My Chocolate Fantasy

Jackie Beem asked:


Everyone has people in their lives that they don’t know very well, yet during the holidays or other occasions you would like to give them a small gift just to say “I’m thinking about you at this time”, “Thank You for just being around”, “Welcome to the neighborhood” or “Thank You for the job you do”.

This might be elderly, lonely people in your neighborhood or church, people you work with, the postman, UPS/Fedex delivery person, paper boy, cleaning personnel in your office, new neighbors, etc.

Because you don’t know a lot about these people’s likes and dislikes it is often hard to find an inexpensive gift for them that they won’t just chunk in a drawer and forget about for years to come. I think we all really struggle with our thoughts trying to come up with small thoughtful gifts that people in this category can appreciate and enjoy.

A number of years ago I found that homemade Chocolate Fudge Candy was a good solution for this problem. It is something that most anyone can enjoy, no matter their age or ***. It is something they can proudly share with friends or family.

I have had to take into consideration whether or not to add nuts. I have found that some elderly people have a problem chewing the candy with nuts. I just make a batch without nuts for those folks. I usually add marshmallows or cherries to their candy.

Here is a simple recipe that I use:

18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Dash salt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

½ to 1 cup chopped nuts

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Spread evenly into wax

Paper-lined 9×11 pan. Top with nut halves or cherries. Spread them at intervals for the square size you would like to have. Chill in refrigerator 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off wax paper and cut into squares.

I usually use Ziploc containers. I line with wax paper, put a layer of Chocolate Fudge squares, then a layer of wax paper, then more fudge squares alternating until my container is full. I use small containers for some and medium size ones for others. At Christmas they usually make these in red and green. I get the red and green ones at that time and top them off with a Christmas bow which makes a ready wrapped present ready to hand out.

When making a batch with nuts, I usually use pecans or walnuts. If I have to make some fudge without nuts, I use miniature marshmallows, candied cherries or coconut. I have one 96 year old lady that loves coconut and can still chew nuts so she gets a batch with both nuts and coconut.

Some variations are to use White Chocolate Chips or Carmel Chips. I have also mixed in a few Carmel Chips in with the semi-sweet Chocolate Chips.

Even though I do most of my homemade Chocolate Fudge Candy gift giving during the Christmas holiday, I use it for gift giving all year round.

This doesn’t take a lot of time, unless you have a lot of people you need gifts for at one time, and it is really well received by all.

If you don’t have time to make your on Chocolate Fudge Candy gifts you can find a nice ready made Gourmet Chocolate Fudge gift selection at: Country Candy Delights

Chris Alleny asked:


If you’re not sure what to give to friends, family members, co-workers or just about anyone else, chocolate might be the answer. It’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything, and just about everyone loves eating it. While there’s a rare person or two who doesn’t like chocolate, most of us enjoy it in one form or another. Whether you buy gourmet chocolate or less expensive candies, dark chocolate or milk chocolate, it makes a wonderful present for the holidays.

Gourmet chocolate gifts are a great choice for anyone who’s hard to shop for. The wide variety allows you to pick something that suits your budget and the tastes of the person you’re giving to, and you’ll know it’s impossible for your gift to be the wrong size or color. You don’t have to worry about duplicate giving, either – it’s hard to have too much chocolate.

There are plenty of styles, varieties, and sizes when it comes to chocolate prepackaged as gifts. Common choices include Christmas themed candy boxes, hot chocolate mixes, truffles, exotic candy bars, and baking sets with high quality cocoa included. You can buy from your local store, go to a high end chocolatier for the perfect luxury gift, or check out online sellers who can offer you mailing directly to the recipient.

Chocolate’s a great gift, and you don’t have to worry about it taking up space – most gift chocolate doesn’t last long. There’s even a variety of chocolate gifts with little or no sugar. Artificial sweeteners are used instead, allowing diabetics to enjoy this delicious treat for the holidays. Everyone you know could enjoy a chocolate gift this year.

You can assemble your own chocolate gift basket, or buy prepackaged ones with a variety of high quality items inside. They might also include non-chocolate accessories. Many hot chocolate sets come with mugs, marshmallows and spoons to accompany their gourmet hot chocolate mixes. You’ll find an option out there for any taste, and there are even fine chocolate gift sets that include only single source, organic or fair trade chocolate. That allows you to give this classic confection without guilt.

If you’re not sure what to give for this year’s holidays, it might be time to check out all your options when it comes to chocolate. It’s hard to say no or be unhappy about a sweet chocolate gift set.

I have yet to meet someone who does not like chocolate. From very early on as a child being trained to drink chocolate milk so parents could get more calcium in their kids. Then as you grew older having hot chocolate to keep warm during cold winters as a kid. Chocolate is really a staple of the food we eat for a lot of people. We all have our favorites whether it is Hershey’s Chocolate or your local chocolate shop. For even the hardest recipients to pin down, chocolate is always the perfect choice.

Chocolate Queen asked:


For this wonderful recipe, I recommend a good dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids because it gives a more chocolatey, fuller flavour to the chocolate cake. Green & Blacks chocolate is my favourite for this chocolate cake recipe.

