Grasshopper Green

I'm going to a party on Saturday, and I thought that I'd bring chocolate covered fruit instead of my old standby, stuffed mushrooms. I've never done it before though, and while I have a "recipe", any tips from someone who has done it before would be welcome. What goes well with chocolate besides strawberries? Is a double boiler really necessary? (I don't have one, I'd have to borrow one).

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Formerly Medusa

maleficent

double boiler absolutely is not necessary - i just put a bowl on top of a saucepan of simmering water- -just make sure that the bowl doesn't touch the water...

make sure the bowl is not wet at all - chocolate and water don't mix - if the chocolate gets wet - it will seize up - kinda icky looking when it does.


I'm not sure i've ever had a specific recipe that i used...
1 bag of dark chocolate chips
2 tsp of crisco shortening (the stuff in the can, not the oil)
(the shortening, i've found is good for making the chocolate solidiy

Melt together...

you could also do butterscotch chips, milk chocolate, or a combination (see attempt to explain tuxedos) or just drizzle the butterscotch over the chocolate.


(you could also melt the chocolate in the microwave - but i always scorch it when i do that)

put the berries or whatever you are dipping into tiny muffin papers (ya know those things you'd bake cupcakes in - only small ones - makes it easier to transport 'em.

Make them at the last possible minute - this isn't a good item to make the day before.. the strawberries mush up..


Dip the chocolate...
If desired, roll in toasted cocanut, or ground nuts or colored sugar... or whatever floats your boat...

You can also make strawberry tuxedos wiht white chocolate nad dark chocolate -- first dunk strawberry in white chocolate.. let harden.. then dip the side of the berry into dark choc - -then the other side (so it looks like lapels kind of...) then with a pastry bag, or zip lock bag with the tip cut off - -make teeny tiny dots for hte buttons and m ake a bowtie

their bowties suck but this is kinda what they look like


It's time consuming but show offy... :0

(the best strawberries are the ones taht are slightly under ripe... )

Other things to dip -
Banana chunks
Orange Chunks
Pineapple
star fruit is pretty - because of the shape

marshmallows
pretzels
potato chips
also make for tasty treats...

Or plastic spoons dipped in chocate, then they become stirrers for coffee

You could do skewers of fruit and drizzle

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Grasshopper Green

A girl I work with mentioned the skewers and I think that's an awesome idea. I wonder how kiwi would be with chocolate? Thanks for the double boiler advice and make ahead advice...I think I can manage with a bowl and a pan

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

maleficent

the chocolate might slip off the kiwi.. but you could test it..

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Dilbert1234567

dry fruit works best, wet things like pineapple; I’ve had trouble getting it to dip right, but if i chill the pineapple and drizzle chocolate on it, it works.

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maleficent

i wasn't getting out complete thoughts -the drizzling thing was kinda where iw as going with the pineapple - those and orange chunks the chocolate could be drizzed over, while it's on a skewer...

hadn't thought of dried - that'd be tasty - dried apricots or apples...

I would say figs, but i am a purist where those are concerned, blow torch 'em and that's it...

Anything can be dipped in chocolate -

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Dilbert1234567

For once you are wrong mal

Everything Should be dipped in chocolate!

Even chocolate.

I a fan of home made chocolate truffles, I’ve found an awesome way to make them too, take the small cupcake papers, and paint the inside with melted chocolate with a paint brush, then once you have a 1/4 cm inch thick bottom and side, fill with the truffle insides, then seal the top with more molten chocolate, let cool and remove the paper, if you feel like it, coat again with chocolate to remove the ridges and make them look like balls. It’s so much easier than the old way.

Truffles are easy to make, I’m trying to remember the recipe, 1 quart heavy cream, .75 lb chocolate, 1 tbs butter, and ‘flavor’. in a pan, melt butter into the crème bring to a boil gently, remove from heat and place chocolate inside and let it melt in (its best to chop the chocolate first into smaller bits) mix completely, and add some flavoring, I like almond extract and Irish cream, just a small amount, no more then a table spoon total, other wise it will not solidify enough to be usable. Once homogeneous, remove from the pot and add to a bowl, allow to cool for a bit, and then move to the fridge over night. use a melon baler to make balls and roll in chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or even dip in chocolate (or all 3 )

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maleficent

not to out do dilbert for decadence... but another easy but tasty treat are chocolate dipped cheesecake lollipops (Ya know, I'm not a fan of the chocolate, but these are cheesecake, how can you not love cheesecake)

Ingredrents
melty chocolate from above
storebought cheesecake
lollipop sticks
cupcake liners
melon baller

Using the melon baller on the cheesecake, make lots of balls.
Stick a stick in each ball.
Dip ball in chocolate
Stick on cupcake liner

Fridgerate.

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Brewmaniac

Good recipes, all! mal, the cheesecake lollipops are makin' me hungry!

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Grasshopper Green

Actually, I hate cheesecake. *runs and hides* However, I bet hubby would love those...that will have to be taken into consideration....

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

maleficent

i'm obsessed with chocolate covered tonite for some reason...

another fun option -- kinda throw back -- kinda now...

chocolate fondue- and you really don't even need a fondue pot, a small crock pot would work fine... and the sticks? use wooden skewers or tooth picks-

dippable items into the fondue? Fruit, pretzels, marshmallows, pound cake, body parts...

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Dilbert1234567

mmm I love cheesecake. Your recipe sounds wonderful. And please try and out do me, I’d love to have a decadence arms race with you. (All burners to high, raise the splash shields on the mixer and arm the forward zesters!)

I haven’t made fondue in a long time; I used to do cheese fondue as an appetizer, a seasoned oil to cook small cuts of meat for the main course, and chocolate cream fondue to dip fruit in for desert.

I wish I had someone tonight to dip in chocolate...

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Ample

chocolate covered dried apricots are pure sin. I have a really hard time finding them. If you can find them get them.

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maleficent

Can't find 'em? Make your own...

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Grasshopper Green

mmmm...I love apricots....

I have to go shopping tonight

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

maleficent

because of this thread i am staying far away from grocery stores

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Dilbert1234567

btw, Trader Joes sells bricks of ghirardelli chocolate, good price for great chocolate.

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Grasshopper Green

Just an update....

I decided to just do strawberries for ease and convenience...and they turned out beautifully! They were a hit...everyone loved them and they were the only thing that was gone at the end of the night (ok, there were 5 left that I gave to the hostess)

The bowl over the pot worked fantastic, mal...thanks for the tip! I'll have to try the fruit kebobs next time when I have more time. All in all, I was very, very pleased.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

Dilbert1234567

congrats medusa

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maleficent

yummily well done...

It's always amused me - i've seen some gourmet shops sell chocolate covered strawberries for 2 -3 -4 dollars a piece... and they really aren't difficult to make.. i gotta wonder why anyone would ever buy them...

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Brewmaniac

In a shallower pot use pretzel sticks instead of toothpicks, you can eat the handle!

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