# MyChocolate Experiences




## Products

- [Shirin Moarefi Truffle Masterpieces](https://mychocolate.co.uk/products/shirin-moarefi): Our 9 signature moulded truffles, presented in a stunning box designed in collaboration with artist Shirin Moarefi.
- [Marina Castaldo Truffle Masterpieces](https://mychocolate.co.uk/products/marina-ester-castaldo): Our 9 signature moulded truffles, presented in a stunning box designed in collaboration with artist Marina Ester Castaldo.
- [Angela Johal Truffle Masterpieces](https://mychocolate.co.uk/products/angela-johal): Our 9 signature moulded truffles, presented in a stunning box designed in collaboration with artist Angela Johal.


## Collections 
- [Home page](https://mychocolate.co.uk/collections/frontpage): Immersive chocolate-making workshops in London and Manchester. Perfect for corporate events, team bonding, celebrations, hen parties, families, or just for fun. Hosted by expert chocolatiers with over 20 years of experience, our workshops offer a sweet escape to get creative and indulge in the joy of chocolate.
- [Truffles](https://mychocolate.co.uk/collections/truffles): MyChocolate Truffle Masterpieces featuring nine delicious, hand-painted truffles beautifully presented in an artist-designed keepsake box.


## Blogs 
- [Chocolate Fun](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/chocolate-fun): Chocolate Fun
- [Blog](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog): Blog
- [Careers](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/careers): Careers
- [Events](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/events): Events
- [News](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/news): Explore the latest updates, tips, and insights from the world of chocolate experiences on the MyChocolate News Blog. Stay informed about new workshops, pop-up experiences, exclusive offers, and mouth-watering recipes that will elevate your chocolate experience. Dive into expert advice and trend highlights that every chocolate enthusiast needs to know. 
- [Recipes](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/recipes): Recipes


## Blog Posts 
- [Test portfolio](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/test-portfolio): Testing and image
- [Corporate Events: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/corporate-events-from-the-sublime-to-the-ridiculous): We at My Chocolate feel we have it pretty good. We get to spend our days planning and hosting delicious chocolate events and team building exercises. It’s not a bad existence! However, lately we’ve been having fun checking out how the ‘other half’ live – you know, the half who have their own helipads, a chauffeur and houses dotted around global. We’ve done a little rekkie of the ‘net and discovered the most extravagant corporate event experiences out there. Here are the ones that most tickled our fancy: Not Quite Do Wah Diddy Yeh, Cheryl Cole is no slouch on X Factor, but dontcha just miss her singing with the other lasses? Well, fret no more! For a not so modest fee, you can hire Girls Aloud to sing at your company’s bash. For the older clientele, we have Depeche Mode or for the discerning older lady, hunky opera boys Il Divo. Celeb Speakers Did you ever read that book, ‘The Game’ by Neil Strauss? The one written for men and explains how to pick up just about any single lady? How about hiring the author as your guest speaker? (NB Not quite sure how this will boost your company’s profits). Or you could bring in a certain Mr G Ramsay, but we wouldn’t recommend asking him for dating tips. Drive a Bentley on Ice We’re not totally convinced of the benefits of this one. Fly to the Finnish wilderness, take this classic Brit car for a spin on a frozen lake – this seems like some kind of advanced driving proficiency course. But the bit about the huskies and the traditional Lapp dinner sounds good. Your Very Own Submarine Yes, for an undisclosed amount, you can drive your very own two-seat submersible. Designed to “fly” underwater, The Super Aviator allows you to experience the wonders of the ocean without getting wet. Just don’t say, “Red October”. Rent a Private Island You’d have to have done something pretty damn impressive to get HR to agree to this corporate event. Bahamas? Seychelles? Oh it’s a hard choice. As long as it comes with it’s own fully staffed bar and a white sandy beach, we’re not too picky.
