My friend Tania is a generous soul.
She works for an Italian wholesaler, and is always passing me bits and pieces that she can’t sell – like this broken block of Amedei Toscana Nut Brown. It’s a fabulous blend of milk chocolate and hazelnut, and tastes like a sophisticated version of our homemade Nutella chocolate slab…
This particular Amedei blend is very soft and smooth, and slices quite easily. Pete thought it would make a great centre for a filled chocolate, and suggested I try encasing chunks of it inside a milk chocolate feuilletine coating.
Which is what I did! I tempered up a 50/50 blend of Callebaut 811 (54% dark) and 823 (milk), then stirred in a large handful of pailleté feuilletine. My fleur de lys moulds were half filled, small pieces of the Toscana Nut Brown were placed on top, and then a dollop of chocolate was spooned on top to seal them in…
The end result is quite sweet and very moreish. Can you see the little piece of hazelnut chocolate embedded in the middle?
I turned the leftover feuilletine mixture into teddy bears on a stick for Small Girl (now known as the artist Pinkabelle)..
Thanks again, Tania! We’ve had a great time experimenting with your generous gift!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Ooo, what a fabulous friend to have Celia.
:-) Mandy xo
She’s an absolutely fabulous friend in her own right, Mandy! The chocolate is a bonus.. :)
Amazing! I still cannot believe how easy it is for you to temper chocolate!
If I show your post to Phil, I can hear him say: “why don’t you try that?”
and then, I would have to answer… ;-)
So Sally, why don’t you try that? ;-)
Because I’ve lived with myself for 53 and a half years, and got to know a few of my limitations… like TEMPERING CHOCOLATE ;-)
Such lovely little bears, and your chocolate skills are amazing. What a fun post!
Misky, thank you! They were fun to make too! :)
oh my God! chocolate Teddy Bear sticks. Swoon! Also lucky you re your friend & the choc surplus
Yep, very lucky to have a friend with an occasional chocolate surplus, and the teddys are on sticks because Pinkabelle use to put chocolate handprints on our walls! :) I wrote a bit about her a couple of years ago:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/06/11/chocolate-on-a-stick/
Of course she gives them to you! You are the best at making the best of all things given to you! People always give me flour- because they know I will actually use it- and usually give them a loaf of what I used it for- no one wants to waste good materials- and even if you don’t give a return- you blog about it and they cans see a good report of it!
Those bears are so cute- I have a particular interest in bears and chocolate ones are such a great idea!
Heidi, I’m so grateful for her generosity, but I never want to take my friends for granted! Tania is the most gorgeous soul, I adore her, and she’s also a font of knowledge when it comes to anything culinary, as she’s a chef! The bears are fun to make – the moulds came from http://www.candylandcrafts.com and cost just $2 each! :)
Wonderful chocolate skills! They look delicious!
Thank you! They were very popular! :)
uhhh say what? you have a friend that gives you free chocolate?
Fabulous!
Ha! I think it’s just fabulous that I have a friend! The chocolate is amazing though! :)
wonderful looking chocolates, I really need to learn to temper chocolate. I love the shine on the lolly bears. GG
It’s not that hard really. One of these days I’ll write another tutorial! :)
Celia, I’m always in awe of your chocolate tempering! These look fabulous!
Clare, thank you! They were great fun to make! :)
WOW!!
You are so clever!!! These look gorgeous, and I have tasted your chocolates so I know just how good they are!!! Beautiful teddyies too, so cute. I have never been brave enough to try tempering chocolate ;-O!
Thanks Julie! They didn’t last long here! :)
These look gorgeous, chocolate tempering is something I always mean to do but am intimidated by.
It takes a bit of practice, but it’s not too bad! Don’t be intimidated! :)
Celia, this is not the appropriate place for this comment but I was thinking of you last night while watching Masterchef. The show featured the Redbeard Bakery in Trentham, Victoria. I think you would have loved it. He treated his loaves with such tender care and the oven he uses is over 100 years old.
