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Thursday, January 24, 2013




Chocolates

 Chocolates are so easy to make at home and they made such great gifts. Here’s a step-by-step method to make delicious chocolates.


Step 1: Break dark cooking chocolate into small bits (wrapping it in newspaper and whacking it a bit with a hammer is just the way to do it). Then put it into a double boiler and stir with a wooden spoon till it is all melted. You can use any kind of chocolate – dark, milk, white but if you want a good finish, couverture chocolate is best. (Couveture in French means covering).







Step 2: Now, you need to temper the chocolate so it doesn’t melt at ambient temperature and holds its shape when moulded. Here is a great video that explains how to do it.







Step 3: With a spoon, fill the moulds – about one third. (Optional: If you want a thin covering, paint on the chocolate with a brush).



Step 4: Put in your filling – we’ll give you a choice of fillings later.

Step 5: Cover the filling and make sure the mould is full. 

Step 6: Leave it to harden and when it does, gently slip them out of the mould. 

Step 7: Wrap in thin foil – optional.




Fillings

- Powder a few Polos or any mints, mix with an equal quantity of icing sugar, add a few drops of cold water and bind together. Make little balls out of these.
- In half a cup of brandy, put in 1/3 cup raisins and leave aside for an hour to soak.
- Caramelise half a cup of sugar, put in some powdered nuts – almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts or a mix of whatever nuts you want. Roughly powder the nougat and use as filling.
- Melt some milk chocolate with a little butter, cool and use. You can add any liqueur you want.
- Crumble a piece of cake – never mind if it is dry or stale. Add melted chocolate – enough to bind it loosely and use.

Gifting Ideas

- Buy a cheap and cheery glass or plastic bowl, put in a few chocolates, add a bit of confetti, wrap with cling wrap.
- Wrap the chocolates in a shimmering piece of gauze and tie with a huge satin ribbon.
- Make your own chocolate boxes. Here’s a good one to start off with:






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Shalini
I'm passionate about holistic healing and I love to read, write and cook.
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