by Kimberly H.

Created on: January 23, 2008

It's getting to be that time of year, again - Valentines Day; a time where people go crazy over hearts, flowers, and cards. What better time to make a luscious Valentine treat? And with a homemade touch...

Nothing can beat a fresh ripe strawberry. As you take a bite, the sweet juices runs down your chin, and you lap them up with your tongue. Ah, delectable! What could top that?

If you know anything about strawberries, you'll know that the best time to get them is in the Summer, when they are big, ripe, and sweet. Getting them in the Wintertime can be a tedious task - they can be small, bruised and battered, no flavor, or no sweetness - so choose wisely.

Pick out the best strawberries and give them a wipe with a damp towel, and than dry them off. Don't rinse them in water, as this may cause the chocolate to seize or to not stick to the fruit. Keep them as dry as possible.

Make sure the stems and leaves are clean. Personally, I like to keep them on as they give you something to hold onto when dipping them - it also looks pretty. If you want to, you can take off the leaves and stem - just do this after they have been cleaned.

Next, you want to dip your strawberries in chocolate. The chocolate that you use depends on your preferences - Dark, Milk Chocolate, or White. Get yourself some good quality chocolate - my favorite is Lindt, and follow the directions on the package for "tempering" the chocolate. The exact way to temper it varies from brand to brand, but if you don't want to temper it, than that's okay - it just won't have that lovely gloss and "snap" to it.

If you are limited on chocolate supplies, you can use chocolate chips or chocolate wafers. Either melt your chocolate in the microwave, or in a bowl over simmering water. Take the stems of your strawberries and dip them into the chocolate, and than set them on a tray lined with waxed paper or parchment.

If you wish to go further, try immediately rolling your chocolate dipped strawberries in nuts, dried fruit, candies, or coconut. If you want to get more fancy, try melting some different colored chocolate and drizzling it over top of the strawberries, or pipe on some little hearts with a piping bag. The possibilities are endless - so choose your own method, and make them yours!

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