Carmen, I didn’t see it (don’t watch Masterchef) but I’ll go have a look, thanks for the headsup! Love folks who love their bread! :)
Tania has so much going for her that she really doesn’t need to bribe you with chocolate Celia :) But if she really wants to you shouldn’t hurt her feelings by refusing!xox
Hehehe…I don’t think it was a bribe, Becca. She’s completely gorgeous, isn’t she? Hope you’re all well, darling xx
Celia, did you look at the size of the scotch oven floor at Redbeard bakery; 16 square metres………..perhaps just a bit big even for you!
Hahaha…since both you and Carmen mentioned it, I’m REALLY going to have to check it out now! :)
Celia your chocolates are always so gorgeous you do inspire me. I have made chocolate in the past but only with super-cheap moulds, I’ve read your supplier’s page (and followed your links), do you have a preference for molds?
Thanks Rose! I really like the moulds from Candyland Crafts – they’re just $2 each. The shipping is expensive though and I usually order 20 at a time to make it worthwhile. They last quite well, and there’s a huge range of designs to choose from… x
Thanks for this Celia, I’ll pop over there this weekend and buy myself some goodies.
People give you things, especially chocolate, because they know you will not only use them but also turn them into something fabulous, like gardeners giving me extra seedlings because they know I will plant and give them TLC. You are the chocolate queen.
Norma, that’s very kind of you thank you! It’s certainly a great treat to have such a wonderful product to play with! :)
Celia, you have my mouth watering for chocolate at 9am! My goodness these look wonderful!
Thanks Claire! :) They’re quite sweet and very addictive – what is it about chocolate and hazelnut that makes it soooo moreish? :)
Tania could not have found a better home for the Amedei blend. Not only did you put it to good use, Celia, but you passed along your good fortune to one very special little girl, Pinkabelle. I would love to see her eyes when you hand her one of the teddy bears on a stick. Priceless!
John, I wish you could meet her, she’s just the cutest thing ever. As bossy as anything though! Thank you for your kind words, hopefully one of these days I’ll get to share some of my choccies with you!
Yum!!!!
The masses certainly thought so! xxx
You make it sound so easy and I’m sure it’s not. I’m not surprised Pinkabelle is a regular visitor.
Nancy, she’s such a treasure. Especially for Peter, who never got to have a little girl of his own… :)
I’ve got chocolate envy going on in spades! What gorgeous chocolates, Celia!
Wish you were closer Maureen, I’d happily share! xx
Celia your friend Tania doesn’t give you surplus chocolates because she’s kind or a great friend, but because she knows what a great and kind friend YOU ARE! Remember the saying, “It takes one to know one”…..and I bet those chocolates just melted in your mouth….chocolate always brings the weakness out of me! I know people who DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE!!!! Yep! (is that even normal??)….xxxx
Lina, you are so nice, thank you! I know a couple of folks who don’t eat chocolate as well.. ;-) xxx
Lina is a wise lady. I love giving you things because you always appreciate them and you always make something mouth-watering with them xxx
Tania, it’s just the best gift! I’ve got cookies made with them coming soon as well! Thank you again.. xxx
I’m off to a dinner party tonight and I would love to walk through their door with a hostess gift of some chocolates I have tempered and made. But it ain’t going to happen. Not today, anyway. I love your chocolates! Tania is very kind and generous and we all hope she has that job for a long time to come xx
Charlie, I love the new avi! And we all love Tania.. :)
Oh, goodness! These look incredible. Tania is generous but you have such skill in chocolate making :)
Kari, you’re very kind, thank you! :)
Isn’t Tania an absolute gem? Not only is she fabulous but she’s so generous too. I love the Nutella chocolate-so soft and rich! :D
Yes she really is, Lorraine! The boys are in love with the Nut Brown as well! :)
G’day and love your chocolate skills, true!
Love the teddy bears and tempering chocolate is on my list to do!
Cheers! Joanne
Joanne, thank you! I’ve got a chocolate tempering tutorial coming up soon! :)
Celia, this weekend is chocolate making time in my house so I shall be thinking of you while I try and make my first sugar free batch! These look amazing :)
Tandy, that’s exciting! Have fun! x
I love all of your home-made chocolates & you make more special ones each time! These are my favourite, I think!! Yummm,… I can’t wiat to try them too! x
Sophie, thank you! They’ve been really popular, although I’m more of a dark chocolate girl myself! :)
I know but I am more of a milk chocolate lover!