white chocolate

Cooking Basics

How to Temper White Chocolate

I won't try to sugarcoat it (until later that is); tempering white chocolate is by no means an easy process.

I won't try to sugarcoat it (until later that is); tempering white chocolate is by no means an easy process. Why should you bother? Well, tempering chocolate melts the chocolate to a specific temperature so the fat and sugar molecules collide. When the chocolate cools and hardens, it appears smooth and shiny and has a toothsome snap. Not all chocolates are created equal. We've covered how to temper dark chocolate, but here's the technique for tempering white chocolate, which requires a similar technique but different temperatures.

Tempering chocolate can be done at home in about two hours, but you'll need a candy thermometer and the proper couverture chocolate, which has a higher cocoa fat percentage and will melt and coat things easier. If there are any two rules to remember, do not get any water on the chocolate or else it will seize. Also, stick to the exact temperatures or you run the risk of creating a myriad of unpalatable chocolate globs. Keep reading to learn how to temper white chocolate.

Chocolate

A Basic Primer on Chocolate Types

Although chocolate may seem like a basic ingredient, in reality, it's somewhat complex.

Although chocolate may seem like a basic ingredient, in reality, it's somewhat complex. From milk content to sweetness to cacao percentage, there's a lot that can vary.

The first thing to understand is the ratio of cacao to sugar. A chocolate that's 60 percent cacao contains 40 percent sugar. The more cacao a chocolate contains, the less sugar it has and the darker it is.

To get a breakdown of the different types of chocolate and how much sugar, cacao, and milk they have, keep reading.

Valentine's Day

White Chocolate: Love It or Hate It?

Although it's technically not considered chocolate, but a confection, I happen to be a huge fan of white chocolate.

Although it's technically not considered chocolate, but a confection, I happen to be a huge fan of white chocolate. I love its smooth texture and creamy rich flavor. It melts superbly and is delicious as an ingredient in everything from blondies to cookies. Since it's chocolate week, I'm curious to see how you feel about it.

Source: Flickr User Kat Martin

recipes

Come Party With Me: Holiday Happy Hour — Dessert

Never underestimate the power of the Christmas cookie!

Never underestimate the power of the Christmas cookie! They're the perfect dessert around the holidays because they can be made in advance and are easy to enjoy without a plate and silverware. When hosting a holiday happy hour, offer homemade white chocolate cherry cookies and ask guests to bring chocolate truffles. Or if you have time, whip up a batch of your own. To get the choco-cherry chunk cookie recipe, please read more

Come Party With Me

Come Party With Me: Tailgate — Menu

Instead of serving dessert separate at my tailgate, I plan to serve it with the rest of the menu.

Instead of serving dessert separate at my tailgate, I plan to serve it with the rest of the menu. Guests can enjoy a bite of sweetness with their savory nibbles. The dip theme will continue with this delectable white chocolate mascarpone dip. Served with fresh fruit, it's decadent, but not heavy. To get this lovely recipe — that also makes a great after-school snack for little onesread more

Come Party With Me

Come Party With Me: My Half Birthday — Dessert

At all of my parties I like to provide guests with a sweet treat even if it is only a small bite.

At all of my parties I like to provide guests with a sweet treat even if it is only a small bite. At my half birthday — besides filling bowls with M&Ms which is signature to all my events — I will make one refreshing dessert: white chocolate and lime cheesecake bars.

Instead of cutting the bars into squares, I'll use a cookie cutter to cut out circles making mini cheesecakes. To emphasis the half theme, I will cut the circles in half and serve mini half cheesecakes! For the recipe, read more

Poll

Do You Like White Chocolate?

Source Do You Like White Chocolate?

Source

Hamburger

Recall Warning: Hamburger and White Chocolate

Looks like you better put your plans for white chocolate burgers on hold; your ingredients could be contaminated.

Looks like you better put your plans for white chocolate burgers on hold; your ingredients could be contaminated.

Last week over 21 million pounds of frozen hamburger were recalled due to an E. coli contamination. The Topps Meat company recalled packages with establishment number 9748 and sell-by-dates of Sept. 25, 2007 through Sept. 25, 2008. A full recall list is available at Topps's website.

If contaminated beef wasn't scary enough, Kraft just announced a recall on Baker's Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares due to a possible Salmonella contamination. The six-ounce boxes contain the UPC Code 0043000252200 and one of the following best when used by dates: 31 MAR 2008 XCZ, 01 APR 2008 XCZ, 02 APR 2008 XCZ, 03 APR 2008 XCZ. The recall only affects those boxes and no other varieties are impacted. If you have one of the contaminated boxes, you should throw it out. For more info call Kraft at 1-800-310-3704.

Scary times when chocolate isn't even safe!