What to do with a Cuddle of Chocolate Truffles!
Day Fourteen on the Advent Calendar
and a
Chocolate Truffle Tree
14th December
2011
Window number fourteen is a
Partridge in a Pear Tree
I am aware that I had promised you a comfort recipe for today, but I wanted to share what I made for the finale of my luncheon party yesterday, a Partridge in a Truffle Tree! As you know I have been heavily into chocolate lately, and truffle making has been top of my agenda in the kitchen with more than a whiff of boozy liqueurs floating around and an indecent amount of cream too…..it’s heady and decadent, it’s festive, it’s over the top, it’s quite simply FABULOUS darlinks!
This is such a wonderful way of serving your chocolate truffles at Christmas or New Year ~ or indeed any special winter festival. I do make my own truffles for this edible creation, as you have seen in a previous post, but you can buy ready-made truffles for ease and speed of course. I love to see my family and friend’s faces when I bring the coffee and “chocolates” out with this Truffle Tree, and yesterday was no exception.
Allow yourself plenty of time to assemble this, the plant pot and the tree “trunk” can be prepared beforehand; once the chocolate truffle tree has been assembled, it will be fine for up to 2 days before you need to serve it if stored in a very cool and dry place ~ NOT a fridge however. I have made this with a well-known gold wrapped chocolate nut truffle before, as well as the white chocolate and coconut version by the same company……no guesses which choccies I am talking about!
Which brings me to that complicated question, what is the collective noun for chocolates? I have pondered on this lately and have come up with all sorts of wild and indulgent ideas……..a cacophony of chocolates, a cushion of chocolates, a frisson of chocolates or maybe a fusion of chocolates…..how about a wow of chocolates or an embrace of chocolates? Which leads me on to my collective noun decision for today, today a group of chocolates will be known as a cuddle of chocolates I have decided…….that will more than likely change on the Big Day, when the group shall be known as a frenzy of chocolates!
Have fun ~ and just watch your guest’s faces when you bring this out. Oh yes, you can also make this with marshmallows and other suitable sweets, especially for children……see you tomorrow with a savoury comfort dish, I PROMISE!
Karen
Chocolate Truffle Tree
Ingredients:
-
- 1 kg good quality chocolate truffles
For the Tree:
- 1 kg good quality chocolate truffles
-
- 1 (15 inch) foam ball
- 1 (10 -12 inch) length wooden branch
- 15 -20 small white foam balls
- 1 plant pot
- florist’s foam
- aluminium foil
- length ribbon
- cocktail sticks
Method:
Spray the “trunk” of the tree with a colour of your choice such as gold or silver.
Spray the plant pot the same colour, allow them to dry for at least 4 hours.
Cover the foam ball with aluminium foil and wrap securely around, taping if necessary.
Place some pebbles in the bottom of the plant pot and then push the florist’s foam in, on top of the pebbles – wedging it in so that it is firm.
Stick the “trunk” into the foil-covered ball – firmly – then push the other end of the “trunk” into the florist’s foam in the prepared plant pot. Make sure it is firm and does not rock, add some more pebbles.
Tie a ribbon around the top of the “trunk” at the base of the foil-covered ball – then tie a large bow.
Take a cocktail stick and push it into your truffle, (or other sweets) then push the other end into the foam ball making sure it is securely positioned.
Do this for all the chocolate truffles until the “tree” is full.
Add some white foam packing balls around the top of the plant pot to resemble snow – brush off any loose cocoa and serve with coffee.
Don’t forget to pin your Partridge nearby!
And the final photo of the day is my entry into Jac’s No Croutons Required
Festive photo competition
Normally the monthly challenge is to come up with a soup or salad that is vegetarian and made with the ingredient of the month, but this month is a special festive photo challenge. The following photo was taken last Christmas morning, at about 7am, I was the first one up and the the living room was glowing pink from this beautiful sky……there was a smell of candle wax and the air was heavy with spices from the plate of mince pies I had just warmed up…..the tree lights twinkled and the moment was magic……I grabbed my camera and 3 minutes later, the pink dappled sky has disappeared……but I captured it.
Early Christmas Morn’2010
This is also a perfect post to share for the ~ Making Winter Blog Hop ~
I will be posting a NON cooking blog post later, but for now, how about a Partridge in a Chocolate Truffle Tree!
A Trifle Rushed says
Karen, you are sooo clever. What a fantastic idea, I expect to see this cropping up on lots of blogs in the future.
And I love your wintery photo. Jude x
I want to post my mini Xmas cakes, and I used your snowflake decoration as inspiration, is it OK to reference your great post? Thanks in advance. J x
Baking Addict says
I love the truffle tree! And the collective noun for chocolates. Cuddle of chocolates definitely sounds best. That last photo is stunning too.
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
You're just so bloody creative! This combines my two favourite things; chocolate and Blue Peter. Lovely stuff!
Annie says
What a brilliant idea!
Kentish Keg-Meg says
What a fun idea. Yet another recipe to try. Fabulous early Christmas Morn photo.
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
Now that is my idea of heaven, a chocolate truffle tree. Looks good but tastes even better!
Love your sky photo, amazing colours 🙂 x
Sue says
What a wonderful idea! I shall definitely be making one of these for Christmas.
Your Christmas morning sky is lovely, what a lovely start to a special day.
Hannah says
Great idea, Karen!
homemadebyfleur says
I love this! Going to a Christmas Eve party and am going to have to make one of these to take with now!Thanks for the idea.
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Jude! PLEASE do post the snowflake cakes, would love to see them!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Baking Addict! I also like the Cuddle of chocolates!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Dom! I am a BIG Blue Peter fan and always have some sticky back tape on hand!
Karen S Booth says
Merci Annie! xx
Karen S Booth says
Kentish Keg-Meg, thanks ~ I was pleased I managed to capture that photo….
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Laura, the sky was very well behaved for me!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Sue, let me know how your tree turns out!
Karen S Booth says
Thanks Hannah! xx
Karen S Booth says
Go for it homemadebyfleur! You will be greeted with gasps of awe!
Choclette says
Another amazingly creative idea from you Karen – lovely lovely. I'm sure you wowed everyone who saw it. How about a pod of chocolates? Or a melt of chocolates. Or a swoon of chocolates. Or as CT prefers a gobful of chocolates!
Karen S Booth says
I am SO taken with a gobful of chocolates Choclette, I love that – may need to write a post about that!! Thanks! Karen
silverpebble says
That truffle tree is wonderful – and I expect it tastes just divine. Thanksyou so much for joining in with our festivities. This is the perfect project for it!
Thrifty Household says
I've just been out to buy ingredients to make truffles- now I'll know how to display them when they're made!
Thanks for adding the link to the Making Winter blog hop.
Kate@whatkatebaked says
Ohhhh-woweeee! Karen- I love this tree, although I would want a tree to myself! How about a glut of chocolates?! And such a beautiful photograph…
kokila says
What a lovely blog.I like ur pictures.
Ruth Ellis says
What a beautiful winter sunrise – and of course some equally beautiful truffles!