Ingredients:

For the chocolate cake:

200g Green & Blacks dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

200g light muscovado sugar

140g butter, softened

5 eggs, separated

100g plain flour

1tsp baking powder

For the chocolate cake icing:

250ml double cream

55g marshmallows

250g Green & Blacks dark chocolate, chopped

Directions:

Heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line a 20cm loose based cake tin with greaseproof paper. Boil a pan of water and turn the heat down to a simmer. Put the chocolate pieces into a bowl and melt it over the pan of simmering water. When all the chocolate has melted, put it to one side to cool a little. In a large bowl beat sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time and beat them well as you add them. Gently fold in the flour and baking powder, then stir in the melted chocolate. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg whites until they form peaks. Fold the egg whites gently into the chocolate cake mixture. Tip the finished cake mixture into your ready prepared cake tin. Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes. Check it’s ready with a skewer, if it comes out of the cake clean then it’s ready, if not then bake for a little longer. Cool on a wire rack.

For the icing, heat together the cream and marshmallows until the cream is just boiling and all the marshmallows have melted into the cream, you must stir the icing all the time.

Add the chopped chocolate to the mixture and stir until it’s smooth and creamy.

Chop your cooled chocolate cake in half horizontally and spread over a little of the icing. Sandwich together and then spread the rest of the icing over the top of your cake.

Now enjoy!

awais asked:


Chocolate fountain is a marvellous device to melt down chocolate. Fountains that are used commercially can melt a large quantity of chocolate in one occasion while fountains that are purchased for home use can melt six pounds of chocolate in one serving.

The melting and servings quantity:

A twenty nine inches chocolate fountain that is medium in size can serve almost hundred to two hundred and fifty individuals. Not only this but as the fountain can operate for a very long span of time the addition of chocolate in the fountain through out the occasion can serve more as well. A small fountain of sixteen inches height can serve a good number too. A tall fountain that can be upto fifty three inches long can feed from two hundred and fifty to unrestricted number of people in a gathering.

One can use various types of fruits such as strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels or even cookies while serving the chocolate. A chocolate fountain can also be in use out door but within a demarcation for two reasons. First because the chocolate’s fragrance and aroma will attract insects such as fly’s etc. second, the chocolate demands to be kept warm at a constant temperature therefore the breeze or sun can destabilize its temperature.

Usually the weight of a medium size chocolate fountain is eighty five pounds while it can also weight upto ninety pounds. What ever the kind and size of a fountain they all have three tires. They require 110 or 220 voltage for running which is a convenient power requirement.

Reg Ofori asked:


The Secret for Making the Best Belgian Chocolate Fondue

One essential instruments for making Belgian chocolate fondue is called the chocolate fountain. A chocolate fountain stands 2 to 4 feet high with multiple tiers. It is made of stainless steel and has a built-in motor at the bottom. The motor is used to heat the prepared morsels of chocolates on the heating trays. The central corkscrew will push the molten chocolate vertically upward through the fountain’s column. When it reaches the fountain’s top, the chocolate will flow like waterfalls. The chocolates will fill in the cascading tiers until the bottom tier is filled. Then the same procedure is repeated over and over again. Melting the chocolate can also be done using a double boiler or a microwave. Put the fountain in a sturdy base, near a power socket. Make sure that it can carry up to 40 kilograms of chocolates.

A chocolate fountain is available both in commercial and home versions. It can be utilized for different types of occasions including film premiers, product launches, parties, and bar mitzvahs. It is perfect for around twenty five people.

You can rent chocolate fountains from party supply shops and catering companies. Attendants are ocassionaly provided to ensure that the chocolate fountain is working properly, it cascades the chocolates smoothly, and no fountain abuse for excited children. This apparatus is rented at an hourly basis and include charges on the services provided by the attendants and the cost of chocolates used. Chocolate fountains operate for a maximum of two hours or less during the party and starts to function when desserts and appetizers are served.

Tidbits including cheesecakes, fruit pieces, and marshmallows are placed around the chocolate fountain for added excitements. Skewered these using toothpicks and dip it in the chocolate fountain. However, never put anything that can be easily crumbled when dipped in the chocolate fountain. Never install chocolate fountains outdoors because the chocolate aroma can attract insects and the flow may be distracted by the breeze.

Chocolates contain higher amounts of cocoa butter, like couverteur chocolates which is perfect for making chocolate fondue. Make sure that you are using either the dark or milk chocolates. Chocolates that have low contents of cocoa butter can be substituted with vegetable oils. But expect that the taste and smoothness of the chocolates are affected. These Belgian chocolates are prepared from dried cocoa seeds. These seeds are first roasted and then crushed to become powder. After that, cocoa butter is made though a squeezing process. Cocoa butter and powder are combined adding milk powder and sugar. The proportions of each element determine the color of the chocolates. Black chocolates contain 70 percent of cocoa, milk chocolates contain more milk powders, and white chocolates are made from sugar, milk, and cocoa butter without cocoa.

The Belgian chocolate fondue fountain is a very innovative product which elegantly enhances wedding receptions, special events, and buffet. It is because it offers an exciting dimension new in making chocolate fondues. Your guests can be drawn into amazement especially when dipping strawberries as well as other appetizing desserts in the flowing waterfalls of chocolate. Hotels, restaurants, event planners, and catering companies can offer unlimited varieties of food services which can attract more clients. Purchase a chocolate fountain and make your own version of a Belgian chocolate fondue fountain.