Easy Chocolate Gifts

[sunshine]

Easy Chocolate Gifts
Make your own for Valentine's or any time
by Alice E. Workman


Most people think diamonds are a girl's best friend, but they're
wrong." My husband had been talking to our teenage son about girls,
and how important good manners were if you wanted to impress a girl,
then he suddenly threw this bit of advice in. "What women really
want," he continued, "is chocolate!"
I laughed, but then I realized that he's not too far from the truth.
Though most women wouldn't turn down a diamond in favor of a piece
of chocolate, few would turn down a gift of chocolates, either. Come
to think of it, few men would turn down such a gift. Chocolate rules.

The simple chocolate recipes below should bring a smile to your
Sweetheart this Valentine's Day. They're almost as much fun to make
as they are to eat!


Basic Directions
You can use either chocolate chips or sweetened baking chocolate.
Baking chocolate will produce a slightly better product, but chips
are a little faster and easier to melt (for those of us who are
impatient). Instead of chocolate, you could use Wilton's candy
melts, which come in a variety of colors and flavors and are
available at most craft stores.
Melting chocolate
Never add water or liquid food coloring to your chocolate as it will
ruin it. If you want colored chocolate, start out with white
chocolate and add a small amount of the colored paste used in cake
decorating. To use melted chocolate for decorating (like icing),
allow it to cool slightly after melting and pour some into a zip-
style baggie. Press all of the air out of the bag and close it. Clip
a small piece off of one of the bottom corners of the bag to make a
hole for squirting the chocolate through.

Stove method
Heat water in the bottom of a double boiler until it just begins to
boil. Remove from heat (this is important; if you overheat the
chocolate it will not be the right consistency for dipping). Add
chocolate to the top of the boiler, and stir frequently until
melted. If you don't have a double boiler, just use a bowl inside a
larger bowl or pan of water.

Microwave Method
Put chocolate into a microwave safe dish. Cook for no more than 30
seconds at a time, stirring well between cooking. Quit microwaving
while the chocolate is still lumpy, and stir it well to allow the
rest of the lumps to melt. You do not want to overheat the
chocolate, as it will ruin the consistency.

Cooling
Place chocolates in the refrigerator or freezer for 5-10 minutes, or
until set, then remove.


Personalized Chocolate Plaque
Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit the bottom of a small bread pan,
leaving an extra 1/2 inch folded up on one side (to use for
a "handle" when removing the chocolate later). Pour melted chocolate
in, about 1/4-1/3" thick, and spread out evenly. Tap the sides of
the pan lightly to remove any air bubbles. Chill until set. Remove
from pan, and peel off paper. Use icing or colored, melted chocolate
to pipe on a name or message. Add a chocolate leaf or two (in a
contrasting color) for decoration.

Chocolate Leaves
Carefully wash a few leaves from a rose bush, grapevine, or other
plant (don't use leaves from poisonous plants!), and pat them dry.
Use a pastry brush to coat the top side of each leaf with melted
chocolate. Cool. Brush on a second layer of chocolate, if needed,
and cool again. Carefully peel the leaf off of the chocolate.

Small chocolate leaves make nice decorations for other chocolate
items or for cakes or pies. If you use a large leaf, such as a grape
leaf, you can carefully set it in a bowl while the chocolate sets so
that the chocolate will form a bowl shape. Put a few small candies,
such as cinnamon red hots or starlight mints, into the chocolate
shell for a nice gift.

Chocolate Cutouts
Pour a layer of melted chocolate about 1/4" thick onto waxed paper
and smooth out. When cool, use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of
the chocolate as you would with sugar cookies. Decorate with icing
or melted chocolate. If you have several sizes of the same shape,
you can stack several together in a tier, using a small amount of
melted chocolate to "glue" them together. Use a different color of
chocolate for each layer, if desired.

Chocolate Surprise
The surprise here is what's inside the chocolate. My family couldn't
guess what it was, but it quickly became one of their favorite
treats. Simply dip a mini corn chip in melted chocolate to
completely coat it, lay it on waxed paper and cool. These are sweet
and crunchy!

Chocolatey Popcorn
Spread lightly salted (unbuttered) popped corn on a sheet of waxed
paper. Drizzle melted chocolate over it. Let cool. (Note: you can
use unsalted popcorn, but in our home taste tests the salted popcorn
was the clear winner for this recipe).

Minty Message
Place a few unwrapped peppermint patties in a row on a doily-covered
plate, using a small amount of melted chocolate to "glue" them in
place. Use colored chocolate or icing to write one letter of your
message on each patty.

Dipping Chocolates
This is this easiest way for your kids to get in on the fun. Set up
a few bowls with toppings such as coconut, chopped nuts, powdered
sugar and colored sprinkles, and a bowl of melted chocolate. The
kids can dip items into melted chocolate then whatever toppings they
desire (if any), and lay them on a sheet of waxed paper to cool.
Many items can be dipped in just halfway and will look quite nice.
If an item is to be completely covered in chocolate, swirl the
chocolate a little as you pull the spoon away from the item when you
lay it on the paper, so that the chocolate will look more
professional. To make them look even nicer, serve the chocolates on
a paper doily with a few chocolate leaves.

Some good items for dipping are:


Large marshmallows

Fruit, in season (berries, cherries, melon cubes, etc. - avoid
fruits that turn brown, such as bananas and apples); use a toothpick
for dipping.

Sugar cookes (heart shaped, of course!), or vanilla wafers. Instead
of dipping them, you could lay them on a piece of waxed paper then
drizzle melted chocolate over them.

Pretzels

Large nuts, such as almonds or brazil nuts.

Candy balls: mix peanut butter and powdered sugar or cream cheese
and powdered sugar and shape into balls. Refrigerate until firm,
then dip.
Molded Chocolates
If you are going to make chocolates rather frequently, you might
want to invest in a few candy molds to make shaped chocolates. Just
pour melted chocolate into your mold until it is level with the top,
and tap the sides to remove air bubbles. Cool completely, then pop
out your chocolates. If you want to put a nut or something in the
center, partially fill the molds with chocolate, add the center,
then fill them to the top with more chocolate.

If you have a mold with a fairly large shape, you can make a shaped
chocolate shell. Just brush melted chocolate over the bottom and
sides of the mold, about 1/4" - 1/3" thick (make sure it is coated
completely). Chill, then carefully remove from mold. Fill the shell
with pudding or small candies.

[Sara Noel]

[Michelle]

[SHOPGIRL]

mmm....yummy!