Homemade Chocolate Truffles

Amidst ridiculous arguments raging online about container sizes and weights of certain chocolate brands, here is a really easy way to make your own frugal luxury chocolate truffles.

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Whisky cream liqueur truffles

My Frugal Recipe for Handmade Truffles

• 150g of chocolate
• 5 tablespoons of icing sugar
• 3 tablespoons of stewed & strained rosehip 'juice' (or any other liquid flavouring you fancy)
• A separate 100g of chocolate (only if you are dipping the truffles - I didn't, I just dusted them)
• 1/2 tablespoonful of icing sugar & 1/2 tablespoonful of cocoa powder combined (icing sugar on its own works well with undipped truffles)

Being a frugal household, I don't usually have any sort of luxury baking items in stock, so I tend to use supermarket's own brand, which usually comes in white, plain or milk. It now costs around 30p per 100g bar but their milk chocolate contains 28% milk solids, which is about double the "minimum cocoa solids' recorded on the likes of the commercial big brand chocolate boxes, over which the current argument rages.

Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. I just put the bowl of broken chocolate pieces into the steamer, as it seems to work as well as any other method - but cover the chocolate to prevent water dripping into it.

While your chocolate is melting, sift the icing sugar into a separate bowl and then slowly combine that with your chosen flavouring. In this case, I was using the juice from stewed, foraged rose hips. The icing mix changes from a deep mango colour to a shade more like condensed milk once it's mixed with the icing sugar.

As soon as your chocolate has melted into a smooth paste, slowly pour the icing sugar mix into the bowl, stirring and blending at the same time. Your mix will lighten a few shades, regardless of whether you have used milk or plain chocolate. You can now set this aside to cool. I cover mine with cling film and put it in the fridge as soon as I can. It doesn't take too long before the truffle mix is set, so it's a good idea to keep your hot water in the pan, ready to melt the next lot of chocolate if you are making several batches or plan on covering the truffles in a second coat of chocolate.

I left this lot to set in the fridge, overnight, then shaped them into 'logs' before pressing them down with a fork. If you love chocolate and don't mind a bit of a chocolatey mess, handmade truffles are the very thing for you to try.

Handmade rose hip chocolate truffles

The above recipe is exactly the same for any frugal chocolate truffles. You can use almost any flavour you choose, be it alcoholic or otherwise, and you can powder them with just icing sugar, just cocoa powder or with a combination of the two. If necessary, improvise - sprinkle them with whatever you have available.

For added luxury, you can dip the finished truffles in a second batch of chocolate before dusting them with cocoa or icing sugar. The following are made with dark chocolate then dipped in white before dusting with cocoa powder.

Handmade white and dark chocolate truffles

In case you missed any of the previous truffle recipes, just type in 'hand made truffles' to the search box that pops up in the top right hand corner of the main website at www.scottishmultimedia.co.uk

I am planning on making some apple and chilli chocolate truffles - flavouring provided from homegrown apples and homegrown chilli peppers - but I will wait until I have dark chocolate for those.

If all else fails, a cheap alternative is just to jump on the Quality Street bandwagon and grab some bargains while you can. With prices slashed as low as £6 for 2 tubs, you can always split them up into smaller lots or gift them along with homemade snowman soup.

This is not a sponsored post, this is the cheapest I could find these chocolate tubs 

Feel free to join us in the Frugal Forums, where money saving and good living go hand in hand on even the strictest of budgets.

Foraged Rosehips and Luxury (Frugal) Chocolate Confectionery

Rosehip Truffles

This time of year is great for foraging. Right now, although the blackberries, sloes and elderberries have a bit to go, the place is alive with rosehips of every shade, from pale orange through to deep, blood red. Some are such a deep red that they have passed burgundy. I opted for a russet shade of rosy red for my late summer delicacies. The hips are enormous this year and these all grow along the south facing wall of our garden, so not far to go for foraging.

I picked about 500g of hips, gave them a quick rinse and then popped them into the mocrowave in a covered dish with a couple of tablespoons of water. It takes only 10 minutes on high power to reduce the berries to pulp, which is then squeezed through a jelly bag to remove all the skins and seeds. You can, of course, stew the berries down in a pan on the cooker. 