- [Fun Teambuilding Activities: Our Top Tips](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/fun-teambuilding-activities-our-top-tips): Fun. It’s a curious word, isn’t it? And one that means very different things to different people. Let’s take bungee jumping. Scores of people around the world find leaping off an extremely high ridge, with only a thin rubber ankle tie for support, a fun activity. And others will quiver at the thought! Now, we at My Chocolate are an open-minded lot and of the opinion, “whatever floats your boat”. With this in mind, we’ve had a little office brainstorm and come up with our 5 top fun team-building activities for your delectation: #1 Chocolate Well, you didn’t think we were going to put something else at No.1 surely? Not only do you get to make and eat plenty of amazing chocolate, the competition also gets fierce with our adrenalin-fuelled treasure hunt and Dragon’s Den style judging panel. Watch out, your truffle better be good enough for Peter Jones! #2 Blindfold Driving Ok it must be the daredevil in us, but the prospect of driving a 4×4 blindfolded is somehow appealing. When else would you get to be so reckless? Oh, but we should mention, your colleagues will be in the vehicle with you too, yelling “Left a bit…right a…noooooo!”. #3 Sand-sculpting. Apparently you’ll defy the law of physics with this activity. Brilliant fun but sadly, Bournemouth beach might not be quite the place for it in December. Brrr. #4 Cocktail-Making Yum, we have a soft spot for cocktails at My Chocolate HQ. We actually show guests how to blend chocolate martini’s in our Corporate Special workshop! #3 Gourmet Food Challenges For the foodies among you, there are a dazzling variety of options out there. Italian, Chinese, Thai, French…get your frying pans at the ready! As it goes, gourmet experiences are a My Chocolate speciality, focusing around chocolate, naturally. Make your own chocolate martini, sample balsamic chocolate dip with artisan breads as well as chocolate olive tapenade with goats cheese, specially flavoured truffles…we could go on. Alcohol, food, chocolate – meeting every criteria of a fun team-building activity!
- [Mini Christmas Puddings](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mini-christmas-puddings): These mini puddings are easy to make and create wonderful Christmas gifts! Although they look like mini Christmas puddings, they taste like rich, spiced chocolate truffles. The recipe involves mixing chilled Christmas pudding, liquor, syrup and melted chocolate. Here at MyChocolate, we love these mini-puddings so much that we teach you how to make them our Christmas Workshop. We supply boxes, bags and stockings so can you turning the puddings into perfect home-spun Christmas gifts and Christmas tree decorations. Ingredients 125g best-quality dark chocolate melted 150g white chocolate melted 350g leftover, or freshly cooked and cooled, Christmas pudding 1 teaspoon of sweet sherry 2 x 15ml tablespoons of golden syrup Preparation 1 Line a tray (that will fit in the fridge) with parchment paper or foil and set to one side while you make the bonbons. 2 Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended above a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave according to the manufacturer's guidelines. 3 Crumble the cold Christmas pudding into a bowl, add the sherry and golden syrup and stir briskly till all is incorporated. 4 Pour in the melted dark chocolate and stir again: this will make the mixture much more cohesive. 5 Using your hands, pinch out small lumps of the mixture onto the parchment paper and roll so that each pudding is the size of a chocolate truffle 6 Cover with clingfilm and slot into the fridge to firm up. Makes about 30 Eat with in 3 days < Image provided by Soerfm >
- [How Many Staff Does It Take To Eat A Bar of Chocolate?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-many-staff-does-it-take-to-eat-a-bar-of-chocolate): Is it me, or are there are times when it doesn’t feel like teamwork has much to do with anything in the workplace? It’s hard to spot teamwork when you’re beavering away alone at your computer meeting a tight deadline or grabbing a sandwich to eat solo at your desk. Sometimes it seems like work is a choice between going it alone or being in competition with colleagues. In this context, why do so many business books, business gurus and and well us at MyChocolate, bang on about teamwork? Is teamwork really that important? In a word, yes!! To remind you of the importance of teamwork, here are the best 5 reasons why we at MyChocolate think working as a team is essential: Teams are more successful at implementing complex plans and strategies. Because you can play to individual strengths, a team can tackle projects far more efficiently than a group of individuals working alone Teams come up with more creative solutions with their combined grey matter. And as teams continue to work together, many of them find that their individual work benefits from their new ability to see things from other member’s perspectives. Working in teams is an extremely effective way to ensure that objectives are met, and according to the latest research, spending time improving the way your business uses teams plays a very important part in increasing productivity. This is probably to do with a feeling of collective ownership and pride in the work that naturally develops when individuals are collaborating. Teams are more enduring than individuals. If you have one person who is responsible for a project, the loss of that person can send the project into a tailspin. When you rely on a team, the loss of one individual may be difficult, but the work of the team will continue. Cohesion as a team means a far nicer office culture; minimal back-stabbing and maximum solidarity. We know which workplace we’d rather work in! And while each company will have its own unique culture of either encouraging or discouraging team work, the onus is on all of us to do our part. So go on! Share that chocolate.
