CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
INGREDIENTS (5 pounds of truffles)

3 lb chocolate (semi-sweet or semi-bittersweet)
4 cups very heavy cream
1/2 lb sweet butter (i.e. unsalted butter)
cocoa powder
PROCEDURE

Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Do not cook the chocolate. This should be done SLOWLY over minimum heat.
Boil the cream. Once the chocolate is completely melted, and the cream just boiled, combine in the top of the double boiler.
Take off the top pan from the water, and (off heat) mix until completely combined. Keep stirring until it is relatively cool. Allow to sit until it is cool enough to put into a refrigerator.
Refrigerate overnight (NO SHORT CUTS HERE!!!).
The next morning, melt this wonderful mixture again in a double boiler. When it is completely melted again, mix in the butter until it is completely absorbed. Whip, either with a hand whisk or a very slow electric gizmo, until the butter is completely absorbed and the mixture is cool again. This can take an hour or longer, depending upon the chocolate, etc. Let cool, and refrigerate overnight once more (this is not as critical as the first cooling; a few hours will be enough).
Heat once again, and whip until cool. Refrigerate until it is thick enough to pipe through a pastry bag. Using a half-inch ozzle, make little balls on a big piece of parchment paper that has cocoa powder spread on it. Roll in the powder. Keep chilled until just before serving. Let them return to just above room temperature before eating.

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake

 Ingredients: 
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbs. vanilla
1/4 cup hot water
4 eggs

Directions: 

Melt butter and 2 cups chocolate chips together. 

In a small bowl mix flour and baking soda together.

Put melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl. Add sugar and beat for about 5 minutes until smooth. With mixer on add vanilla, and gradually add water. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition.

With mixer on low add flour mixture until blended. Fold in remaining 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased 10 inch round pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 35 to 45 minutes. Cool. Store in refrigerator.

What are chocolate models? Well, as my introductory post began to explain Chocolate Models , here I’ll expand that explanation as well as putting my own personal touch to it to add entertaining wit and sparkle to what would otherwise be a pretty dull couple of lines! But first, a nice picture of some fancy chocolate candies that are sure to get you into the mood!

History of chocolate

The tasty secret of the cacao (kah KOW) tree was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. The pods of this tree contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet encompasses many cultures and continents.

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people, including the Maya and Aztec, mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, and the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favorite flavors.