Home made chocolate slabs

Fae

Just found this thread, some really great ideas, will be having a go at some of these for Christmas pressies.

Fae

redfragglebiker

OOOh all your ideas sound so scrummy!

Not sure if it had already been mentioned but if you melt chocolate into a large silicone icecube tray and stick a stick in it then these can be used as instant hot chocolates.
Just melt some milk and use the chocolate lump on a stick like a spoon. As the choc melts into the milk it makes a very luxurious hot choc.
I wrap these in come cellophane and put in a gift bag with some mini marshmallows etc and they make a lovely gift. If you want you can add a cheap mug from one of the poundshops or the like and it looks like a very pricey gift set for not much at all.
You can also add drops of food flavouring such as peppermint or small pieces of grated orange zest etc to make flavoured hot choc.

Mrs-hoppy_2

I want to have a go at this this year!

Fancy trying some popping candy ones for the kids, then some baileys and choc orange and mint ones for the adults. Any ideas of how I'd do baileys and chocolate orange? Maybe just orange zest?

I read for mint choc that smashed humbugs are good so will try that!

cats2012

Can any experts give a tempering 101 for us newbies? I've already read 20 pages of this an am confused!!

Some ace ideas though

kms26

cats2012 wrote: »

Can any experts give a tempering 101 for us newbies? I've already read 20 pages of this an am confused!!

Some ace ideas though

My question too lol! Also how far in advance can these be made?

mandragora_2

I've no idea, really - I just melt it, very short bursts in the microwave, till it's just about melted, stir it gently and use it. Unsurprisingly, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't - seems to go a bit crumbly or bubbly - but I'm only doing it as a fun thing with or for small children, and they're not the most critical of audiences. ' Is it sweet? Is there plenty of it? Is it mine?' are their three key tests. This video, however, was worth watching, I thought - if only for his accent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDcF7nJbF04&list=PL01F222B5B3C16AF7

midnightraven3

it shows you how to temper chocolate here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDcF7nJbF04

doing it in a microwave you have very little control over the temperature, and the chocolate will lack luster and may melt at room temps

its easy to temper
and the results are far more pleasing

i never make these particularly far in advance, as any added ingredients deteriorate quite quickly, they are ok to eat but not fresh

mandragora_2

midnightraven3 wrote: »

it shows you how to temper chocolate here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDcF7nJbF04

doing it in a microwave you have very little control over the temperature, and the chocolate will lack luster and may melt at room temps

its easy to temper
and the results are far more pleasing

i never make these particularly far in advance, as any added ingredients deteriorate quite quickly, they are ok to eat but not fresh

Hi MR - looks like we both found the same video.....:)

midnightraven3

sorry:o
i posted vid much earlier in the thread, it was the one i learned from, but i couldnt find that one again,

tempering is easy and so worth while doing

bargainfinder1992

Hi I'm going to give the the pizzas a go. A layer of chocolate a layer of biscuit and another lay of chocolate decorated. What's the best biscuit to use? Any chocolate on offer anywhere?