Author: Ben

Today we’re making truffles for a neighborhood holiday party. I’d never done it before and I’m a bit shocked at how easy it is to make what’s usually a fairly pricey treat at a store. It’s just twice as much chocolate as heavy cream (by weight), plus a bit of vanilla extract and maybe some liquor (we’re using Grand Marnier).

1. Bring the cream to a light simmer
2. Dump over the chopped up chocolate
3. Whisk until smooth
4. Add the vanilla and liquor, whisk a bit more
5. Cover and chill

In a couple hours we’ll pull ’em out, roll them into truffle looking balls and cover in confectioner’s sugar or cocoa power or roasted hazelnuts.

I think “easy as making truffles” is my new saying.

Oh, and Mandy had never had Grand Marnier in a snifter before… I think she likes it. She’s also picking up some barista skills with the Silvia, just needs some more practice steaming milk and I’ll be out of a job.

Here’s my just discovered recipe for a quick and easy valencia mocha.

Ingredients:

• One cafe latte or cappuccino, preferably homemade
• One chocolate orange, preferably the one you gave you wife in her stocking, but any will do.

Take a bite out of a slice of the chocolate orange and drink some coffee. Damn that’s good.