In this particular case, the resulting liquid came out mango coloured. I did taste it once it had cooled and, even without sugar, it had a lovely flavour to it, so I was happy enough to use this foraged produce as an ingredient in my August entry to 'weshouldcocoa'.

My Frugal Recipe for Rosehip Truffles

150g of chocolate

5 tablespoons of icing sugar

3 tablespoons of stewed & strained rosehip 'juice' (or any other flavouring you fancy).

A seperate 100g of chocolate

1/2 tablespoonful of icing sugar & 1/2 level tablespoonful of cocoa powder combined

Being a frugal household, I don't usually have any sort of luxury baking items in stock, so this time around, the 'past their sell by date' milk chocolate santas got used. We bought a full case of these when they were on offer from one of the clearance stores, I can't remember which it was, but if you check on the Frugaldom forums, they are all listed in the 'Frugal Food' section.

Melt your chocolate in a bowl over over a pan of simmering water. I just use my steamer on the cooker top, as it seems to work as well as anything else I have tried.

While your chocolate is melting, you can sift the icing sugar into a seperate bowl and then slowly combine that with your chosen flavouring. In this case, I'm using the juice from stewed, garden-foraged rosehips.

It changes from a deep mango colour to a shade more like condensed milk once it's mixed with the icing sugar.

As soon as your choclate has melted into a smooth paste, slowly pour the icing sugar mix into the bowl, stirring and blending at the same time.

Your mix will lighten a few shades, regardless of whether you have used milk or plain chocolate.

You can now set this aside to cool. I cover mine with cling film and put it in the fridge as soon as I can.

It doesn't take too long before the truffle mix is set, so it's a good idea to keep your hot water in the pan, ready to melt the next lot of chocolate, which is for covering the truffles.

I left this lot to set in the fridge, overnight, then shaped them into 'logs' before pressing them down with a fork. If you love chocolate and don't mind a bit of a chocolatey mess, handmade truffles are the very thing for you to try.

The above recipe is exactly the same as before. You can use almost any flavour you choose, be it alcoholic or otherwise. In case you missed my last lot of truffles, check HERE

Feel free to join us in the Frugaldom Forums, where moneysaving and good living go hand in hand on even the strictest of budgets.

The Decadence of a Frugaldom Mother's Day

DON'T FORGET MOTHERS' DAY
SUNDAY 3rd APRIL 2011

Today began early - the sun was shining before 7am, the hens and ducks wanted their freedom and I wanted my coffee.

The computer gets switched on as soon as I get up each morning, that way it's booted up and ready to go when I come back indoors from seeing to the feathered friends in the garden (and collect any early eggs).While waiting for the kettle to boil, I check online for work updates from clients and make a start on sifting through the invariable pile of 'spam' in search of anything else work-related. I don't usually get very far in the process before the kettle boils, so that's what takes me up to breakfast time.

This morning was glorious, so breakfast was taken on the back door step, shared with the chickens and ducks, I might add! But it gave me time to get into my woman zone and reflect on the contents of most of the 'newsy' type emails that lay in this morning's in-box. They were mostly reminding me of Mothers' Day, in some way, shape or form. I even posted a 'motherly' response on someone's blog update, reiterating what a paranoid lot we can be when it comes to our offspring. I omitted to add the fact that I was just as paranoid about watching my other 'baby', a horse, go out on the tracks back in the good old days when horses, ponies and racing were my chosen NOT SO FRUGAL frugal hobbies.

So, what do women, mothers in this particular case, really want? I've never been one for cosmetics, perfumes, cut flowers or grand gestures. Most would call me 'down to earth', if a little eccentric (replace with whichever word you prefer), in my outlook and lifestyle, so helpfulness, usefulness and functionality are more appreciated here than fripperies. But then I began the morning's work, updating a few bits and pieces on the web pages that will, one day, prove my worth as a frugal entrepreneur. I was looking at CUT FLOWERS and thinking they looked gorgeous! EEK! Is this a true reflection of how age is catching up with me? It suddenly trips me up, leaving me sprawled in a heap of, dare I say it, 'normality'? I just don't 'do' pink! Or, at least, I didn't! But I have to admit that I do collect 'Posy Points' and I do make the most of free delivery and free chocolates! This is a brilliant site!

