almond bark

Recipe for Chocolate Covered Cherries that Taste Amazing

January 29, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Anything covered in chocolate is divine, and chocolate cherries were my Dad’s favorite candy.

Learn how to make chocolate covered cherries at home. Perfect for a couples Valentines gift to each other. Or make as a special Galentines gift to yourself.

Enjoy my recipe for gourmet chocolate covered cherries in honor of National Chocolate Day, National Candy Day, or Valentines Day (hey you pick, I don’t need an excuse for chocolate)

Even people who don’t normally like chocolate covered cherries LOVE mine. You can leave the stems on, or buy stemless maraschino cherries. You can leave the stems on, or buy stemless maraschino cherries.

I normally make candies at Christmas, but homemade gourmet chocolate covered cherries are perfect for any special occasion.

homemade recipe for chocolate covered cherries

You don’t rush making these chocolate candies, the process of rolling the cherries and dipping takes time.

So enjoy, I don’t think mine will make it to Valentines Day

The Best Recipe for Gourmet Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ok, this is not my “own” recipe, but one I found on AllRecipes. But I have a few secrets in making the process faster and easier.

The first is buying quality ingredients, which means no skimping on chocolate and using “real” butter and sugar.

The first is buying quality ingredients, that means no skimping on chocolate and using “real” butter and sugar.

30 Royal Harvest maraschino cherries (one jar)
3 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
3 tablespoons corn syrup
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 pound chocolate confectioners’ coating (I use Ghiradelli melting wafers)

Ok, this is not my “own” recipe, but one I found on AllRecipes. But I have a few secrets in making the process faster and easier.

Secret Instructions on Making Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ok, there isn’t a secret to making chocolate covered cherries, just a few tips. First, gather your supplies. You will want to use really good chocolate.

If you’re going to go to all the effort why use plain almond bark. So get yourself some Ghiradelli Melting wafers, and try not to eat them during the process.

Cute Valentine Gnomes Couples Mug
by ndjmom

The best chocolate melting method is double boiler!

Why, because perfect melting chocolate needs to melt slowly, not under high heat in a microwave. If chocolate gets too hot it then congeals and gets lumpy. You don’t want lumpy chocolate. Put about an inch of water in the bottom pan and set your burner to medium. The water should not boil.

Then when you are ready to wrap and package to it to impress with red candy foils and cute little candy boxes.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers (for Candy Making Nordic Ware Universal 8 Cup Double Boiler

How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherries

Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry. (liquid will also lump chocolate
In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth.
Stir in confectioners’ sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary.
Next, pinch off a teaspoon bit of dough and roll into a ball. Flatten in your palm
Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Gather the excess sugar dough on the ends and pinch off. You want the thinnest layer of sugar paste around the cherry without any juice seeping through
Place on waxed paper or parchment paper and place in the freezer to chill for one hour or until firm.
Melt confectioners’ coating in a heavy saucepan over med heat. (see above)
Dip each cherry and place on waxed paper lined sheets.
Chill until completely set (trying not to eat them in the process)
Wrap in candy foil wrappers
Lastly, store in an airtight container in a cool place.
Best after 1 or 2 weeks when the sugar paste melts and merges with the cherry juice. (yeah, if they last that long!)

Make chocolate covered cherries at home. This chocolate covered cherry recipe is perfect for a couples Valentines gift to each other. Or make as a special Galentines gift to yourself.

Don’t have the patience, or time, or ambition to try them yourself, then you can buy gourmet chocolate covered cherries and no one will complain. They make a great gift for Valentines Day, or just as an indulgent candy treat.

Where to Buy Gourmet Chocolate Covered Cherries

Maraschino Cherries – Belgian Chocolate Covered Cherries – 24 piece Shari’s Berries – 20 Hand-Dipped Classic Cherries – 20 Count – Gourmet Baked Good Gifts Double Dipped Chocolate Cherries 1/2 Lb Box Mix- Milk & Dark Chocolate Shari’s Berries – 4 Caramel Pretzels and 20 Hand-Dipped Cherries – 24 Count – Gourmet Baked Good Gifts

Enjoy! If you make these I’d love to hear how your own homemade chocolate covered cherries came out and if they were as good as you expected.

If you like this then you’ll LOVE my homemade chocolate covered strawberries recipe! It’s even easier.

Day 189/365: Lemony Sunshine Cupcakes

June 13, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Amazing Lemon Cupcake Recipe

I love the tart taste of lemon in any food and this amazing lemon cupcake recipe quickly became a favorite. It’s rare that a Food Network recipe doesn’t turn out good, and this delicious cupcake recipe will have people asking for more.

Lemony Sunshine Cupcakes from the Food Network as just as good to look at as they are to eat.

This recipe and resulting cupcake is actually from my friend Shelli who made these for her co-workers and favorite customers on her last day at Hamilton Color Lab in Omaha. I inherited her job and am the point of contact for all customers and help photographers, artists, and businesses get the most out of their images.

All the customers that came in that day were sad to see Shelli leave, there were calls, hugs, and well wishes as she heads back to school to continue her next life journey. But for the two of us it’s not good bye, it’s just see you later as we were Facebook friends before I found the job.

Recipe was found my her daughter on the Food Network.

Ingredients

For crust and topping:

1 1/3 cups shortbread cookie crumbs, (22 Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (Shellie suggested to reduce to 2 TBSP)

For the batter:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 small box (3.4 ounce) instant lemon pudding
1 (18.25 ounce) box lemon cake mix (recommended: Betty Crocker Super Moist)
1/3 cup lemon curd

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two standard muffin tins with 16 foil cupcake liners; set aside.

Place shortbread cookie crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a medium bowl; stir until well combined; set aside.

