A monthly online magazine chock-full of insightful articles for busy mothers.

by Shelly Hill

Are you considering making your own chocolate dipped strawberries this year for Valentine’s Day? Making and dipping your own fruits is really a lot easier than you might think and only take a few minutes to do.

If you don’t have a fondue pot, you can still make them by using a double boiler or by using specially made chocolate that you can melt in the microwave oven. When dipping fruits, you always want to purchase fruits that are ripe, firm and free of blemishes. Wash and air dry them before you even begin.

Here is what you will need to make your very own Tuxedo Striped Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.

milk or dark chocolate
white chocolate
fresh whole strawberries (not frozen)
fondue pot, double boiler or purchase chocolate that can be melted in the microwave oven
tongs
silicone spatula
waxed paper
wooden spoon

Step 1: Lay waxed paper on top of a baking sheet. You will lay your dipped fruits onto the waxed paper to harden.

Step 2: Melt your white chocolate first until it is smooth and creamy with no lumps. I use a silicone stirring spatula so that the chocolate doesn’t stick to my spatula.

Step 3: Take your tongs and grab the strawberry at the top. Dip your strawberry into the melted white chocolate covering about 3/4 of the berry. Hold the berry over the pan to let the excess chocolate run off and back into the pan for about a minute. Place berry onto the waxed lined baking sheet to dry.

Step 4: Once all of your berries have been dipped in white chocolate, clean out your pot and melt your milk or dark chocolate. Again, make sure it is completely melted before you start to dip. Using your tongs, grab the berry and dip it into the chocolate at an angle so that it makes a v-shape onto the berry to resemble a tuxedo jacket. Hold berry above the pan and let the excess drain back into the pot.

Step 5: Dip the end of a wooden spoon into the chocolate and make two tiny circles on the white chocolate to resemble the jacket buttons. You only need a little bit and apply those circles while holding the berry sideways. Once done, lay the berry onto the waxed line baking sheet to dry.

If you are in a hurry, place the baking sheet into the refrigerate to speed up the hardening process. Once they are completely done, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator. If you started off with nice berries, they should keep for up to 3 days refrigerated.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys cooking, baking and canning. You can visit Shelly’s Shakin ‘N Bakin in the Kitchen Blog for free cooking tips and recipes at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com You can find a photo of how the strawberries should look once dipped on Shelly’s blog at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-make-your-own-chocolate-dipped.html

Article Source: WAHM Articles

Share these Leprechaun Bars with the lucky guests who come wearing green!

Makes: 3 Dozen

Time:
20 minutes to prepare
35 minutes to bake
2-1/2 hours to chill

Complexity: Easy

Ingredient:
1-1/2 cups low-sugar, low-fat graham cracker cookies, crushed
3 tablespoons low-fat margarine, melted
Vegetable spray
1 cup low-fat cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14-ounce)
1/4 cup lime juice
36 large green gumdrops, sliced into thirds

Materials:
9-inch square pan
Mixer

What To Do:

1) Mix crushed graham crackers with melted margarine. Press into bottom and
up sides of pan sprayed with vegetable spray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3) Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
4) Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Then beat in
lime juice.
5) Spread cream cheese mixture over graham cracker crust.
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until set.
7) Refrigerate 2 hours or more.
8) Cut into 1-by-1-inch squares and top each square with three gumdrop
slices arranged to look like a three-leaf clover.

ENJOY!

Compliments of
Penny Warner
Author of
Kids’ Party Cookbook!

This article is written in collaboration and with the express permission of Boardman’s Birthday Party Ideas© a fabulous party themes website visit LeAnn at Boardman Party Ideas
or The Party Works for more ideas!

E-mail: MaryAnn-n-Kimberly@thepartyworks.com Author’s URL: http://www.thepartyworks.com About the AuthorMary Ann & Kimberly, a mother and daughter team have created their sites The Party Works and Cake Works Central to provide a treasure trove of free kids birthday parties, baby showers and cake decorating ideas. They are here to help and will become your celebration destination! Their dream is to help parents and grandparents create lasting celebration memories and not be afraid to have 10 children running around in their living room. They have expanded these ideas to also help people have great baby and bridal showers, holiday parties too! Lots of FREE ideas, games, party plans and help if you need it.