3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

chocolate

#8/52: Another Birthday

by

17 Candles
17 Birthday Candles

My daughter turned 17 this month and it’s one more year closer to independence, one more day closer to college and one more year closer to moving into a dorm.  Every day brings me closer to the day where my “baby” won’t be within hugging distance.  It seems that with every year comes remarkable changes that leaves me in awe.

College brochures arrive in the mail, scholarships , ACT tests, all signs of the future to come.  Right now I’m just going to bask in the glow of the candles of my daughters burning light and enjoy the short time I have left and enjoy each day.

Recipe for Chocolate Covered Cherries that Taste Amazing

by

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.

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.

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 MakingGhirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers (for Candy MakingNordic Ware Universal 8 Cup Double BoilerNordic Ware Universal 8 Cup Double Boiler

How to Make Chocolate Covered Cherries

  1. Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry. (liquid will also lump chocolate
  2. In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth.
  3. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary.
  4. Next, pinch off a teaspoon bit of dough and roll into a ball. Flatten in your palm
  5. 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
  6. Place on waxed paper or parchment paper and place in the freezer to chill for one hour or until firm.
  7. Melt confectioners’ coating in a heavy saucepan over med heat. (see above)
  8. Dip each cherry and place on waxed paper lined sheets.
  9. Chill until completely set (trying not to eat them in the process)
  10. Wrap in candy foil wrappers
  11. Lastly, store in an airtight container in a cool place.
  12. 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 pieceMaraschino Cherries – Belgian Chocolate Covered Cherries – 24 pieceShari's Berries - 20 Hand-Dipped Classic Cherries - 20 Count - Gourmet Baked Good GiftsShari’s Berries – 20 Hand-Dipped Classic Cherries – 20 Count – Gourmet Baked Good GiftsDouble Dipped Chocolate Cherries 1/2 Lb Box Mix- Milk & Dark ChocolateDouble Dipped Chocolate Cherries 1/2 Lb Box Mix- Milk & Dark ChocolateShari's Berries - 4 Caramel Pretzels and 20 Hand-Dipped Cherries - 24 Count - Gourmet Baked Good GiftsShari’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 202/365: Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert

by

I love food and there is nothing more impressive than a layered trifle dessert when you are trying to impress company. What is great about trifles is they are soooo easy and creative, really can’t go wrong with just about any combination of pudding, cool whip, fruit or candy toppings.

I received a trifle bowl for our wedding and one of my first dessert creations was chocolate pudding, brownies, and heath bars layered with cool whip.

Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert
Easy Chocolate Trifle

My kids fought over it and said I had to make it again.You expect a recipe maybe? Ok, here it is

Ingredients

  • 1 pan of brownies
  • 1 qt (4 cups) cold milk
  • 2 pkg (4 serving size each) Chocolate Instant Pudding & Pie Filing
  • 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed
  • 4 pkg (1.4 oz each) Heath Bars (Butterfingers, Snickers, you get the idea)

Directions

Bake brownies. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes. ADD mild to dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. LAYER half each of the brownie cubes, pudding, whipped topping and crushed chocolate bars in large glass trifle bowl.

Simple Dessert TriflesArtland Simplicity Trifle Bowl

REPEAT all layers, Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Other trifle Combinations

Layer the following with cool whip

  • Banana pudding, bananas, strawberries, blueberries
  • Vanilla pudding, strawberries, blueberries (red, white, and blue patriotic trifle)
  • Pistachio pudding, chocolate brownies, strawberries, crushed pistachio nuts on top
  • Lemon pudding, angel food cake, blueberries, crushed lemon cookies

Sweet Home: Over 100 Heritage Desserts and Ideas for

Let your creative ideas flow when it comes to trifles and desserts. It’s a great way to end a meal and make an impression. I like to show my guests what we have for dessert before we eat, that way they leave room for dessert after dinner.

