Saturday, January 28, 2012

Chocolate Open Roses

Red and Pink Chocolate Open Roses
One of my favorites because it is simple yet elegant. (Thank you Teresa from WC, Ca.).
Simply melt pink or red chocolate flavored compound coatings. Pour into the mold. Cool for 15 minutes and decorate with a lovely ribbon. These can easily be made in large quantity's and may different colors.

This recipe and others like it are in my book Chocoloates By Imagination Spring and Summer.
See more information at www.chocolatesbyimagination.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

Dipping Strawberries
I did some research online to see how others were doing their chocolate covered strawberries and I noticed a few things. Many people are using chocolate from the supermarket. I recommend if you want the professional look, use a high grade compound coating. You can find them in cake and candy making stores that sell supplies or on my website. Not the ones sold at craft stores. The compound coatings will melt  much better and will have a high gloss when cooled. Buy two different flavors. One for dipping and one for decorating. In this recipe I will be dipping with Milk coating and drizzling with White coatings. I think one of the reasons dipped strawberries are so special, aside from they taste wonderful, is they are very perishable. I do not recommend storing them in the frig, they turn to mush. I make them one hour before I will be using them, on longer.

Here are the 8 steps for perfect Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

1. Buy fresh strawberries. They should be firm and bright red.
2. Rinse the strawberries and pat completely dry with a paper towel.
3. Melt the chocolate coatings in the microwave on 50% power until creamy.
Easy so far.....
4. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.
5. Holding the strawberry by the leafs, dip the strawberry into the milk chocolate coatings, let some of the chocolate coatings drip back into the bowl. Set on the cookie sheet and repeat until you have the desired amount.
6. Cool in the frig 15 minutes.
7. Dip a fork into the melted white chocolate coatings and using a back and fourth motion drizzle the white chocolate coatings onto the dipped strawberries.
8. I like to set them in a paper cup and serve on a pretty plate.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
This recipe is my book Chocolates By Imagination Spring and Summer. http://www.chocolatesbyimagination.com/

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries


Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are so popular at Valentine's Day. I always had a lot of customers calling my store for them. Problem is, they need to be dipped and decorated within a hour or so before you need them. Over the next three weeks I will be posting tips for making Chocolate Cover Strawberries at home like the professionals do. Just in time for Valentine's Day.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Chocolate Recipes, Easy Recipes

Peanut Clusters
 
I have so many great ideas for Valentine's Day Chocolates I want to get started now. The photo shows a plate filled with milk chocolate peanut clusters. You could use dark chocolate or white chocolate also. You may also want to try different types of nuts.
Simply melt your chocolate flavored buttons in the microwave and stir in your favorite nuts. Scoop into paper cups and cool in the frig for 15 minutes.
Try putting them in a pretty Valentine's Day bag with a red ribbon and now you have a delicious home made gift.
You can find this recipe in detail in my book Spring and Summer. 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Judy Nelson

Many thanks to Judy Nelson of Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop for writing a lovely review on my book Spring and Summer.
I very much appreciate it.


go to http://www.mrsnelsons.com/  for more info on her amazing Book Shop.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year to all my Brothers and Sisters in chocolate.
I am looking forward to a year filled with new and fun ideas with chocolates.
Enjoy, Sonia