Chocolate Lovin

• Home
• An Occasional Chocolate
• Product Review # 2
• Review Product # 3
• Product Review # 4
• Resources

Halloween Chocolate Marshmallow Treats

October 4th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Want to make something fun for the Halloween Party? This one will be loved by young and old alike

Halloween Chocolate Marshmallow Treats

* 1 (10 ounce) package marshmallows
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup peanut butter
* 5 cups crisp rice cereal
* 1 cup milk chocolate chips
* 1 cup mini marshmallows
* 1 cup milk chocolate chips
* orange sprinkles

In large microwave-safe bowl, combine the 10 ounces of marshmallows with 1/4 cup butter. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from microwave and stir in peanut butter until blended.

Then add the cereal and stir until coated. Add 1 cup of the milk chocolate chips and the mini marshmallows. Press into a greased 13×9″ pan smooth out, using buttered hands or a buttered spatula.

In small microwave-safe bowl, place 1 cup milk chocolate chips. Microwave on medium for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time, until mixture is smooth. Using a fork, drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars and then sprinkle some orange sprinkles on top for a really festive look. Let stand until cool; store covered at room temperature.

NOTE: You can omit the peanut butter if you’d like.

Chocolate Mold

April 12th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Making Chocolate At Home Or In the Workshop – You Can Use The Chocolate Mold

Why do you need a chocolate mold machine? Because after you have created the filings you need something to give it a form for the candy and the mold can do this. When you need a mold that has the capacity to hold two pounds of chocolate or even more such as thirty-three pounds of chocolate, what you need is benchtop mold machines. Actually such machines are available for various capacities. Then there are those chocolate mold machines, used in commercial productions that can produce, temper and melt in excess of than two hundred pounds of tempered chocolate every hour.

Planning To Make At Home – There Are Various Molds For You

What is the desired shape and size of your chocolate? Based on this, you will need to select a chocolate mold that you will work with. But the good news is, there is room for a lot of experimentation as molds are available in various shapes and sizes. So you can try a shape that you haven’t before. If you are just a beginner then it is recommended that you try your hand with one color basic chocolates that also have a solid body. Once one gets to know about the finer details of the chocolate mold, there is every possibility of making terrific designs for the chocolates.

So are you ready to start off at home? First melt the chocolate and having done this, now the mold needs to be filled up with this. You can use a disposable decorating bag, melting bottle or a spoon for this. Once the chocolate mold is filled, you will need to tap it a little bit to ensure that the chocolate doesn’t have any air bubbles inside. Having done this, now keep the chocolate mold in the freezer or refrigerator. This will allow the chocolate to settle down. Keep checking, when you see frost at the bottom of the chocolate mold then you know that it is ready.

When you think that it is done and the chocolate is ready to come out, turn it upside down, but just an inch above the surface, and the chocolate should come out gently on its own. Use a waxed paper or a parchment as the surface. To add to the look and make it look more realistic, you can also use coloring for your chocolate. How do you add color? One way of doing this is by painting the chocolate when it is in the melted form and inside the mold, but before it has been molded. You may want to use a decorative brush for this.

To be creative with your chocolate, select from various chocolate mold options. There are various sizes and shapes you can select from in each category. So become wild with your imagination and creativity – just select a chocolate mold you need for it and get going.

How To Display Chocolate Fondue At A Party

March 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Chocolate Fondue Is A Party Favorite

Chocolate fondue that was a rage in the 1970’s is on a role again. Back then probably there was not even a single party that didn’t have them – actually it was unthinkable to have a party without them. Chocolate is something that appeals to both young and old the world over, and chocolate fondue are a favorite among all.

With time everything changes and how can chocolate fondue be an exception? In today’s parties, chocolate fondue is served and presented differently and there are various ways in which it is done. These days everyone is asking for white chocolate and thus white chocolate fondue has become a craze among co-workers and guests at parties.

The Popularity Of White Chocolate Fondue

Having a party and wish to impress all who attend? Do not want to go into a lot of troubles and yet make it a roaring success? Then what you need is white chocolate fondue. This is just what you need… twenty four ounces of white chocolate, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and two ounces of cherry liqueur. Melt it all in a double boiler or fondue pot, add fruit such as fresh strawberries or pineapple for dipping and watch your guests eat it up. It will be a sure pleasure.

