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Wednesday, October 23, 2024

GOURMET CHOCOLATES

Gourmet chocolates, could there be anything more decadent? There is just something about the way is melts in your mouth, thick yet extremely creamy. Surrounding your tastes buds with a sweet, sinfully passionate taste that satisfies every fiber your being to an almost nirvana like state. Yes, I do love my chocolate, chocolate candy, chocolate cake, truffles, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, hot chocolate, fudge, milk chocolate, dark chocolate you name I love it! It is one of my favorite gifts to give or to receive.

There are so many places to find gourmet chocolate online and they pretty much all offer wonderful gourmet gift baskets filled with your favorite chocolate candy delights. They offer baskets pre-made with an assortment of gourmet candy or you can special order a basket filled with fine gourmet chocolate that you choose. Anyone would enjoy BAM Schokolade receiving a gift of chocolate for any occasion. Another chocolate gift idea is to take a couple of chocolate bars and tie them together with a pretty ribbon and there you have it a great gift for someone to say, “thinking of you”, “thank you” or throw in a rose with them it say’s “I love you”!

Grant yourself a view through chocolate colored glasses, the chocolates from ZChocolat are exquisite, pure chocolate indulgence they fulfill everyone’s most luxurious fantasy. In addition you will find a cornucopia of culinary specialties and the hand crafted boxes are treasures themselves. The very best French chocolatiers can be found making these collections of chocolate ecstasy. These are the chocolates you hear stories about and are the perfect chocolates to say “I love you” with. While I have only received one box of their chocolates (so far), I remember everyone of them.

Another favorite of mine is Dan’s Chocolates, fantastic chocolates. The gourmet dark chocolate assortment box are yummy, I have received chocolates from them twice and both gifts where to die for. I love their truffles, all of them, I have yet to have one I did not love. They also do a great job with the wedding favor chocolates. We purchased 125 boxed delights for a family wedding and they were perfect, everyone loved them. While I am sure that for the most part online chocolate company’s sell great chocolates, these two I can personally vouch for as selling fantastic gourmet chocolate confections.

These chocolate gift ideas work for just about any occasion, valentine’s day, Christmas, new years, birthdays, anniversary’s, get well soon, miss you, thank you, congratulations, welcome home and of course I love you’s. They can come in baskets, boxes, bags or wrapped in ribbon. You can ad flowers, coffee, teas, wines, crackers and cheeses, fruit, balloons and stuffed animals with them help personalize them for an individual. Do not get stuck thinking you have to stick with a traditional pre-made basket or package. Let your imagination lead you, if you are putting together something for a chocolate lover just order the chocolates and put the rest together when you chocolates arrive. They will be perfectly wrapped and can be hidden away to be presented at the perfect time.

Here is a great idea for a perfect day at the beach with your favorite chocolate lover surprise. Fill an ice chest with some cold drinks, fresh fruit and maybe some crackers and cheese. Wrap your box of gourmet chocolates in a towel and hide it in the ice chest, take some beach towels, a Frisbee, sunscreen and your chocolate lover to your favorite beach. Enjoy the sun and fun, the water and the time with your friend, then at the perfect time break out the chocolate. Or how about this one, pack a backpack of goodies not to forget a bar or two of fine chocolate to take on a hike or walk, invite a good friend or two and go enjoy the day and share some great chocolate with them. It’s all good!

In closing I have to mention the proper way to store your gourmet chocolate. Chocolate is very sensitive to light, humidity and temperature. Chocolate should be stored in a dark place protected from light and humidity (less than 50%) and in temperatures between 59 and 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Chocolate can and will absorb many different aromas so you should try to store it away from other foods. Different effects can happen to chocolate when not stored properly everything form turning a whitish color to the fat or sugar crystals rising to the surface of the chocolate, while this can be visually unappealing it is perfectly safe to consume. Take care of your gourmet chocolate, they take you where only chocolate can. Live,love and enjoy a great piece of chocolate!

Homemade Chocolate

It is easy to make impressive and delicious homemade chocolates for family and friends at Easter or anytime. You can purchase Easter chocolate molds at most specialty or discount stores and a wide variety of chocolate at your local supermarket. With a bit of time and patience you will soon be turning out gorgeous homemade chocolates.

