Choco Treats for All

Seems like i've been lacking of experience in cooking or even baking, not exactly that i do not know how to cook, but its just the fact that its rather messy when it comes to cooking and all, at the end of the day, i'll be spending more time cleaning up than savoring on my own food...

Buy what do you know? THis doesn't stop me from learning how to make something that will trigger your taste buds. THey call it chocolate ganache in french, which is basically a smooth mixture of chopped chocolate and heavy cream. oh yeah, heavy cream is optional, for a twist of flavour, heard that its even tastier if fresh milk replaces it.

practically speaking, if you're baking cakes and all, its a good thing to go with choc ganache, but then if you're not using it as a coating, my advice is that: why not go for the modified version of ganache instead? they call it chocolate truffles, and so, i've included a recipe of chocolate truffles jsut right after the recipe for ganache. Do enjoy!


CHocolate Ganache

ingredients:

250ml whipping cream or fresh milk

250g baking chocolate (vanhoutten or vochel is good enough)

40g butter


Methods

i) Prepare a double boiler

ii) Melt chocolate in double boiler, keep stirring till smooth consistency. Do not add any water, and do not FORGET to stir

iii) In a saucepan, bring whipping cream or fresh milk to boil

iv) when cholate is melted, and cream is boiling, add the cream to the chocolate

v) add in butter

vi) Stir every together till smooth consistency

vii) Chill in fridge for 3 hours



Alternatively...

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon heavy cream

2 1/4 pounds chocolate chips

3/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup sifted cocoa

6 tablespoons coffee liqueur

Semi-sweet and white chocolate chips for decoration

Directions:

Melt butter with heavy cream in sauce pan. Stir in chocolate chips until melted.

Add sour cream, cocoa, and coffee liqueur. Stir until smooth. Let stand at room temperature for about 2 hours.

Scoop out with a tablespoon or small scoop and roll in hand to make a smooth ball. Place a toothpick in center and place in freezer for 15-20 minutes.

In small bowl melt some semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave. Dip the chocolate balls by holding the tooth pick. After they set, twist toothpick out so you don't crack outer shell.

Melt the white chocolate chips the same way. With a fork dab a little white chocolate over toothpick hole and decorate.

OK, thats more than enough for you to know bout chocolate truffles and ganaches...hope you'll have a chocolatty weekend..cheers