Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee Season 10 Episode 8 Chocolate Buffet

Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee is a cooking show hosted by Sandra Lee who combines ready-made ingredients with homemade touches to make quick, delicious meals. In season 10 episode 8, titled "Chocolate Buffet," Sandra Lee focuses on indulgent desserts and treats all made with the beloved ingredient of chocolate.

The episode begins with Sandra Lee introducing her tips and tricks for incorporating chocolate into your cooking and baking. She emphasizes the importance of using high-quality chocolate and shows viewers how to properly melt chocolate in a double boiler.

For her first recipe, Sandra Lee creates a chocolate lover's dream: a triple chocolate cheesecake. She uses a store-bought chocolate crust and mixes together cream cheese, sugar, and melted chocolate for the filling. The cheesecake is then baked and topped with a chocolate ganache and chocolate shavings.

Next, Sandra Lee switches things up with a savory dish featuring cocoa powder: chocolate chili. She starts by browning ground beef and adding in peppers, onions, and garlic. She then adds chili seasoning, cocoa powder, and a can of black beans before simmering everything together. Sandra Lee suggests serving the chili with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheese.

Sandra Lee's next recipe is a showstopper: a chocolate fountain with delicious dippers. She sets up a small fountain with melted chocolate and provides an array of dipping options such as strawberries, bananas, and pretzels. She also shows viewers how to make a homemade chocolate sauce for even more dipping options, such as pound cake or marshmallows.

For a quick and easy dessert, Sandra Lee makes chocolate fondue with store-bought pound cake and fruit for dipping. She melts chocolate chips in a double boiler and stirs in heavy cream and vanilla extract for a rich and decadent dip.

Finally, Sandra Lee ends the episode with a twist on a classic dessert: chocolate bread pudding. She starts by cutting up store-bought croissants and arranging them in a baking dish. She then mixes together eggs, milk, and cocoa powder before pouring the mixture over the croissants. The dish is topped with chocolate chips and baked until golden brown.

Throughout the episode, Sandra Lee shares her expert tips and techniques for working with chocolate in the kitchen. She encourages viewers to experiment with different types of chocolate and to not be afraid to get creative with their chocolate-based recipes.