Posts by Chocolate Truffle!

Chocolate Lovers Bottle Cap Earings

By , 13 May, 2012, No Comment

I love making things and my obsession for all things chocolate tends to spill over into other areas of my creative life.  Totally inspired by the vintage images that are everywhere right now I made these cute little earrings.

Tutorial:

1. First punch two holes into each of your bottle caps.  The holes will be for the hook and the decorative dangle so they need to be positioned at the top and bottom of the bottle cap.   I used a really sharp craft punch hammer to make my holes.  Its a good idea to do this on a cutting board to protect your work surface.

2. Into the top and bottom hole add a jump ring.

3. To the bottom jump ring add a charm or pretty bead.

4. Using a hooped head pin add some decorative beads, close the end of the pin using round nose pliers and attach this part to your earing wire.  With the hoop part of the head pin attach to the top jump ring on your bottle cap.

Here comes the best part decorating the inside of the bottle cap.

5. Using a 1″ circle punch cut out the background paper for your bottle cap. Glue into place.  When I first started making these I cut the background circlesby hand, as soon as I saw the circle punch in my local craft store I had to buy it.

6.  Create a collage.  I found some pretty vintage images on google, and typed out my words, Mmmm Chocolate, I printed these out and made  my collage. Finally I decorated them with sequins and some fine glitter.

7. When you are happy with the look add a protective layer to keep the collage in tip top condition, I used a layer of Anitas 3-D
Gloss Finish.

8.Finally package your earrings up ready to sell or give to a friend….that’s if you can bear to part with them.

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Pork Chops with Coffee Crust and White Chocolate Sauce

By , 13 May, 2012, No Comment

Savoury Chocolate Recipe

What’s the first thing that jumps to mind when you hear the word chocolate?  For my children it means they are in store for a treat, for me it means a sit down with my feet up a hot cup of coffee and five minutes peace? When my children were small it meant a whole lot of mess lol.  Although its true images of sweet delectable goodness is the first things that pops into most people minds chocolate works really well in savoury dishes. Yes! You got it right.
In Mexico, well known or famous for “mole” recipes, chocolate is just as important ingredient as chilies and tomatoes. The bitter chocolate used in cooking adds a really wonderful richness to meat dishes. Try adding 60g of grated bitter chocolate or a tbsp of cocoa powder to your chilli, it really works well.

Try this different dish that uses white chocolate and coffee, two of my favourite things.

PORK CHOPS WITH COFFEE & WHITE CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Ingredients
3 tablespoons of butter
3 teaspoons of all-purpose flour
1 cup of stock or water
2 oz (60 g) of white chocolate
3 tablespoons of butter
4 boneless of pork chops
6 tablespoons of finely ground coffee.
a dash of salt and pepper

Method

Firstly start by making your white chocolate sauce ready to pour over your pork chop.

1.  In a clean saucepan, melt your butter over a medium heat.  Add the flour after the butter has melted then mix together.

2. Start to add your stock or water to the flour and butter, whisking as you add the liquid a little at a time (stops your sauce from being lumpy).

3. Then leave the sauce to cook on low heat. Do it for approximately 15 minutes while you stir regularly. Then add some salt.

4. Remove the saucepan from heat and put the white chocolate in, stirring until it has melted.

5.  Coat your meat in the ground coffee,  salt, and pepper. Add 3 Tsp butter to a frying pan and fry your prok chops.

When cooked serve with rice, or fried plantains a fresh mango chutney and don’t forget you white chocolate sauce to pour over your pork chops.

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Clootie Dumpling Recipe – Suet Free

By , 6 May, 2012, No Comment

I’m not a huge fan of suet dumplings I find it leaves a funny film in my mouth so the clootie dumpling recipe I use is suet free. It was given to me by my mother in-law, and is a real winner in the Young household.  Not only is it suet free but only take 9 minutes in the microwave to cook! So if like me you don’t have time to make a traditional Clootie Dumpling this could just be your savior.

