Chocolate Making 101

This weekend was yet another fun packed weekend.  On Saturday, some cousins/aunts went to my Gramma's for chocolate making.  It was great to get together and learn some tips and tricks.  I must say, it was a lot more work then I thought it was going to be, but so worth it!! I left my camera at Gramma's or I would have had some pictures up sooner.  

We kept the finished product on my Gramma & Grampa's bed.  The room was kept nice and cool.  This isn't even HALF of the chocolates we did.  We alternated dippers and rollers, took lots of breaks for some of Gramma's yummy stew or chili and home made bread, and worked a full day.  Whenever we were almost done a tray, we would have to yell "TRAY" and my fabulous Grampa (who was the only man in the house) would come and kindly switch it out for us so we could keep working hard.  He was a trooper!!

 My cousins found some stellar transfer papers!! We thought we would try it out this year, and it totally worked! These are the cherry-almond flavor.  When we take them off the paper they have a nifty design on the bottom to help tell the flavors apart from each other.  Such a neat idea!

Gramma's table was filled with fondant, cornstarch (for rolling) and A LOT of melted chocolate.  My auntie Sylvia is pretty much a professional. Her chocolates looked so good you almost didn't want to eat them...almost. We had lots of laughs and lots of jokes as we went to work.  I think every body lost steam around 4:00 or 5:00 PM though.

By the time we finished, my Gramma & Grampa's bed was loaded, as well as the dresser, and the long table, and a table in the living room, and the top of the TV cabinet.  Grampa counted and said we did 35 trays with an average of 70 chocolates per tray which equals over two thousand chocolates!! YUM!  We had so many flavors! We did almond, cherry-almond, cherry, peanut butter, coconut, peppermint patties, caramels, orange, lemon, chocolate, dipped almonds, and also some peanut brittle and muck-ups (made with the left over chocolate and nuts) and I'm sure I missed some...

I went to pick up my share today and I can't wait to taste test again with Mr. Stannix tonight!! If anyone is interested in a good fondant recipe check it out here, and some amazing tips here.

Near the end, you can tell we got a little bored.  We came up with a hilarious version of the 12 days of Christmas.  It was a blast!

On the first day of chocolates my family gave to me
A grampa switching out trays
On the second day of chocolates my family gave to me
Two pregnant mommies
and a Grampa switching out trays
On the third day of chocolates my family gave to me
Three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.
 ***

On the TWELFTH day of chocolates my family gave to me
Twelve fondant flavors,
eleven calls from husbands, ten nimble fingers, nine cheating tasters, eight absent children, seven times five trays, six breaks for napping,
Five tonnes of sugar -- four kinds of chocolate, three aching grammas, two pregnant mommies and a grampa switching out trays.

  Thanks to all who organized, hosted and participated! It was a blast! I had a lot of fun learning from some serious pros! Sadly, I forgot to snap a picture of me in my awesome hair net, and apple apron to share with you all! HaHa But here's one of my kiddo in a hair net from our fondant making day!
Future baker perhaps?

Off to grab the lasagna from the oven and get some dinner on! Looking very forward to the Christmas season!!