Chocolate Truffle Recipe!

Hello, friends! One of the symbols of the Christmas season for me is making and giving chocolate truffles.  I originally saw the recipe in the San Francisco Chronicle in the early '80s and have been making about 400 a year ever since then. That's one of the reasons I love rollerblading...so I can indulge in sinful treats such as chocolate truffles upon occasion.  I'm partial to the dark chocolate varieties, but I've branched out to make milk chocolate, white chocolate and semisweet ones too.  Here's my recipe for the original dark chocolate ones.  They may not turn our looking picture perfect the first time--or even the 20th time--but they will taste great no matter how they look! Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles Chocolate Truffles Centers:                                                                       Yield: 30-36 truffles              1 c. heavy cream                                                   6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels                                    4 oz. unsweetened chocolate                     3 T. unsalted butter 1/4 c. liqueur (such as Amaretto, Chambord, Crème de Menthe, or Grand Marnier) (optional) 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts (optional) 1 capful flavoring extract such as peppermint or almond Chop unsweetened chocolate into morsel-sized pieces.  Simmer cream in a saucepan.  When cream comes to a boil, remove pan from heat.  Add both chocolates and butter.  Stir firmly with a wire whisk until chocolate-chip effect goes away and mixture is like pudding.  Pour into a bowl and continue to whisk until chocolate and butter is dissolved.  Stir in liqueur (and optional nuts or flavoring extract).  Cover and refrigerate overnight. To shape centers, scoop about 1 tablespoon with a spoon; roll in your palms to form a ball.  Place on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper.  Freeze centers overnight. Coating:   12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate                    6 oz. unsweetened chocolate Note:  make sure you do NOT get any water in the melting chocolate.  Even a small amount of water will cause the chocolate to seize up. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (or a bowl set over a pan of almost simmering water).  Remove chocolate from heat.  Dip frozen centers into chocolate one at a time.  Let extra coating drip off and place coated truffle on waxed paper lined baking sheet.  Refrigerate.  Before serving, allow truffles to warm about 15 minutes at room temperature.   They keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.                   White Chocolate Mint Milk chocolate and white chocolate require a different recipe.  If you don't like dark chocolate, try the recipe above using all semisweet chocolate.  Leave me a note here (or email me) if you would like the challenge of making milk or white chocolate varieties.  Even my white chocolate mint truffles look a bit lumpy and I've made them dozens of times! Enjoy your truffles if you make them and happy holidays to you and your family! Keep skating! Nancie ♥  My last skate: 12/12/12  Skate #169 Lafayette-Moraga Trail 4.51 mi (How many truffles does that earn me?)

Wet Pavement: Moving Past Limits

Hello friends!

This time of year is my busiest season.  Between my jewelry business and my personal obligations, I sometimes have a hard time skating or doing other activities that keep me balanced.  Add Liz Reynolds and my holiday boutique last weekend plus very raining weather, and I'm jonesing to get out skating.  I actually start feeling like an addict who has had to quit cold turkey.

We in northern California had some major wet weather last week.  (I know you folks that live in other parts of the country are feeling no sympathy!)  Finally on Sunday afternoon the skies dried and the sun came out--just minutes after my poor husband finished cleaning out the gutters yet again!  I waited as long as possible to give the trail the best shot at drying out a bit but still early enough that I could get a skate in before darkness took over.  When the time was right, I made my move!

I started on the Lafayette Moraga trail at the Commons in Moraga.  It seemed like many other people had the same idea and the trail was filled with walkers and bikers...an extra challenge but not insurmountable.  I was the only fool on skates however.

I've written before about trying different techniques to mix up my skate a bit and to keep increasing my skills.  This day, I didn't need to try too hard…between the plethora of sticks, leaves, acorns and rocks and the still-wet pavement, I had all the challenge I needed!  There was even one section where the water was running freely right across the trail:

Note the gravel washed onto the trail and the 1/2 inch deep water still flowing across the trail

To my surprise, as long as I stepped a bit cautiously on the wet sections, I didn't have too much of a problem.  Mind you, it was plenty challenging…the least bit of wet when I'm skating hard means that my skates slide sideways out from under me.  On the wet surface I had to take smaller steps and be continually ready to correct my balance.  

With a little trial and error, I found I could remain pretty steady on my feet and manage to get a satisfying workout.  The workout combined with seeing a bit of sunshine, and my mood was soaring before long.  I kept to the mile-long section between the commons and Rheem Boulevard.  I did the same section two times to get a 4-mile skate and then managed to come home tired, sweaty and happy.

The next day the trail was drier still and I was now armed with the knowledge that my limits were not what I had thought them to be.  It gave me confidence to skate further and skate harder.  

I guess my surprising takeaway message was that my previously believed limits were largely self-imposed.  Because of my previous bad experiences with wet pavement, I had thought it was something that I couldn't handle at all.  Instead, I now know that with a bit of care and practice I CAN skate on wet pavement.  

A challenge is not the same thing as a limit unless I allow myself to believe it to be so--a good thing to learn and to put into practice in other areas of my life.

What other challenges do I have that are holding me back because I think they're non-negotiable limits?  Something for me to think about.

Keep skating!

Nancie  ♥ 

12/2/12 

Skate #162

4.12 miles

Lafayette-Moraga Trail