The Camp Cook
Camp eBook's spot for Food, News, Tips, Ideas and Recipes

Chocolate is one of our favorite treats. On Valentine’s Day, we are surrounded by chocolate. Instead of buying that box of chocolates, create some chocolate treats at home.

Chocolate is actually good for us. Let me rephrase that before you make a run on the store. Dark chocolate is actually full of good things like antioxidants that help to keep our bodies healthy. Consuming a little dark chocolate each day has a beneficial effect.

Remind your sweetie of that on Valentine’s Day. As long as you purchase dark chocolate, they don’t have to feel guilty about eating sweets. Use some dark chocolate to create homemade chocolate desserts to enjoy on Valentine’s Day.

A favorite chocolate dessert is lava cakes. Just like the name implies, once you cut into the cake, the gooey chocolate runs out of the center. Use a stencil to create a powdered sugar heart on top of each one.

When making chocolate desserts that call for melted chocolate it is important to do it right. We have all had those boo-boo’s in the kitchen with chocolate that we’d rather not mention. For instance, turning the burner on high will not melt the chocolate any faster—neither will adding water to the pan and swirling the chocolate around. All you’ll end up with is a very expensive mess.

Chocolate bricks are not cheap so use them sparingly and wisely. If you need to melt chocolate, do so in a non-stick saucepan. Chocolate melts best over low heat.

You don’t need to stir the chocolate for it to melt. Once the chocolate takes on a glassy appearance, it has melted. The chocolate can be removed from the heat and stirred into the recipe.

Even a hint of chocolate in the dessert can be tasted by us chocolate connoisseurs. If you are making a cake, add a bit of melted chocolate to turn it into a chocolate pound cake or a chocolate cheesecake.

For a sinful dessert create icing to top your chocolate creations. A chocolate cake, cupcake, or pie covered in chocolate icing or chocolate sauce makes it heavenly. Only those with a really sweet tooth can handle such a chocolate dessert. It is not for newbies.

There are tons of chocolate desserts you can create for Valentine’s Day to surprise your gal or guy. Try out some chocolate truffles or a chocolate trifle bowl dessert. Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac so watch out if you eat too much!

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Chocolate Recipes - The Perfect Cookbook for any Chocolate Fanatic.

Happy Valentines Day.
Dan

Labels: Desserts, Holidays

What You Need:

2 C sifted all purpose flour
1 t salt
3/4 C shortening
4 to 5 T ice water
Wax paper
Freezer wrap

How to Make It:

Place the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender until mixture become crumbly. Add 1 T of the ice water at a time.
After each addition, toss with a fork. Push moistened ingredients to the side.
Only add ice water to dry ingredients. Continue adding the ice water 1 T at a time until all the dry ingredients are moistened.

Dough should be moist enough to hold together but not sticky. Divide dough in half.
Roll each half into a ball. Wrap each ball with wax paper. Wrap tightly in the freezer wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to use bring to room temperature and roll out as desired.

If you have a Sweet Tooth and love Desserts; Check Out the Pies and Pasteries in The Classic Desserts Collection Cookbook.

Enjoy!
Dan

Labels: Desserts