Back on the trail of what women want - I'm practical, as well as frugal, but extravagances and treats are appreciated. Contemplating what I do from day to day, I came up with the following list::

1. Look after the poultry
2. Bake - bread, cakes and biscuits
3. Grocery shopping & cook meals
4. Dust & vacuum
5. Do laundry
6. Compute, write, blog, log data, research & earn a meagre income from it
7. Work in the garden
8. See friends, neighbours and family regularly 
9. Find the best ways to spend less money
10. DIY - let's face it, we all need to be able to DIY if we want the frugal house of our dreams, don't we?

I have a good life, I enjoy it, I don't hanker after riches, foreign travel, fine jewellery or designer clothing. I happen to like my green wellies (not Hunter brand) and my waxed jacket (not a Barbour). I like my checked scarf (not Burberry) and I like my secondhand bargains and charity shop treasures. So, when my family asks, 'what would you like for Mother's Day', I have a list of extravagances that could be suitably fitting for my chosen lifestyle...

1. Some hatching eggs from purebreed poultry or, better still, half a dozen point-of-lay hens.
2. A 'homemade' cookie stamp so nobody forgets that they're all home made.
3. Bargain groceries with a delivery service or else a huge voucher for our local Sainsbury's.
4. A 3-minute cupcake maker, so there are cakes to have with the coffee during the break between vacuuming and dusting.
5. The box set of Absolutely Fabulous - so I can watch an episode when waiting for the washing machine to complete the cycle
6. Some more people taking part in our frugal challenges - I can't believe the country is in austerity mode and yet so few homemakers want to share their frugal lifestyle tips - and several new sign-ups for Affiliate Window, so I can earn that last £7 needed to allow me to actually claim a payment.
7. Compost (lots of it), vegetable seeds, fruit bushes or fruit trees to help quickly increase the food growing capacity of the new garden, once we move house next month, plus peanuts for feeding the wild birds.
8. A good, solid garden bench for seating visitors when they visit for a cuppa and a catch-up. It's far nicer being able to sit outside in the garden during good weather.
9. I wish my entire family, all friends, acquaintances, colleagues and, even, passing strangers would consider using a site like Topcashback, so they, too, can claim back a small fortue on almost all of their online shopping. The cyberdosh soon mounts up over the year and then it's up to you what you buy with the resulting cash or Amazon vouchers.
10. A subscription to the Renovate Alerts, so we can watch for a really cheap fixy-up that could become someone's dream home.

I think the above items tie in nicely with my chosen lifestyle of frugality and the quest to create our very own, mortgage free microholding. I can't think of anything else I'd like, unless I renage on my anti-pink and anti-cut flowers deal to opt for the bouquet plus extra chocolates, hand delivered by all the family who would bring dinner with them and then clear up afterwards. Then again, it just can't happen that way, not with five generations in this family!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that family spirit and camaraderie can be lost in commercialism and consumerism. Gifts are all well and good, but it's remembering who and where your family are that counts most.

Let them all know that they mean something to you. Don't leave it until some made up 'celebratory' day in the consumerist-society-driven calendar.

What would YOU really like for Mothers' Day?

In the Frugaldom kitchen now... white chocolate truffles

WHITE CHOCOLATE COATED TRUFFLES



Dark chocolate truffle



After yesterday's batch of milk chocolate truffles coated in dark chocolate, I decided to repeat the same recipe but use plain chocolate with whisky cream liqueur for the fondant centres then cover the truffles in white chocolate. Costs are the same, as it's 30p per bar for the 100g plain, milk or white chocolate if you buy store's own basics.

The exact same quantities of each ingredient were used but I managed to squeeze 21 from this lot - it leaves a couple extra for sampling.