- [Keep Calm and Carry On](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/keep-calm-and-carry-on): You can never guarantee that things are going to run 100 % smoothly but here at My Chocolate we are sticklers for organising ahead. One day that might mean figuring out the logistics of getting several kilos of chocolate, four of our lovely teachers, a cocoa bean treasure chest and 10 cases of dessert wine to Munich; on another it may mean rigorously taste-testing strawberry cupcakes and whoopie pies for our new cupcake workshop – it’s a hard life sometimes! With this in mind, we bring you our Event Planning Top Tips: Make sure that invitations are sent out well in advance and have a clear date to RSVP. Don’t forget to include a note dietary requirements and access options. Time to break out Excel! Have timetables for invitations; acceptances; organising accommodation and travel; delegates’ options; tickets for conference dinner, the full caboodle. And don’t forget a timetable for the day itself, with allocated roles for your team. Your team will only perform smoothly if you fully brief everyone on their roles and relevant information. Make your expectations clear. Fire up staff with your belief in their individual abilities. When deciding on your venue, shortlist at least 3 options. When you pay your visit, bear in mind the transport links, facilities, friendliness of the staff and services available at no extra cost. Don’t forget to taste the food and wine while you are there. (And yes, that’s a must!) Take advantage of the in-house team at your conference venue. They will be familiar with the venue and able to offer free advice and help. They are also likely to have information available to assist you in organising such an event, or their event manager should be able to advise you as part of the overall package. Get advice from your entertainment agent for what works best in different venues. Usually live music works well for drinks reception and mealtime (we’re thinking less Kraut Rock, and more Bossa Nova, however!). Watch out as stand-up comedians can be loose canons, so best stick to a speaker who is talking on a pre-agreed and relevant topic for 30 minutes or so after dining. Take a break: it’s going to be a long day, so if you can, stay at the venue, or close by the night before. Don’t forget to plan some breaks for you and your team throughout the day. Put your best foot forward – we know you’ll do a fabulous job! See our team building events for more information.
- [How to…Run the Best Ever Team-Building Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-torun-the-best-ever-team-building-event): Remember how you had to eat your greens to get to eat ice-cream afters? At MyChocolate believe that planning is the key ingredient to having a great time at a team-building event . Here are some suggestions for success: What Are Your Objectives? Take the case of our workshops. Now, some might say that learning to make delicious milk chocolate praline is enough of an objective for anyone – but not so. With all corporate events , it is important to be clear about the objectives. These objectives should tie in to corporate goals, and the type of event you have will be strongly influenced by the outcome you are trying to achieve. Positive or Negative A key choice is whether your aim is a positive or negative one. Have your staff been particularly spangly, clever and lovely this year? In that case, you want to reward staff for an excellent year. In our language this means popping open the champagne and getting those chocolate fountains flowing! On the other hand, are you trying to overcome psychological barriers that hinder communication? This requires a very different approach, where you try to establish relationships between people who don’t normally interact. Planning Suppose your wanting to build better relationships between two separate departments. You could try mixing them in groups and at tables during mealtimes. However, left to our own devices, most of us with hunker down with those we know. To counteract this you could try briefing everyone beforehand to encourage them to mix, or even produce a formal seating plan. After the Event The planning you need to do not only includes the corporate event itself, but also what happens afterwards. Because once the ribbon is untied from the boxes, and the choccies devoured, people have a bit of a habit of going back to their old ways. The Choc Doc prescribes the following: identifying and removing, where possible, boundaries in the working environment that permanently divide people into groups. This can include desk arrangements and different dress codes creating cross-organisational process teams (with real objectives) to maintain the initiative and break down the barriers ensuring that you carry on reminding your staff how very much you appreciate them, with reward and recognition schemes, social events and celebrations for key achievements as they happen. Hell, you can even make them home-made chocolate!
