Chocolatey Things

« Garden Update, March 2012

Chocolatey Things

March 28, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

My lovely friend Joanna sent me these fabulous blocks of Willie’s Cacao…

I’ve grated up the Venezuelan Black, ready for use…

To keep the small people in the neighbourhood happy, I made chocolate lollipops from a 50:50 blend of Callebaut 823 Milk and 811 Dark. The sticks reduce the likelihood of chocolate hand prints on the walls…

For the grown-ups, I blended Callebaut 811 (54%) with small quantities of Tanzanie, Sao Thome and Manjari origin chocolate. The golden ticket moulds continue to be popular…

These fleur-de-lys are a new shape for me. I think they look quite elegant in both dark…

…and milk chocolate…

And finally, big dark (70%) chocolate pills, for emergencies…

Easter is just around the corner, so I thought it was worth doing a practice run – it’s been a while since I’ve tempered any chocolate. More posts coming soon!

PS. As always, our moulds were purchased from Candyland Crafts in the US. They’re just $2 each, but the shipping nearly doubles that if you’re ordering from Australia. Be warned, their online catalogue can be addictive!

Posted in Food & Friends | Tagged Candyland Crafts, chocolate moulds, making chocolate at home, tempering chocolate | 66 Comments

66 Responses

on March 28, 2012 at 12:06 am NiceMama

Celia, these look wonderful! What is your recipe for the chocolate lollipops?
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! I temper a mix of 50% milk and 50% dark chocolate, and then simply pour it into moulds and add the sticks. The moulds and sticks are from Candyland Crafts (link in post above), and the chocolate is Callebaut Belgian. There are a huge assortment of lollipop moulds available!
  
  I wrote basic instructions for tempering chocolate here:
  
  https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/06/26/how-to-temper-chocolate/
  - on March 30, 2012 at 12:45 am NiceMama
    
    great, thank you!
on March 28, 2012 at 12:18 am thecompletecookbook

Celia, you are a natural at tempering chocolate. I love fleur-de-lys chocs, they are just gorgeous and as for the PMS pills, I think those should be mandatory stock in all our kitchens.
:-) Mandy
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mandy, thank you! I make the PMS pills very dark, and because of the giant letters on the top, no-one else in the house is game to go near them! :D
on March 28, 2012 at 12:24 am justalittlepiece

These pictures made me so excited!!!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:21 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Cassandra! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 12:26 am Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

I am so interested in the Venezuelan. I wonder if I can get it in New York. Your chocolate work always amazes me….you are a pro!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Norma, thank you! The Willie’s Cacao is 100% chocolate, so it has no sugar or milk added at all. It’s a good base to play with, as you can put it into sweet or savoury dishes. I’m sure you’ll get it in NY!
on March 28, 2012 at 12:52 am niasunset

I loved them so much, this is so beautiful. Thank you dear Celia, with my love, nia
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Nia, thank you! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 2:03 am cravesadventure

My Favs – the PMS Bar – love it and of course the Golden Ticket Bar!!!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! The small people are complaining because the Golden Tickets are dark chocolate – I will have to make some milk ones for them.. :D
on March 28, 2012 at 2:26 am Sous Chef

Love the PMS pills, sadly I need menopausal ones! :)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sue, the size of them makes me laugh – as if the mould designer knew that little chocolate pills wouldn’t do the trick! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 2:46 am Tandy

I love your chocolate posts! I must make better use of my Willies chocolate other than as a decoration :)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tandy, thank you! I’ve been drinking the Willie’s in cocoa shots! It’s like chocolate espresso!
on March 28, 2012 at 4:10 am promenadeplantings

The moulds are fabulous, And your timing is superb, I’ve been thinking about making some chocolates (something I’ve not really done before).
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, Easter means chocolate in a fairly big way here! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 5:01 am Lizzy (Good Things)

Love it, Celia. We have about three blocks to use, so thank you for sharing this!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lizzy! Do you have the Willie’s cookbook? That would use up your three blocks in a heartbeat!
on March 28, 2012 at 5:21 am heidiannie

Your practice chocolates are amazing!
I’m always so impressed when you show your molded candies- as a little girl I was hoping to become a candymaker or a baker- I failed in the chocolate arena, but the baking worked out pretty well. :)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, thank you! I reckon you would be a fabulous chocolate maker – you just need a really good thermometer and a heat mat! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 6:36 am mykitchenstories

I am more than sure Easter will be fun at your house and no guarantee’s about the fingerprints
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sigh. Tania, you’re right, of course. :)
on March 28, 2012 at 7:31 am Norma Chang

Very professional! Looking forward to your future posts. I love chocolate but never attempted to temper and make molded chocolate, clever idea with the lolis.
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:28 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Norma, thank you! They’re very popular with the littlies…
on March 28, 2012 at 7:57 am Suelle

I love the emergency pills – every home should have some!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:28 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, now ain’t that the truth! :D
on March 28, 2012 at 8:57 am xo.sorcha.ox

