Chocolate Christmas Gifts

Technorati Tags: Chocolate Christmas gift, Chocolate Christmas gifts, chocolate desserts, Chocolate gifts, Chocolate holiday gifts, chocolate party treats, chocolate treats, Christmas chocolates, christmas table decorations, diabetic christmas chocolates, Gourmet chocolate gift, gourmet chocolates

Technorati Tags: Chocolate Christmas gift, Chocolate Christmas gifts, chocolate desserts, Chocolate gifts, Chocolate holiday gifts, chocolate party treats, chocolate treats, Christmas chocolates, Gourmet chocolate gift, gourmet chocolates

My friend said that when she was younger she remembered a teacher that had a calender of December that had chocolates behind the days as they were peeled off. I thought it would be a nice gesture to find this for her, but I don't know where to look. Please help me Maybe more like a box of chocolates??

I know what your talking about.. an advent calander of sorts. LOL… Ready for the simple answer? I've seen them both at Walmart and Walgreens. I've seen this within the last week at both places while looking for Christmas candy.

It's a cardboard box with a perforated edge and every day you peel it back and a small piece of chocolate is in there!
Good luck.

I would like to have a go at making chocolates at home but I'm not too sure how to make this filling porperly.

Basic truffle mixture:

5 oz (150 g) very best quality dark chocolate (at least 75 per cent cocoa solids)
5 fl oz (150 ml) thick double cream
1 oz (25 g) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons rum or brandy
1 level tablespoon Greek yoghurt

For the plain truffles:

1 level dessertspoon cocoa powder

For the ginger truffles:

¾ oz (20 g) preserved ginger, very finely chopped, plus some extra cut into small pieces

For the toasted almond truffles:

1 oz (25 g) flaked almonds, very finely chopped and well toasted

For the chocolate-coated truffles:

2 oz (50 g) dark chocolate (at least 75 per cent cocoa solids)
½ teaspoon groundnut oil

a little cocoa for dusting

You will also need some paper sweet cases and, for the chocolate-coated truffles, a sheet of silicone paper (baking parchment).

For the basic truffle mixture, break the chocolate into squares and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Switch on and grind the chocolate until it looks granular, like sugar. Now place the cream, butter and rum or brandy in a small saucepan and bring these to simmering point. Then, with the motor switched on, pour the mixture through the feeder tube of the processor and continue to blend until you have a smooth, blended mixture. Now add the yoghurt and blend again for a few seconds. Next transfer the mixture, which will be very liquid at this stage, into a bowl, allow it to get quite cold, then cover it with clingfilm and refrigerate overnight. Don't worry: it will thicken up after several hours.

Next day divide the mixture equally among four small bowls, and keep each one in the fridge until you need it. Then proceed with the following to make four different varieties. Make sure you have all the little paper cases opened out ready before your hands get all chocolatey!

Plain Truffles
For these, you simply sift 1 level dessertspoon of cocoa powder on to a flat plate, then take heaped half teaspoons of the first batch of truffle mixture and either dust each one straight away all over, which gives the truffle a rough, rock-like appearance, or dust your hands in cocoa and roll each piece into a ball and then roll it in the cocoa powder if you like a smoother look. Place it immediately into a paper case. Obviously the less handling the better as the warmth of your hands melts the chocolate.

Ginger truffles
Mix the finely chopped ginger into the second batch of truffle mixture using a fork, then proceed as above, taking small pieces, rolling or not (as you wish), and dusting with cocoa powder before transferring each one to a paper case.

Toasted almond truffles
Sprinkle the very finely chopped toasted almond flakes on a flat plate, take half a teaspoonful of the third batch of truffle mixture and roll it round in the nuts, pressing them to form an outer coating.

Chocolate-coated truffles
For these you need to set the chocolate and oil in a bowl over some hot but not boiling water and allow it to melt until it becomes liquid, then remove the pan from the heat. Now spread some silicone paper on a flat surface and, dusting your hands with cocoa, roll each truffle into a little ball. Using two flat skewers, one to spike the truffle and one to manoeuvre it, dip each truffle in the chocolate so that it gets a thin coating and then quickly transfer it to the paper. If the chocolate begins to thicken replace the pan on the heat so that it will liquefy again. Leave the coated truffles to set completely then, using a palette knife, quickly transfer them into their waiting paper cases.

Now arrange all the truffles in a box or boxes and cover. Keep them refrigerated and eat within three days. Alternatively, truffles are ideal for freezing.

What do MEN finf Romantic ??

When it comes to romance, guys get a bad rap. But men can be just as romantic as women, though they often express it in different ways.

1. Compliments. The quickest path to a man's heart is through his ego. "The other day, my lady told me she thought I was sexy. That was so cool! I'd never heard that before and it blew me away!" says a schoolteacher from Chicago. A political consultant from Washington, D.C. agrees: "The most romantic thing in the world is for you to be in awe of your man's skills — whether it's his ability to make people laugh, perform at sports, fix things, or retrieve and display esoteric knowledge. Let him wow you," he says.

2. Dark chocolate. "Milk chocolate is for kids. Dark chocolate is for lovers," says Weinstein, who explains that dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa, which means it has more phenylethylamine, a chemical that mimics the feeling you have when you're in love.

3. Hard-to-find gifts. Is his college sweatshirt so faded you can't decipher the name of his alma mater? Is he mourning the loss of a rare comic book that his mother threw away when he left home? Does he collect antique hood ornaments? Webb says that a gift that requires some effort is sure to be a big hit with your guy. "Men and women tend to express love differently. Women are usually the more nurturing types and tend to think of romance in terms of 'soft touches' while men express love in more practical ways," says Webb.

