RECIPE BLOG! Hot Chocolate

THREE NEW HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPES
Your last chance to make hot chocolate before the warmer weather finally Springs into action!

CLASSIC HOT CHOCOLATE
Stir 12 milk chocolate pastilles* into hot milk. Add marshmallows and sprinkle
with cocoa powder for decoration. (Chocolate and marshmallows are available from The Chocolate Box).

HOT CHOCOLATE SNOWSTORM!
For the adventurous! Stir 12 white chocolate pastilles* into hot milk. Add a splash of Baileys, or brandy liqueur.

CONTINENTAL HOT CHOCOLATE!
Stir 12 dark chocolate pastilles* into a mug of hot milk. Stir in 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier or Cointreau liqueur. (As an alternative, you could also use The Chocolate Box's Cointreau chocolate sauce).

*For an equivalent of chocolate pastilles, you can also try breaking 2 pieces from your 50g chocolate block, or 4 pieces from the 100g chocolate blocks into your hot milk. It varies to taste.

Enjoy!

End of Financial Year Specials

Custom printed chocolate wraparounds are now available for promotions, parties, hospitality, weddings and large functions at a 15% discount when ordered and paid for before the end of the financial year (30 June 2009 - Australia delivery only). You can print logos or full colour photo images. Minimum quantities start from 500. If you would like a quote for your own design wrapped chocolates click here for our electronic quote form, or downloadable order form.

Below is a sample of our custom printed chocolate squares with our "The Chocolate Box" logo printed on the wrapper. These are also available for purchase at a special "End of Financial Year" discount. Click here.

We also have a special on bags of chocolate coins for corporate customers. Our chocolate coins are delicious nut free milk chocolate wrapped in gold foil to resemble Australian mixed decimal and pre-decimal (pennies) currency. There are 22 mixed sized chocolates in each mesh bag.

Special Offer 1:
Order 100 bags for $250 (AUD) until June 30th 2009. Usually our chocolate coin bags retail at $2.95 per bag. Click here for our special offer.

Special Offer 2:
Order 5 or more Pails of chocolate coins and receive a 10% discount if you quote the following code when ordering from our website: COINBOX10DISC. Discount does not include postage. Not to be used with other discounts or coupons.

RECIPE BLOG! Chocolate Spiders

Now that you know how to temper chocolate, (see December 1st blog), here is a very simple recipe for making chocolate spiders. Maybe they're a little bit too big and scary looking (see picture), but the good news is that if I can make them, anyone can!

INGREDIENTS
200g The Chocolate Box chocolate pastilles
100g packet of Pre-cooked Fried (non-flavoured) noodles
2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)

IMPLEMENTS
Double saucepans or a bain-marie
A tablespoon
A dessert spoon
Small pattypans (if you can find them) or waxproof paper

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Break chocolate pastilles into smaller pieces for quicker melting.
2. Melt chocolate in an empty smaller saucepan sitting on a larger saucepan partially filled with simmering water. Do not boil water, keep stove at low temperature. Do not allow any water to get into the small saucepan. See post "How to cook couverture chocolate" below.
3. When chocolate is smooth and melted, stir in 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, until mixture is thoroughly mixed.
4. Stir in noodles, until they are completely covered in chocolate.
5. Scoop out mixture using spoons and place into pattypans, or in blobs on greaseproof or baking paper.
6. Allow to cool. When chocolate solidifies the spiders are ready!

Chocolate Look Alikes

Back in the days of King Henry VIII's court, medieval chefs used to create 'sotelties' - highly elaborate meals and desserts that were made to resemble something else (like cakes that look like castles). In that spirit, I present you with some of The Chocolate Box's best look-alikes - pictured next to a photo of the real thing. Can you tell the difference?

For the answer, click the chocolate look-alike and it will take you to the product on The Chocolate Box's website!


Top: Chocolate Olives: Exquisite Dry Roasted Almonds, enrobed in milk and white chocolate.
Bottom: Chocolate Rocks: Delicious milk chocolate rocks, they look like rocks, but they're safe to eat - sweet milk chocolate in a thin candy shell.