Chocolates By Imagination - Sonia Nance - Chocolate Cookbook

A few little touches

2012-02-22T20:33:00.001-08:00

Simple and fun to make. These Sunflower lollies are 5" in diameter and with a royal icing lady bug, bumble bee, or butterfly they move up to super cute. I made the Sunflowers with yellow compound coatings and used the coatings to glue a bug onto them. Place them in a clay flower pot for a wonderful display. The recipe for these Sunflowers and other Spring chocolates can be found in my book Chocolates By Imagination Spring and Summer.

While we wait for Spring.

2012-02-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year I start making flowers and butterflies to put around my shop. Even thought the weather outside seems cold and grey, inside I can have Spring with chocolates. These butterflies are made with white compound coatings. I dye the coatings for the colorful wings and used dark coatings for the body and antennas. The recipe for these butterflies and other Spring chocolates can be found in my book Chocolates By Imagination Spring and Summer.

White Chocolate Valentine's Box

2012-02-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

White Chocolate flavored Cherub Box

I have many Chocolate Boxes to share with you before Valentine's Day. This is a completely eatable White Chocolate flavored Box filled with Petite Mints. It looks great in a clear cello bag with a Valentine ribbon. It is very simple to make. Melt the white chocolate flavored compound coatings, pour it into the mold and cool in the frig for 25 minutes. Fill it with mints or your favorite candies and package with a ribbon. That's it! You made your own Valentine's gift.
This recipe is my book Chocolates By Imagination Spring and Summer. www.chocolatesbyimagination.com

Chocolate Open Roses

2012-01-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

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

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

2012-01-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

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/

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

2012-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Chocolate Recipes, Easy Recipes

2012-01-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

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.

Judy Nelson

2012-01-14T20:09:00.000-08:00

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.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

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

Second Book

2011-10-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Chocolates By Imagination Fall and Winter
My Second chocolate cookbook on adorable and delicious chocolate molding and dipping for the home Chocolateir.
Saturday I had a great time signing books for Mary and her friends and family.

Halloween Fun

2011-10-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Now that I have retired from chocolate manufacturing and am writing chocolate cookbooks, I have time to have some fun decorating for Autumn.

I love these Jack-o-Lanterns. I bought them at an after season sale a few years ago 70% off. Now I have instant Halloween with no mess.

Holiday Book is ready

2011-10-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the Holidays.

Chocolates By Imaginations
Fall and Winter

My newest book on making adorable and delicious chocolate molding and dipping for the home chocolatier. It has chapters on Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Chapter six will give you ideas on dipped confections, great for gift giving and holiday parties.
200 pages. 72 recipes all with photos.
Enjoy!
For ordering info go to
http://chocolatesbyimagination.com/WinterandFallBook.aspx

The Brig

2011-08-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

This is the grand stands at the Del Mar race track. We are at the Brigantine restaurant, hands down my favorite restaurant. You can sit on the balcony and watch the races, you can even hear the thunder of the horses as they charge by. Behind me is the Pacific Ocean.

The shrimp cocktail and fish tacos are the best!!

Pipes

2011-08-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Pipe's Cafe in Cardiff By the Sea. All the local and Pro surfers eat here. It's only open for breakfast but it is one of my favorite places to eat. The portions are huge!

Pacific Ocean

2011-08-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Taking a few days off from the the book for some R&R. This is the Pacific Ocean at Del Mar, Ca. The only Sun we had, but it was beautiful anyway.

Just had to share!

2011-07-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today I was making chocolates to photograph for my next Chocolate Cookbook. These chocolate confection Rudolf suckers are just too cute to keep to myself. I hope you enjoy then too. Sonia

Funny Observations

2011-07-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Theobroma Cacao

Funny observations: "The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid asked "can you afford fries with that?" CEO's are now playing miniature golf. Hot Wheels stock is trading higher than GM. A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico. Motel 6 won't leave the light on anymore. The mafia is laying off judges.
-Mike Ward

Chocolate Lighthouse

2011-07-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm surprised at what I can make with chocolate coatings. This 3-D lighthouse stands about 8" high. It is semi hollow so it is a lot of chocolate. I have complete instructions on how to make it in my book Spring and Summer.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

2011-07-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

It is still the season for strawberries. Here I have a variety including Dark Chocolate with white drizzle, Peanut Butter Chocolate with dark drizzle and White Chocolate with dark drizzle. I also used some fun sprinkles. Try serving them instead of, or with cookies and brownies. You'll probably need several per person. Let me know if you would like the recipe I use.
Sonia

Sneak Peek

2011-07-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

Mr and Mrs. Rudolf

I was going though some of the pictures I might use for the next book and wanted to share this great picture taken by my dear friend Jodi. The body is made with chocolate dipped marshmallows and the legs, head and tail are molded chocolate. Sooo cute, thanks Jodi.
Sonia

Baby Shower Duckies

2011-07-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Duckies

These baby duckies are great for many occasions, especially baby showers. Use you blue or pink ribbon to reveal the gender of the new baby. You can also put a label on the back with congratulations to Mom and Dad.

Spring and Summer

2011-07-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

I would like to tell you about my new book. Chocolates By Imagination - Spring and Summer. What I tried to do with this book is give you my 30 years of chocolate making experience. I have been teaching my employees to make chocolates for 16 years at my company, Chocolates By Imagination. I love to make beautiful chocolate novelties and I love to share what I have learned all these years.
Some of the techniques in the book are common, used daily by industry confectioners. Some of the techniques I have developed over time to make the process quick and simple. I truly believe anyone can make wonderful chocolates with the right instructions and encouragement.
Sonia

Charlie and the Chocolate factory

2011-07-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

I was 11 when my big sister gave me the 1964 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Back then all my friends were reading it. The story fascinated me. What an imagination! Ten years later I went to a chocolate making class in a friends home. I have been making chocolates ever sense. 30 years, WOW! Now I have written my first cookbook on how to make all types of wonderful chocolate novelties. Chocolates By Imagination Spring and Summer. I hope Willy would be pround.
Sonia

prayfordavid: "I will be still and know You are God"

2011-07-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

prayfordavid: "I will be still and know You are God"