Personalized Chocolate Accents

Andrew loves being a Boy Scout, and this weekend was the organizations 100th Birthday Party AKA The Blue and Gold Celebration. Every family pitched in to bring something to the potluck, and naturally I signed up for dessert. Im always looking for an excuse to make a fun treat.

The symbol of the Boy Scouts is the trefoil. So I made chocolate trefoils, and put them in mini mousse cups.



As I laid the platter onto the table, people ooohed and aaahed (isnt that the whole point?) and one woman commented, "You spent way too much time on those for this event." To which I responded, "It took 40 minutes, MAX." I stress that point, because I want you to realize how QUICK and EASY this dessert is to make. The mousse takes less than 5 minutes (seriously!) and the chocolate decorations (trefoils) took 35 (25 for the chocolate to temper, and 10 to make the trefoils.) So, keep that in mind, as you imagine your own variations of this fun treat.

The first step, is to get the tempering unit going.....once you put the chocolate in, you can walk away....to make the mousse, or watch the Olympics :)



When tempered chocolate is piped onto parchment paper, it will harden and lift of easily. No need to refrigerate (in fact, refrigerating will make the chocolate get condensation...and we dont want wet chocolate.)

I decided to create a trefoil, the symbol of the Boy Scouts. Since I knew these would be gobbled up quickly by a bunch of little boys and their parents, I just drew the design by hand (Im admittedly no artist)...but you can print any design or picture off the internet....butterflies, fans, initials, flowers, are all popular accents. Lay parchment paper out on your counter, and then put the picture underneath, so you can just pipe on top of it.



Once the chocolate is ready, you will scoop it into your piping tool. A pastry bag with a small tip, a squeeze bottle, or ...as I have done here, use a plastic baggie with a small whole snipped out of the corner.



Carefully pipe the chocolate onto the design.



I used Dove Chocolate Discoveries, mini chocolate cups.



Using the Dove piping bag, I piped in our Dark Chocolate Mousse



NOTICE....this would be an impressive dessert, all by itself...it's petite and beautiful, and if this were all I were serving, it would have only taken 5-10 minutes total.

But this post is about personalizing our desserts with chocolate accents...so, I added the trefoil...



This was a simple dessert, with that extra touch that made it special....and best of all, it was DELICIOUS!

Valentine's treats with the kids

Our awesome Dove chefs came up with some adorable new chocolate treats, and I was eager to get home and make them with my kiddos.

They are these cutie patootie ice cream cones!



Dont you just love them????

You start off with some mini cones....this brand is the perfect size.....





Use giant marshmallows, they fit perfectly inside



My daughter is, "Star of the Week"...which means she gets to bring the class frog home for some good times. He helped her put the marshmallows in the cones.



I tempered Dove Dark chocolate in my tempering unit. Tempering the chocolate means it will harden up, nice and crisp, with a pretty shine. By the way, the tempering units are going on SUPER SPECIAL in March.....if you are interested, let me know, this will be the lowest price EVER, lower than our previous wholesale cost.

But back to the treats....

I dip the marshmallow into the chocolate....



Because it's Valentine's Day, I will top them off with some pink and white hearts....



Just a few sprinkled on top....



Beauty and her frog are so proud of their creation!

and the winner is.........

Congratulations Gina!!

You win either the Dove Peanut Butter and Chocolate Smoothies, or Dove Chocolate Espresso Beans....Im assuming from your post that your going to choose the Espresso Beans...they are delicious!

Send me your address, and Ill get those shipped out to you.

Thanks for entering! Enjoy!

XO
kim

The new products are here...and I want to share with you!!

Whew!

Well after an exciting day at the Culinary Institute, I am finally back at the hotel, and able to get onto a real computer to post this give away.

Our new products include peanut butter and chocolate backing bits, chardonnay caramel sauce, chardonnay wine (peanut) brittle, chocolate baking bits, spring design transfers and more!! And with DOUBLE HOSTESS CREDITS in February, now is the best time to book a party and taste these new treats.

Now for the PRIZE....

Let me know which of Dove Chocolate Discoveries goodie (new or old) is the one that sounds most scrumptious to you.

I will randomly draw a winner from the comments listed...one entry per household, and you will get to choose between these two FAB NEW ITEMS:

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Smoothies

OR

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

YOUR CHOICE!

The give away deadline is Monday noon PST. and the winner will be announced Monday night.

New product give away!!

I'm at the Culinary Institute and Dove will be announcing our new products soon. I'm so excited about them and want to share with you! Check back tonight as I announce our new product give away!

Napa and the Culinary Institute of America

Well Friends,

The big day has arrived, and Im leaving for the Dove Chocolate Discoveries President's Leadership Conference. We will be holding our event at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, California.

Ill be boarding my plane shortly, to travel from S. CA to N. CA....packing my "warm clothes" and ready for a great time.

We will hear several experts talk on a variety of subjects, and will also learn what our NEW SPRING products will be.

Stay tuned, I will be updating as I can. More immediate updates and photos will be posted on Facebook; become a fan of Dove Chocolate Discoveries Independent Chocolatier Kim Sprague.

Bon Appetit!
kim