Recipes Sourced & WRITTEN BY Laura Romito (High 5 Salts with benefits)
TASTE CONSALTING RECIPE SERIES
SKIP TO RECIPE
Photo by [Peasant Life]
SWEET TREATS TO INDULGE IN
It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to treat yourself! A rich chocolate ganache and a dollop of whipped cream can turn simple fresh fruit, pound cake, or vanilla ice cream (or all three at once!) into a celebration.
Instead of using plain sugar to sweeten our chocolate ganache and whipped cream, we use High 5 Sweet Sass – a blend of organic raw cane sugar and sea salt infused with balsamic vinegar. Since chocolate and balsamic are a “classic flavor combination,” our ganache is not just sweet, but rich and perfectly balanced.
Have you ever tasted a salted caramel-esque whipped cream?? Our recipe brings the SASS to this traditional topping. Be sure to make extra - they’ll warm your heart!
MEET THE MAKER - LAURA ROMITO
Photo by [Peasant Life]
Chef Laura Romito is the creator of High 5 Salts with Benefits, a line of perfectly balanced organic salt blends handmade in Detroit’s historic Eastern Market. High 5 Salts work with all the tastes your tongue recognizes to help you create better-tasting food!
Chef Laura graduated first in her class from the Schoolcraft College Culinary Arts program and has worked in the food world in many capacities for twenty years.
Laura also works as a recipe developer and conSALTant for several local food entrepreneurs, restaurants and catering businesses.
A proud mom of two great boys and grateful wife of her amazing husband Tom, Laura lives in Royal Oak where she manages to teach a few yoga classes a week in an effort to keep calm and cook on!
SHOP INGREDIENTS AT THE MARKET
Meijer Chocolate Chips - found in the baking aisle at a great price! You can choose milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips for the ganache depending on your preference.
Meijer Heavy Whipping Cream - available in the dairy section
High 5 Sweet Sass - located across from the meat case (you can also use it on pork tenderloin and salmon!).
Mascarpone Cheese - comes in a little white tub next to the cream cheese.
Grannies Poundcake – Made in Michigan, Women-Owned & Black-Owned Business. Buttery traditional and pecan varieties are available in the bakery section.
HIGH 5 SWEET SASS
WHIPPED CREAM RECIPE
Tastes like salted caramel whipped cream!
Photo by [Peasant Life]
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Meijer whipping cream
2-4 T Sweet Sass (or to taste); you could also use a combination of Sweet Sass and sugar or powdered sugar and a pinch of salt to taste
½ tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
*Optional – 2 to 3 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
Photo by [Peasant Life]
INSTRUCTIONS
Place a large bowl and the beaters from a hand mixer in the freezer or fridge for 10 minutes
Remove from freezer and pour whipped cream and vanilla into bowl*
Mix on high until cream begins to thicken, about 45 seconds
Add Sweet Sass and vanilla and continue mixing on high until cream begins to make soft peaks; taste and adjust sweetness
Continue mixing on high until stiff peaks begin to form; DO NOT over mix or you will accidentally make butter!
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes; if cream “wilts” a bit then mix on high again for about 30 seconds to refresh
Pro-Tip – for more stable whipped cream, add 2-3 tablespoons mascarpone cheese to the cream prior to whipping.
HIGH 5 SWEET SASS
DARK CHOCOLATE GANACHE RECIPE
Photo by [Peasant Life]
INGREDIENTS
8 oz Meijer dark chocolate chips
1 cup Meijer heavy cream
2 oz High 5 Sweet Sass or 2 oz cane sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
*Optional – 2-3 tablespoons orange liqueur, Bailey’s Irish cream, or brandy
Photo by [Peasant Life]
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan heat the cream, salt, vanilla, and Sweet Sass or cane sugar (and liqueur if using)
2. Whisk to dissolve
3. Bring just to a boil then immediately turn off heat
4. Pour over chocolate; let stand for about one minute, then whisk to combine thoroughly until smooth; this can take some time!
5. Use warm, or allow to cool and store in an airtight container for up to a week; place cooled ganache over simmering water (in a double boiler where the container does not touch the water surface) and stir gently until chocolate has melted again
6. Drizzle over strawberries, pound cake, or ice cream
Photo by [Peasant Life]
SERVING YOUR DESSERT
To serve, slice and top these irresistible, single serving Grannies Pound Cakes with fresh strawberries, drizzle them with warm Sweet Sass chocolate ganache and finish them with a mound of Sweet Sass whipped cream.
Photo by [Peasant Life]
TIPS & TRICKS FROM THE MAKER
Add a few tablespoons of mascarpone cheese to the heavy cream before you whip it to stabilize the peaks and make the final product hold steady longer!
Add a few tablespoons of orange liqueur, brandy, Kahlua, or Baileys to the cream when you heat it up (don’t ever add cold liquid to a chocolate sauce!) for a little extra pizzazz!
A pinch of salt elevates all flavors, even sweet ones, so don’t forget to add a bit to your desserts!
Photo by [Peasant Life]
GRAB YOUR INGREDIENTS AT WOODWARD CORNER MARKET
Shop all the products you need for these sweet recipes at Woodward Corner Market. Follow along as we share more Taste ConSALTing with Laura Romitio from High 5 Salts with Benefits!