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Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Cake Pops

 One box cake mix (follow box instruction for baking)
 One tub of frosting
 Two 14-oz. bags of candy melts (found at your local arts and crafts store or candy store)
 50 lollipop sticks (found at your local arts and crafts store or candy store)
 Two Styrofoam blocks (found at your local arts and crafts store or candy store)
 Wax paper


  1. Bake the cake and let it cool completely.
  2. Crumble cake into large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the complete tub of frosting directly to the cake crumbs and mix until a moist batter is created.
  4. Refrigerate mix, in bowl, for 15 minutes.
  5. Line two flat pans with wax paper.
  6. Roll mix into golf ball-size balls, rolling mix between your hands. Place completed balls onto the pans. Insert a lollipop stick into each ball.
  7. Place pans in refrigerator for three hours (or freezer for less time). Do not let the cake balls freeze.
  8. Use a double boiler or heat-safe bowl with a pan, bring water to a boil and warm a small amount of candy melts in top bowl. Stir candy melts until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Reheat, on low, as necessary to keep melt mixture thin.
  9. In one motion, dip the cake ball entirely into the candy melt mixture. Use a spoon to fill any empty spots with candy melt and make sure the cake is completely covered. Twirl the pop and gently tap the lollipop stick on the side of the pan to remove excess melt.
  10. Place cake pop upright in Styrofoam to dry.
  11. To decorate with additional colors, let the pops dry completely. Melt different colors and apply using a plastic bag with a cake decorating tip inserted.
  12. Enjoy!

 TIPS
  • Wear plastic gloves when mixing and rolling the cake balls. This helps keep the cake from sticking to your hands!
  • Roll the cake balls to just smaller than a golf ball. If you make the cake balls too large, they will fall of the stick while dipping. This recipe should make 40-50 cake pops.
  • Remove a small number of cake pops at a time from the refrigerator, while you dip. This prevents them from warming too much.
  • Experiment with different flavors and colors. We used red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Be creative and decorate with shapes and designs! Add edible glitter!
  • Do not refrigerate. Temperature changes will cause the cake pops to crack.









Sunday, January 1, 2012

Macaroons anyone?...

Do you set goals? I live with goals. I’ve always had personal goals. Sometimes goals are achieved. So, I set a goal.
Earlier last year, I tried baking some French  Macaroons which turned out pretty BAD. I made them twice and every single time wasn’t successful.  
I have been researching French Macaroons for months on the internet trying to find a recipe. I have been watching a lot of videos on you tube, reading Macaroon’s making tips, trying to find a secret how to make a perfect Macaroons. 
I know that a lot of people think that French Macaroons are very difficult cookies to make, but what I found, having the right recipe it really makes a huge difference.  It took me about halve a year to learn how to make them. This particular recipe come from Martha Stewart. So glad, recipe turned out.

 
1 1/4 cups plus 1 teaspoon confectioners sugar
1 cup finely ground sliced, blanched almonds
6 tablespoons fresh egg whites
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Ganache:
8 ounces Chocolate chips
8 ounces Heavy Cream (1 Cup)



1. To make the Macaroons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and ground almonds. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites with salt on medium speed until foamy. Increase speed to high and gradually add granulated sugar. Continue to whip until stiff glossy peaks form. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in the confectioners' sugar mixture until completely incorporated.
2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Fit a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch #4 round tip, and fill with batter. Pipe 1-inch disks onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. The batter will spread a little. Let stand at room temperature until dry, and a soft skin forms on the tops of the macarons and the shiny surface turns dull, about 15 minutes.
3.Bake, with the door of the oven slightly ajar, until the surface of the macarons is completely dry, about 15 minutes. Remove baking sheet to a wire rack and let the macarons cool completely on the baking sheet. Gently peel off the parchment. Their tops are easily crushed, so take care when removing the macarons from the parchment. Use immediately or store in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
4.To fill the Macaroons: Fill a pastry bag with the filling. Turn Macaroons so their flat bottoms face up. On half of them, pipe about 1 teaspoon filling. Sandwich these with the remaining Macaroons, flat-side down, pressing slightly to spread the filling to the edges. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

Ganache
1. Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Set aside.
2. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate. Stir once to ensure there aren’t any air pockets in the chocolate. Let mixture sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Using a rubber spatula, slowly stir in a circular motion until all the chocolate is melted, and the entire mixture is emulsified, about 2 minutes. If desired, add a tablespoon of liqueur, butter or other flavorings.Let the ganache rest at room temperature until it cools and is ready for use

Main ingredient in this recipe is patience… a lot of patience. Believe me, if I can do it, you can do it too!
Macaroons are one of the most desirable cookies in the world, they are colorful, and have many flavors. Bon Apetite!