- [What Type of Team-Player Are You?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/what-type-of-team-player-are-you): Research suggests that there is an ideal combination of 4 personality types to every team – too many of one or another and you’ll tip the boat. Have a go at our quiz to find out what kind of team-player you are (with a little MyChocolate psychology thrown in for good measure!). 1. I believe my strengths lie in a) Prioritising b) Researching c) Listening d) Taking calculated risks 2. Given the choice, my favourite chocolate would be a) Mars Bar b) Green and Blacks ‘Mayan Gold’ c) Ferrero Rocher d) Yorkie Bar 3. I most dislike a) Uncertainty b) Routine c) Lack of group co-operation d) Dishonesty, even in the form of white lies 4. My ultimate film icon is a) Rocky – he started from nothing and powered his way to the top! b) Gandhi – it’s best to think big c) Erin Bronkovich – fighting hard for the underdog d) Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft – at her most kick-ass 5. Others have accused me of being a) Over-cautious b) Overlooking important details c) Afraid of confrontation d) Argumentative 6. If it was up to me, the staff development budget would be spent on a) Attending a course based on Timothy Ferris’ ‘The 4 hour working week’ – extra efficiency all round! b) Tickets to see a motivational speaker c) Some kind of training in conflict mediation d) A good old knees up – it’s the best type of team-bonding after all. Mostly A’s The Do-er You are very task-oriented, organised and always meet deadlines. You strive for perfection and tend to avoid risk. You dislike uncertainty and ambiguity. As a team-leader, you are exacting, demanding and thorough, though you have a tendency to micro-manage and nit-pick. Top tip: become more aware of others’ feelings and work at interpersonal and communication skills. Mostly B’s The Visionary You see the big picture and like ideas and concepts. You don’t like getting bogged down in details. As a team leader, you are dynamic and inspiring, and can offer a lot in the way of long-term strategic thinking. Top tip: make sure that you don’t slip up with sloppy planning and impulsive decision-making. Mostly C’s The Feeler You are a very strong “context” person, making sure that everyone is on board before proceeding with a task or project. You are skilled at resolving conflicts and won’t let stronger members dominate team discussions. Top tip: be careful not to be over-bearing or too controlling. Remember that disputes are normal and healthy for teams. Mostly D’s The Boat Rocker You are open and direct with the other members of the team. You enjoy the rush of adrenalin that comes with an educated gamble. You won’t hesitate to disagree with the team’s leader or with management. Top tip: remember that it’s necessary at times to let an issue drop. Nor should you push the team to take unnecessary risks, just for the sake of excitement. Looking for a team building event to help bond your team? Look no further!
- [Team Building: A Case For and Against](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/team-building-a-case-for-and-against): We all need a bit of a lift sometimes. If you manage a department or work within one, you’ll know how important it is to keep morale high: it can play a key role in your productivity levels and job satisfaction. So how exactly do you put together an unstoppable team of employees ready to take on any job, no matter the size? Well, I can’t guarantee you’ll turn them into Power Rangers, but it might be worth trying a few team building exercises. The Case for Team Building Team building is a great way to motivate your employees. Whether you take them for a game of bowling to keep their competitive spirits up, or out for a round of cocktails to get those spirits in, team building events can help people get to know each other better on a social level. Try not to do anything too competitive, though. You don’t want to create any unnecessary rivalries which may leak back to the office! The Case against Team Building The other side of the coin is that some see team building exercises as a little ‘cheesy’ or passé. Managers often worry that team building exercises do not achieve long term goals; it is simply a fun day out that is quickly forgotten by employees. The Verdict Simply put, team building done well, works well. Investing in an event that actively involves all members of your team will boost morale, communication and team work. My key tip is to look for a team building exercise that pushes creative thinking in a relaxed environment and provides the opportunity to see people in action outside of their traditional work roles.
- [Culinary Team Building: A Recipe for Success](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/culinary-team-building-a-recipe-for-success): Recent research has proven what I’ve secretly suspected all along; bring people together in a creative environment, get them working on something that interests them and teams will be bonding before you know it. Top Notch Culinary Team Building Options Master Chef Improve your cooking skills and serve up team building tips on the side. Chefs demonstrate a few delectable meals and then it’s over to you and your team to create a new food product within an allocated time. See which team members have the potential for a Michelin star and who’s destined to be the bottle washer. Cake Making Make the most of your teams creatively and sweet tooth with a cake designing mission . Working together teams must design and decorate their cakes and create some equally artistic packaging. A master pastry chef teaches you how to make a chocolate ganache filling, write in chocolate and stir up a mouth-watering butter frosting. Prizes are awarded to the most inventive design. Plus everyone gets to leave with a slice of scrumptious cake. Sushi Making Do you know your Temaki from your Futomaki? Teams learn how to hand make sushi rolls in a fun and professional environment. A chef will also be on hand with lots of nibbles and samples. Chocolate Making The most delicious chocolate team building experience; I mean who doesn’t love chocolate?! In the Apprentice Chocolate Team Challenge it’s a race against the clock as teams create a new chocolate product, along with the packaging and a marketing plan. Practical thinking, problem solving and creative innovation are a must. Teams present their product to a Dragon’s Den style judging panel. The winning team receive chocolatey treats and everyone gets to take home their own handcraft chocolates.
