Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

A Sweet Guide to Tasting Chocolate

Looking for a fun time with other food-minded friends? Or, do you just love chocolate and want to know everything out it? Consider a chocolate tasting! Like wine, chocolate is a multifaceted food, with each step of its growth and processing—from bean to bar—impacting its texture, flavor, and usability. No […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Add Parchment Cones to Your Pastry Toolkit

When it comes to the fine details on picture-perfect pastries, there is a handy tool all pastry chefs keep in their toolbox: parchment paper cones. Unlike large piping bags, parchment paper cones are very small. This makes them steady and easy to grip, but it also allows for a very […]

Desserts

Candy-Coated Fruits

Makes up to 80 pieces Candy-dipped fruits are the perfect combination of fresh fruit and hard candy. They have a crisp outer shell of sugar and the season’s best fruit within—the perfect way to impress your guests at the end of a meal. They should never be refrigerated and must […]

Desserts

Cherry Cordials

Makes 50 pieces There is something special about cherry cordials: all of that delicious syrup waiting to be released when you bite through the chocolate. The most difficult part of making cordials is the patience required to allow the fondant time to liquefy before you eat them all. Ingredients 50 […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Christmas Brittle

Where I grew up in New Jersey, there was a local candy shop that sold macadamia nut brittle that was a prized possession in my house. It was, as you can expect, expensive as kids candy went, and my parents/Santa only got it once a year to sneak into our […]

Desserts

Coconut Joys

Makes 81 pieces This coconut filling is similar to some well-known candy bars. It can be dipped in either milk or dark chocolate, depending on your taste. Placing a whole almond on each piece before dipping adds a nice crunch. Ingredients 2 oz (1/4 cup) water 6 oz (3/4 cup) […]

Desserts

Fruit Gelées

Makes about 120 pieces Fruit gelées are candies that are made from fruit juices or purées. Fruit extracts and oils may be added in small amounts to boost the candies’ flavor. While extracts are available in many supermarkets, you may wish to experiment with oils to expand your repertoire. Many […]

Desserts

Green Tea Truffles

Makes 48 pieces Matcha green tea not only flavors this ganache, but also provides its distinctive green color. Different green teas have different flavor nuances; try different teas and vary the amount to fi nd your own cup of tea. Ingredients 4 oz (1/2 cup) heavy cream 2 tsp matcha […]

Desserts

Hard Candy

Makes about 150 individual candies This basic recipe can be used in many different ways: poured into molds, poured into pools with a stick for lollipops, put in a pan and cut before it completely cools, or dipped into to make candied apples or candy-dipped fruits, to name just a […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How to Store Chocolate

Chocolate is a very stable product and has a long shelf life when properly stored. Under proper conditions, dark chocolate has a shelf life of twelve months, and milk or white chocolate will keep for six months. Some simple precautions will ensure that your chocolate is in pristine condition when […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Making Homemade Fudge

Fudge is without question the quintessential homemade candy; it has been made in home kitchens for over 100 years. Mention fudge, and most of us immediately think of chocolate, but chocolate is not the defining ingredient in fudge; it can be made using a wide variety of flavoring ingredients. The […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Making Soft Caramel Candies

Soft Caramels are among the most popular of all confections, and in any box of assorted chocolates they are very likely to be the first to disappear. Lucky for us, caramels are fun to make, and there are few things more delicious than a just-made caramel candy. Even better, they’re […]