Chocolate Covered Rocha Food

CHOCOLATE COVERED CEREAL

Steps:

• For the oat cereal: Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Place the cereal in a large bowl. Pour about half of the tempered chocolate over the cereal and, using a rubber spatula, toss the cereal around to coat evenly. The chocolate will begin to set. When the first coating has set, pour in the remaining chocolate and again toss to coat evenly.
• Working quickly while the chocolate is still pliable, scoop up small mounds of the cereal and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Set aside for about 30 minutes (or place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for no more than 10 minutes to speed the setting).
• Layer the cereal clusters, separated by sheets of waxed paper, in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
• For the corn flake cereal: Crunch up the cereal by hand, so as to break them up, but not pulverize them into crumbs. Add the crumbled cereal to the bowl of chocolate and toss to coat evenly.
• Drop the cereal by rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the sheet into the refrigerator to help the cornflake clusters set.
• Package as you wish!

CHOCOLATE COVERED MATZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray.
• Arrange matzo to fit into pan; break boards if necessary.
• Combine butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until boiling; boil for about 3 minutes.
• Pour butter mixture evenly over matzo.
• Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and immediately reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) if the matzo are smoking too much.
• Remove baking sheet from oven and sprinkle matzo with chocolate chips. Let stand to melt chocolate, 5 minutes.
• Spread the melted chocolate over matzo. Place in refrigerator until chilled and set. Break into pieces when cooled.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMOND TOFFEE BARS

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spread nuts on a baking tray and bake until toasted, 10 to 15 minutes, turning nuts after 7 to 8 minutes to ensure even toasting. Cool and chop coarsely. You should have about 2 cups. Set aside. Clean baking tray and coat with vegetable oil or vegetable oil spray. Spray both sides of the offset spatula with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.
• Make the toffee: Place sugar in a small deep saucepan. Add the corn syrup and water or rum and, over medium heat, bring to a boil. Let boil until large bubbles form on the surface, 3 to 4 minutes. Cover with foil and boil 5 minutes longer.
• Add the pieces of butter and continue cooking, uncovered, over medium heat until temperature reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 30 minutes. (The candy thermometer has a clip on the side that can be slid up or down. If desired, you can fit the thermometer on the side of the pan, making sure that it rests in the mixture, not on the bottom of the pan, so that the reading is accurate.) Remove from heat and immediately add the salt, baking soda, and 1 cup of chopped nuts. Stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.
• Pour the toffee mixture on the oiled baking tray and, using the offset spatula, spread the mixture out, making a block about 10 by 13 inches. The toffee will thicken very quickly, so work as fast as you can. When cool, blot some of the oil or vegetable spray with a clean towel.
• While the toffee mixture is cooling, melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl placed over simmering water. When almost melted, turn off heat and let the chocolate continue to melt, stirring occasionally. Keep warm.
• When you can lift up the block of toffee, transfer it to a flat work surface or to a clean baking tray. Pour the melted chocolate over the toffee, spreading to cover the entire surface and, before the chocolate cools, sprinkle with the remaining chopped nuts. If the chocolate takes a long time to harden, refrigerate for about 10 minutes to set the chocolate.
• Return the block of toffee to the work surface and break up into pieces approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide. Then cut into smaller pieces, as desired. Use as needed.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ROCHA

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1 inch baking sheet with foil, extending foil over the edges for easy removal.
• Set pan aside.
• Melt butter in a heavy 3 quart saucepan.
• Stir in sugar, water and cornsyrup.
• Cook over med-high heat to boiling, stirring until sugar is dissolved; avoid splashing the sides.
• Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the of the pan.
• Cook over med heat, stirring often, until thermometer reaches 290 degrees (about 15 minutes).
• Mixture should boil at a moderate, steady rate over entire surface.
• Remove from heat and remove thermometer.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan.
• Spread evenly.
• Cool for about 5 minutes or until the top is set.
• Sprinkle chocolate pieces over the top.
• Let set for 2 minutes.
• Spread chocolate over candy.
• Sprinkle with nuts, pressing into the chocolate.
• Cool several hours to set.
• Lift set candy out of pan, using the foil edges.
• Break into pieces.
• Store in a tighly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.