- [Team Building Gone Wrong: Torture to Terrorism and Downright Silly](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/team-building-gone-wrong-torture-to-terrorism-and-downright-silly): We all too often hear about the success of team building events . What about the team activities that end in disaster? Here are my personal favourites! Team Building Hijacking Angling for a more memorable team-building exercise, Ericsson Telecom Company decided to stage a hijacking. Two men with masks and weapons seized a coach load of Ericsson’s unbeknown sales team. The goal was to see how staff kept their cool under stress. Sadly the ‘performance’ was cut short when a meddling passerby called the police. A spokesperson for Ericsson described how “unfortunate” this was. “The mistake was not giving notice to the police”. Argh yes that was the mistake with this team building adventure! Team Building Firewalking Eagle Star Insurance had employees walk across a bed of hot coals as part of a team building activity day. More than half of the employees ended up with burns on their feet; two severe enough to warrant an overnight hospital stay. More confusing than why management thought firewalking would promote teamwork is that employees continued to walk on coals having seen their colleagues being burned! Eagle Star now sticks to more conventional team building activities. Team Building Waterboarding An American based telemarketing company waterboarded one of its employees as a team building exercise in 2008. Presumably bored with traditional team events, bosses decided that waterboarding, a centuries old torture method where water is poured over prisoners’ faces to stimulate drowning, was the new team building fad. The manager who ran the ‘motivational’ exercise told staff that he wanted them to work as hard at selling as the waterboarded employee did at breathing! Team Building Trust Activities This brilliantly funny American Airlines advert has a little dig at trust based team building exercises. Have a look and see yet more examples of team building gone horribly wrong!
- [Team Building Creations: My Favourite Five](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/team-building-creations-my-favourite-five): There’s always one who takes the idea of a team activity one step further. I’ve compiled a list of the crème de la crème of team building constructions! 5th A team from Surrey aimed a little higher than the traditional raft making. 4th I didn’t want to ask how this ice sculpture was brought back to the office! 3rd Best Team Build Example This chocolate race track was the final product in a MyChocolate Apprentice Challenge. As the event was for Apple we expected nothing short of creative genius. 2nd A beverage company took the business promo video to the next level; their team building movie was screened at BFI IMAX, the largest cinema screen in the UK! 1st Look closely and you’ll see that this AirArt piece is made entirely from people! While these examples may be a little extreme of what you can achieve in a team building activity, I would always try to make sure that your event includes the 4 C’s: Creativity: See above! Coordination: Are teams coordinated by a central leadership team that will help the groups succeed? Does everyone have a chance to demonstrate their leadership skills? Team building triumphs when staff step out of their usual role. Have the office juniors leading a team of CEO’S! Communication: Does the exercise involve every member of each team? Everyone in the group needs to be actively working together if communication channels are going to be improved. Competition: There isn’t a better way too get people working together than giving them a common goal. Well that and the chance to win a few shiny prizes! F or more inspiration, check out MyChocolate’s Away Days and Corporate Events !
- [Cranberry and Coriander Truffles](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/cranberry-and-coriander-truffles): Is there anything more delicious than truffles?! With a crispy outer shell and a soft creamy centre, truffles are perfection! Ingredients: 2 handfuls of fresh cranberries 115g granulated sugar 2 tsp ground coriander 125ml whipping cream 55g unsalted butter 500g milk chocolate, finely chopped Directions: Place the fresh cranberries, sugar and coriander in a pot with just enough water to cover the bottom. Simmer on a low heat until the berries are soft. Place the mixture in food processor and blend until you get a smooth consistency. Run through a strainer. Add a pinch of sea salt to the cream, which will really bring out the flavour of the truffle mixture. Add the cream to the cranberry mixture and bring the mix to a boil. Next pour the mixture over 460g of the milk chocolate and leave it to sit for 5 minutes, allowing the mixture to melt the chocolate. Stir until fully combined and run through a strainer into clean bowl. Stir in butter then cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Melt 30g of milk chocolate in a bowl over pot of hot water. Remove the ganache from refrigerator and using your hands quickly roll into small balls and place on parchment paper. Hand roll ganache balls in the tempered milk chocolate and place onto clean parchment paper. Store in airtight container in a cool dark place. The truffles will be perfect for for10 days. My Chocolate Top Tips Wash your hands with cold water before rolling the truffles to prevent them from melting. Give you truffles an even more delicious flavour by coating them in cocoa power. Once you have dipped the truffles in the chocolate place them on a plate of cocoa power. When the chocolates have almost set, roll in the cocoa power and leave on the parchment paper to finish setting. < Image provided by AlexanderStein >
- [Amaretto Chocolate Sauce Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/amaretto-chocolate-sauce-recipe): Whipped cream, smooth chocolate and sticky Amaretto are blended together to make this sweet sauce the perfect accompaniment to any desert. Pour it over cool ice-cream, steaming hot puddings or anything else you can think of… be as wicked as you like! Ingredients 120ml whipping cream 230g dark chocolate, chopped (we recommend that you use at least 70% cocoa solids) 2 tbsp Amaretto. Or experiment with other liqueurs. How about Irish cream, whiskey or brandy? Directions Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate until it is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Swirl in the liqueur. Serve hot or chilled.
