m.b. Foodies

自少與朱古力結下不解之緣, 由新年全盒內的朱古力金幣，復活節媽媽必買給我的新雄雞復活朱古力雞籃，到小學中學瘋狂吃的麥提莎，甘脆朱古力，及至９９年在瑞士交流的兩個月內，每天活在不同類型的朱古力中，直到現在，一直與朱古力結伴在一起，希望認識他更多，亦讓你們認識他．

'Chocolate is cheaper than therapy, and you don't need an appointment.'

無時無刻，我都想起朱古力．很多人都說，吃黑朱古力的人，才是真正懂吃朱古力的人．我卻認為，朱古力全屬個人口味．你喜愛的，便是適合你的朱古力，不過，我絕對鼓勵大家多試不同類型，因為他們每每帶來驚喜．

我最愛的是牛奶朱古力，甜甜滑滑的口感，幸福甜蜜．從小到大，我的 all time favourite便是 Nutella, 大家還記得小時候在超級市場看到一隻隻用玻璃杯裝著的朱古力醬嗎？當時一瓶價錢昂貴，久不久才能說服媽媽買給我，而那瓶醬，數天便吃掉了．

塗在白麵包是個很好吃的方法，另一個方法，就是用羹一口一口放進口中，朱古力醬在口中溶掉，滋味無窮

是德國品牌．難以想像如此滑溜的朱古力，售價便宜．香港'價真棧'提供此牌子多款味道，售價只是$8-$10，吃完第一粒，你會豪不猶豫將整排吞下

處理朱古力，需要一些技巧，以助我們炮製一些更滑更香濃的朱古力甜品 

Preparing Chocolate

To melt chocolate on a stove:
1. Break the chocolate into small, equalsized pieces and put it into a heatproof bowl.
2. Place the bowl over a pan of hot, simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl does not come into contact with the water.
3. Once the chocolate starts to melt, stir gently until smooth, then remove from the heat

*Do not melt chocolate over direct heat

Storage:

Always store chocolate in a dry, dark place at a temperature of 12°C to 16°C. NEVER IN THE FRIDGE. Never store chocolate alongside strong-smelling foodstuffs. Chocolate absorbs odors very easily.
The best temperature to consume chocolate is at 18°C to 21°C

When cooking:

Water: Even a single drop can cause your melted chocolate to seize up into a useless mass of sugar. Make sure to wipe out your bowl and dry your utensils before you start your recipe.

Stick to really pure chocolates for the best results.

What to do when you are melting chocolate and it suddenly tightens and hardens?

Add a small amount of solid vegetable shortening (not butter, margarine, oil, water or milk). Then beat vigorously until the chocolate behaves again.

Milk chocolate is the most common chocolate for eating but is less widely used in baking

Adding flavours:

If you want to add flavoured to pure melted chocolate, don't use extracts, use flavoured oils. The rule of thumb is that if you need to melt chocolate with a liquid, there should be at least 25% of the liquid to the chocolate.

Left: Make sure the strawberries are completely dry before dipping.

Right: 採用不調溫朱古力製作各種朱古力牌

鮮甜的生果，加上濃濃的朱古力醬，是飯後甜品的最佳選擇

朱古力醬簡單易做，只需預備以下材料：

200克　黑朱古力，　１杯　忌廉，　１湯匙　酒（按個人喜好，如橙酒，白蘭地）

１．　用鍋煲滾熱水，待水滾，用另一個已加入朱古力及忌廉的鍋放在滾水上，靠蒸氣將朱古力煮溶

２．　加入酒．拌勻後加進火鍋盆內，即可享用美味的朱古力火鍋