I would like to say thank you Ms. Humble for wonderful Macaroon Troubleshooting Post: http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/2010/08/macaron-troubleshooting-new-recipe.html

If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen baking up a batch of these!





 
My Little Kitchen Helper!






Ko reikes:

182gr + 1 arbatinis saukstelis cukraus pudros
125 gr migdolu miltu
6 valg. saukstai baltymu
ziupsnelis druskos
57gr cukraus
valgomi dazai (nebutina)
Kremui:
1 puodelis sokolado
1 puodelis grietineles

Eiga:
1. Ikaitinkit orkaite iki 180C. Migdolu miltus sumaisykite su cukraus pudra. Kiausiniu baltymus isplakite su mikseriu iki kol jie prades putoti pamazu dedant cukru. Plakite baltymus iki standumo (taip lyg darytumet morengus). Pries plakant kiausiniu baltymus, isimkite juos is saldytuvo ir palaikykite kambario temperaturoje apie 24h.
2. Kepimo skarda isklotine sviestiniu popierium. Migdolu ir cukraus pudros mase atsargiai sumaisykite su baltymais. Mase sudekite i dekoravimo/kepimo maiseli ir isspauskite vienodo dydzio rutuliukus. Tarp rutuliuku pasistenkite palikti vietos, kepant jie pleciasi.
3. Isspaudus rutuliukus, padauzykite kepimo skarda i stala, kad kepant nesusidarytu oro pusles, palikite pastoveti apie 15min, kad ant jie apdziutu.
4. Kepkite macarons apie 15min su pravertomis orkaites durelemis. Iskepus leiskite atvesti ir tik tada nuimkite nuo sviestinio popieriaus. Nenuiminekite karstu, nes jie trapus, labai lengvai suskils.

Kremas:
1. Sokolada sudekite i inda.
2. Grietinele uzvirkite ant mazos ugnies ir uzpilkite ant sokolado. Gerai ismaisykite ir palikite atvesti.
3. Sutepkite macarons puseles su kremu.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Mini Pretzel Turtles - Mini vėžliukai

Mini Pretzel Turtles
 Recently I came across this simple, quick treat online. These are really good, and really easy. Make twice as many as you think you need because it's really delicious. They only require 3 inexpensive ingredients and are simple to make. I promise these treats will disappear from their bowl in no time. Once you have one, you just can’t stop!
If you are on diet, don't make these.I was on diet... smile.

 Pretzels (any shape)
Brachs milk chocolate stars (You can use, Hershey bells, Wilton's chocolate discs, Rolos etc.)
Pecan halves (If you don't like pecans, you can use hazelnut, almonds, walnuts, pistachios,cashews. If you are allergic to nuts, use M&M's)
 Line a cookie pan with foil. Place pretzels on foil. Place a milk chocolate on the pretzels.
Bake at 250* for about 4 minutes until chocolate becomes soft. You just want the chocolate on the outside to look glossy and melty, but it should still hold it's shape. Remove pan from oven, take a pecan and gently press it right into the center of the chocolate. Now, do yourself a favor, eat a few of these. Mmmm... Wait for the rest to cool. These make a perfect home - made Christmas gifts from your kitchen.  
Mmmm...


Mini Vėžliukai
Šį paprastą ir lengvą receptą visai neseniai radau internete. Darykite dvigubai daugiau vėžliukų nei planavote, nes jie tikrai skanūs. 
Šiems vėžliukams reiks tik 3 nebrangių ingridientų.
Jeigu Jūs laikotės dietos, negaminkit jų. Aš laikiausi dietos... :)

Sūrūs riestainiukai (tiks bet kokia forma)
Šokolado gabalėliai (galima supjaustyti saldainį mažomis riekutėmis)
Graikiniai riešutai (jei nemėgstat graikinių riešutų, naudokit, pistacijas, lazdyno riešutus, migdolus. Jei esat alergiški riešutams, naudokit M&M saldainius.)

Išklokite kepimo formą folija. Sudėkit riestainiukus. Ant riestainiuko uždėkite po gabalėli šokolado. Paruoštus riestainiukus su šokoladu dėti į įkaitintą 120C orkaitę ir "kepti" 4 minutes, iki tol kol šokoladas taps minkštas, bet vis dar išlaikys savo formą. Šokoladui suminkštėjus ištraukite riestainiukus iš orkaitės ir dėkite (švelniai įspausti) graikinių riešutų puseles. Dabar... paragaukite kelis vėžliukus. Mmmm.... Palaukite kol vėžliukai atvės.

Mmmm...

