Chocolate Strawberry Valentines Food

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
• Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
• Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CUPS

Steps:

• Bring a small pan with 1 inch of water to a boil over medium-low heat. Place the chocolate in a small bowl and place over the simmering water. When the chocolate is almost halfway melted, remove the bowl from the heat to a towel. Continue to stir with a rubber spatula until completely melted.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon of chocolate into each of 12 cavities in a silicone mini muffin mold. Swirl the mold over a rimmed baking sheet to coat the sides of each mold. Chill in the refrigerator to set completely, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the cream, sugar and vanilla. Carefully unmold the chocolate cups and trim any excess with kitchen scissors. Fill each cup with a spoonful of strawberries and a dollop of cream. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, egg yolk, sour cream, oil, vanilla and 1/2 cup hot water and whisk until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Scatter the sliced strawberries on top and gently press them into the batter.
• Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 30 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a wire rack. Flip the cake back over and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Once the cake has cooled, put the semisweet chocolate and the white chocolate in separate small microwave-safe bowls. Microwave the semisweet chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring well with a rubber spatula between each, until completely melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Drizzle the cake with the melted chocolate. Repeat the melting and drizzling process with the white chocolate.
• Garnish the top edge of the cake with the whipped cream. Cut the remaining 5 whole strawberries in half lengthwise and place the pieces cut-side down around the edge of the cake.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY VALENTINES

Steps:

• 1. Make your cupcakes to package directions using the water, oil, and eggs. Let cool completely before decorating.
• 2. I use a rectangular cupcake pan that makes 8 cupcakes to a pan I measure out 1/3 cup batter per cupcake so they are all uniform.
• 3. While cupcakes are baking, thaw your strawberries, cutting them up smaller. Reserve 2/3 cup juice.
• 4. In a sauce pan, add your strawberry juice, sugar, and cornstarch, stirring to smooth, bring to boil and cook til thickened. Add strawberries and cook a minute more. Remove from heat and stir in kirsch.
• 5. Cover and chill filling.
• 6. To each cupcake, take a sharp knife and level off the rounded tops. You can save those to snack on.
• 7. Put the strawberry cream cheese in a Ziploc bag, cut off the corner to make a piping bag. Pipe all around the outside of the cupcake.
• 8. Put your strawberry filling in the middle of the piped cream cheese, top with a dollop of Cool Whip, and top with a strawberry fan.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Cut a strip of baking parchment and leave to one side. To melt the dark chocolate, fill a small pan with 2cm water and bring to a simmer. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and rest it on top of the pan, ensuring the bowl isn't touching the water. Stir the chocolate to gradually melt it. Or, melt the chocolate in 20 second blasts in the microwave, stirring after each blast until melted. Put the melted chocolate in a small deep bowl.
• Gently hold the strawberries by the leafy top and dip into the chocolate. Tap off any excess chocolate and put on the parchment to set. If you have any leftover chocolate, pour it onto another strip of parchment and leave it to set, it can be used again.
• If you'd like to decorate the strawberries, melt the white and milk chocolate and drizzle lightly over the fruit.