Wow, these look fantastic! My brother-in-law is good with the chocolate-making; there is always homemade chocolates around at Easter when he’s been in the kitchen! It’s not something I’ve yet tried myself, though…I don’t think I could be trusted to get any of the chocolate in the moulds! ;)
~S.
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:29 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sorcha, getting the chocolate in the moulds is the easy part, getting them out is trickier if the chocolate isn’t in temper! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 9:06 am lambsearsandhoney

Gorgeous – I particularly love the PMS pills.
Have you seen the recent press on the advantages of chocolate in slimming? Such happy news. :-)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:29 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, I tell myself that every time I eat a piece.. ;-)
on March 28, 2012 at 9:12 am Lina

Celia, I love your blog! They always bring a smile to my face especially if the word ‘CHOCOLATE’ is mentioned… in need of that PMS choc pill almost every day! Just an excuse to have chocolate in any form I guess. I’m going to check out that Candy Crafts site right now…….
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lina, thank you! Have fun at the Candyland Craft site – I find them a really good company to deal with!
on March 28, 2012 at 9:13 am Nic@diningwithastud

I love these moulds :) Im heading over to Candyland now. My poor credit card lol ;)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Nic, sorry! Don’t go crazy.. :)
on March 28, 2012 at 9:22 am Jane @ Shady Baker

Celia, your chocolates look so very professional! Yum!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:34 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, thank you! I had a lot of fun making them!
on March 28, 2012 at 9:42 am clairekcreations

Oh Celia, how I wish I lived on your street! Those chocolate pops look like something you’d find in a gourmet chocolate shop.
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:38 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, thank you! I wish you lived on my street too! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 11:18 am hotlyspiced

I’ll have to check out that on-line catalogue. What a gorgeous selection of chocolates! Your posts are always so interesting Celia; you’re always up to something new in your kitchen! xx
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:39 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, thank you, but be warned, I’ve ended up with boxes of chocolate moulds, there are so many tempting shapes! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 12:13 pm The Wild Wood

Celia, don’t the chocolates look so tempting! I only managed to work my way through one of your suggested sites so far……….I’ll have to check out all the others when I come back from a long awaited holiday.
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:40 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Have a wonderful holiday, Elaine! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 12:34 pm Anna Johnston

Oh I am SOOOOOO moving closer to you if these are the treats you share with your neighbours. Delish! Love the lollipops, you sure are talented lovely. I’ll have to get onto this, this week, what a great gift for Easter. :)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Anna, thank you! They’re fun to make, and the kids love them!
on March 28, 2012 at 1:49 pm theintolerantchef

I love those pills indeed! I have some big round pill shapes for ice that are ‘Chill Pills’ – just perfect in a GnT after a long hard day!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, you do find the coolest things! :)
on March 28, 2012 at 6:35 pm Joanna

I wish I could do what you do with such flair! one of these days I will give it another go – such beautiful lollipops! xx
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jo, but if I was being honest, I’d have to say it’s easier to temper and mould chocolate than it is to take decent photos of it!!
on March 28, 2012 at 7:04 pm jcosmonewbery

No chocolate hand prints on the walls? You dreamer!
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Always the optimist, that’s me.. :)
on March 28, 2012 at 7:54 pm SarahKate

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! That all looks and sounds divine!
on March 29, 2012 at 4:23 am Tesney Ap

I love those chocolate lollipop :)
on March 29, 2012 at 6:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

SK and Tes, thank you! :)
on March 29, 2012 at 1:55 pm Just A Smidgen

Wow… I kept scrolling down and saying “Wow” out loud. You’re so talented! They’re just perfect and I really like those chocolate tickets.. I can see why they’re popular! Do you just go visit and drop these off! I’m moving in next door… just wondering…
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Smidge, yes, I just go visit and drop chocolates off. When are you moving in? :)
on March 29, 2012 at 2:19 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

I suspect you might have the happiest neighbours around Celia! :P
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  We have the best neighbours ever, Lorraine! :)
on March 29, 2012 at 4:53 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

They look awesome Celia!!
Seriously, you are the Queen of Tempering in the wonderful land of chocolate :-)
- on March 29, 2012 at 6:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Brydie! We have a lot of fun tempering – I find we play more with different blends these days than fillings…
on March 29, 2012 at 8:08 pm Anna

Could eat it all. I just read an article about chocolate and weight and it was all positive. I have now moved to eating pieces of 99%. Small children are up to 85%. Question – did you grate the chocolate in a food processor?

x
- on March 31, 2012 at 7:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Anna, I grind chocolate in the food processor to make hot chocolate mix, but I grated the Willie’s with my box grater.
  
  I’m still not quite at 99%, but the PMS pills were quite dark.. x
on March 30, 2012 at 8:04 pm sweetphilosopher

these are scrumptious looking – i wonder where do you get your molds from? they look really great and with easter coming up i would love to try this! x
- on March 31, 2012 at 2:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for stopping by! :)
  
  The moulds are from http://www.candylandcrafts.com and they have a huge range of Easter ones!