- [Double Chocolate Fig Slice](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/double-chocolate-fig-slice): Combining figs and chocolate has long been a confectioners favourite so hone your master chocolatier skills with this classic recipe. Ingredients 200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces (as always we recommend that you use at least 70% cocoa solids) 150g unsalted butter, cubed 230g brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs (we recommend free range organic) whisked 250g dessert figs, finely chopped 65g self-raising flour 30g cocoa powder For the Brown Sugar Cream 300ml double cream 16g brown sugar Directions Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the base and sides of 4.5cm-deep, 18cm square pan with baking paper. Leave a 2cm overhang on 2 of the sides. Melt the chocolate and butter over a bowl of hot water until a smooth mixture is reached. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Leave the mixture to one side for 5 minutes to cool. Stir the egg and figs into the chocolate mixture. Next sift the flour and cocoa over mixture. Stir the ingredients until it is well blended. Spread the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until a knife dipped into the centre comes out slightly gooey. Set the slice aside and leave it to cool completely. Lift out and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in airtight container. Directions to make the brown sugar cream Place the cream and brown sugar into a mixing bowl. Use a balloon whisk to beat the mix until it has thickened. Cover the cream and keep it refrigerated until it’s ready to serve. Just before serving this mouth watering treat, cut into slices and add a dollop of the cream on top of each slice.
- [Cookie Monster Cupcakes](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/cookie-monster-cupcakes): I came across this recipe a few weeks ago and I’m yet to find a more deliciously peculiar cupcake! Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nick_d/2977848508/ Cookie Monster Cupcake Recipe Ingredients: Cupcake mix (makes 6 medium cupcakes) 50g Self raising flour 50g Caster sugar (superfine) 50g Butter or margarine 1 Egg Butter Frosting: 250g unsalted butter 300g icing sugar Sprinkle of vanilla Milk – no more than 4 tablespoons Blue food colouring Decoration: Dessicated coconut Cookies (any brand) Chocolate chips Cupcake Sponge Recipe: Preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4) and place paper cases into a muffin tin Using an electric whisk, food processor or wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy Add in the egg, beating it well Fold in the flour Bake in the oven for 10 – 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, check to see if the cupcakes are ready by inserting a cocktail stick into one of the cupcakes. If it comes out dry then the cupcakes are done. If not, pop the cakes back in the oven for a few more minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave to cool on a wire rack. Butter Frosting Recipe: Mix the unsalted butter, icing sugar and vanilla Add the tablespoons of milk, one tablespoon at a time and stir in well Whisk for 10 minutes Take out 4-5 tablespoons of the mixture and keep in a separate bowl Add the blue food colouring to the remaining mixture. Stir well. Decoration Recipe: Once the cupcakes are cooled, cover them in the blue butter frosting. Next make the coloured coconut. Add a few drops of food colouring to the coconut and coat thoroughly. Spread the coconut out on wax paper to air dry for a couple hours. To make the coconut better resemble the Cookie Monster’s furry coat, you can pulse the coconut in a food processor. Sprinkle the tinted blue desiccated coconut over the cupcakes. To make the eyes, pipe out two balls of white butter icing (use a baggie with the corner snipped off if you don’t have a pastry bag) Add a chocolate chip, with the flat surface facing upwards, to each ball of white butter frosting Use a sharp knife to make a cut for the mouth and wedge in your favourite cookie Enjoy….and try not to eat them all at once!
