Make your own chocolate gifts – Idea 2
November 29, 2008
So today’s idea is to make some homemade truffles. They are quite easy to make and adapt to your own taste – they can be made with your favourite type of chocolate, and flavoured with all sorts of goodies. They can also be rolled in cocoa (as pictured here), or grated chocolate, nuts, chopped dried fruit…
The finishing touches are in how you present your truffles. You can buy little paper cases to put them in, and then present them in little boxes, bags, tins, jars… whatever you have handy! They can then be dressed up with ribbons, stickers or whatever you like!
Why not post a link to your finished product to give other readers some ideas?!
Here is one reccipe that you can try:
Ingredients
* 250ml double cream (for people who are lactose intolerant, you could substitute the cream for soya milk, or coconut cream – you may need to experiment with quantities)
* 150g caster sugar
* 180g dark, good quality chocolate, finely grated
* Cocoa powder, for dusting
Method: How to make truffles
1. Heat the cream and sugar in a small pan until almost boiling.
2. Stir in the chocolate, then remove the pan from the heat.
3. Transfer the truffle mixture to a plastic container. Cover and place in the refrigerator until cold and firm.
4. To shape the truffles, scoop a teaspoon of the mixture and roll quickly between your palms. Dust the truffles in cocoa powder (or whatever else you have decided ) and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Couldnt be easier, right?! 
photo from Flickr by “rachel is coconut&lime”
Make your own chocolate gifts – Idea 1
November 28, 2008
Over the next few weeks, I will be scouring the web for some fun ideas that you or your kids can make at home to give as original, home-made and chocolatey gifts!
The first idea I came accross was a “Hot Chocolate Ice-Cream Cone”.. I tried one out here in the shop, and they look really good!
How to make:
1. Buy some of your favourite hot chocolate mix – either in individual sachets, or in a larger jar or tub. You could even use some cocoa powder and add sugar. Empty enough for about 4 mugs of hot chocolate into a clear disposable icing bag. You could also use some rolled up cellophane taped up at the bottom, or a clear sandwich bag. Leave a bit of air at the top, tie it closed with an elastic band, and trim the top of the bag.
2. Push down the tied end towards the hot cocoa mixture to make an indentation. This is where the marshmallows and your choice of topping will sit.
3. Place the cocoa cone inside a second clear icing bag (or whatever you used for the first bag!). Line up the seams.
4. Put in marshmallows, then chopped chocolate pieces (or use your imagination to add other flavours – chocolate pieces with orange or mint flavour perhaps?).
5. Tie closed with an elastic band.
6. Tie a ribbon around the elastic band.
7. If you want to include instructions for making the hot cocoa, you could print them up, punch a hole in the paper, and tie it on with the ribbon.
If you try this, we would love to hear from you!
(information from www.ice-cream-freaks.com and www.oprah.com)
New Product From Butlers
November 27, 2008
We got a sample today of a new product available from Butlers.
Butlers “Hot Chocolate Drink” is presented in a lovely chocolaty brown box, and contains 10 pieces of chocolate in a cup shape that you melt into a cup of hot milk (Net Weight of the box is 230g).
This box will be available soon, and retails in our shop at €4.99 (which works out as €0.50 per serving). You can also buy it online in our shop for €7.00 (which includes postage within Ireland).
The recommended method is to heat milk in a saucepan and then add the piece of chocolate. We don’t have a hotplate here in in the shop, so I used the coffee machine to steam up some milk instead. The chocolate piece melted fairly easily after a good stir, and tasted really good! However, the instructions do say a “teacup” of hot milk, and I heated a whole mug, so for a richer chocolate taste, I’d stick to one teacup per piece.
Why not give it a try yourself and let us know what you think!
If you want to try different variations or recipes with the hot chocolate, click here.
Chocolate Themed Gift Ideas!
November 27, 2008
Possibly the best job in the world??
November 26, 2008
The BBC website is doing a little series of articles describing various jobs that kids dream about doing when they grow up.
No surprises that a chocolate taster appears on there!
Have a read here about what the job entails.. Who knows – you might want to change career!
Opinions Wanted!
November 25, 2008
From browsing on all sorts of chocolate blogs and websites recently, there seems to be a bit of a buzz about bacon flavoured chocolate!
I read today that Selfridges in London ran out of the (pictured) Mo’s Bacon Bar in just 48 hours – even at £5.99 a bar!
Has anyone here in Ireland tried this combination of bacon and chocolate? I am very curious as I have read a mixed bag of opinions – from “The whole sensation is like eating chocolate that has been dunked in an overflowing ashtray” to “It’s a real explosion of flavours and people love it.”
I would love to hear your review of this taste mix!
Ballyshiel – a family tradition of chocolate making
November 21, 2008
The chocolates that are most local to us here in Athlone come from the neighbouring county of Offaly.
Ballyshiel Artisan Foods was established in 1998 by a husband and wife Irish/Argentinian team! They began by creating their version of an Argentinian classic – Dulche De Leche – which is a sweet, toffee/caramel like sauce.
Since then, they have developed a small, but lovingly made range of chocolate based sauces, spreads, and handmade chocolates. They believe in using the finest local ingredients, and do not use any artificial colours or flavourings. Most, if not all, of their products are also gluten free and suitable for vegetarians.
You can buy their products online here (prices online include postage costs within Ireland), and you can find out more about the products and the company here. There are even a few recipe ideas on the Ballyshiel website that look absolutely delicious!
Personally, I love the macaroon bars – they are always a best seller here in our shop. We also warm the Ballyshiel chocolate sauces and serve them drizzled over our freshly made waffles. Delicious!
White Chocolate Latte
November 18, 2008
I just found a blog post with a recipe for White Chocolate Latte. It sounds like a really tasty combination to me, so I thought I’d post it on here too (slightly adapted).
Please comment if you try it out and let us know how you get on! I will also try it out when I can get some vanilla and almond extract and post my results!
Makes 1 mug
3/4 mug full-fat milk
30g (slightly less than 3 tablespoons) white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons instant coffee granules or 1 shot espresso
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 drop almond extract
whipped cream (optional)
cinnamon sticks (optional)
In a saucepan, stir together the first 4 ingredients over a low heat until white chocolate melts. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts; pour mixture into a mug. Top with whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
The Chocolate Show
November 18, 2008
The Chocolate Show 2008 has begun!
It promises to be a spectacular event – with culinary demonstrations, a chocolate fashion show and all things chocolate!!
This show is in New York (details here), but there will also be shows in Paris, Shanghai and Moscow (details here).
EDIT: The Chocolate Fashion show looked incredible! I just found this website with some photos – they had “Superheros” with their costumes made from chocolate!!
New York “Chocolate Walk”
November 14, 2008
Planning a shopping trip to New York this winter?
Why not try out this Chocolate Walk? It is a list of gorgeous chocolate boutiques that you can visit while you are there!
Enjoy!