7 Tips On Giving Chocolates To Your Valentine
|
Every year millions of people exchange chocolates on February 14th for Valentine's Day. This trend has grown very popular in recent times, especially with the rise of quality chocolates (...and the number of chocoholics). Still, even in these modern times there are a few things you need to consider before you run out and grab a chocolate gift.
Fresh chocolates are the best to get
Some of the larger chocolate candy makers make their chocolates for the "busy season" (December through February) as early as summer time. That means that some of the packaged chocolates you can purchase are several months old. Also, some of these chocolates are made with added preservatives which allow the chocolates to stay good longer, but can affect the taste. To get around this it is recommended you buy from a local chocolatier, candy store, or bakery who can produce a fresh chocolate treat for you (or at least one that is only a day or two old). If you are sending your chocolates to someone far away, check to see if there is a good local place that could deliver fresh chocolates for you and lessen the chance of shipping mishaps.
Nothing beats a homemade gift
For a more personal touch you can make your own box of chocolates to give to your valentine. Don't worry if you are not a whiz in the kitchen - even if your gift does not turn out perfectly, it will earn extra points because you made it especially for them. There are many books, magazines, and websites to turn to for help and guidance so you do not have to go it alone. This is also a chance for you to personalize the chocolates an make them extra special by adding your valentine's favorite fruits, nuts, liqueurs, flavors, etc. See the Chocolate Truffle recipe below for a good way to make your own homemade gift.
The shape of love
While hearts are often a common theme used for shaping chocolates and gift boxes, you can use any shape that would appeal to your valentine, such as flowers. You can be creative with cookie cutters, stencils, or decorator's icing to give your chocolates extra flair, such as drawing a heart, smiley face, or bow on your chocolates. Also consider the different ways you can dress up the gift box with ribbons, flowers, handwritten love poems, etc.
Milk chocolate is not the only chocolate out there
While most Americans favor milk chocolates, don't be afraid of using dark chocolate in your gift; for instance, you can do a mixed selection of 1/2 milk chocolate and 1/2 dark chocolate. If you are not sure if your valentine likes dark chocolate you might want to go for the mild and sweet taste of semisweet chocolate. If you want to go for intense chocolate flavor then go with the bittersweet dark chocolate. Generally, the higher the percentage of cocoa, the more bittersweet the chocolate will taste. If you are using unsweetened or baking chocolate, then you will want to mix it with something else, such as cream and sugar, to help bring down the intensity level.
Timing is everything
It is important to give the right amount of time towards your chocolate gift. If you are buying the chocolates you need to get your order in early to help avoid the last-minute rush. Some places have a cut-off date that they will take Valentine orders, especially if shipping or local delivery is involved. If you are making the chocolates you might want to try a practice run to work out any kinks that might come up and to help you get familiar with the recipe. The odds are good that you will do even better the next time you go through the recipe and you can make any adjustments you think would taste good to your valentine. Make sure you can get the ingredients you need from the store since the holiday rush can often deplete the local supply of chocolate, sugar, and other handy ingredients. If you purchase the chocolate early, store it in a cool, dry, dark place, not the refrigerator.
So much chocolate, so little time
There are a wide variety of chocolate gifts you can give: chocolate truffles, bonbons (chocolate shell with a creamy center), cake, brownies, fudge, cookies (chocolate, chocolate chip, chocolate dipped, etc.), chocolate dipped fruit/nuts/pretzels/whatever, and many others that you can purchase or make, so let your imagination run wild.
As a final tip, here is a recipe for making Chocolate Truffles to help you get started:
Chocolate Truffles
½ cup heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet dark chocolate (not chips), chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
powdered sugar
cocoa powder
Equipment needed: baking sheets, baking paper, pastry bag
1. Heat the cream in a saucepan until it is just boiling.
2. Remove from the heat and add the chopped chocolate and butter until it is completed melted.
3. Let cool a few minutes, then stir in vanilla.
4. Wait until mixture starts to thicken, then form ½ - ¾ inch mounds using a pastry bag with a No.6 plain tip, a melon ball scoop, or 2 spoons to form the right shape.
5. Place mounds on sheet pans lined with baking paper. Refrigerate for a few minutes to set.
6. Roll the mounds in powdered sugar, then roll into roughly round balls between your hands, using more powdered sugar to keep them from sticking to you.
7. Then roll balls in cocoa powder until they are completely covered.
8. Let the truffles set on baking paper for about 10 minutes to finish.
Makes about 35 truffles.
