Purdue chef shares tips for Valentine treats

Brutsman's Valentine treats
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Brutsman will present recipes for chocolate fondues, cakes and cookies, including sharing the secrets behind some Purdue specialties that have been popular for decades in University Residence dining halls.

"Our chocolate cake cookie uses a cake mix, so it is surprisingly easy to make, but we use a different procedure to prepare the mix," Brutsman said. "I'll show you the key to preparing our Wellesley icing that makes the cookies so superb."

Brutsman also will demonstrate how to prepare Purdue's traditional chocolate krinkle cookie and how to put a new wrinkle in the old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie. She will demonstrate how to bake a molten lava cake with a chocolate sauce that flows from its core.

Brutsman encourages chocolate fans to dig out their chocolate fountains or take advantage of post-holiday sales and purchase one at a local retailer.

"We'll show you how to properly melt the chocolate, ensure that it is flowing and sheeting correctly, and how to choose the best dippers," said Brutsman, who also will discuss some non-chocolate uses for the fountains.

Brutsman also will prepare a mélange of berries topped with melted white chocolate sauce that she has presented at several recent holiday dinner parties.

"It's an elegant, easy dish and a lovely complement and conclusion to a heavy meal like lamb," she said.

Admission to the demonstration is free with the purchase of an $8.02 plus tax, all-you-care-to-eat meal. The demonstration includes tastings of each dish Brutsman prepares and recipe cards to take away so that the desserts can be replicated.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Source: Grace Brutsman, (765) 494-6060, gabrutsman@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

PHOTO CAPTION:
Grace Brutsman, a production chef at Purdue University's Hillenbrand Dining Court, will demonstrate how to prepare a selection of chocolate Valentine treats including cake, cookies and fondue. (Photo provided by Purdue University Residences)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/brutsman-valentine.jpg

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