VALENTINE'S SPECIAL - DAZZLING CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRIES DIPPED

Valentine is here again, I'm not V-Day Haters nor the V-Day Favor, but have been following the trends and see how it had been overly commercialized by makers and business. One thing for sure chocolates, flowers and dinning were top on the lists. Instead of ignoring the day as I usually do, this year I’ve decided to treat ALL with  Valentine's all time favorites - Chocolate Strawberries Dipped.

Chocolate and strawberries make a scrumptious combination. These berries are easy enough to make, fancy enough for you to craft your creativity and presentable enough for you to share with your love one. Also known as Tuxedo chocolate-covered strawberries.The strawberries are dipped into white and dark chocolate carefully to create a pattern that resembles a tuxedo jacket. The strawberries, the chocolate needs to set and harden completely. The strawberries are best served on the day they are prepared. 

Here’s how you can make a batch of these pretty berries right in your own way. 

INGREDIENTS AND PREPARATION 

• 1 1/2 cup each  white, milk, and dark chocolate chips
• 12-18 large strawberries

1. Carefully wash the berries and allow them to air dry on paper towels until completely dry.
2. Place the chocolate chips in three medium-sized, microwave safe ramekins, or small bowls with deep sides.  
3. Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds, remove and stir.  Microwave again for 30 seconds, remove and stir.  Continue this process of microwaving for 30 seconds, then stirring the chips JUST until the chocolate is smooth and runny.  You don’t want to over heat it, so this method will help you keep careful watch on the temperature of the chocolate, ensuring your berries are smooth and perfect, once finished./ 
4. Taking firm, gentle hold on the greens of each strawberry, dip the clean strawberries one-by-one into the melted white chocolate, making sure the chocolate coats the strawberry nearly to the top of the greens.  Transfer to a piece of parchment paper and allow the chocolate to harden in a cool, dry area.  
5. Repeat the melted process with the milk chocolate, dipping the strawberries just a little more than half way into the chocolate.  Allow the milk chocolate to cool.
6. For chocolate dipped, decorate it with white chocolate.
7. Serve within 12 hours for the freshest flavor. 

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Strawberry dan Cokolat akan mengingkatkan kita kepada kisah percintaan dan perkahwinan Datuk Siti Nurhaliza dan Dato K. Cukup top seketika dahulu sehinggakan ianya menjadi bahan hantaran favorite untuk majlis pertunangan dan pernikahan. Memang strawberry dan coklat cukup sinonim dengan ikatan perhubungan sebab itulah ianya menjadi jualan terlaris pada hari Valentine atau Hari memperingati Kekasih. Walaupun budaya ini merupakan budaya barat namun ianya merupakan sumber pendapatan yang tinggi bagi yang pandai memanafaatinya.

Saya membuat coklat strawberry ini akhir tahun 2010 untuk majlis pertunangan adik setiausaha saya, sengaja menyimpannya khas untuk hari ini kerana bersesuaian dengan tema. Sebenarnya tidak susah menyediakanya. Apa yang perlu kreativiti dalam menghias. Bagi yang meminati seni menghias kek, perkara ini adalah gampang tetapi kalau yang tidak kreatif cukup dengan mencelup strawberry ini mengikuti lapisan putih dan coklat, sudah cukup menarik. Teknik membuat coklat ini kalau diajar kepada anak-anak ada manafaatnya lebih-lebih lagi bagi anak-anak yang mempunyai business sense, sesuai dijadikan sumber pendapatan sampingan.

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Next Post - Pad Thai and PATYSKITCHEN GIVEAWAY

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