- [Office Christmas Party Horror Stories](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/office-christmas-party-horror-stories): Last year a few MyChocolate clients let me in on their Christmas Party horror stories! Christmas Party Horror Story by Daniel, London. Hugo Boss Suit: £570 Taxi to restaurant: £15 Babysitter: £20 Misreading the office party invitation and arriving one day early: Priceless Christmas Party Horror Story by Katie, Glasgow “With a little Dutch Courage, I made the disastrous mistake of telling my boss what I really thought of his training ideas at our last Christmas party. At the time I remember thinking how helpful and constructive my comments were. About 10 minutes into my speech, a colleague interpreted me. She later told me that she had overheard me saying what a ‘waste of time’ his training workshops were and she thought it was about time she stopped me when I referred to his ‘dictator-style approach’”. Christmas Party Horror Story by Simon, Manchester “All I’m going to say is that it started with alcohol, involved a staircase and ended with a broken leg”. Christmas Party Horror Story by Neil, London “ A few years back my work had a Narnia themed Christmas party. To me ‘themed’ meant fancy dress. To everyone else it meant a room decorated with ice sculptures, fir trees and fairly lights. Unfortunately I hadn’t red the internal e-mail saying the dress code was black tie. I turned up head-to-toe in a beaver suit”. Christmas Party Horror Story by Alice, Birmingham “Mine was the classic mistake of singing karaoke. Two years on and my team still haven’t forgotten, or forgiven, my performance of Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell”
- [Four Ultimate Tips for Better Corporate Entertainment](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/four-ultimate-tips-for-better-corporate-entertainment): When it comes to the business of ‘ corporate entertainment ’, there’s plenty of people out there to tell you up from down and right from wrong. But quite a lot of the advice smacks of teaching your dear old grandma to suck the proverbial (chocolate) egg. ‘Research your clients and potential events properly’ decries Bloggs of Blogg Inc. Blast and damn. Those stockbroker fellows seemed such ideal candidates for the basket-weaving course, but now you say it, it might not be quite the ticket… Or ‘Explore your options to get more for your money.’ In these belt-tightening times, that’s second nature to most of us. Whether it’s a case of scouring the internet for the very cheapest flights, or swapping Net-a-Porter for Outnet (shopaholics unite!), we’re all down with saving the pennies. So keeping it short and sweet, here are My Chocolate’s 4 ultimate tips for better corporate entertainment: 1. Make sure it entails some kind of vice. Betting (day at the races, day at the dogs), strong liquor (whiskey tasting is a safe bet) or any kind of death by chocolate is a sure fire thing. 2. Get the music right. Whether it’s live or piped, avoid any particularly controversial genres, (happy hardcore, particularly cheesy RnB, Jedward). Our advice? You can never go wrong with a little Aretha Franklin or Earth, Wind and Fire. 3. For goodness sake, don’t let it involve any of the following dubious categories spotted on client ents websites: mentalists, inflatables, ventriloquists, Paul McKenna. 4. Make it memorable. Sometimes work can feel like ground hog day, and truly great corporate entertainment is an unbeatable opportunity for your clients (and not forgetting you!) to step out of the box, and experience something completely different. If it gets you excited, chances are they’ll enjoy it too. Bon chance!
- [Building a Good Team](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/building-a-good-team): Think of a World Without Any Chocolate… Imagine a world with apples but no oranges. Socks but no tights. Bowler hats but no berets. Or, most scarily, chocolate chip cookies…and no vanilla cream truffles. This, ladies and gentlemen, would be a world lacking in diversity. Boo. And diversity is the name of the game when it comes to building a great team. Just calling a group of people ‘a team’ does not an effective team make. We’ve been thinking about what creates the best, most cheerful and smooth-running collaborations and have come up with a few pointers. How to Guide: Building a Good Team Take a good look around are your fellow team members. Is your team predominantly made up of the same people or is it a good mix? If it is fairly homogeneous, perhaps it’s worth asking whether such a group can truly represent the views of the customer? Have they got the knowledge they need? Can you find people with different backgrounds to join the team? With this in mind, beware of trying to mould people towards any point of view. The point of differences is that they enrich the idea pool, so be receptive to their suggestions, even if you might not immediately agree. Look out for any quiet ones. Why aren’t they contributing? Do they feel excluded? If you think it’s a confidence issue, it might be worth taking them quietly to one side, and letting them know that their opinion is valued. We know it’s tempting to have an easy life, but don’t pretend to agree when you don’t. Differences can be fuel for developing ideas. Look for common ground. Core beliefs are often the same when surface beliefs are different. Focusing on core beliefs can help you as a team get back on track when there is disagreement and conflict.