Melted white chocolate

I used a full 100g bar of white chocolate for coating the truffles and just rolled them in the melted chocolate. I also leave the bowl of melted chocolate inside the steamer, which is what I use as a frugal bain marie; it means the chocolate stays fully melted.

I cover a chopping board with greaseproof paper and ise this to set the chocolates, as it fits inside the freezer compartment of my fridge. This means the chocolate sets much quicker.

Dipped and dusted

As soon as the truffles are dipped, I sieved a mixture of icing sugar and cocoa over the top. They're looking and smelling delicious already. Ten minutes in the freezer should set them then I can sample to goods.

Ten minutes later...

The truffles are ready. I've removed them from the greasproof paper and they're now ready for packing into little presentation boxes.

All completes - these are dark chocolate centres with white chocolate coating, dusted with a cocoa and icing sugar mix. We've already tested one and they do taste as good as the smell. Frugaldom chocolate heaven for 2011. I LOVE making chocolates.

The finished product

Don't forget you can follow the day to day exploits and updates in the Frugaldom forums at http://www.frugaldom.com/

Frugaldom Handmade Chocolate Truffles

HOMEMADE TRUFFLES AND SNOWMAN SOUP



Handmade Whisky Cream Liqueur Truffles

Last minute Christmas presents should be last minute for a reason - they need to be made as close to the time they're given to the recipients as possible. So today was Snowman Soup and Chocolate Truffles day, as some of the gifts need to go away tomorrow.



 Frugaldom Snowman Soup

Instant hot chocolate - 63p

Maltesers - 2 lge bags for £1.50

Marshmallows - 3 bags @ 79p = £2.27

Candy Canes - £1

Cellophane bags - £1.80/dozen (check out eBay)

Total cost - £7.20/dozen



Cost each - £0.60p

Labels were from a 50p per 48 pack I had in stock, ties were recycled ribbons and wire ties that come with sandwich or freezer bags. Everyone has them somewhere in their kitchen drawers or cupboards. Your snowman soup could be packed in fancy mugs but I prefer to use the bags.





Luxury handmade chocolate truffles.

150g milk chocolate

3 tablespoons whisky cream liqueur

5 level tablespoons icing sugar (sieved)

100g plain chocolate (for coating)

icing sugar and cocoa powder



Melt the 150g milk chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water

Mix the whisky cream liqueur with 3 tablespoons of icing sugar until smooth then add to the melted chocolate - blend carefully then allow to cool, covered, in the fridge. 

This is sufficient for 20 truffles.

Melt your 100g of plain chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water

Sieve a level tablespoon of icing sugar and a level tablespoon of cocoa powder together into a second bowl.



Remove fondant from fridge and split into 20 equal pieces, rolling each piece into a ball

Dip each ball into the melted chocolate then drop it into the bowl of cocoa/icing sugar mix

Swirl it round until covered

Remove and sit on a tray or plate

Once you have rolled, dipped and coated each of the 20 truffles, set them on a flat tray and sieve a little icing sugar over the top.

Leave in a cool, dry place for the chocolate coating to harden.



These smell absolutely delicious, they taste even better!



You can mix and match with the chocolate, especially handy when store's own basic brands are only 30p per 100g for white, plain and dark chocolate. I'm going to make some dark chocolate truffle with white chocolate coating tomorrow. It's like having Thornton's in your own kitchen, only without the expense of importing the finest chocolate.

Have fun mixing and matching. You can make your own liqueuer flavours by adding 4 teaspoons of your favourite tipple (spirits or liqueurs) to 2 tablespoons of milk or cream.

Handmade truffles are expensive to buy in specialist confectionery shops, so a small, decorated box or cellophane bag with 4 truffles tied up with ribbon makes a beautiful gift, especially if you personalise the packaging. That's five very special gifts that are guaranteed to impress the recipients of such luxury gifts. And all for a very frugal price. 



NB: I find that the most important rule in producing handmade chocolates or truffles is... never be afraid of making a chocolatey mess in your kitchen. It cleans easily, so why worry about it, just ENJOY the experience! (Trust me, it's an experience.)

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