Truffle Recipes

Chocolate Truffles – The History of Truffles and a Great Chocolate Truffle Recipe

Upon entering a chocolate shop anywhere on the planet, our eyes often immediately gaze at the glass case full of chocolate truffles. Most seem to be dark chocolate, yet for for the milk chocolate and white chocolate connoisseur, there seems to be something for every palette.

The price is usually steep for these balls of rich delight, and the garnish and packaging is exquisite. As a gift, chocolate truffles are sure to please even the fussiest eaters.

What is a chocolate truffle and where does it come from? I was first introduced to the chocolate truffle in cooking school, where I attended the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York. “Patisserie” class quickly became my favorite. It is there that I learned to create scrumptious cakes, desserts and the illustrious chocolate truffles.

Over the course of my career my employment changed from year to year. What never changed was the truffles I would prepare for holidays and give as gifts. In 1991, I no longer wished to work in restaurants and was uncertain about my next career move. My Mom said something perfect, “Sandra, you know those chocolates you make every year for Christmas? Why don’t you move in with me and open a chocolate shop?” On July 4, 1991, The Kent Coffee and Chocolate Company was born in Kent, Connecticut, specializing in chocolate truffles!

According to legend, the first chocolate truffle was accidentally created during the 1920′s in the kitchen of the great French chef, Auguste Escoffier. One of his apprentices accidentally poured hot cream into a bowl of chocolate chunks instead of the bowl of sugar and eggs he had been aiming for! As the mixture hardened (we now call it ganache), he found he could work the the paste with his hands to for a ball. He rolled the creation in cocoa powder and was struck by the resemblance to the rare, edible mushroom that is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Specially trained dogs and female pigs are the only ones that can sniff out these truffles deep under the ground.

Certainly, you have sniffed out a chocolate truffle or two in your time, or you would not be here reading this article! Below is a great, simple chocolate truffle recipe. Feel free to play with flavorings and ingredients.

Easy Yet Decadent Chocolate Truffles

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or any liqueur like Orange, Amaretto or Irish Cream)

DIRECTIONS:

In large saucepan, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Transfer the mixture into a medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Shape mixture into 1 inch balls; roll in desired covering below: Cocoa powder, chopped nuts, chocolate sprinkles, melted chocolate

Refrigerate in a tightly covered dish. Makes about 72, 1 inch chocolate truffles.

About the Author

Chef Sandra Champlain has loved chocolate since childhood! As a top graduate at The Culinary Institute of America, Sandra went on to open The Kent Coffee and Chocolate Company in Northwestern Connecticut.  www.kentchocolate.com

December 2010 marked a new era for Sandra – a recording artist! Sandra recorded “The Law of Chocolate CD” which tells the story of where chocolate comes, why we need to eat more chocolate. The CD is humorous as includes a chocolate ‘meditation,’ where people can learn to have their dreams fulfilled by eating chocolate. www.lawofchocolate.com

Magic Of The Truffle: $7.98 The Magic of the Truffle is the first translation of the French edition La Magie de la Truffe. In it, Christian Etienne shares his favorite recipes and gives advice on how to buy, store and prepare truffles. Etienne is deeply passionate about truffles and this black book is an ode to the truffle.

The Dog Who Ate the Truffle: A Memoir of Stories and Recipes from Umbria $5.99 Veteran food critic Suzanne Carriero spent a year and a half in Umbria, and this is her intimate look at its ancient recipes, traditions, and the people who pass them on. Each of the bookÂ’s eight chapters features local cooks, as their personal stories are as much a part of the cuisineÂ’s essence as are the crops they grow and the family dishes they prepare. Anecdotes, sidebars, and boxes are used throughout the book to further illustrate Umbrian life — from buying a rabbit in the country, to making torta di Pasqua for Easter, to reading the Italian wine label, and drinking cappuccino after lunch (a serious breach in tradition). With a food and wine glossary included as a reference for travelers, The Dog Who Ate the Truffle immerses the reader in the people, cuisine, and lifestyle that few are privileged to experience. SuzanneÂ’s colorful stories and authentic classic recipes make for an intimate and illustrious travel cookbook.

Walnut Wine and Truffle Groves: $18.86 Pull up a chair and visit the Dordogne (called Périgord by the locals) the way it should be visited: one bite at a time. Walnut Wine and Truffle Groves is a culinary travel book that navigates the back roads—as well as the menus and markets—of the southwestern region of France with newfound excitement. Through interviews with local home cooks and chefs, visits to local farms, historic sites and wineries, market tours, and serendipitous detours, Lovato provides a glimpse into this unspoiled wonderland. The alluring recipes and stunning photographs let readers discover the true jewels in France’s culinary crown as well as discover the country’s most beautiful and less trod-upon provinces.

Other articles you might like;

• Vegan Recipe Books
• Thai Recipe Books
• Dog Treat Recipe Books
• Healthy Snack Recipes
• Easy Chicken Breast Recipes