My weekend gift to you!

I have such a fun weekend planned...trips to Disneyland with friends, and Dove Chocolate Tasting parties.

Im feeling so guilty for all the pleasure that is lined up for me, that I wanted to share some pleasure with you.

You MUST check out these two websites.

You will pass out from the cuteness at www.bakerella.com A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.N.E.S.S. at it's finest (and perhaps a project for one of my future baking classes!)

Make sure to have smelling salts handy, so that you can perk back up and enter this amazing contest at www.thepioneerwoman.com Click over to the "Home and Garden" tab (she is so high tech now!) and enter for a fabulous prize!

You're Welcome :)

Fun with chocolate transfers

One of the things that first caught my eye, when I saw the Dove catalog, was the chocolate transfers.

Transfers are images made out of cocoa butter, that can easily be put on chocolate. I loved that they had designs for all occasions, such as orange pumpkins, Christmas holly, red/white/blue firecrackers, blue flowers, multi-colored flowers, bubbles, checkboard, swirls and more!

In my next baking class, we are going to make these pretty ladies!

Now, you may wonder...what are those??? They are white chocolate cups, with a transfer design, filled with mousse.

When I went to our Dove President's Leadership Conference, I watched our Chef, Mark, make these in about 10 minutes, and I was so impressed. He simply took the tempered white chocolate, spead it onto the transfer design, and popped it in the fridge for a few minutes. He then pinched the ends together, and stood it up, and put it back in the fridge to solidify.

Once the cup is made, it's perfect for a petite dessert, such as piping in some yummy mousse!

For my next class, we are going to make some. I want to use the transfer design with flowers, or hearts....and serve a special dessert for Mother's Day.

Ill try to take pictures showing how to do it step-by-step, and put them up on this blog.

Stay tuned!

My first baking class

This past week, I had my first monthly baking class, and boy did we have fun!

When I do Dove™ Chocolate Tasting parties, the guests get to see new entertaining ideas, I show them fun recipes, and they sample a variety of delicious treats...but we dont get to actually make the decadent desserts. So many women asked me if I would start a class so they could learn to make these goodies...and that is how my class was born.

I have done classes for kids, mostly Girl Scout troops....usually making decorated, designer chocolate bark, and again, so many of their mommies wanted a class for themselves.

For my first class, I taught the gals how to make 3D, hollow Easter animals. I made one at the Mars™ Chocolate School, and wanted to share this fun activity with others. I didnt take pictures (thanks to leaving our camera at the American Girl Store) but here is an example of what we made:

With my handy tempering machine, we made bunnies, lambs and chicks. AND, all with Dove™ chocolate (no waxy, immitation chocolate for us!)

How fun to make your own yummy animals to fill the Easter baskets of your loved ones, or just to give to your teachers, coaches, etc. to say, "Happy Easter".

The gals are all excited for future classes and even helped me pick out what our next projects will be; chocolate mousse cups, molten lava cake, white chocolate tiramisu, decorated strawberries and more! Stay tuned, as hopefully I will have step by step instructions with pictures :)

Dove™ comes to California

Tonight was one of those special nights, where I am reminded of the great opportunity I have been given.

I just returned home from dinner with Betty Palm, President of Dove Chocolate Discoveries™. Myself and two other Chocolatiers enjoyed her company, as we discussed our training event for tomorrow.

Since Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ is so new, the Chocolatiers are eager for new ideas, training, and just a chance to get together to share our enthusiasm about this amazing business.

I will be doing a presentation on, "Dainty and Decadent" desserts, as well as discussing recruiting. Im so excited! I love what I do, and cant wait to share my passion with our Dove® Chocolatiers and their guests.

Im also excited that tonight, Betty gave me the green light to blog about Chocolate. I have wanted to share so much about this fun adventure, and now will be able to post pictures, recipes and entertaining ideas with all of you.

Deliciously yours,
Kim