In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time and mix just until combined. Scrape down sides of the bowl. Add vegetable oil, water, and the box of lemon pudding. Mix until combined. Add cake mix and beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Batter will be on the thick side.

Place a slightly heaping tablespoon of shortbread cookie crumb mixture into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use your fingers or the bottom of a small glass to firmly pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining shortbread cookie crumb mixture for topping.

Use a 1/4 cup spring loaded ice cream scoop and place a level scoop full of batter into each muffin cup.

Load the lemon curd into a small sandwich size resealable bag, removing the air from the bag before sealing. Squeeze the curd to 1 corner of the bag and use scissors to snip a 1/4- inch piece from corner of bag; set aside.

With a damp finger or the end of a wooden spoon dipped in water, make a shallow indentation into the center of each cupcake. Pipe 3/4 to 1 teaspoon lemon curd into each indentation. Sprinkle tops of cupcakes evenly with remaining shortbread cookie crumbs.

Bake for 21 to 23 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking, until edges of cupcakes are lightly golden brown.

Serve cupcakes warm from the oven or at room temperature.

Quick and Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

May 7, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

It’s Easy to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Don’t these chocolate covered strawberries look delicious? I made them at home. Seriously.

Not even a word to describe how good they actually taste. Just like at Christmas, I dip everything in almond bark chocolate. I have used Ghirardelli’s melting chocolate when I’m doing a small personal batch for gourmet chocolate covered strawberries. But for large events, chocolate almond bark works just fine.

It’s easy to make chocolate covered strawberries from scratch. All you need is big delicious looking strawberries, chocolate, and a fork. Ok, a double boiler pot does come in handy.

I get the white almond bark drizzle on the strawberries by dipping a fork in the white chocolate and drizzling it over the strawberries.

It’s not hard to make chocolate strawberries, all you need is a double boiler and some dipping chocolate. But, some people think it’s a little intimidating. Around Valentines Day you will see and hear ads from various online stores where you can buy chocolate dipped strawberries and have them delivered.

Why Use a Double Boiler when Melting Chocolate?

Chocolate is a fickle ingredient. If you it too hot chocolate will burn or “seize up” and become clumpy. (Whatever you do, do NOT add water to chocolate.) With a double boiler pot, you add an inch or two of water to the bottom pot and set on medium heat.

You can turn the stovetop on a boil, to begin with, but then reduce the heat to low to gradually melt your chocolate. If you don’t have an “official double boiler pot you can use a metal bowl and sit in on a saucepan. Or a smaller pot inside a larger pot, as long as the bottom doesn’t touch the water.

Stainless steel double boilers pots. Cookware for melting chocolate, fondue and low heat cooking.AxeSickle 18/8 Stainless Steel Universal Melting Pot, Universal Double Boiler Insert, Double Spouts, Heat-resistant Handle, Flat Bottom, Premium Baking Tools,

Melting Chocolate Without a Double Boiler

This can be done. But take caution and be careful. I normally melt two squares of white almond bark for 20 seconds at a time and check it until it’s soft. Don’t just look at to see if it’s melted. The blocks of almond bark retain their shape, even when melted.

Ghirardelli melting chocolate wafers are actually designed to be melted in the microwave. Instructions are on the package and it’s VERY wise to follow them.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Dark Candy Malting Wafers, 30 Ounce Ghirardelli Candy Making & Dipping Dark Melting Wafers, 12 oz Ghirardelli Melting Wafers Bundle, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, Set of 3-10oz each

Strawberries are good any time of the year, but I make them on Valentine’s day and also for high school graduation parties. They are everyone’s favorite and I’ve created an expectation amongst my friends. My kids LOVE when I make chocolate covered strawberries.

Homemade Chocolate-Covered Strawberries 4 Ways

For my son’s graduation, I made about 60 chocolate covered strawberries and it wasn’t nearly enough. I could have made three times that many considering how popular they were. Maybe next time.

Buy Chocolate Covered Strawberries Online

If you don’t think you can handle dipping your own strawberries then you can always buy them online. Golden State Fruit sells them on Amazon and the reviews are fantastic.

I’ve read reviews for Sherri’s Berries and the Golden State Fruit Company Although they both pack and ship them approximately the same Golden State Fruit Company comes out ahead.

Very little is more romantic and makes an impression than tasty chocolate covered strawberries. What woman doesn’t like chocolate?

Golden State Fruit 6 Love Berries Chocolate Covered Strawberries Belgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries – 12pc Classic – Milk, Dark & White Chocolate Gift Box Caramel Sea Salt – 12pc Belgian Milk Chocolate Covered Strawberries Golden State Fruit Chocolate Covered Strawberries, 6 Dark, Milk & White Delight

Day 21/365: Total Eclipse of the Moon

December 23, 2010 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I might have missed the lunar eclipse on an early December 21st, 2010 if it hadn’t been for a plate of cookies. I called my friend and neighbor, only to learn she didn’t get off till midnight (she’s a nurse), but to bring them over afterwards for the eclipse party.

I’ve always wanted to see the full eclipse of the moon on a clear night. This year it happened. We stood in the driveway and watched it slowly disappear. I tried various settings on my camera but liked this one because of the glowing orange shadow.

365_122210_Eclipse — Day 21/365: Total Eclipse of the Moon

A PhotoShopped moon combination in many stages appears on my Flickr account.

Day 10/365: Homemade Twix Candy

December 11, 2010 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I promise food and treats are nearing an end, that is until the next time I walk down the aisle at the grocery store. Oh I HAVE to make those, it’s a tradition. Three ingredients Ritz crackers, peanut butter and chocolate, simple ingredients to a tasty treat. I call them Homemade Twix Candies