Chocolates for Easter, 2013

In My Kitchen, April 2013 »

Chocolates for Easter, 2013

March 30, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Happy Easter!

I hope you’ve all had a lovely couple of weeks!

We’ve been enjoying a little downtime – so much so that we didn’t get around to Easter chocolate making until just a couple of days ago. We’ve made up for it with a fairly manic (but very enjoyable) twenty-four hours in the kitchen, during which time we tempered over two kilos of dark, milk and white Callebaut chocolate.

This year, we tinted white chocolate with regular food colouring, and made these tri-coloured eggs. The large one below has a dark chocolate base, while the small one is a milk blend…

The white chocolate was tempered first and a portion was piped into the moulds. The remainder was tinted with red food colouring, and then piped over white. Once both layers had set, the moulds were filled with tempered dark or milk chocolate…

. . . . .

A large handful of Pailleté Feuilletine was combined with our dark milk blend (50/50 Callebaut 811 54% and 823 Milk) to create crunchy “Kit Kat” chocolate eggs…

. . . . .

Excess chocolate from each batch was used to make Easter lollipops (always popular with the littlies)…

And it wouldn’t be Easter without our nesting hens…

Our chocolate moulds were all purchased from Candyland Crafts – this is now the third year in a row we’ve used most of these, and they’re still in great shape. Not bad for $2 plastic moulds!

. . . . .

Finally, we tried making roasted almond eggs this year, and began by toasting almond slivers tossed in Kirsch and icing sugar in the oven…

The cooled almonds were stirred into a large batch of dark tempered chocolate (blend of Callebaut 811 54% and Sao Thome origin 70%), and then ladled into egg moulds. The two halves were joined with bulldog clips before rotating and shaking…

We were very chuffed with the glossy eggs that popped out of the moulds…

They were a little uneven, but delicious nonetheless!

. . . . .

So…has anything exciting been happening? Having a couple of weeks off the blog is like being on school holidays, and now that I’m back, I want to catch up with everyone. Hope you’ve all been well – I’ve missed chatting to you!

Wishing you all a relaxing, family-filled, happy and holy Easter! ♥

Posted in Food & Friends, Recipes | 68 Comments

68 Responses

on March 30, 2013 at 6:44 am niasunset

You are so nice, how lovely all these chocolates… Thank you dear Celia, Happy Easter and Weekend, love, nia
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Nia! Happy Easter to you and your family! xx
on March 30, 2013 at 6:58 am heidiannie

Those are so beautiful and I’m sure delicious! ( those almonds made my day! I love roasted almonds- and add sugar- OH MY!)
I missed you, Celia- thoughts of you spending time with family and knocking about the city finding great foods and art!
Have a wonderful Easter my friend!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, you would love those roasted almonds – we have trouble not eating them straight out of the bowl! The Kirsch makes a big difference.. :)
  
  I’ve missed you too darling, but it’s been lovely having a break! (I still caught up on all my chores, but I’ve decided I don’t care :)). Much love and Happy Easter to you and your gorgeous fam! xx
on March 30, 2013 at 7:05 am Thomasina Tittlemouse

Happy Easter to you and yours too, Celia! Your eggs are absolutely amazing! So professional & so delicious-looking. The things you turn out in your kitchen are just astounding! And always inspiring! E x
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you, Elizabeth, you’re very kind! Happy Easter to you all as well!
on March 30, 2013 at 7:40 am cravesadventure

Thanks for the Beautiful Chocolate Fix – Happy Easter:) Welcome Back from your escape/break! One exciting bit of news – started hiking again – hope to hit the mountains in a few months time – making big strides with my back injury. Happy Friday – Happy Weekend!!!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Renee, that’s fantastic news! Take it easy, ok? :) And Happy Easter!
on March 30, 2013 at 8:02 am Amanda

Oh, these just look gorgeous – especially the ones with the almonds in them. I’m having a quiet Easter this ear. The Bloke is up in Byron Bay at the blues fest and I’m home nursing our youngest who has just had some (more) dental surgery. Poor kid – this is her third round of dental surgery, and I hope it’s her last.
No interestingly crunchy eggs for her – just plain chocolate that she can suck!
- on March 30, 2013 at 8:14 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, I’m so sorry to hear that, she’s had a rough trot! I hope she’s feeling better soon. Big Boy goes in to have his wisdom teeth looked at soon as well. Have a peaceful and happy Easter, darling.. x
on March 30, 2013 at 8:09 am Nic

Celia – getting my chocolate fix vicariously! They look so pretty. Happy Easter to the gang. Nic x
- on March 30, 2013 at 8:14 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Let me know if you change your mind, love! Happy Easter, see you all soon! xx
on March 30, 2013 at 8:12 am Lizzy (Good Things)

