Oh February, I thought you would never arrive! A month filled with celebrations: birthdays, our first official holiday, a new Lunar Year and of course Valentines.
Why not celebrate February by making these super easy chocolate covered strawberries. Simple to make and the results are fancy! Just two ingredients to create these lovely beauties: chocolate and strawberries.
When buying strawberries, look for big red plump unblemished fresh berries with green stems.
For the chocolate, buy a good dark chocolate bars for dipping. I suggest any cocoa percentage over 50%, depending on how sweet or bitter you like your chocolate. (read : all about chocolate, to follow after instructions). Avoid using semi-sweet chocolate chips. I find they leave white marks on the chocolate when dried plus they do not melt very well.
Make sure the strawberries are completely dry.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
3. Place your chocolate melts or chocolate bar pieces in a ceramic bowl large enough to dip the berries.
4. In a large pan, bring the water to boil on your stove. Place your bowl of chocolates into the hot water. Make sure there is enough water and turn down to low heat.
5. Melt the chocolates completely and stir until smooth
6. Holding the stems of each strawberry, dip half of your strawberry into the melted chocolate on one side. Now, dip the other half of your strawberry. Allow the extra chocolate to drip back into the bowl. (Or just make one straight dip)
7. Place your dipped berries on the lined pan. Keep dipping and adding more chocolate until all the strawberries are done.
8. Allow the tray of dipped berries to dry, approximately 30 minutes. Or place the tray in the refrigerator until they get harden.
9. Remove the strawberries and place them on small baking cup liners or air tight container and keep them refrigerated.
Tips: It's best to dip the strawberries hours before gift giving or serving.
All about Chocolate
Basically, the higher percentage content the more intense and less sweeter the chocolate. Comparing a 70% bar to a bar of 55%, the dark chocolate in the 55% will be much sweeter than the 70%. The percentage on the label also informs you about the sugar content. The 70% bar contains 30% of sugar and the 55% bar contains 45% sugar.
Milk chocolates contain cream or milk in addition to the sugar and the cocoa bean.
Semi-sweet chocolates must contain a minimum of 35% cocoa and does not contain any milk products. We commonly know semi- sweet chocolates as baker's bars or chocolate chips. Semi- sweet chocolates are made with less cocoa butter (or cocoa fat) than some other types of chocolate. It also contains sugar, vanilla and an emulsifier. This is so they hold their shape and do not melt as easily. Semi- sweet chocolates are the perfect sweetness and works well in all baking recipes.
ENJOY!
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