Dark Chocolate Covered Cherriesshake Food

BOOZY DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain the cherries, reserving the juice for another purpose. It will not be used in this recipe but is great for cocktails and more.
• Place the cherries in a quart-sized mason jar or other container. Cover completely with spiced rum. Seal and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, up to 72 hours. The longer the cherries sit in the rum, the stronger they will taste.
• Next, drain the rum-soaked cherries. Keep this cherry-infused rum. It is SO good for cocktails. Place the cherries on layers of paper towels for 10 minutes. This step ensures that the chocolate coating will cling to the fruit.
• Line a tray or platter with parchment paper. Place the decorative sugar into a shallow dish or bowl.
• Melt the dark chocolate according to package directions. Use a small bowl that is deep enough to dip the cherries into. I used the Dark Chocolate Bada Bing Bada Boom from Chocoley Chocolate. Refer to the brand you use for specific directions.
• If the chocolate is too thick, stir in about a teaspoon of shortening until melted and the chocolate is smooth.
• While the chocolate is warm, dip the cherries one at a time. First dip into the chocolate then into the sugar.
• Place the dipped cherries onto the prepared parchment. When done dipping all of the cherries, refrigerate until set.

CHOCOLATE COVERED DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Place the dried cherries in a coating pan attached to a stand mixer. Spin at low speed. Using a ladle, add the chocolate to the spinning cherries. Add one ladleful at a time until the cherries are coated to the desired thickness. (Use a 50/50 ratio (50 percent chocolate, 50 percent weight of the cherries.) If a thicker coat is desired, use more chocolate and vice versa.
• How to Temper Chocolate(From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres):
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries on several paper towels and press out excess moisture; allow to drain at least an hour.
• Fondant: In a medium bowl, combine butter, corn syrup, chocolate and milk; beat until smooth.
• Stir in confectioner's sugar (mixture will seem dry).
• When most of the sugar is mixed in, turn out onto counter and knead until smooth.
• Divide into 24 pieces (about 2 tsp each) and shape into balls.
• Flatten each ball and mold around cherries, covering cherry completely (leaving stem out).
• Refrigerate at least an hour or until very cold and very firm.
• Line large cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• In a small saucepan over very low heat or in the microwave, melt chips and shortening or wax until smooth.
• Place pan or bowl over hot water to keep dipping consistency.
• Holding stems (or use toothpicks if your cherries have no stems), dip covered cherries into melted chocolate and allow excess to drip back into pan or bowl.
• Place on waxed papered cookie sheet to set.
• Place in miniture muffin cups if desired and store in tightly covered container or in the refrigerator.

DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly butter a 9 inch springform pan.
• Pour graham cracker crumbs into bottom of pan. Drizzle with melted butter and press to form a thin crust.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• For Filling: Melt chocolate in a double boiler until smooth. Remove from heat, and bring to room temperature. Consistency should be pourable.
• Meanwhile, whip cream cheese until light and fluffy.
• Add sugar, and blend at medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
• Blend in eggs, one at a time. Beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla extract, and whip to combine.
• Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently as you are adding ingredients, to ensure that everything is well incorporated.
• Gently stir in the melted chocolate, just until combined.
• Carefully stir in the dried cherries.
• Pour filling into room temperature crust.
• Wrap bottom of springform pan with heavy duty aluminum foil, and place in a large roasting pan. Set on center oven rack. Carefully fill roasting pan with boiling water, about 1 inch up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees, or until center is just set.
• Remove from oven, and allow to cool about 5 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake. Do not remove the springform pan.
• Cover, and chill overnight.
• Enjoy!

DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Step 1: Pour 2 cups of dark chocolate chips and 1tsp. of butter into a microwaveable bowl.
• Step 2: Place in the microwave, and microwave for approximately 30 seconds.
• Step 3: Take out and stir chocolate with a spoon, repeat this step until your chocolate is smooth.
• Step 4: Cut strawberries in ½, so each ½ gets part of the stem.
• Step 5: Place a piece of wax paper on a plate.
• Step 6: Take a strawberry and dip ½ of it in the dark chocolate.
• Step 7: Gently place the strawberry on the plate.
• Step 8: Repeat step 6-7 until you use all strawberries.
• Step 9: Refrigerate for an hour and ½ or until solid.
• Step 10: Enjoy your dark chocolate covered strawberries.

DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES...SHAKE

Steps:

• throw it all in the blender.
• pour into a shake glass you will need a BIG WIDE straw for the cherry chunks.
• garnish with dark chocolate shavings and enjoy the bliss.
• for a twist add liquor, brandy, or cognac for example
• I USE ALL KOSHER/ORGANIC INGREDIENTS.