Give Your Lover or Mother Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Oct 3rd, 2008 by Strawberries
Chocolate covered strawberries are a great dessert or gift enjoyed by all. Young or old, male or female, everyone loves these sweet treats. The combination of fresh, juicy strawberries, dipped in creamy milk chocolate or dark chocolate, or even white chocolate gives a flavor that bursts in one’s mouth as the juice runs down one’s chin.
These sweet confections are especially popular around Valentine’s Day. Slightly less run-of-the-mill than a regular box of chocolates this gift exhibits a certain degree of style and sophistication along with an appreciation for romanticism.
They can be found in gift baskets, such as wine baskets, where they can be accompanied by a fine wine, and some cheese, and some table crackers. A wine basket such as this is perfect for an elegant picnic or a romantic night of star gazing. There are some performance venues that will let you bring a wine basket with you to sit on the grass, or some even sell them at the venue.
When you make chocolate covered strawberries, there are many things you need to keep in mind. Of course you want to have the best and most ripe strawberries you can find because they are really the main ingredient. It just wouldn’t be the same if the strawberry was little and tasteless. If it is a little juicy then the dessert will really be perfect.
Next comes the chocolate. The quality of the chocolate is equally as important as the quality of the strawberry. The average store brand chocolate has very little chocolate to begin with, so these should be avoided. The type of chocolate used in fondue is better. It is much richer and can be found with a variety of creaminess. A milk chocolate can be made with real dark chocolate and fresh sweet cream. White chocolate can be used as well, and dark chocolate adds a slight bitterness to the overall flavor. There are many recipes that can be found to create excellent chocolate for dipping strawberries.
The preparation of the masterpiece will have a great affect on making it appealing to the eyes, for one must be visually stimulated by the appearance, before taking a chance at exciting the other senses. Using a long stemmed, perfectly-shaped strawberry that is dipped perfectly is of the utmost importance. The dip should only cover about 75% of the berry, leaving the top quarter and stem unblemished.
It should then be placed carefully on a sheet of waxed paper which will allow it to cool without sticking. Once the berry has cooled, an additional layer or two can be added. A drizzle of white chocolate perhaps. Even a design of some sort; for instance a tuxedo pattern is popular and charming. Ultimately, the taste of this confection cannot be separated from its initial impression. Without the considerable impact of a precise dip and a perfect shape, the unique and exceptional quality of the treat is compromised.