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Marshmallow Pops - Zefyrai Ant Pagaliuko

Little peek to the Holidays!


Christmas is my favorite holiday! I'm definitely getting in the Christmassy mood. I made these Christmas Marshmallows for Christmas party.
Why is it that things taste better on a stick? All I know is that these Marshmallow Pops are yummy! They are also super easy to make and your little ones can help you.
So,  tonight’s project: Marshmallow Pops.

Marshmallow Pops
Marshmallow Pops


Chocolate chips

Large Marshmallow

Lollipop sticks

Eye candies

Pretzels (small)

Sprinkles



 In a microwave, melt chocolate chips. Stir until smooth.Insert lollipop sticks into Marshmallows. Dip each Marshmallow into melted chocolate.
Make the Reindeer's: You can add the antlers while the Rindeer pops are still wet or wait until they are dry and then apply small gab of chocolate to the head to glue the antlers on. Once dry, you can also add eyes and noses by gluing.
  Hope you like them.
 Šio vakaro sumanymas: Marshmallow (zefyras) ant pagaliuko. Labai paprasta ir lengva juos padaryti. Gaminau juos Kaledu vakareliui. Patiko mano briedžiai ir mažiems ir dideliems. Net nežinau, kurie labiau džiaugėsi.

Zefyrai ant pagaliuko

Šokoladas
Marshmallow (zefyras)
Pagaliukai saldainiams ( galima naudoti dantų krapštukus)
Saldainiai - akys
Sūrūs riestainiukai
Pabarstukai

Šokoladą ištirpinti garų vonelėje ar mikrobangų krosnelėje. Į kiekvieną Marshmallow įsmeigti po pagaliuką. Marshmallow įmerkti į šokoladą, dekoruoti. Dekoruoti galima dar nesustingus šokoladui arba palaukti kol šokoladas sustings, naudojant po lašelį šokolado priklijuoti akims, nosims ir rageliams. 
Tikiuosi, Jums jie patiks!

Ohhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhh!


Zefyrai ant pagaliuko
Part 2




This morning I lost my antler!... and halve head kind of....


Peek A Boo!



Don't judge me...




Eat these while sipping on some hot chocolate. Heck, plop one in your hot chocolate and use as a stir. Enjoy!










Monday, November 21, 2011

Home Made Chocolate Cake Balls, Naminiai Šokoladinio Pyrago Rutuliukai

1/2 cup butter                                                  
1 cup sugar 
1 egg 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1/2 cup baking cocoa 
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 pinch of salt 
1/2 cup water 
1/2 cup buttermilk
Sprinkles & chocolate 

In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture water and buttermilk, beating well after each addition. 
Fill mini cup - cake pan cups two - thirds full. Bake at 350F for 15 - 20 minutes or until the toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Decorate with your favorite frosting, sprinkles, chocolate when cool.


0.5 puodelio sviesto                                                
1 puodelis cukraus
1 kiausinis
1 arbatinis saukstelis vaniles esencijos
1.5 puodelio miltu
0.5 puodelio kakavos
1 arbatinis saukstelis sodos
ziupsnelis druskos
0.5 puodelio vandens
0.5 puodelio kefyro
Pabarstukai, sokoladas.

I inda dedame sviesta ir ji issukam su cukrumi. Imusam kiausini ir esencija, dar karta viska gerai issukam. I gauta mase dedam miltus, kakava, soda, druska. Pamazu pilam vandeni ir kefyra, viska gerai ismaisom. 
Pyrago mase pripildom kamuoliuku/keksiuku forma. Ikaitinam orkaite iki 175C ir kepame 15 - 20 minuciu, arba iki tol, kol dantu krapstukas istrauktas is kamuoliuko bus sausas. Puosiame pabarstukais, sokoladu.


Go ahead……….I know you want to grab one.  That’s what they’re there for!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Chocolate On The Stick

Chocolate on The Stick

8 oz. chocolate (black, white)
1/4 cup cocoa (sifted)
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar (sifted)
 pinch of salt

Zip-lock or pipping bag. Some kind of chocolate mold, ice trays work great.

Break the chocolate into pieces. Place into a dry bowl and microwave the pieces for 90 seconds. Stir. And if needed return to the microwave for 20 second intervals until melted. Stirring in between. 
While the chocolate is melting, combine the dry ingredients. When the chocolate is finished melting, add the dry ingredients and mix. Divide the mixture into chocolate molds or ice cube trays. (Silicone works best.) And place a stick in each one. Tap the molds on the counter to remove air bubbles. After they are cooled, they should easily pop out of the molds. When you're ready to serve, simply heat 1 cup of milk. Add the chocolate stick, and stir it in until melted, or eat it like a chocolate candy.