What’s Spring and Summer without fresh strawberries. Alone, they are yummy enough, but sometimes you have to “gild the lily”.
Where I live in Orange County California, we seem to have “Strawberry Fields Forever”. They are grown year round here but the best ones are in the spring. Our bounty is well loved and enjoyed abundantly.
I often make chocolate dipped strawberries for many occasions or just for an after dinner treat for the family. These are so easy to do, but they look so fancy.
You only need 2 ingredients for basic dipped strawberries…
Strawberries
Semi-sweet Chocolate chips
Here’s all you do…
Wash strawberries well in advance of dipping. They must be completely dry before you dip them.
Use a double boiler or a sauce pan with a glass bowl on top, (see picture). Add about an inch of water in the bottom pan. Pour a cup, to a cup and a half of chocolate chips in the dry bowl. Place the bowl on top of the pan and heat water to boiling. Stir the chips as they melt. When fully melted, turn the heat to low. Dip the dry strawberries in the chocolate holding onto the green top leaves. Dip in about 1/2 to 2/3 of the berry. Leave as is or dip again in some chopped nuts or drizzle with some white chocolate for more yummy goodness.
Place the berrries on a cookie sheet, covered with waxed paper so they won’t stick. Let cool, then place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to harden the chocolate. Remove from the fridge and eat them in a day or 2 …not hard to do! yummmmm!
These make great gifts for Mothers Day, friends birthdays, teachers, hostess gift, or for brunches, church activities, dinner parties, showers, (or for anyone you want to bribe, LOL). Arrange them on a pretty dish, bowl or basket and give both as a gift. Not only are these delicious, but they are easier than cookies to make and healther too.
There are many varieties and ways of dipping fruit. Do you have any
to share? Love to hear.
I’ll be gone for a few days, (daughter graduating college), I’ll catch up with you when I get back. Can’t wait to hear all your ideas.
1. I just made some of those today, in fact. I bought my strawberries yesterday and finally had time to do some this afternoon. They are wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
by Ro — 4/22/08 at 5:59 pm #
2. Hi Cathy,
Those are beautiful! And congrats on your daughter graduating! You must be very proud.
Susan
by Susan — 4/23/08 at 12:27 pm #
3. I made some chocolate dipped strawberries a day ago. They taste great.
Especially, drizzled with white chocolate. Thanks for the recipie. You were right. It is easy to do
by Anna — 4/23/08 at 11:03 pm #
4. Your welcome Ro,
Yes, they are really quite amazing for only 2 ingredients. Super simple and SOOOO good!
Thanks for giving them a try…I’m sure you wern’t disappointed.
by Cathy — 4/27/08 at 11:28 am #
5. Hello Susan,
Good to hear from you. Yes, they taste as good as they look.
Thanks so much for the congrats for my daughter. Now, off to graduate school in the fall. I’m a proud mother! Hope your girls are doing well. Enjoy every minute, they grow up fast.
Write again soon.
by Cathy — 4/27/08 at 11:33 am #
6. Hi there Anna,
I’m glad you found this easy to do. The white chocolate drizzle “kicks it up a notch”. The chopped nuts are really good too. (my favorite).
You can also chocolate dip sliced apples, orange segments, raspberries, bananas,
just about any fruit as long as they are fairly dry…so the chocolate sticks to them.
Thanks for telling us of your success.
by Cathy — 4/27/08 at 11:41 am #
7. Hi Cathy,
Yes they do grow fast…I can’t believe my baby is already 3! I made her birthday cake to the theme of “5 little monkeys jumping on the bed” - I’ll try to attach a picture if I can figure it out. I used the chocolate drizzle to make the bedspread layer (my first drizzle experience). It was fun!
Susan
by Susan — 4/28/08 at 1:56 pm #
8. Susan,
I love that…”5 little monkeys jumping on the bed” …one fell off and broke its head…. I bet that cake was adorable!!! I haven’t heard that poem for along time. Brought back some good memories. I’d love to see how you “drizzled” for the bedspread. You are sooo creative. Come back and write for us some more. Send pictures if you can, I’ll look for them.
Write back soon!
by Cathy — 4/28/08 at 5:37 pm #
9. Yummy Cathy….you just inspired this gal to make these for my daughters baby shower! thanks!
by Julie — 4/28/08 at 8:26 pm #
10. Julie,
These will be perfect for your daughters baby shower. They look so elegant, but so easy to make. Your guests will think you’ve gone to alot of trouble…..we fooled them LOL.
Congradulations on the new grandbaby and happy shower.
LYC.
by Cathy — 4/29/08 at 1:35 pm #
11. Cathy, those look scrumptious! I’ve had them before but I’d forgotten how wonderful they are. Thanks for the delicious reminder. While on the food subject, do you have any easy (and unique) ideas for items to serve at an auction. It must be something one can balance on his or her lap, while bidding at the auction. We are in charge of the food, and I’m running out of ideas. And, how nice that you have a daughter who has just graduated. Where does the time go? I wish your “baby girl” much success in her future endeavors.
by Janice — 5/6/08 at 11:18 am #
12. Hi Janice,
Thank you for your wishes for my daughter. We are very proud of her.
Those strawberries taste as good as they look. You’ll have to make some. Sooooo easy.
