Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Give Your Lover or Mother Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

By Strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries are a great dessert or gift enjoyed by all. Young or old, male or female, everyone loves these sweet treats. The combination of fresh, juicy strawberries, dipped in creamy milk chocolate or dark chocolate, or even white chocolate gives a flavor that bursts in one's mouth as the juice runs down one's chin.

These succulent fruits spike in popularity around romantic holidays such as Valentine's Day. Many lovers exchange these instead of the trite box of chocolates. When used as a gift on a special occasion, they can signify class and a love of the finer things in life.

Chocolate covered strawberries are also the perfect accompaniment for Use in gift baskets of all sorts. Included with cheese, crackers and a lovely bottle of wine this type of basket is an ideal companion for a picnic, a special date, or an evening performance at an outdoor venue. Many event sites encourage guests to bring their own food, creating an upscale 'tail gating' atmosphere.

When you make chocolate covered strawberries, there are many things you need to keep in mind. Of course you want to have the best and most ripe strawberries you can find because they are really the main ingredient. It just wouldn't be the same if the strawberry was little and tasteless. If it is a little juicy then the dessert will really be perfect.

Next comes the chocolate. The quality of the chocolate is equally as important as the quality of the strawberry. The average store brand chocolate has very little chocolate to begin with, so these should be avoided. The type of chocolate used in fondue is better. It is much richer and can be found with a variety of creaminess. A milk chocolate can be made with real dark chocolate and fresh sweet cream. White chocolate can be used as well, and dark chocolate adds a slight bitterness to the overall flavor. There are many recipes that can be found to create excellent chocolate for dipping strawberries.

The eye appeal is another thing you have to worry about when making your chocolate covered strawberries. Take your time to ensure you've picked the perfect strawberry and dipped it in the chocolate to make it visually appealing. A common rule of thumb is that the chocolate should not cover more than 75% of the strawberry.

Once the berry has been dipped, it should be laid gently on a sheet of waxed paper. This will allow the berry to be moved after cooling, without sticking to the surface. A topping can be added once the chocolate has cooled and hardened. If it is dipped in dark chocolate, then maybe a drizzle of some white chocolate will jazz it up. - 15784

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