Dry Ingredients:

  1/2 Pint Water

3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 tbsp Mixed spice

1 tsp Cocoa Powder

1/2 tbsp Cinnamon

1/2 lb Butter or Margarine

1/2 lb Mixed Fruit

1/2 lb Sultanas

Dry ingredients:

1/2 lb Plain Flour

1 tsp Bicarb of Soda

2 Eggs

Method:  Place all the wet ingredients into a sauce pan and bring to a boil.

  Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.  In the mean time sift the flour and bicarb of soda into a large bowl.  When the wet ingredients have cooled add to the dry ingredients and add the two eggs, mix together well.

Pour into a 2 1/2 pint microwave proof dish, silicone bake ware is perfect for this.  Place into a microwave and cook for 9 mins at 650 watts.  When cooked place onto a wire rack and let it cool, if you can, lol.

Slice thickly and enjoy slathered in butter with a cup of coffee.

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

By , 5 May, 2012, No Comment

My daughter Morgan loves cooking and having a slight intolerance to gluten I had some of these cookies mixes ready in the cupboard.  I’m not sure if you have tried it yet but instagram is my new fave friend and have found any excuse to snap away.  What a great excuse than get Morgan cooking up a batch of gluten free chocolate chip cookies while I click away with my I phone.

 

 


Morgan had a fab time making these, although the kitchen suffered a minor explosion or what at least resembled one in the process.  The result spoke for themselves, the chocolate chip cookies didn’t last very long especially when accompanied by a cool glass of milk, very nice indeed.

Morgan used Bob’s Red Mill chocolate chip cookie mix, it was very easy to make all you need to add to the mix is butter or margarine, 1 egg or egg replacement and 2 tbsp water.  The cookies were absolutely delicious, sweet and chewy just the ones you get freshly baked in the shop.  I already have another mix in the cupboard ready for next weekend. They do have a website www.bobsredmill.com so check that out, it has a whole host of recipes to try out.

 

 

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Big Lebowski Inspired White Russian Truffles

By , 22 January, 2012, No Comment

White Russian Truffles

I am a bit of a party freak and love themed events, any excuse to dressed up and relive my youth I’m there.  Recently a friend asked for some ideas on a “Big Lebowski” themed party, obviously being the party queen she came to the right place.  Now if you haven’t seen the film I would recommend sitting down with some of these white Russian truffles and catching up with some popular culture viewing.

The white Russian is a favourite of Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, the main character of the film. It seemed only fitting as one of the main ingredients of a white Russian is cream to concoct a truffle recipe inspired by the cocktail.

White Russian Truffle
1 3/4 lb of Milk chocolate
1 cup Whipping cream
1/4 cup Kahlua

Chop 1lb of chocolate into fairly small pieces (to aid melting) and place into a large bowl.
Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil.  Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate pieces. Gently stir until all the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
Add the Kahlua to the chocolate mixture then set aside and refrigerate until firm.
Grate the remaining chocolate and set aside.
When the chocolate truffle mixture is firm roll into bite size balls and roll in the remaining grated chocolate then lay on a baking sheet or tray.  Return the balls back into the fridge to firm up.
If the truffles are left at room temperature they soon start to squidge up, I personally like mine a little harder and eat them straight from the fridge. Enjoy.

If you fancy a cocktail to go with your white Russian truffles then why not stick with the theme and have one of these…

White Russian Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Kahlua
3/4 oz Whipping Cream

Mix the vodka and Kahlua together then float the cream on top, mine always ends up looking a mess but hey ho, it still tastes good.  Add ice if desired.

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New Beginnings

By , 19 January, 2012, No Comment

 

As people all over the world reflect on the last year and the beginnings of the new, I found a great little quote to hopefully inspire everyone.

"Live a life full of new Beginnings"

Fill your life with new beginnings, learn a new skill, volunteer your services to help someone in need, try a new recipe or new food.  Each new beginning could tern into a new passion, at the worst you end up filling your life with a heap of adventures.

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Farewell 2011, Hello 2012

By , 1 January, 2012, No Comment

As we welcome in the new year talk around our party table turns to our new year resolutions. I wanted to be different this year and deviate from the typical lose weight, go to the gym more scenario and turned my thoughts to something I could actually achieve.  My news years resolution for 2012 is to be more creative.  It can be anything, cooking, drawing painting photographs or even an inspired blog post (I know these don’t happen that often enough!) but I aim to do something at least twice a week if not more.  In preparation I have a couple of blank crisp sketchbooks begging to filled with all my doodles and recipes and a room prepared and ready with all my creative stash.

