Posted by Dawn_Violet at 6:57pm Nov 10 '09So, Monday was the first of 7 days of chocolate at school. Yesterday we learned how to "temper" chocolate. I'm not sure how good I did, but it was our first day, so I guess I don't have to be perfect yet.
We made 3 different chocolates, so we could learn to temper each kind. I made:
- Dark Chocolate Krispies (dark chocolate mixed with Rice Krispies, its like a Nestle bar!)
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bark
- Milk Chocolate Pistachio Clusters
It was basically a free-for-all. Although we HAD to make one thing bark, and at least one thing clusters, and make one of each kind of chocolate.
Today we started truffles, making the ganache centers. We had to make 2 from a list of 5 recipes, and then make up a 3rd kind NOT from the recipes.
From the recipes I chose Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles, and Dark Chocolate Truffles... yeah, I know, not very exciting... but I didn't like the other recipes. There was another Raspberry one, and then a Champagne Truffle, and a Espresso Truffle. I don't like champagne or espresso!
But for my third one I am making a Lemon White Chocolate Truffle with Macadamia Nuts. I didn't get to finish. I tried! It was very complicated. I had to cut up lemon grass and simmer it with the heavy cream, corn syrup, and butter. I had to get peals of 3 lemons then slice the peals thinly, and simmer them in a sugar syrup. That took a long time, which is why I didn't finish. I got them cooked, and got the base of the ganache made, I just have to finely mince the lemon slices and mix them in. Then they get covered in white chocolate and rolled in macadamia nuts. Personally, I think it sounds delicious :) I hope they come out right!
We made 3 different chocolates, so we could learn to temper each kind. I made:
- Dark Chocolate Krispies (dark chocolate mixed with Rice Krispies, its like a Nestle bar!)
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bark
- Milk Chocolate Pistachio Clusters
It was basically a free-for-all. Although we HAD to make one thing bark, and at least one thing clusters, and make one of each kind of chocolate.
Today we started truffles, making the ganache centers. We had to make 2 from a list of 5 recipes, and then make up a 3rd kind NOT from the recipes.
From the recipes I chose Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles, and Dark Chocolate Truffles... yeah, I know, not very exciting... but I didn't like the other recipes. There was another Raspberry one, and then a Champagne Truffle, and a Espresso Truffle. I don't like champagne or espresso!
But for my third one I am making a Lemon White Chocolate Truffle with Macadamia Nuts. I didn't get to finish. I tried! It was very complicated. I had to cut up lemon grass and simmer it with the heavy cream, corn syrup, and butter. I had to get peals of 3 lemons then slice the peals thinly, and simmer them in a sugar syrup. That took a long time, which is why I didn't finish. I got them cooked, and got the base of the ganache made, I just have to finely mince the lemon slices and mix them in. Then they get covered in white chocolate and rolled in macadamia nuts. Personally, I think it sounds delicious :) I hope they come out right!
Let the chocolate begin - Dawn_Violet