4. You, in his clothes. "Come to the dinner table wearing nothing but his button-down dress shirt. Now that's romance!" says an artist from Boston.

5. Funny movies. "A lot of people say that shared values or goals are what make a relationship work," says Weinstein. "But to me it's a shared sense of humor. If you like the Marx Brothers and your date doesn't, then it's simply not going to work," he says. "When you can find someone to laugh with, then you know you're really connecting."

6. A great memory. A picture really does paint a thousand words — especially if it's of the two of you tanned and glowing at a beachside resort. "I went to my girlfriend's office and saw that she had a picture of us on vacation in Cancun," says a Seattle construction worker. "Little things like that just make you feel great."

7. An old-fashioned night on the town. A publisher in New York says that he isn't a huge romantic, but he admits that the rotating dance floor at the Rainbow Room makes him pretty gooey. "You're surrounded by well-dressed couples of all ages who know how to dance. This gives the effect of being in a romantic movie about old New York. Plus, it's a little disorienting with all that spinning around, which puts you in a dreamlike state," he says.

8. Tall buildings. Because in general guys just like big stuff. But also because taking in such a huge view can put life into perspective. "The tremendous view of the city with all its lights is not only awesome in its own right, but accentuates the essential smallness of the individual person," says a Chicago attorney. "Thus humbled, it is most comforting to realize, at that instant, you're not alone in the world."

9. Surprise intimacy. Whether it's an unexpected kiss or an afternoon jaunt to the bedroom, men swoon when women say "Come hither." "We like surprises — like when you initiate sex at odd times, or rent a room in the middle of the day. We also like beaches, bed-and-breakfasts, and when you squeeze our thigh at a snooty dinner party. Oh, and baths. We like bubble baths," says a writer from New York.

10. P.S. I love you. They may not always admit it, but many men report that they love getting affectionate little notes. "I particularly like finding a note in my suitcase when unpacking on a business trip," says an executive from Dallas. Weinstein agrees. He loves getting a surprise note or email with an affectionate message, and says that a "p.s." increases the charm. "There's something about the p.s. that people respond to. It reminds us of when we were at camp and our mom wrote. P.S. I love you, or the note our high-school sweetheart stuffed into our locker."

Erm, could you repeat the question please…? lol

2/3 cup whole milk (you can use any percent milk you prefer)
6 tablespoons white chocolate chips
2 shots espresso
whipped cream

Add milk and chocolate chips to saucepan and heat until chips are melted.
Meanwhile make coffee in espresso machine.
Pour a shot of espresso into each mug, then pour half the milk mixture into each coffee mug , add a dollop of whipped cream.
Enough for 2 small mugs or 1 large mug.

If your machine has a frothing/steam wand (which I gather it does, as you say it's a cappuccino maker too and assuming you have all the needed equipment), then you can steam the milk in a metal steaming pitcher (aim for a temp of 140-160). and simply melt the chocolate ships in a microwave. (or, of course you can simply do it in a saucepan as this recipe says or you can microwave the milk and chocolate together until melted and at your preffered drinking temperature).
…………………………………….
Years ago, when I worked as a barista at Starbucks, we used Ghiradelli white chocolate sauce and sometimes drizzled caramel sauce over the whipped cream. If you don't want to buy white chocolate sauce, I recommend the above recipe as it's an easy, close tasting version for the home coffee enthusiast I recommend buying Ghiradellis white chocolate chips, btw.
Hope this helps!

IN MY OPINION THIS DAY HAS BECOME WAY OVER COMMERCIALIZED NOT UNLIKE HALLOWEEN ST PATRICKS DAY. AS A MAN, I DON'T NEED A DESIGNATED DAY TO SHOW MY AFFECTIONS. WHAT IS SEXY, CREATIVE OR ROMANTIC ABOUT AN "ASSIGNED" DAY WITH A SHORT LIST OF "PREDETERMINED ACCEPTABLE" GIFTS? C'MON, ALL YOU WOMEN OUT THERE…SET ME STRAIGHT. TO ME VALENTINES DAY IS JUST AN OVER HYPED, OVER COMMERCIALIZED "HOLIDAY". TELL ME WHY I'M WRONG.

you are absolutely right!!

I want to make dark chocolate squares from high quality chocolate but it seems like my first attempts using those big trader joe’s bars melt fairly quickly when touched (even after freezing the mold for an hour). Is this because I’m using a high % chocolate or does that not matter when making chocolate molds? Any suggestions?

put as much as you want.

=]

a.) what do you get in your stocking christmas morning?

b.) when do you "open" your stocking?

c.) what was the best thing you ever got in your stocking?
————————————————————-
a.) i get lots of candy, jewelry, lipgloss, gift cards, and next to the stocking there might be a gift basket containing lotions or gourmet hot chocolate–yummy!
b.) i open my stocking before presents on christmas morning.
c.) i once got a gold chain, a silver chain, and an antique carved shelf next to my stocking! it was so exciting lol=]

a) mostly chockolate

b) when every one wakes up

c) a flash drive for my computer

I'm making her a personal mix-cd, but along with that I want to get her something else… I just can't put my thumb on it.

We're only 15. Keep that in mind.

some flowers would be nice
or one of those big heart cookies
take her out for pizza and a movie (make a coupon for date night and wrap it up)
scarf and hat set