Christmas Baking

Well I started Christmas baking... There was a truffle recipe on the news the other night that looked super quick and easy so I thought I'd give it a try! Everything went smoothly until I got to the part where you roll them in your hands. The chef with the gloves on should have been a big flashing sign that this was a messy job, but somehow I missed that message! Chocolate everywhere! I finally managed to get them all rolled, coated in different toppings and into the cute little snowman paper cups that I had picked up. End result... pretty good! They are a Dark chocolate lovers dream, but I think next time I'll try them with milk chocolate and I definately have to pick myself up some gloves! ;)

Ice Wine Truffles - Live at 5 Gets Cooking
Ingredients:
180 grams Dark chocolate
125 ml Whipping (35%) cream
30 ml Ice wine
Finely chopped roasted almonds
Cocoa powder
Directions:
1. Chop the chocolate very finely and transfer to a medium bowl. Bring cream and ice wine to a boil, then pour over chopped chocolate. Stir untill chocolate has melted. Place in container and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
2. Scoop chocolate into small balls with melon baller, and transfer to a baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes. Roll truffles in chopped almonds, then dust with cocoa powder.

Early Start to Christmas Ornaments

So I was looking at Donna Downey's Blog (at least I think that's where I saw them...) and she had done these clear Christmas balls with transparencies decorated in the centers of them. They are also in the current issue of Simple Scrapbooks with the instructions to make them as well. Anyway, I loved them so much I just had to give them a try... here is the result of my first attempt! I think I will definately be making more!!