homemade chocolate cherries

  When I was a kid, my older sister loved chocolate cherries, so much that for just about every holiday and birthday, she would get a box of them. Myself, on the other hand, preferred the assorted chocolates, with labeled box diagram- so you knew in advance if you were biting into a cream or nut variety. My sister knew what she liked, but my chocolate preference was more fickle, I suppose. I remember always giving her my chocolate cherry and my coconut chocolate from my big yellow bi layered box…

Nowadays, I eat the cherry first, followed by the coconut. Tastes change and I would LOVE an entire box of just coconut and cherry.

Which led to me finding myself in the kitchen, tempering chocolate and cutting cherries…. and- currently kicking myself for not taking as many photographs of the process like I used to. To be completely honest, I had been trying to make these for days, but with three kids three and under, I’m lucky to have an opuritunity to wash my hair… I’m officially in the hot mess season of my life; overcooked and underfed- but that’s a post for later on.

Today, I want to focus on … well, Friday- I guess.

It almost Valentine’s Day, which means some of y’all may be planning romantic dinners on the town, but in my house we avoid restaurants like the plague on V-day, and opt for a dinner out on a less popular night. But, that doesn’t mean Valentines is lost, there’s plenty of ideas to celebrate with loved ones without facing the crowds.

Remember these Valentine’s Tea Cakes? Or how about Chocolate Mousse, to sweeten you sweetie?

There was one Valentines that I made homemade pasta, to enjoy while watching Lady and the Tramp (you know, the spaghetti scene) because, with young kids you have to make it a family affair. This year’s menu is consisting of steaks with twice baked potatoes, and béarnaise sauce- the side veggie will most likely be broccoli – because my three year old LOVES it. (Total win)

I can’t think of a movie that goes with steak, (not like Lady and the Tramp with spaghetti) But, if anything we’ll watch the new(ish) version on Disney+.

Anyway- these were really hard and easy to make at the same time. I really don’t know why I even bothered, except for the mere craving and sheer laziness of not wanting to stuff three kids in carseats to satisfy a craving of a chocolate cherry. I had chocolate chips and cherries, and in my box of Valentine’s decor I had found a chocolate cherry mold that I must have brought on clearance a previous year.

So, I decided to melt some chocolate (50% power in one minute intervals) place a little in the mold, drop a cherry in, and top with more chocolate. Let it set, and bam! craving cured.

But, it wasn’t exactly like that.

Halfway between that 50% power/ one minute intervals my “middle youngest” woke up… I have an even number of kids, so there’s not really a middle one… so the middle youngest is two, and all of two and then some. She’s one of those kids that doesn’t play with toys or watch tv. A crayon or pencil with occupy her for a solid 90 seconds. Other than that, the only thing that makes her happy is a lap and a book. But, not by herself… MY lap. 24/7.

Even as I’ve tried to write this, she’s climbing…”mama, mama…” pulling hair and tugging clothes. But, that’s my season. That’s more joyful and chaotic than I can describe. 

UPDATED note: I now have five kids, from 5-17. Most of them are under 8. This is a post I never published  or completed, most likely due to an interruption of some sort. Right now, my oldest is organizing her room, and the four littles are watching a show in the same room as me. I just pulled a pond cake from the oven, and the house smells amazing. It’s cool outside so we have the windows open, and my neighbors probably think I’m baking again. Which, I am. 

My #onehappy today was going on a walk with my son, who is currently under care of a doctor with the suspicion he’s high functioning autistic. I never get one on one time with him, and today he shared with me that the loud noised make the animals in his head get loud and they make him do bad things. (He’s ADHD and ODD, not odd the word, but the disorder)  Anyway, he opened up and shared with me, which gave me hope he will do the same with the right people that can help him. I’m happy he can talk to me. It’s important to listen to the little things when kids are little, because as they grow up they will share the big things, too. Always have open ears. I can’t stress that enough. Open your ears to the stories of video games and dinosaurs, or whatever they say. It matters so much. 

Print Pin

Ingredients

• 60 maraschino cherries with stems
• 3 tablespoons butter softened
• 3 tablespoons corn syrup
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 pound chocolate melting discs

Instructions

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• Stir together butter and corn syrup in a medium bowl until smooth.
• Mix in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough.
• Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon dough. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.
• Melt chocolate discs in a heavy saucepan over low heat, or microwave at 50% power for 30 second intervals, staring until smooth.
• Holding onto the stem, dip each cherry into coating and place on waxed paper-lined sheet trays. Chill in the refrigerator until coating is set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

Notes

Recipe adapted from all recipes

Please follow and like us: