Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I’m not really sure what gets a particular food categorized as being romantic, but there are a number of foods that are commonly considered to be romantic foods. I think that chocolate covered strawberries have got to be one of the top ones that list. I don’t know what makes them romantic, unless it’s the chocolate, but ahhh…

Granted, my wife and I are both chocoholics anyway; so anything chocolate is going to strike a resonating chord within us; especially if it’s dark chocolate. Chocolate is so popular around my house, that I think I’ve received more chocolate as gifts than anything else.

The only problem with chocolate covered strawberries is finding them; they’re not exactly your typical grocery store item, unless somebody in your grocery store’s bakery has a real romantic streak. Fortunately for us, they’re really not all that hard to make. So, if you can’t find any to buy for a romantic interlude with your wife, why not make your own?

You’ll need:

• Strawberries – the bigger the better
• A bag of really good chocolate chips, (don’t buy the generic brand) I like Ghirardelli or Hershey’s Special Dark
• A little bit of cooking oil
• 1 saucepan and 1 pot
• Waxed paper on a tray, cookie sheet or plate

Fill the pot about halfway with water and put it on the stove, with medium heat, to warm up the water. Put the saucepan in the water (it should float) and put the chocolate chips inside. Add about a tablespoon of cooking oil. Stir occasionally while it’s melting.

While your water is warming, wash and dry your strawberries. If you don’t get them dry, the chocolate isn’t going to stick to them. Put the waxed paper on a tray, cookie sheet or plate.

When your chocolate is barely melted, grasp each strawberry by the leaves and swish it around in the chocolate, trying to cover the majority of the strawberry, but not the leaves. Place the strawberry on the wax paper covered whatever to cool and harden.

Please note: you don’t want to get your chocolate very hot; the best is just barely melted.

You can put your strawberries in the fridge to harden, but the chocolate has a tendency to get whitish when you do that. So, you’re better off being patient and letting it harden at room temperature.

There you have it, your own chocolate covered strawberries. Surprise your wife with them, and enjoy together.