Types of Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla. It is stronger and richer than milk or white chocolate and is usually the preferred choice for cooking.

Milk chocolate contains the same ingredients as dark chocolate but has added milk solids. It is sweeter, creamier, softer in texture and less intense than dark chocolate.

White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa solids, only cocoa butter blended with sugar, milk solids and flavourings, such as vanilla. It is rich, creamy and sweeter than milk chocolate.

Eating chocolate – dark, milk and white – can be used for cooking. Dark varieties include bitter, semi-sweet and sweet. Bitter chocolate has up to 80% cocoa liquor and butter with a minimal amount of sugar. Sweet chocolate has a higher proportion of sugar and vanilla to cocoa butter.

Good-quality cooking chocolate can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. It is similar in taste to eating chocolate, but a small amount of cocoa butter has been replaced with vegetable fat to make it easier to melt, able to set without tempering. Cheaper than normal eating chocolate.

Compound chocolate is sold in blocks or buttons and can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. The cocoa butter has been replaced with vegetable fat or oil, making it easier to melt and to set at room temperature without tempering. It lacks the flavour and texture of other chocolates, but is perfect for kids’ cooking.

Melting Chocolate

Chocolate can be melted in several different ways including on the stove, in the microwave or in the oven.

Stove Top – put chocolate in a clean, dry, heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure no water or steam enters the bowl of chocolate, or it the chocolate could seize. Stir constantly over medium to low heat until the chocolate has melted.

Microwave – put chocolate in a clean, dry, microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 1 minute on medium/high then stir. Cook for another 30 seconds then stir again, continue until chocolate has all melted.

Stove – preheat oven to 160 C. Put chocolate in a clean, dry, heatproof bowl. Turn oven off then place the bowl in the oven for 10 minutes minutes. Remove and stir, then place back in oven if required for several minutes, remove and stir again.

Tips for Melting Chocolate

  • Break chocolate into even sizes pieces before melting.
  • Use a metal spoon to stir chocolate; wooden and plastic spoons retain moisture that can cause the chocolate to seize.
  • Always use a metal, glass or ceramic bowl to melt chocolate.

Making Homemade Chocolates

  1. Melt your chocolate, (see above), then stir thoroughly to remove all lumps.
  2. Pour melted chocolate into the moulds until they are filled to the top.
  3. Tap the moulds with your fingertips to remove air bubbles from chocolate.
  4. Let chocolates set, until hard.
  5. After your chocolates have completely set and hardened, carefully pop them out of the mold.
  6. Use a butter knife to trim off any excess chocolate around the edges.

Tips for using Chocolate Moulds

  • Never wash your chocolate molds with soapy water. The soapy water will remove the shine of the mold, making it difficult to get the chocolate off. Just wash in hot water.
  • Always dry your molds carefully after washing. Water spots can also cause spots where the chocolate won’t release easily from the mould.
  • If your molds are sticking, very lightly coat them with a thin layer of vegetable oil.
  • If you make a mistake, or if extra chocolate dribbles in the wrong places – don’t touch it while it’s still wet. Place the chocolates in the fridge or freezer to harden, then you can easily just pick off the parts you don’t want there.

How to Store Chocolate

Chocolate should be wrapped in alfoil and placed in an airtight container. Store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not store in the refrigerator.

Unopened chocolate has a shelf life of 12 months and opened chocolate, properly wrapped and stored has a shelf life of 3 BAM Schokolade months. (However it would never last this long at my house!)

Chocolate Terms

Seize – Chocolate will seize up when small amounts of liquid mix with it, it becomes a thick grainy mass that cannot be remelted or used.

Chocolate Bloom – White spots that appear on chocolate, caused by the chocolate being heated and cooled too quickly. This can also occur when chocolate is refrigerated, it does not affect the quality and can still be eaten.

Tempering – A technique used to stabilize chocolate with a high cocoa butter content through a melting and cooling process so the chocolate will set firm and shiny at room temperature.

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