Celia, you are a magician in the kitchen! Your eggs look wonderful, I can almost smell them from here. Happy Easter lovely…. sending hugs.
- on March 30, 2013 at 8:15 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lizzy, thank you – we had great fun with them, as we do every year! Happy Easter to you and Peter! xx
on March 30, 2013 at 8:53 am bakecakecrumbs

They’re all so attractive Celia, you’re very talented! I particularly like your hen in a white basket. Happy Easter to you all :-)
- on March 30, 2013 at 8:56 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Caroline! Hope you’ve been well! Have a wonderful Easter! x
on March 30, 2013 at 8:59 am Misky

Happy Easter, Celia, and much love to you and your family!
- on March 30, 2013 at 9:03 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Misky, thank you, and Happy Easter to you all as well! How are the renovations going? I’m sorry I’ve been offline a bit over the past couple of weeks..
  - on March 30, 2013 at 9:23 am Misky
    
    The remodelling’s coming along very well. I reckon another 2 weeks, and then we’ll be done for a while. The bathrooms need an update also, but we’re going to wait a bit so the dust can settle. :)
on March 30, 2013 at 9:04 am Eha

Happy Easter to you and yours . . . lovely to see your blog in the inbox . . .
- on March 30, 2013 at 6:58 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Eha! Happy Easter! x
on March 30, 2013 at 9:06 am theintolerantchef

Those almonds look amazing Celia, what a great idea indeed!
I’m so glad you had a nice break- but I’m so glad you’re back now :)
We had our big Passover feast yesterday and no plans for the rest of Easter apart from lazing around nibbling chocolate!
Happy Easter and Happy Feaster to you and your beautiful boys sweetie :)
- on March 30, 2013 at 6:59 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca darling, thank you, and all the best for a Happy Easter to you, BigJ, LittleJ and MiddleC! Hope it’s restful and wonderful for you all! x
on March 30, 2013 at 10:48 am Le Petit Potager

Happy Easter Celia!
I’ve just returned from holidays…………..how lovely to find a chocolate post waiting for me.
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:00 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Elaine, and happy Easter to you too! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
on March 30, 2013 at 11:13 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Celia you’re so clever! They look just wonderful and so glossy. I think I’d have to pick an almond egg if I had a choice. I hope you had a wonderful break. Happy Easter!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:00 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, the almond eggs are definitely my favourites, but it was fun to play with the different blends! Yes, thank you, had a wonderful break! Hope you and Will have a fabulous Easter! x
on March 30, 2013 at 11:55 am Manuela

Those tri-colored eggs look awesome! All the chocolates look so nice and glossy! I’m always amazed at how nice your chocolates turn out.
A lovely Easter to all!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:01 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Manuela, thank you! I’m always amazed when the choccies come out of the moulds as well – I always hold my breath a little bit as we unmould them..
  
  Happy Easter to you and your family! x
on March 30, 2013 at 1:45 pm Promenade Claire

Just loving your chocolate Easter chicken! Lovely to have you back in blogland :)
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:02 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, has to be a chocolate chook, right? :) Thank you, and Happy Easter to you all!
on March 30, 2013 at 3:06 pm Tandy

I love the tri coloured ones! Have a blessed Easter Celia :)
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:02 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tandy, we always feel blessed! Thank you! Happy Easter to you and Dave!
on March 30, 2013 at 3:13 pm Lisa the Gourmet Wog

Hello Celia, happy Easter to you! Those eggs look devine and so glossy! Tempering chocolate is an art form, well done!
I am new to this blogging world and have been a long time reader of your site. I would like to participate in your ‘In my Kitchen’ adventure for April. May I do this if I link it back to you?
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lisa, Happy Easter to you too! It would be WONDERFUL to have you joining in our IMK posts – please just let me know when your post is up, and I’ll add it to the list. And yes, please link back to my April IMK post, just so folks can see what everyone else is up to. Thanks!
on March 30, 2013 at 3:35 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

Celia, this is really very, very impressive. I love the different colours. Happy Easter to you and your family!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kari, thank you! The colours were fun to play with, although next year I’ll work on adding a little finesse to it – it was all a bit wild and swirly this year! Best wishes for a fabulous Easter! :)
on March 30, 2013 at 4:12 pm marilynscottwaters

Someone needs to build a big tube between your house and mine so that we can slide packages back and forth between each other. (Dibs on the chocolate!) Maz
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:05 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Have a wonderful Easter, O Esteemed Papertoy Queen! Wouldn’t a long tube be fun? I could make the chocolates, and send them to you for boxing up! :)
  - on April 2, 2013 at 1:04 am marilynscottwaters
    
