Tag Archive: chocolate gifts
Chocolate Truffles
August 24, 2011
“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles.” This chocolate quote surely makes sense to all the chocolate lovers out there.
Chocolate truffles are an immensely delicious treat any time of day and any day of the year. But did you know that they are named after the fungus, the fruiting bodies of underground mushrooms, because of their resemblance as it looks a lot like the dirt?
Chocolate truffles are typically made with ganache which is a mixture of chocolate and cream, but can also be made with centers such as mints and walnuts then served in variety of ways such as covering it with crumbled nuts, shredded coconut, or confectioner’s sugar. These may look intimidating but actually are very easy to prepare, the only difficulty you’ll ever have here is the dilemma of whether to grab another bite or not!
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Chocolate Caramels
August 17, 2011
Do you know the feeling of the idiomatic expression “hitting two birds with one stone”? That’s what you get when you eat this yummy confection. Chocolate per se is heavenly, but try incorporating it into caramel and you are sent beyond heaven.
Just so you know, the milk products are the most important ingredients since it is the primary source of fat in caramel, which gives it that delightful texture. Milk is known to have a lot of nutritional benefits such as calcium which is good for the bones, and chocolate contains antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage. Suffice it to say, you are really on for a healthily delicious treat!
Anyone with a sweet tooth who gets to taste this would surely ask for more of these rich, chewy, fudge-like and melt-in your-mouth goodies. Also, this treat also makes for a delightful yet inexpensive gift!
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Best Chocolate Brownies
May 25, 2011
Brownies are one of the most popular all time favorite desserts. They are served almost everywhere. You will find them on the table at most parties, displayed on the tray at bakeries, and wrapped in special boxes at your local store.
Brownies are not only baked for the whole family to enjoy but they can also be considered as tasty gift items and give away on special occasion. They may not be as lavish as a multiple layered cake or as sophisticated as brulee, but the simplicity of brownies makes them special. A square of thick, rich, chocolate flavored brownie that softens in your mouth can definitely bring a taste of perfection!
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Chocolate for the Chinese New Year
February 1, 2011
This week kicks off the Chinese New Year – Feb. 3, 2011 – or year 4708 according to the Chinese calendar.
Giving gifts of chocolate is not a major part of the Chinese New Year, but it is a growing activity.
Traditionally, red envelopes or red packets filled with money are passed out during the celebrations. These days, you may find chocolate coins in addition to cash inside the packets.
Small gifts of food or sweets are exchanged between friends or relatives when visiting their homes. Chocolate candies or cakes are becoming popular gifts during these visits.
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Chocolate Dipped Spoons
December 18, 2010
If you are creative and crafty (as in talented in making crafts, not as in clever with intent to do evil) this may be the project for you. Spoons dipped in chocolate can make an impressive gift!
Before I get into the project, I would like to define some terminology for you.
couverture coating - this is a professional-quality chocolate coating that contains a high percentage of cocoa butter, allowing the chocolate to form a thinner coating shell than other chocolate.
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Truffles – Unique Chocolate Gifts
December 2, 2009
Survey after survey shows chocolate as the number one flavor preferred by American adults. I admit to being one of those chocolate loving adults!
I’m a chocolate lover that never tires of chocolate as a gift, chocolate as a treat, and chocolate as part of my everyday diet. At the present, though, I am particularly fond of seeking out unique chocolate.
What do I mean by unique?
Unique can mean different things to different people but for me, unique chocolate is handcrafted, creative in design/presentation, and exotic in flavor. The chocolate truffle embodies all these characteristics for me. In my book, the chocolate truffle is the Queen of unique.
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