"Chocolates, Anyone?"

"SAVE THE EARTH....it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!"

"Put EAT CHOCOLATE at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least, you'll get ONE thing done."

Let me begin by saying that I am allergic to chocolate. To those of you who happen to know me...this explains why I am a somewhat difficult person to live with. To those of you who don't, well, suffice it to say that I have substituted chocolate therapy with flea market therapy, thus avoiding those bothersome allergic reactions!

The last two Mondays, I have taken a chocolate-making class at the local chocolate shop. While I knew there was a chocolate shop in town, I had never ventured into it, but a friend of mine mentioned that she was taking a class there, and thinking it sounded like FUN, I decided to attend classes with her. And, YES, I did say I was allergic. I just never touch the stuff, but can still enjoy the smell of it...aroma therapy....and besides, that old navy man LOVES chocolate, so why not make him some?

The little shop is called "Pearley May's Chocolate Shop" where you can purchase various chocolates, cakes, cookies, etc. The owner's name is Diana. I would give you all the shop info, but she doesn't ship. Being a one person operation, I'm sure she has her hands full filling all her orders during the holidays anyway. There isn't another operation like it around here that I know of.

In the first class, we learned to paint the molds with chocolate, rolled the centers, etc. The first box of chocolates shown here, I made in the first class. Not perfect ones, mind you, but I did manage to make enough to give every person at our family Thanksgiving dinner one, plus a small box of eight to send home with the favorite son and a box of six home to Texas with the cousins. These folks said the chocolates were very good, so I'm assuming they were. I know I had fun making them.

One thing I learned is if you overpour the final layer of chocolate, you must later trim them to make each one really "neat and pretty." And, also, we cut one from each batch in half so we could see how well we filled the chocolate shell. You know how OCD I am, so naturally, I was better at doing the trimming than the filling!

In the second class, we learned to make truffles....piping in the filling. I really enjoyed the piping....reminded me of decorating cakes. The second little box contains some of the truffles I made.....I even enjoyed putting the box together and think doing some artwork on the boxes would be fun...well, if you are presenting them as a gift, why not go all out?

The classes were fun...I had never taken a class involving food before. I wanted to take the class on 'ganache' but missed it...darn it...that old navy man would love a chocolate cake with that luscious, shiny, chocolate on top and there are no more classes til some time next year. Heck, maybe I'll just research that and make him one on my own. How hard can it be? Famous last words?

It's cold here....and it probably is where you are too...so stay warm and happy and take care til we visit again. pat

PS. By the way, did I mention the navy man eats all this chocolate and never gains an ounce?
Aggravating, isn't it?