1 post tagged “chocolate”

If the commercial chocolates don't seem to cut it. How about making your own chocolate for your special one? You got time for this. First, you have to prepare a ganache--a rich chocolate filling. I know the word is intimidating, but this is incredibly simple, it shouldn't take you more than five minutes to make.

The ingredients for a ganache are cream and chocolate. The quality of the ganache will strongly be influenced by the quality of your ingredients, avoid the cheap stuff. The texture of the ganache made with a velvety smooth European bittersweet chocolate will be velvety smooth. The character of a poor chocolate will be obvious in ganache made with it. I suggest that you use a bittersweet chocolate with a low sugar content to make a ganache that isn't too sweet. The quality of the cream is also key. You can use heavy cream, I recommend you use crème fraîche. It's the best for this because it's fat and rich--trust me.

Here's the steps to a great ganache, and, with a bit of luck, the heart of your loved one:

Directions

1. Place the chocolate in a small stainless steel bowl. In a small, heavy saucepan, bring the cream just to a boil.
2. Gradually pour the hot cream into the chocolate, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Begin stirring in the centre, and gradually widen your stir toward the edges of the bowl. Continue stirring with the whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth. If all of the chocolate does not melt, bring the bowl over a double boiler and stir until the ganache is smooth again. If you want, it's at this point you can add your rum or Grand Marnier. You don't need to add tons, just about 3 tablespoons.

4.When the ganache is well-chilled and firm, you are ready to make the truffles. Grab a teaspoon, mini ice cream scoop or 1-inch melon baller to dig and turn a ball of chocolate. Drop onto a parchment-line baking sheet, dip the scoop in warm water to clean, and repeat. Rerfigerate.
5. Dip the balls into the cocoa to coat, powdered sugar, coconut or chopped nuts. Refrigerate.