Will Konijn is a Certified Professional Chocolatier (Graduated with Honors) who has also worked as a pastry baker and dessert caterer. Will enjoys writing about chocolate trends and teaching others how to make the best chocolate possible. You can reach him at willk@chocolateace.com or by visiting his website at http://www.chocolateace.com/blog/
|
|
|
A Dash Of Cinnamon, A Pinch Of The Past, A Smidgen Of The Future
Close your eyes and remember December, the smell of cinnamon in your mother's or grandmother's kitchen and the warm scent of dough baking in the oven. Imagine opening the oven door and, with assistance, taking out the heated cookie sheet. Devour the cookies, small works of art, with your eyes: Fudge Brownies, Gingerbread, Nut Rolls, Painted Cookies, Suga...(related: Holidays)
Buying Jewelry For Mother?s Day Or How To Buy The Perfect Gift For Mom Without Getting Ripped Off
Jewelry can be the perfect gift for mom on Mother's Day, but there are pitfalls, especially if you rush at the last minute. Procrastination and a lack of knowledge can be rewarded with overpaying for a piece of jewelry or even worse, being ripped-off.A gift of jewelry can be expensive. Asking friends, family and co-workers if they can recommend a website, brick and mortar store or local crafts person can help. Checking ...(related: Holidays)
How To Make Your Own Printable Invitations For Any Occasion
Even with modern technology like email and cell phones, printed invitations have remained the most common way to let people know about your upcoming party and will continue to remain popular due to the timeless rules of party etiquette. Invitations can be a major cost, especially for large parties, like weddings and some baby showers. However, with a little creativity and time, you can make your own printable invitations, even if you have no artistic skills.1. The first step is designing your card. You can use a simple word processor like Microsoft Word and if you want, you can go to the Adobe's website at http://createpdf.adobe.com to convert your file into a pdf file. Sele...(related: Holidays)
Create A Holiday Feast For The Senses
This is my daughter's first Christmas. Naomi will be nearly nine months old and eager to explore all that the holidays have to offer. Within a few weeks after conception, babies develop the sense of touch, with taste, smell, hearing and sight following in that order. At birth, babies possess all the senses they will have through their lives, just waiting for sensory experiences to learn about the world. The senses quickly become more acute, until adulthood when they ...(related: Holidays)
Gift Shopping Tips For Tight Budgets
Have you seen the prices of greeting cards lately? It is hideous! Once you purchase the card and gift-wrap, your overall cost can easily increase by...(related: Holidays)
Simplify The Season
Let's take a look at a typical Christmas To-Do list: bake cookies, buy and make gifts, attend office party, church commitments, address and mail cards, clean the house for guests, decorate...it goes on and on....The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and family celebration. But all the running around we do can zap the fun. Here are some ideas to simplify the season.Gift Giving:
- Purchase a family gift rather than gifts for individuals.
- For extended families, draw a member's name out of a hat and give only one gift. Limit the present amount.
- Make soup, beverage or cookie mixes. Package in a pretty jar or container with instructions attached.
- Have family members create a wis...(related: Holidays)
Making Gifts A Pleasure
As we reach the time of year when Christmas items start to appear in the stores, and thoughts of vacations start to wind down with the shortening daylight, it is a good time to think about gifts. Not only the gifts, though, but also the practise of giving.Offering a gift can be a mutual pleasure; some might say it should be a pleasure for giver and recipient. A problem with a modern commercial Christmas, however, is that buying gifts can become a chore. Often it is a stress ridden chore in the dying days before Christmas Day, as everything gets left to the last minute.
Mothers Day Love Letter ? The Best Way To Express Your Gratitude And Appreciation For Mom!
Abraham Lincoln said ? "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"Wow! That is a worthy compliment to give mom this Mother's Day!Mothers are the source of our beginning and are always there for us, whether we realize it or not. Could that be one of the reasons why most of us take our mothers for granted?We just expect her to be there. We pay little attention to the time of day, her schedule, her health or her state of mind when we need her. We just call on her and she shows up and gives us the warmth and comfort we're desperately looking for. Fascinating, i...(related: Holidays)
Holiday Tips & Treats That Wont Play Tricks On Your Waistline
Halloween ? so starts the Holiday Season. The average American gains 7-12 pounds between Halloween and New Year's . The next series of articles will help you ensure that you won't be among them. First, Halloween. As Halloween rears it's head, so does the plethora of wonderful smelling chocolates and other treats that tempt us as we walk through the aisles of our favorite stores. I will cover some tips, tricks and nutrition information for many of the popular candies to help you make the best choices . The moral is - if you can count it...(related: Holidays)
Overcoming Loneliness This Christmas
Christmas is one of those times when the social norm is to get together with our families even if you never see them during the year. For those people who are isolated from their families, or do not have a family, it can be a time of great loneliness and even depression....(related: Holidays)
Some Valuable Steps On Applying Clown Makeup! Seriously, Were Not Clowning Around Here
Who doesn't love being a clown? It's a great costume idea for both adults and children. It looks like a lot of work to doclown makeup, but it's actually quite easy. Here are the steps to create that classic whiteface clown:First of al...(related: Holidays)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Holidays