As for ” lap food”… is this for a little meal or snack, or dessert? Are you looking for finger food? You could try little tea sandwiches, fruit with toothpicks, stuffed mushrooms, cheese and crackers, veggies with dip, gourmet olives, bruchetta, mini gourmet pizza, anything you can pick up and eat with your fingers, small, one or two bites. The dipped strawberries or fruit would be perfect for a little dessert.
Does anyone else have more ideas?
Good luck with the auction.
by Cathy — 5/6/08 at 12:26 pm #
13. Girl, you’re making me hungry!!! All the food items you mentioned would be great except these folks, especially the men, want food that “stick to your ribs.” In other words, no luncheon-type food. In addition to the usual hot dogs and hamburgers, we have served taco salad, chicken salad on a bed of lettuce (with tomatoes, boiled eggs, cheese, etc.), homemade soup, chili (when the weather was cold), and desserts like banana pudding, chocolate trifle, strawberry trifle, and various type pound cakes. The food needs to be more hearty, if that makes sense. It’s not a sit-down-at-the-table affair, but they want real food. When the weather gets a little warmer, I’ll make a pretty watermelon basket and fill it with all types of fruit. It’s just so difficult coming up with interesting menu items, that are filling but easy to eat while bidding. As I said, there are a lot of men who attend the auction and they always have big appetites. We sell the food, so it isn’t a “help yourself” deal. I wish it were — it would be much easier! I appreciate your suggestions, Cathy.
by Janice — 5/6/08 at 2:51 pm #
14. OHHHHH, you want “hearty, stick-to-your-ribs” food. It sound like you hit on alot of them. How about…bar-b-q beef/ pork sandwiches with little corn on the cob, calzones, Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a roll, burritos, BLT sandwiches, beef stew. I’m out of ideas. Anyone !!
Let me know what you decide, you have me interested now!
by Cathy — 5/7/08 at 5:59 pm #
15. Cathy, you must be a mind-reader! We’re serving bar-b-que sandwiches at the next auction — really! And I’ve found the most wonderful recipe for a Pina Colada Pineapple Sheet Cake. It sounds so cool and refreshing. You make a regular sheet cake, using a yellow cake mix. After baking, you punch little holes in the top and pour in frozen pina colada drink mix. Then you top the cake with an icing made of shredded coconut, crushed pineapples, coconut flavoring and whipped topping. Doesn’t that sound heavenly? Of course, there are many variations to this recipe, but this sounds easy — and I’m all about easy! LOL Thanks for your ideas. Perhaps we’ll hear more.
by Janice — 5/8/08 at 10:18 am #
16. Janice,
The BBQ sandwiches will hit the spot. That cake sounds yummy. There are some similar recipes, but this one really sounds delish…It won’t last long, make alot. I’ll write it down to use soon.
Have fun at the auction…and go, hungry!
by Cathy — 5/8/08 at 6:18 pm #
17. Believe it for not, I don’t eat during the auction. Not that I don’t want to, mind you, but it’s because I’m afraid I’ll miss a bargain if I stop to eat! LOL
by Janice — 5/13/08 at 4:53 pm #
18. Janice, you’re so funny. I’ll eat no matter what…bargains or not ! LOL.
Have fun and bid on some great stuff.
by Cathy — 5/14/08 at 12:17 pm #
19. I definitely will. I usually come back with a treasure, whether it’s a whim purchase or something I’ve always wanted. I know I’m not under the right topic to mention this, but I will anyway. Just noticed a comforter set in a catalog yesterday, in the exact pattern of your stencils — the one which are in the damask pattern. The background of the bedding was pure white and, of course, the pattern was in black. There are also shams available. You’ll remember the advice you gave me about black walls for a bedroom, a white coverlet, and black and red accent pillows. Would it be “too much” for a bedroom, using an entire bedding set in the damask pattern? What are your thoughts about this?
by Janice — 5/14/08 at 2:16 pm #
20. Hi again Janice,
Sure, you can use the B/W damask and still paint the wall behind the bed black. Hang some long white drapes on the window on the black wall. I would use the damask print sparingly. Its like a zebra or leopard print…a little goes a long way. Maybe the bed covering and a pillow in a chair would be enough. Or keep your white bed cover and just add in the damask shams or cover a chair in it. Bring in your accent red color as you liked. Sometimes simplier is better. Your high contrast colors bring the interest to the room so you don’t need to overdo the patterns.
Just my thoughts…
by Cathy — 5/15/08 at 12:40 pm #
21. And, as always, your thoughts are right on target. Actually, that was what I was thinking too. I think a comforter in the damask pattern would be a little much, especially for a small room. Just wondered if you agreed. Do you ever have the urge to change colors in your home? That is, will black, white and red always be a part of your decor? Or, will you always keep the black and white and just add new accent colors, whenever you get bored. I’m so easily side-tracked by all the pretty colors out there. It’s difficult to keep focused sometimes. Are you the same?
by Janice — 5/15/08 at 1:14 pm #
22. Janice,
I like lots of color combinations. I’m sure, at some point I’ll change my color scheme. That’s why it’s important to buy classic, neutral anchor pirces of furniture…as I’ve said before. Then you can add in trendy colors and accessories without having to buy and change all your expensive base pieces…sofas, chairs, casegoods etc. I think I’d get bored if I had to live with the same colors all the time. Although there are just colors I’m drawn to more than others. I’m sure you are to. It’s nice to have choices and change when the time comes.
by Cathy — 5/17/08 at 12:41 am #