Gorgeous Chocolate!

The Chocolate Connoisseur April 11th, 2007

When you need to choose a small gift for someone and have absolutely no idea what to give him or her, or you are just looking for the perfect gift, chocolate candy is always a hit. Nothing is as delicious as the creamy, sweet, scrumptious taste of chocolate. Chocolate comes in a huge variety of forms such as boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, chocolate gift baskets, and chocolate easter eggs and rabbits. A chocolate candy gift can be a box of inexpensive, delicious chocolates or extravagant, mouth-watering Belgian chocolate truffles, which make a person swoon with delight. Due to the popularity of chocolates, there are countless chocolate candy brands in today’s market. Walking into a chocolate candy store is a fantastic experience, with the wonderful smells and delightful sight of chocolate candy, in a huge array of choices. There are rows of chocolate-filled candies, chocolate candy novelties, chocolate bars, chocolate fudge, and chocolate baskets, just to name a few.

This coconut chocolate candy recipe is easy to make and yields approximately one hundred servings.

Ingredients

· 1 pound flaked coconut
· 1 ½ pounds of semi-sweet chocolate chips or morsels
· ¾ cup butter
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
· 5 2/3 cups powdered sugar
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 1 pound finely ground pecans
· 3 ounces of paraffin

Over low heat, melt the butter in a large saucepan but be sure not to allow it to brown. Remove from heat, whisk in the salt, vanilla and condensed milk, and then quickly mix in the pecans, coconut and powdered sugar, using your hands. In a 9 x 13 inch baking pan coated with vegetable spray, transfer in the candy mixture, patting it in firmly. Cover and store this in your refrigerator overnight. The next day, using a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips and paraffin. Remove the coconut candy from the refrigerator and cut into one-inch pieces. Dip the coconut candy in the chocolate, using a toothpick, to coat. Place these on waxed paper and leave to harden in the refrigerator. Your friends and family will love this wonderful chocolate candy treat.

Fudge nougats is another chocolate candy that people love and is easy and quick to make.

Ingredients

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 2 cups of sugar
· ¾ cup nuts of your choice
· ½ cup margarine
· ¾ cup flour
· 1 cup evaporated milk
· 1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips
· I cup crushed graham crackers

Over medium heat, bring evaporated milk, margarine and sugar to a boil and then continue boiling for eight minutes. Remove this from the heat and stir in the flour, chocolate chips, vanilla, nuts, and crushed graham crackers. Spread this into a buttered pan and the let cool. Cut into desired pieces.

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The Chocolate Connoisseur April 10th, 2007

It’s snowy and cold outside and the children’s cheeks are rosy as they build a snowman, toss snowballs or just play in the snow. When they come in out of the cold, get out the hot chocolate mix and cookies, because mugs of hot chocolate warm them up and cookies are perfect for any occasion. There are several types of instant hot chocolate mixes available, such as hot chocolate with marshmallows, sugar-free hot chocolate and dark hot chocolate. You only need to add boiling water to most of these mixes, although some people prefer to add their own final touch, such as whipped cream, a little milk or even large, fluffy marshmallows. Other people prefer making their own hot chocolate mix, which is very easy to do and great for giving as a gift. This recipe for hot chocolate mix makes seventeen cups.

Ingredients:

· 2 cups of unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1 jar (6 ounces) powdered non-dairy creamer
· 10-2/3 cups of instant non-fat powdered milk
· 4 cups of powdered sugar
· 1 bag of miniature marshmallows

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir together until blended well. Store your hot chocolate mix in an airtight container or, if giving this as a gift, place into small glass jars. For an individual serving, in one cup of hot water or hot milk, stir in three tablespoons of hot chocolate mix.

A wonderful, creamy, rich drink to serve family and friends or even to pamper yourself, while you curl up in a comfortable chair, is a steaming cup of hot chocolate made from a special gourmet hot chocolate mix. This Belgian gourmet hot chocolate mix is a sumptuous luxury that will delight any chocolate lover while being very easy to make. Serve with a dollop of real whipped cream for a heavenly experience. The recipe makes approximately six servings.

Ingredients:

· 4 cups of milk
· 7 ounces of a Belgian bittersweet chocolate, chopped into tiny pieces
· 1 vanilla bean, which you split lengthwise

In a saucepan, combine the milk and vanilla bean and cook over medium heat until bubbles appear around the edge. Reduce the heat, add the Belgian chocolate and whisk until the chocolate melts. Remove from the heat, remove the vanilla bean and add a little more milk if it is a little too thick. Whisk the hot chocolate vigorously to produce foam. Pour this delicious hot chocolate mix into cups or mugs, add a dollop of whipped cream, marshmallows or even chocolate whipped cream, and enjoy. Try experimenting with different types of chocolate or flavorful additives, such as mint, cinnamon sticks or other delicious toppings. To crown the experience, just find some lovely fine porcelain pots and cups for serving your own special hot chocolate mix to family and friends.

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