Melt It!
Place chocolate squares in heavy saucepan over very low heat, or use a double boiler over simmering water. With a wooden spoon or spatula, stir constantly until chocolate is melted.
Or...in the microwave. Place chocolate squares in microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave additional sets of 10 seconds until chocolate is melted.
NOTE: Chocolate chips are made to retain their shape, when you want to melt chocolate, use squares or shavings from a block.
Squiggle It!
Place melted chocolate in a zip-lock plastic bag, and cut the tip off of one corner. Squeeze designs onto wax paper and then place into the refrigerator to set. Make sure your squiggles are hardened before using to decorate cakes or cookies.
Dip It!
Cut fresh fruit into 1 inch squares, or leave the stems on fruits like strawberries. Use toothpicks to dip the cubed fruit and the stems to dip strawberries, into your melted chocolate.
Style It!
Leaves - Use a "food only" paintbrush and real nontoxic leaves. Brush melted chocolate onto the leaf and refrigerate until the chocolate is hardened. Peel the leaf from the chocolate, and keep the chocolate leaf refrigerated until use.
Cups - Use a "food only" paintbrush and foil muffin tin liners. Coat the inside of the miffin liner with melted chocolate and then refrigerate. After the chocolate hardens, remove the foil liner and keep the chocolate cup refrigerated until served.
Curl It!
Pour melted chocolate into a jelly roll pan lined with foil. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens. Use a cheese slicer or a pastry cutter to form curls. Keep the curls refrigerated until use.
Chocolate Dictionary
Chocolate: starts as a cacao bean which is roasted and ground into a paste (chocolate liquor). When cooled, this is known as baking chocolate.
Bittersweet: blend of chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and a minimal amount of sugar.
Semisweet: blend of chocolateliquor, cocoa butter and more sugar for a slightly sweeter taste.
Milk Chocolate: blend of chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, more sugar than semisweet, and milk or cream and vanilla flavoring.
White Chocolate: blend of cocoa butter, milk, sugar and flavoring.
Enjoy your chocolate! Use these new techniques to make your desserts more fun and exciting. Everyone will think you slaved in the kitchen.... only you and I know the secrets!
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