    That would be awesome! Willy Wonka himself would be envious. :-)
on March 30, 2013 at 4:36 pm zazaseacow

happy easter to all of you my darling celia! amazing beautiful chocolate artwork! you ‘re always a kind inspiration ! thx! hugs! ✿◠‿◠) gina
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:06 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Gina, happy Easter to you and your family! May it be blessed and joyous! xx
on March 30, 2013 at 5:14 pm Kate

Your chocolates look delicious as always! I wonder if you could use freeze dried strawberries to get that pink colour? I’m going to be attempting to make your hot cross buns this afternoon and impossible pie this evening. I am not known for my baking skills, so wish me luck!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:07 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kate, my fingers are crossed for you – I’ll turn on twitter in case you need to chat. Happy Easter! :)
on March 30, 2013 at 6:40 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

So beautifully tempered and shiny. I bow down before your chocolatey self. Happy Easter!
- on March 30, 2013 at 7:08 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks M! Wish you lived closer – I’d share! Happy Easter! :)
on March 30, 2013 at 7:52 pm Sandy

WOW! You’re a genius – they look amazing :-)
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:39 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sandy, thank you! We had great fun making them, and even more fun sharing them around!
on March 30, 2013 at 9:36 pm chef mimi

Celia! I didn’t know you we’re this talented in yet another aspect of cooking – candy making! Working with chocolate beyond the basics frightens me! Absolutely beautiful!
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:38 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mimi, thank you for your kind words – chocolate tempering I can do, but for anything that involves hot sugar I need Pete to hold my hand! :)
on March 30, 2013 at 10:37 pm Karen

Happy Easter Celia. I think you missed your calling, you should have been a chocolatier and had a little store. You do a wonderful job with your molds.
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:37 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Aaah Karen, the problem with that idea is that then I’d have to make the same thing over and over again, and I’m notoriously bad with repetition! It’s why I never made a good piano player! :) Happy Easter to you and your family! xx
on March 31, 2013 at 3:20 am Kavey

We missed you Mrs egg lady!
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  You’re so sweet Kavey, thank you! Hope you and Pete are having a lovely Easter! xx
on March 31, 2013 at 6:59 am Debra Kolkka

We are up at the Vergemoli house waiting for the house to heat up after finally getting the heating to work. It is cold and STILL raining here and we are all sick of it. I feel for all the businesses depending on a fine Easter to get people out of their houses and into restaurants etc.
I hope you are enjoying a lovely time with your family.
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Deb, the rain has been just crazy for you – I can’t believe it’s still going! I hope the sun comes out soon! xx
on March 31, 2013 at 9:42 am Emilie@TheCleverCarrot

Incredible! I can’t get over how shiny they are…amazing job! I could definitely get into some of those right now. Perfect with my tea! Hope you have a lovely Easter with your family :) xx Em
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Em, and happy Easter to you all as well! I used my new spoons today! xx
on March 31, 2013 at 1:34 pm hotlyspiced

I knew you would be making your own Easter eggs. How gorgeous they all are and I think tinting the white chocolate pink was a lovely idea – the three colours are so pretty. These are so much better than what the Easter bunny provided for my three – they had to settle for Red Tulip and Cadburys. Happy Easter to you and all the family xx
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:35 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Charlie, and Happy Easter to you, Carl, Archie, Arabella and Alfie! I was aiming for a redder colour, but didn’t want to put *too* much food colouring in! :) xx
on March 31, 2013 at 1:49 pm Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen

We’ve all been waiting for you!! Well, I know I have been anticipating a little peek at your chocolate making skills, I just knew you’d do some for Easter and you didn’t disappoint! How pretty with the three colors of chocolate.. and the Kit Kat version.. oh, my .. I think I’ll go break off a piece of chocolate right now and pretend it’s yours:D Happy Easter!! xx
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Barb, thank you! The kit kat eggs have been the biggest hit so far, even though I prefer the almond ones! Hope you’ve had a wonderful Easter! xx
on March 31, 2013 at 2:45 pm The Life of Clare

You’re amazing making you’re own eggs!
- on March 31, 2013 at 6:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Clare, thank you! We always do! :)
on March 31, 2013 at 7:26 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

I’m absolutely loving the sound of the Kit Kat ones-I haven’t made my own eggs for ages but I saw a great decorating idea in a shop although I was a bit too late this year. Next year! :D
- on April 2, 2013 at 12:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  They were very popular! :)
on April 1, 2013 at 1:34 pm Jane @ Shady Baker

Sensational chocolate as usual Celia. Have you ever thought of going into business? Happy Easter x
- on April 2, 2013 at 12:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, thank you – yes, thought about it for a micro-second, and completely discarded the idea! :D