Chocolate Almond Candies

I am inspired.

Last night I watched a movie called Chocolat about a quirky woman and her daughter who move into a tranquil town in the French countryside and open a Chocolate Shop. The town is very religious and it is the height of Lent, when no one is supposed to eat sweets. By the end of the movie, the woman and her daughter teach the uptight people to enjoy life's sweetness.

I woke up this morning and wanted to make chocolates. I guess the movie just put me into the chocolate mood.

These are chocolate almond candies. At first, I didn't know what kind to make. But after some rummaging through my freezer, I found a roll of almond paste. For those who don't know, almond paste is a thick paste made from almonds and tastes similar to marzipan.

These chocolates are made from a ball of almond paste covered in semi-sweet chocolate and rolled in almonds.

First, I melted some semi-sweet chocolate chips on a double boiler.

                             Then rolled balls of almond paste in the chocolate to coat them.

                                             And rolled the balls in crushed up almonds.

                                 

I don't really have a recipe to give you, I just estimated amounts. These chocolates are so easy to make. I made about ten in probably about 25 minutes.

Try variations of these too. Fill with peanut butter and coat in peanuts for a homemade peanut butter cup. Put a strawberry on the inside and drizzle with white chocolate. The possibilities are endless.

Easy and fun, you can adapt these chocolates to any occasion or just eat as a dessert. Or a snack. How about for breakfast?

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Rich, gooey, and decadent, this twist on a Thanksgiving classic was definitely a hit with my family.

I was a bit nervous before making this recipe because to be completely honest, I have never made a pie by myself before. I know, I know. It's pathetic. Here I am with my mostly baking blog and yet, I have never made a pie.

Despite my concerns, this pie was a real hit with my family. Everyone in the room told me it was delicious and I had to give out a few links for the recipe.

For me, presentation is one of my top priorities in baking. I mean, if it doesn't look delicious, no one will ever believe that it is!

I topped this pie with a dollop of whipped cream (homemade, never store bought!), some chopped pecans, and chocolate curls.

This is the best pecan pie I have ever eaten, and the chocolate puts it over the top! Between the rich chocolate, gooey filling, and crunchy pecans, you can't go wrong!

Another great part about making this pie was that I made it with my two twin cousins, Emma and Bella.
We had a great time making this pie together and even more fun receiving compliments.

Makes 10 servings.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

1 refrigerated pie crust (from 15-ounce package)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons milk
4 eggs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 9-inch deep dish pie plate with pie crust. Bake 7 minutes. Remove crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

2. Meanwhile, microwave chocolate chips and milk in medium microwavable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Pour chocolate evenly over crust.

3. Beat eggs in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Slowly pour mixture over chocolate layer. Place ring of foil around edges of crust to prevent over-browning. 

4. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until filling is puffed and center is still soft enough to move when shaken gently. Cool on completely wire rack.

Welcome!

Welcome to La Vida Dolcé, or The Sweet Life! Here is where is will share all of my life's pleasures, adventures, and anything else that is note-worthy. In a few weeks I should have this blog really up and going. I hope to provide posts that are enjoyable and fun to read. So here I am, posting about everything and anything because life is sweet!!!