Milk chocolate fondue is a great option at both casual and formal parties. Your guests – one and all, are sure to lap them up. What liqueur you will select for the party is your decision. You can select from several coffee and chocolate flavored liqueurs that are sure to add flavor to the chocolate fondue you are about to offer.

The fondue can come with a lot of varieties. Such as a fruit or a mint flavor. Or you can also consider having rum flavored fondues if that is what you like to serve. These are wonderful for dipping shortbread cookies, pretzels, and a number of other finger foods along with your favorite fruit. Or you can also try out apples and orange sections when you are having the next party.

Many people display them in fondue pots. But another idea that is really catching on is a fondue fountain – this is a great way to show off the chocolate fondue you have as an offering. Chocolate fondue lovers cutting across age are now loving a fondue fountain. Many people have a fountain at home as a decoration to add atmosphere. The fondue fountain too adds atmosphere similarly along with the food that is a delight for the guests.

When you need something that is sure to be loved and yet is easy to make, serve and clean up, then chocolate fondue is what you should go for. As the party organizer it shall be easy on you as well. Since it is going to be rage, your guests are surely going to ask for more and more. So ensure that you have enough chocolate fondue in hand to serve them all.

 

Chocolate Easter Bunny Pretzels

February 24th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Chocolate Easter Bunny Pretzels

I am always looking for festive new ideas for the holidays. I have two kids and I seem to always be sending goodies to school for various occasions and holidays. Last year I found something in my local craft store I had not seen before. Probably not new, just new to me.

In my never ending search for different chocolate molds, I found an adorable mold to make Easter Bunny Pretzels. This was such a clever idea. Instead of using the traditional white sticks, the area where the sticks would go was wide, made to hold a pretzel log. So instead of just having plain old pretzels dipped in chocolate, or plain chocolate bunnies on a stick, I had chocolate bunnies on a pretzel. The kids loved them!

So next time you are browsing the chocolate molds isle, take a look for these. I have looked for this type of mold for other holidays and have not seen any. So keep your eyes peeled, and let me know what you find and where you found it.

Chocolate Candy Painting

February 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

My favorite holiday is Easter. Why, because I really enjoy making gorgeous masterpieces for the Easter Baskets! If you have never “painted” your chocolates before, don’t run off scared. It is really easy. Depending on the size of the mold and the detail in it, you can use a small paint brush or a toothpick. Just melt a very small amount of the desired colored. Sometimes one chip is all that may be needed. For instance, the eyes on an easter bunny, or the green stem of his carrot. Simply paint the designs in your mold and let set. Once all of the detail is finished and set, you can fill your mold. After the entire mold is set, and you turn out your chocolate, you will be impressed with the how easy it is to get great results. And you don’t need to paint all the detail, just pick out a few accents to paint.

Chocolate has to taste good too!

February 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Has this ever happened to you. You go to a party or function and you see the most beautiful chocolates adorning the dessert table. Maybe someone has made a gorgeous display of homemade chocolate that has you salivating for just a little taste. Then at the end of the evening , everyone is offered some to take home or enjoy before they leave. You are excited, the time has come.  You thank the hostess and rush off to your car. When you are sure no one is watching you rip off the ribbons and clear wrapper that protected these little gems all evening and pop a morsel in your mouth to savor. But… the chocolate isn’t melting in your mouth, it tastes a little like - plastic? Thats it, the evening is a bomb !

Ok,Ok - so I am a little dramatic. Well, maybe a lot dramatic. The point though is that if your chocolate creations only look good, but lack the flavor and texture that only a good quality chocolate can bring, you have let yourself down. Why spend hours on making a delicious looking candy that tastes like….

Don’t be put off by price either. I am not insinuating you need to spend a fortune. Sites like An Occasional Chocolate sell only high quality Guittard Chocolate that is inexpensive and but  the taste is fit for royalty. So, remember, you want them to taste as good as they look!

Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 Chocolate Lovin

Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund