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ABOUT THE KAROLINA CHOCOLATE RECIPE CONTESTS: • Each month between now and December 31, 2012, you will have one month to submit recipes. • Each recipe must state which cacao percentage was used and why. JUDGING CRITERIA: One (1) Grand Prize winner will be selected by a panel of qualified judges, whose decisions are final and binding on all matters related to this Contest, within 20 days of the end date of the Contest Period, from among all eligible entries received during the Contest Period. • Judging for which entrant with the best recipe will be based on the following judging criteria: (a) originality; (b) complexity of flavor profile; and (c) presentation. • The entrant with the highest score will be deemed the Grand Prize winner. In the event of a tie, the entrant with the highest score in the taste/flavor criteria from among the tying entrants will be deemed the Grand Prize winner. Potential Grand Prize winner will be notified by telephone or email within approximately one (1) week following winner selection. • A Karolina Chocolate Recipe Book will be created by our winners! The winner’s bios will be listed along with their recipe. All winning recipes will be available on this blog. • PRIZE AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE (“ARV”): One (1) Grand Prize - $150.00, awarded in the form of Sponsor-specified Karolina products and one Karolina Chocolate Recipe Book when completed and published. SEE OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE Send all entries to: contest@karolinacacao.com







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Monday, January 3, 2011

MILK CHOCOLATE & BOURBON TRUFFLES

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


What to do with all of the chocolate and bourbon you have left over from the Holidays?  Make these truffles and freeze for Valentines Day.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Milk 41% Chocolate
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 Tbls. butter, at room temperature
• 2 Tbls. bourbon
• 1 lb. milk chocolate, melted and tempered

Directions

Finely chop the milk chocolate.
Bring the heavy cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and add chocolate.
Whisk together until the chocolate melts and mixture is smooth.
Add soft butter and bourbon to the chocolate mixture. Whisk together until combined (do not over mix). The ganache should be about the same temperature as the butter when you add the butter (do not add butter to a warm ganache).
Allow the ganache to harden. I normally allow the ganache to sit overnight before using it.
Scoop truffles with a melon baller. Fill the scoop 3/4 full for average size truffles.
Round each truffle between your palms. Chill slightly before dipping or rolling them.

Temper the chocolate:
Slowly melt 10 oz. milk chocolate in a double boiler. Melt over steaming but not simmering water.
Meanwhile, chop the remaining 6 oz. chocolate.
The temperature of the chocolate should reach 120 degrees (slightly hot to touch).
Remove chocolate from heat.
Add a handful of the chopped chocolate to the ganache.
Stir until the chocolate is melted.
Repeat this procedure.
Continue adding chopped chocolate and stirring until chocolate is beginning to set up around the edges of the bowl and the chocolate in the center of the bowl will harden within 1-1/1 minutes when it is tested by dipping a knife into it.
The chocolate is now ready to use. If there are any unmelted bits of chocolate in the bowl, move them to the side of the bowl.
Should the chocolate harden too much to use, place the bowl of chocolate over a pot of hot water just long enough to warm the chocolate (do not return the chocolate to direct heat).
For rolling the truffles:
Place a little of the tempered milk chocolate on each palm.
Dip a truffle into the chocolate (halfway or so) and roll the truffle between your palms until coated with chocolate.
Set the rolled truffle on a sheetpan lined with parchment paper to dry. If the chocolate is properly tempered and you are in a cool room, refrigeration should not be necessary. The chocolate should harden within 1-1/2 minutes. If it doesn't, the chocolate is too warm and not properly tempered.
Repeat this process. Each truffle should have two coats of chocolate.
Yield: 2 dozen medium-sized truffles.

Variations:
Dip the truffles in tempered milk chocolate. Use a dipping fork and remove as much excess chocolate as possible to avoid a "foot" at the base. The dipped truffles may be decorated with white chocolate by drizzling the white chocolate over the truffles or by using a parchment bag to pipe it in a design.
Roll the truffles (as explained above) and then dropping them into cocoa powder, ground nuts, or nibs, coating on all sides. This will change the appearance, texture, and flavor of the truffles.
To achive a spiky appearance, roll the truffles around on a wire rack after the second coating of chocolate.

NOTE: Ideally, chocolates should not be refrigerated. Moisture collects on the chocolate giving it an unattractive appearance and rendering it useless (in its pure form) for melting and reusing. Truffles can be refrigerated in adverse conditions but it is not recommended.