Saturday, February 14, 2009

Almost-Perfect Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries ...

My sweet husband likes chocolate-dipped strawberries and I decided to surprise him with some for Valentine's Day. I've never made them, but came across a recipe by Ina Garten. Ina, who is better known as the Barefoot Contessa, is my favorite hostess on the Food Network Channel. Everything Ina makes is elegant and delicious-looking, and I wanted my strawberries to look like hers.

I found the strawberries at a specialty grocery store in Jackson. They were the prettiest strawberries I've ever seen ... bright red and juicy-looking, with long stems ... perfect for dipping!

Here is Ina's Recipe:

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips **
3 Tablespoons Heavy Whipped Cream
12 Long-Stemmed Strawberries

**I read the reviews of this recipe and discovered that some ladies had problems with the chocolate setting. Some said it was soft and "gooey," but one lady said she doubled the chocolate chips and hers were perfect. So, I used a cup of chips, because I wanted mine to be perfect, too.

Directions:

Melt the chocolate and cream together in a bowl set over simmering water until just melted. Stir and remove from the heat. Dip each strawberry in the chocolate and set aside on waxed or parchment paper to dry.

Note: As a result of researching "chocolate-dipped strawberries," I discovered that it's important that the strawberries be room temperature and completely dry before dipping them so the chocolate will adhere to them.

I was almost paranoid about mine being "perfect" (nothing but the best for our sweet hubbies, right?), so I carefully dried each one with paper towels and then used my hair dryer on the cool setting to finish drying them. I don't recommend doing this, though, because it wilted the leaves a little.


Even though mine weren't perfect like Ina's, my husband loved them (wilted leaves and all), and said they were "fantastic!" I was happy with the way they turned out. What do you think?

Evidently, he wasn't just saying he liked them to be nice, because this is how the plate looked last night ...

And for the record, we didn't eat all those by ourselves ... we had company who helped!

Best wishes to you for a very happy
and memorable Valentine's celebration.

Sincerely,

18 comments:

Jill said...

Oh Janie, it is so beautiful here, you have redecorated again! I love this look for Valentine's Day.

Strawberries look soooo delicious. I would get chocolate covered strawberries at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi when we lived there. Chocolate covered strawberries always remind me of those fun days!

Happy Valentine's Day!
~Jill

Unknown said...

Hi Janie,
I love these...two of my favorite foods in one...What could be better?

Love your cake plate!

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Your blog looks great!

RachelD said...

I DO believe that your beautiful square pedestal of lovingly-dipped, perfectly chosen fruit would be called (in the discreet, ladylike idiom of our Southern forebears) Fan-DAYUM-Tastic!!

southerninspiration said...

Oh, they were lovely!!! Happy Valentine's Day!

Suzanne

cottage farm villa said...

Oh Janie, those look deelish! I love the little cake plate.

Just wanted to stop by this lovely day and wish you and yours a Happy Valentines Day! ~Cheryl

bj said...

Ummm, they do look just perfect. and delicious!!
The grands love them too and we often go for strawberries at the groc. store and pick up a packet of Chocolate Dip...so good!
Happy Valentine's Day to you and your sweetie...
xo bj
ooo, and I had to giggle when it came to you using a hair dryer...hahaaa..so cute.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Janie, these look WONDERFUL. I bought strawberries, too. Great minds...

Hope your Valentine's Day is perfect!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite fruit treats!

My mouth is watering...LOL!

H♥ppy Valentines Day!

Barb said...

yum I could have eaten them all (LOL)....Barb

Anonymous said...

Janie,

Happy Valentine's Day to you....

I LOVE chocolate covered strawberries, and I LOVE Ina...

You have got to do that with bananas, put them on a popsicle stick and freeze them...the first time I had one was in Disney World and I've been making them ever since, your little Avery will love em'

Have a wonderful day,
Kathy :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info! It is sort of ironic that I found you because I had purchased the strawberries and the chocolate, but had no idea how to accomplish the task. Thanks again and Happy Valentine's Day!

Anonymous said...

Hi Janie! Who could blame you if you did eat them by yourselves!!! Can you believe last week was the first time I ever had a choc covered strawberry?!!!lol I love Ina and have several of her cookbooks! Although my husband doesn't like choc or strawberries; guess I'll just make them for me if I can find gorgeous strawberries like the ones you found! Glad you had a nice Valentines!!! Happy Sunday - Jeannette

OKGardners said...

Those look wonderful! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I'll try these soon. Yummmmmmmm

Betty in Oklahoma

Bo said...

Your blog is GORGEOUS!!! and so were your strawberries...what a sweet thing to do for your hubby.
;-) Bo

Rue said...

What a sweet wife you are! They turned out beautiful :)

I hope your Valentine's Day was as beautiful as those berries ;)

hugs,
rue

StitchinByTheLake said...

This is the point where I'd have to say, "Honey I love you but....". I was at Physical Therapy this week and a friend there gave me a chocolate heart for me and one to take home to Jerry. I said, "Oh don't trust me with that!" (I actually did make it home with the chocolate but it was hard!). blessings, marlene

nikkicrumpet said...

I smiled when I saw this post. My hubby came home with a box from Godiva on Friday night...and it was full of milk & white chocolate dipped strawberries...and boy were they GOOOOOOD! Happy Valentines...and unlike your hubby...I ate them ALL myself lol

Sue said...

Janie,
The strawberries looked perfect to me!!But that pedestal cake plate is so beautiful, I collect cake plates so this one really caught my eye.
Blessings,
Sue