Every chocolate-lover knows that you really can’t have too much chocolate, especially since chocolate is such a versatile ingredient that can easily be tranformed from a decadent drink into a fluffy chocolate cake. In Chocolate, Chocolate & More Chocolate!, chocoholics will find dozens of recipes that will satisfy their cravings and teach you some new ways to use chocolate in the kitchen.
The book opens with a thorough introduction to chocolate and the tools that you need to work with it. A significant portion of the introduction is dedicated to walking you through the steps of tempering chocolate and working with it to produce molded treats similar to what you would find in a high end chocolate shop. I love making chocolate bon bons and candies and appreciate the fact that this book spends a lot of time on them. Since many chocolate books skip over these types of treats in favor of baked desserts, it’s nice to see them getting some time in the spotlight here and it helps to set this book apart from others that might already be on your shelf. In addition to the chocolate bars and truffles, there are plenty of recipes for other chocolate treats, from cookies to cakes, that will come in handy for your everyday chocolate needs. A batch of brownies is the perfect after school snack, for instance, while a chocolate creme brule offers a decadent dessert option after a nice dinner.
The recipes are very clearly written and easy to follow. While the techniques for molded chocolates may take a little bit of practice to master (and a little bit of patience, since they tent to require a little more time than the baked goodies), the results are well worth waiting for. The book is beautifully illustrated with pictures of the finished products that will get your mouth watering, while step-by-step photos of some of the techniques used will help you troubleshoot any issues you might have as you try new recipes. Just be sure to stock up on your favorite chocolate when you order a copy because you will likely go through a lot of it while you try to find your favorite recipes from this book!
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