routine
Tips for easy food shopping & eating healthy on the run

Each book is personally autographed by George Hirsch.