Homewood holds Chocolate Fest on Feb. 21

HOMEWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- Chocolate isn't just for Valentine's Day. In the south suburban Village of Homewood, the annual Chocolate Fest is a great way to meet your neighbors and enjoy sweet treats in the middle of winter.

On our news Saturday morning, we had a tasty preview of the event. Allisa Opyd, events manager for the Village of Homewood, and Laurie Norris, owner/confectioner for Tiddleywink Toffee, came into our studio to tell us about the festival and to show a few chocolate recipes.

The festival is personal for Norris. She was able to launch her career after winning the bake-off contest in a previous year.

New in 2015, the chocolate bake-off contest includes both an amateur and professional category. You must register by Monday, February 16, 2015. A panel of judges samples each entry and selects three winners. Then the public samples each entry in exchange for a small donation to benefit an area service group.

13th Annual Homewood Chocolate Fest

Saturday, February 21

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Village Hall

2020 Chestnut Road

Homewood

Admission: FREE

Amateur and Professional Bake-off

Deadline to register: February 16

Public tasting: 12:45 p.m.

Winner announced at 1:30 p.m.

Laurie Norris' Recipes:

1. 4-Ingredient Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 bananas, cut into 1-inch slices(frozen)

1/2 cup frozen strawberries, sliced

2 Tbsp almond milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

1tbs chocolate sauce

several pieces of Tiddleywink Toffee

Preparation:

1. Place banana slices on a plate, separating each slice. Place slices in freezer for 2 hours (overnight is best!).

2. Remove strawberries and bananas from freezer and place in food processor, blend until they are the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

3. Add almond milk (more or less for desired texture) and vanilla and blend until smooth and well-mixed.

4. Transfer ice cream to a freezer container and freeze until solid. (You don't have to wait if fruit is frozen, it is like soft serve ice cream.)

5. Scoop with ice cream scoop and serve.

Notes:

You can really use any frozen fruit to make this.

Drizzle chocolate sauce and add Tiddleywink Toffee on top.

2. Box Brownie Toffee Delight

Ingredients:

any plain or dark chocolate box brownie mix

2/3 cup oil

1/4 cup water

2 eggs

several pieces of Tiddleywink Toffee

Preparation:

Follow directions on box mix.

Mix all ingredients.

Break up Tiddleywink Toffee pieces and add to the mix.

Bake as directed on box.

Cool and add additional pieces of Tiddleywink Toffee for a garnish.