Chocolate

Erin · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:16 pm Post subject: Chocolate

I will follow Judy's lead and write about chocolate. What is your favorite recipe for chocolate?
My favorite way to eat chocolate is as a truffle. I love the cocoa I roll them in. I love the way they melt away as soon as you take a bite. I love the fact that when I serve them at parties my friends begin apologies to their signifigant others, for the truffle is all the lov'in they will need that night. I also love the fact that they are a great excuse to drink champagne.

Combine:
1/2 cup cream
3/4 stick unsalted butter at room temp

Bring to a boil and remove. Pour over 5oz. finely chopped chocolate and wisk well. You can add 2 Tbs liquor if you want, I usually don't. Cool 1 hour. Form and roll in cocoa powder, nuts or what ever you can dream up!
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

Rainey · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:22 pm Post subject:

I was making truffles last night for a family celebration the weekend after TDay. I use Alice Medrich's recipe which includes forming the ganache centers and freezing them (that's where I am starting this AM). Then they get dipped in melted chocolate and stay in the fridge until serving.

I'm going to try to roll my freshly dipped truffles too. Never done that before but when you're committed to messy why not go all the way? Wink

I flavored my ganache with three different liqueurs so I hope rolling them in different coatings will help keep clear which is which.

I haven't made these in years. I hope I remember some dipping technique but I *do* remember the first step is to take the phone off the hook so you don't accidentally try to answer it with a hand glopped to the wrist in melted chocolate. Shocked

monkey · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:55 pm Post subject:

rainey,

is that the same recipe that says "lick all excess chocolate off of fingers" right after "store in air-tight container"?
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monkey

nothing brings primates together like a good snack!
www.TheresAMonkeyInTheKitchenAndHesGotAKnife.com

Rainey · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:11 pm Post subject:

monkey · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject:

since we are talking chocolate here, tempered or un-tempered chocolate for truffle dipping?
_________________
monkey

nothing brings primates together like a good snack!
www.TheresAMonkeyInTheKitchenAndHesGotAKnife.com

Rainey · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

Erin · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:28 pm Post subject:

Monkey, I never dip my truffles.
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

monkey · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:38 pm Post subject:

i have never dipped my truffles either, but, i was contemplating it.

i have not tried it myself, but, i am told that the chocolate tempering instructions on the schraffenberger website is easy and effective. www.scharffenberger.com their explanation about why you temper chocoalte is interesting. mmm... chocolate!
_________________
monkey

nothing brings primates together like a good snack!
www.TheresAMonkeyInTheKitchenAndHesGotAKnife.com

Rainey · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:23 pm Post subject:

Caitlin · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Allentown, NJ

Hmmm.. Favorite way to eat chocolate...

Most certainly chipping a corner off that huge block of dark chocolate you have in the back of your fridge and curling up to watch sappy romance movies after your boyfriend breaks up with you..

Other than that.. Chocolate and caramel poured over saltenes. Gotta love that sweet and salty.

Rainey · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:23 pm Post subject:

Erin · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:12 pm Post subject:

Catlin, be careful with chocolate in the fridge it will bloom.

Monkey, I just made a holiday assortment of truffles, some in colored sugars, some in candy cane dust and I also dipped some! I was feeling lazy and did not temper, but I think the next batch I will. I love chocolate!
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

Lady Amalthea · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 136 Location: New York City

Favorite chocolate? Hot cocoa when it's snowing out.
Or cold chocolate pudding in the summer.
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Don't forget the cannolis!

anna · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 45 Location: north carolina, usa

my partner, kevin and my housemate, david and i decided to make chocolates and other candied as gift for our buddies this year, and it was a blast. we emptied out piggybanks (no, seriously) and came out with enough money to by 7 beautiful bars of green & black's organic 70%, plus various toppings and other yummy things.

David made some amazing carmels studded with toasted hazelnuts-- they melt the moment they touch you tongue, and i (inspired by the entry on c&z) made mendiats, which i topped with a variety of goodies including toasted almond slivered, candied ginger, dried mango, dried papaya, sea salt, cardamom, granola, coconut, earl grey tea and freshly grated cinnamon stick. they came out really yummy-- the tea, cinnamon, mano and ginger were favorites.

finally, kevin and i made almond truffles: homemade almost paste mixed with freshly grated cinnamon stick, dipped in chocolate and topped with another sprinkle of cinnamon. def the prettiest of the treats and SO yummy. i'm going to make them with pistachio paste soon.

Erin · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 2:47 am Post subject:

For anyone that is interested check out cuicineprovencale.com they have some great combos for truffles!

Anna, I really like your ideas you are very creative!
_________________
"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."