Chocolate Oat Balls With Marzipan Food

MOZART BIRTHDAY BALLS

Steps:

• For the hazelnut filling: Heat the chocolate chips and heavy cream together in a small microwaveable bowl for 30 seconds, then stir until smooth and homogenous. Stir in the hazelnuts and freeze until firm, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the pistachio marzipan: Blend the pistachios in a food processor until they're finely ground (but don't overblend or you'll end up with pistachio butter). Add the powdered sugar, almond extract and salt and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the corn syrup and blend to form a dough. (It may still look crumbly in the food processor, but if you squeeze it in your hand it should stick together.) Pile it into a ball and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
• For the almond marzipan: Combine the almond meal, powdered sugar, almond extract and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the corn syrup and blend to form a dough. (It may still look crumbly in the food processor, but if you squeeze it in your hand it should stick together.) Pile it into a ball and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
• To assemble, divide both the almond marzipan and the pistachio marzipan into 12 equal portions. Keep the marzipan covered with plastic wrap when you're not working with it. Take one of the pistachio marzipan portions and smash it with your palm to make a flat round. Fold it over a rounded 1/4 teaspoon hazelnut filling and roll it into a ball. Smash one of the almond marzipan portions with your palm and fold that over the pistachio ball. Roll it into a ball and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining marzipan and filling and freeze the balls for 15 minutes.
• For the coating: Melt the dark chocolate either in a double boiler or microwave, heating in 30-second increments and stirring after each, until it is smooth and melted. Continue stirring until it is no longer hot to the touch.
• One by one, dip the marzipan balls in the chocolate to fully coat. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and then place back on the parchment. Sprinkle with some sanding sugar. Harden them in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 1 hour or up to overnight.

MARZIPAN CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• Clean and chop up the fresh figs roughly. If using dried ones, do the same. Put them in a bowl. Sprinkle the port wine or rum over them and let them soak for 20 mins. U can use a little more port or rum if you wish to.
• After 20 mins, cut up the marcipan into truffle size pieces. Do not cut up in advance otherwise they dry up as you wait for the figs to soak up the alcohol.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water in a pot. Do not over cook / over heat the chocolate!
• Take a piece of the marzipan and roll them with 1-2 small pieces of the figs into a ball (truffle size).
• Dip each marcipan/fig ball into the melted chocolate and place them on a baking tray (covered with baking paper) . I normally use a satay skewer to handle the marzipan as I dip it into the melted chocolate.
• Before the chocolate hardens, sift the cocoa powder over the marzipan chocolates, followed by a pinch of chilli powder or paprika over each chocolate.
• (in case you need an idea the proportion of chilli powder to cocoa powder, I use about 1/4 tsp chilli to 1 tbp of cocoa powder) You are welcome to adjust the proportions up to your own taste.
• Leave the marzipan chocolates to cool down completely and the chocolate shell has hardened before serving.

SWEDISH CHOCOLATE BALLS (OR COCONUT BALLS)

Steps:

• Mix the oats, sugar, and cocoa together in a bowl. Add the butter, and use your hands to mix the ingredients together to make a thick dough. Mix in the coffee, vanilla, and chocolate until thoroughly blended.
• Place the coconut flakes in a small bowl. Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll between your hands to make small balls, about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Roll the balls in the coconut flakes. Balls are ready to eat, or may be refrigerated 2 hours to become firmer.

CHOCOLATE-OAT BALLS WITH MARZIPAN

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
• Roll 30 small balls - approx 1/2 tbsp each.
• You can roll the balls in a bit of cocoa if you wish.
• Cool for 2 hours in the fridge.
• Keep refrigerated.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED MARZIPAN AND WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Knead marzipan with 3/4 cup powdered sugar, chopped walnuts, rum, and maraschino liqueur on a clean work surface until smooth.
• Sprinkle remaining powdered sugar on a clean work surface. Roll out marzipan and cut out circles, squares, or rectangles.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set a wire rack on top.
• Place 3/4 of the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in remaining dark chocolate until smooth.
• Stick a toothpick or metal skewer into each praline and dip into the melted chocolate, letting excess drip off. Set onto the wire rack. Allow chocolate to set a little, then place 1 walnut half on top of the chocolate.
• Allow chocolate to harden completely. Store pralines in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL

Steps:

• Heat milk and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until begining to simmer.
• Reduce heat and add oats, cocoa and sugar.
• Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally until thickened.
• If you want your oatmeal thick or watery, this is where you determine the consistency- don't stop until it's pretty much at the consistency you would like.
• Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes (this cooks the oatmeal more thoroughly).
• Remove cover, stir and serve.
• Garnish with chocolate chips, nuts, and/or fruit if desired.