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More About Chocolate
Author/Submitted by:
Servings: 0
Categories:
Chocolate
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Information
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Kitchen
Ingredients:
Directions:
1.
Chocolate starts as a bean from the tropical cacao tree. When roasted and ground, the beans become chocolate liquor (a paste); when cooled, this becomes baking chocolate. Chocolate liquor is also processed into cocoa butter and cocoa powder.
2.
Bittersweet Chocolate: A blend of chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and just enough sugar to soften the bitterness.
3.
Semisweet Chocolate: Same blend as bittersweet - but extra sugar gives it a slightly sweeter taste.
4.
Milk Chocolate: Made with more sugar than semisweet - plus milk or cream and vanilla flavoring.
5.
White Chocolate: A blend of cocoa butter, milk, sugar and flavoring - without any chocolate liquor.
6.
Equivalents: 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon solid vegetable shortening = 1 square baking (unsweetened) chocolate.
7.
MELTING Top Of Stove: Place chocolate squares in heavy saucepan over lowest heat or in top of double boiler over simmering water. With wooden spoon or spatula, stir constantly, until chocolate is melted. Microwave: Place squares in microwave-safe bowl (do Not cover); microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Remove and stir; if only partially melted, repeat microwaving.
8.
To Make Chocolate Leaves: Brush a nontoxic real leaf with coating of melted chocolate. Refrigerate. After chocolate hardens, remove leaf. Refrigerate until ready to use.
9.
To Make Chocolate Cups: Evenly coat inside of foil muffin liner with melted chocolate. (A small brush works perfectly with this). Refrigerate. After chocolate hardens, remove liner. Refrigerate until needed.
10.
To Make Chocolate Curls: Pour melted chocolate into foil lined pan. Refrigerate until hard. Use cheese slicer to form curls. Refrigerate until needed.
11.
To Make Chocolate Squiggles: Place melted chocolate in a zipper-lock plastic bag; cut tip off one corner of bag with scissors. Squeeze designs on wax paper, using even strokes; refrigerate. Let shapes harden before using to decorate cakes, cookies or candy.
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