More Trifle Dessert Ideas

Easy Chocolate Dessert: Death by Chocolate – Madigan Made

Easy chocolate trifle dessert idea with Butterfinger candy layers. If you wanted more trifle ideas, be sure to check out some of my other recipes (I tend to like mini desserts, too!): Easy trifle dessert ideas. Clockwise from the top …

Mini Strawberry, Lemon and Shortbread Trifle – Madigan Made

layered trifle miniature. I love desserts like this. In reality, trifles are very simple to make… but the layers look so pretty! Oh, and did I mention that they taste good, too?! YUM! mini trifle dessert ideas. Sharing with link parties at:

Foodista | Beautiful Berry and White Chocolate Trifle

Thanks to Foodista member: Nerina Timm for this lovely dessert. For more trifle dessert ideas, check out these, from the Foodista archives: Berry and White Chocolate Trifle · Brownie Trifle · Chocolate Berry Trifle · Chocolate …

Trifle Recipe For An Easy Dessert (PHOTOS)

A trifle recipe is your savior of holiday entertaining. It lets you look impressive, but won’t stress you out. Trifles are like secret weapons that are especially handy during the holiday season when you need easy desserts that can feed a crowd. No …

 

Day 158/365: Graduation Cake

by

High school students graduate in Mid-May in Nebraska and graduation cakes start flying off the shelves. It’s different than a wedding, where the bride and groom will have a cake testing session before picking their baker. Graduation cakes are considered manadatory but at the parties in our area are more of a table decoration as the “real food” is what guest really anticipate.

Most people go to Sams or their local grocery bakery and get a cake.  My son and I had some amazing cake at a wedding we attended about a month ago. The baker was in attendance so I approached her and arranged for her to make his graduation cake.

Graduation Cake

I like supporting local businesses, and a fresh baked cake from Lynnn would be so much fresher and tastier than the cakes from Sam’s that receive frozen sheets by the gross and use prepackaged frosting. It didn’t really cost any more either. Thirty dollars for a half sheet.

Did I tell you my son graduated on his 18th birthday? That in itself was pretty special. He wanted a special birthday cake along with it and picked chocolate. Lynns double chocolate cake was to die for and many people asked who made the cakes. Total on both cakes $45.00, including delivery. Thanks Lynn

Birthday and Graduation Cakes
Birthday and Graduation Cakes

We didn’t have much cake left, all that remained was the picture corner and a small wedge of chocolate.

Most seniors from Elmwood-Murdock High School have their parties on the Saturday of graduation. The parties are pretty much the same, open house style with friends and family and lots of food. On graduation Saturday you can easily go to 9-10 parties, that’s if you’re fast. Halfway through the day you don’t want to look at another piece of cake.

I honestly feel bad for those families who buy full sheet cakes only to have a couple of pieces eaten.

Unique cake toppers and decorations are easily found in various locations, and most bakeries are open to their customers bringing in custom decorations to personalize your seniors special day.

Decorations for Graduation Cakes

MALE GRADUATION BOBBLEHEAD/CAKE TOPPER [Kitchen]Pink Graduation Cake Decorating KitGraduation Silhouette Grad Cap and Gown Edible Designer Prints Cake BorderYou Did It Grad Edible Cake Decoration

Other Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation Cakes – Decoration Ideas | Little Birthday Cakes

As the name suggests, graduation cakes are designed to celebrate the completion of one’s graduation degree. They can also be created for commemorating the.
Best Graduation Party Menu and Decoration Musts

graduation cake As the school year begins to wind down, the graduation party planning begins to wind up. From high school and college to kindergarten, the coming months will bring graduations galore, and such significant occasions call for memorable …
Throw your graduate a great party

Well, it is getting close to the time of year where graduation invitations arrive in our mailbox, and for some of you, your special ones are graduating this year. What a fun and exciting time. Today, I thought I would share some of my graduation party …
Unique Graduation Party Ideas

Flick photo by m00byIf you have a child that’s graduating, you’ll probably spend the majority of graduation day crying tears of joy. But afterward, it’s time to party and celebrate your teen’s milestone. So wipe off that smudged mascara, and check out …
Throw a “Throwback” Graduation Party

Relive the disco years of the 70’s or the totally awesome 80’s by throwing a retro graduation party. Parents can celebrate their child’s graduation by paying homage to their own year of graduation. You can help your child see just how similar and …
Best Graduation Party Menu and Decoration Musts

graduation cake As the school year begins to wind down, the graduation party planning begins to wind up. From high school and college to kindergarten, the coming months will bring graduations galore, and such significant occasions call for memorable …