If you want to do something similar I found an online challenge called “Creative Every Day Challenge” I have signed up and aim to use this as a catalyst to help me share my creativity and provide me with some inspiration.

So here is my button proudly displayed….until I figure out where to put it on my blog, lol.

Good luck to those who join in and a very happy healthy new year everyone x x x x

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Christmas is coming, here is a simple chocolate calender

By , 24 November, 2011, No Comment

Christmas is a great time of year for my family, it is a time to get crafting together, bake crimbo goodies and generally just spend time together doing a heap of fun things. It isn’t a religious affair but more of a celebration of family and friends and “I LOVE IT”.

I love looking on the Internet at peoples crafty blogs and finding great ideas for crafts I can do with my family. Being slightly obsessed by chocolate I love advent calenders and this year I found a really nice simple idea for a handmade chocolate advent calender that’s so simple even the smallest children can help with.  If you want to make your own chocolate calendar without all the mess then this is the perfect pre Christmas project and best of all there is  no chocolaty mess.

http://madebyjoanne.blogspot.com

I found this crafty make on the blog “Made by Joanne” and although she has made her own papers with rubber stamps and things but this would work equally well with an assortment of wrapping papers or create a simple effect with brown paper and ribbon. Either way it is a super simple make that even the smallest of family members can get involved with.

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Gross Earthworm Halloween Party Food

By , 9 October, 2011, 2 Comments

My preperations have begun, and the hunt for some unusual Halloween party food is well underway. My first find is a treat for kids and grownups alike, a gelatine earthworm recipe I found on http://www.divinedinnerparty.com/halloween-party-food.html . This is a really great site and has loads of recipes not just for halloween but loads of ocassions….it has promptly been added to my favourites list.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (6 oz) purple gelatin (raspberry or grape work well)
3/4 oz. unflavored gelatin
3 C. boiling water
3/4 C. whipping cream
green food coloring, as needed
100 plastic straws

Instructions: 1. In a medium, heat safe mixing bowl, stir together plain and flavored gelatin powders.

2. Pour boiling water over, stirring until gelatin is fully dissolved.

3. Allow gelatin to cool til only slightly warm.

4. Stir whipping cream into the gelatin mixture. Stir in green food coloring (you’ll probably need 10 drops or more) until your gelatin gets that purpley-brown-grey color of earthworms.

5. With your 100 straws fully extended and snug in your chosen container, pour the gelatin mixture over the straws, filling the container.

6. Cover container and chill at least 8 hours. You can make them and store them this way up to two days in advance of your Halloween party.

7. Remove straws from their container (cutting or ripping a disposable container away is easiest).

8. With hot tap water running, place batches of 4-5 straws under hot running water for a couple quick seconds.

9. Remove “worms” from their straw casings, pressing with fingers. Set on waxed paper to set up.

10. Repeat until all worms are removed.

12. Chill, covered, on waxed paper at least 2 hours.

13. Serve in a chilled bowl, as pictured. Then watch all the kids gobble up this fun Halloween party food.

Recipe taken from http://www.divinedinnerparty.com

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Halloween Chocolate Box

By , 1 October, 2011, No Comment

I love Halloween it’s a great time to get in the kitchen with the nippers and get making all kinds of goodies.  Chocolate is of course a Halloween favourite and you can buy some really great, themed chocolate moulds perfect for making your own Halloween chocolates to adorn your party table.

When making halloween chocolates the trick is to get the presentation just right, and this year I have been looking for a great way to give to my party guest my popping candy truffles and I stumbled acros a fantastic site full of halloween printable goodies, including these mini coffin boxes.

http://www.ravensblight.com/Box.htm

I really looking forward to making these. I’m going to add some truffles inside and maybe a few jelly worms just for effect. Halloween is a great opportunity to revert back to beeing a child, this is going to be our first Halloween party in Qatar and I want to make it really special for everyone. I’m having a little trouble with finding decorations out here but www.ravensblight.com has saved my skin, all I need is to top up on the printer ink and we are well away.

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