- [Fun Teambuilding Activities: Our Top Tips](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/fun-teambuilding-activities-our-top-tips-2): Fun. It’s a curious word, isn’t it? And one that means very different things to different people. Let’s take bungee jumping. Scores of people the world through find leaping off an extremely high place with a rubber ankle tie attached to a post…well, fun. Now, we at My Chocolate are an open-minded lot and of the opinion, “whatever floats your boat”. With this in mind, we’ve had a little office brainstorm and come up with our 5 top fun team-building activities for your delectation: #1 Chocolate Challenge Well, you didn’t think we were going to put something else at no.1 surely? Not do you get to make and eat plenty of amazing chocolate, the competition gets fierce with our adrenalin-fuelled treasure hunt and Dragon’s Den style judging panel. Watch out, your truffle better be good enough for Deborah Meadon! #2 Blindfold Driving Ok it must be the daredevil in us, but the prospect of driving a 4×4 blindfolded is somehow appealing. When else would you get to be so reckless? Oh, but we should mention, your colleagues will be in the vehicle with you too, yelling “Left a bit…right a…noooooo!”. #3 Sand-sculpting Apparently you’ll defy the law of physics with this activity. Brilliant fun but sadly, Bournemouth beach might not be quite the place for it in December. Brrr. #4 Cocktail-Making Yum, we have a soft spot for cocktails at My Chocolate HQ. Learn how to mix your own Bloody Mary, Sex on the Beach..all good clean fun. #5 Gourmet Food Challenges For the foodies among you, there are a dazzling variety of options out there. Italian, Chinese, Thai, French…get your frying pans at the ready! As it goes, gourmet experiences are a My Chocolate speciality, focusing around chocolate, naturally. Shaken or stirred? Make your own chocolate martini, sample balsamic chocolate dip with artisan breads as well as chocolate olive tapenade with goats cheese, specially flavoured truffles…we could go on. But we won’t as you’ll start drooling on your keyboard. Alcohol, food, chocolate – meeting every criteria of a fun team-building activity!
- [How to Run the Best Team Building Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-to-run-the-best-team-building-event): Remember how you had to eat your greens to get to eat ice-cream afters? We at My Chocolate believe – though it may not be quite as fun as rolling truffles – that planning is the key to ultimately having a great time at a team-building event. Here are some suggestions for success: What Are Your Objectives? Take the case of our workshops. Now, some might say that learning to make delicious milk chocolate praline is enough of an objective for anyone – but not so. With all corporate events, it is important to be clear about the objectives. These objectives should tie in to corporate goals, and the type of event you have will be strongly influenced by the outcome you are trying to achieve. Positive or Negative A key choice is whether your aim is a positive or negative one. Have your staff been particularly spangly, clever and lovely this year? In that case, you want to reward staff for a excellent year. Which means in our language, pop open the champagne and get those chocolate fountains flowing! Or are you trying to overcome psychological barriers that hinder communication? This requires a very different approach, where you try to establish relationships between people who don’t normally interact. Planning Suppose you are wanting to build better relationships between two separate departments. You could try mixing them in groups and at tables during mealtimes. However, left to our own devices, most of us with hunker down with those we know. To counteract this you could try briefing everyone beforehand to encourage them to mix, or even produce a formal seating plan. After the Event The planning you need to do not only includes the corporate event itself, but also what happens afterwards. Because once the ribbon is untied from the boxes, and the choccies devoured, people have a bit of a habit of going back to their old ways. The Choc Doc prescribes the following: identifying and removing, where possible, boundaries in the working environment that permanently divide people into groups. This can include desk arrangements and different dress codes creating cross-organisational process teams (with real objectives) to maintain the initiative and break down the barriers ensuring that you carry on reminding your staff how very much you appreciate them, with reward and recognition schemes, social events and celebrations for key achievements as they happen. Hell, you can even make them home-made chocolate! Take a look at MyChocolate’s Team Building Away Days and Coporate Events for inspiration!
- [Event Planning: Top Tips](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/event-planning-top-tips): “God laughs at man’s best made plans” runs the old proverb and while you can never guarantee that things are going to run smoothly 100 % of the time, we are My Chocolate are sticklers for organising ahead. One day that might mean figuring out the logistics of getting several kilos of chocolate, four of our lovely teachers, a cocoa bean treasure chest and 10 cases of dessert wine to Munich; on another it may mean rigorously taste-testing strawberry cup cakes and whoopee pies well in advance of a new workshop – it’s a hard life sometimes! Our Top Tips for Planning Your Event: Make sure that invitations get sent out in good time, with a clear date to RSVP. Factor in chasing up responses before the last date to reply to, and don’t forget to include dietary and access options on the invitation. Time to break out Excel! There’s nothing like a spreadsheet to properly plan crucial timings. Have timetables for invitations; acceptances; organising accommodation and travel; delegates’ options; tickets for conference dinner, the full caboodle. And don’t forget a timetable for the day itself, with allocated roles for your team. Your team will only perform smoothly if you fully brief everyone on their roles and relevant information. Make your expectations clear, and then be sure to fire them up with your belief in their individual abilities. When deciding on your venue, shortlist at least 3 separate locations. When you pay your visit, bear in mind the location, facilities, friendliness of the staff and services available at no extra cost. Don’t forget to taste the food and wine while you are there. (And yes, that’s a must!) Take advantage of the in-house team at your conference venue. They will be familiar with the venue and able to offer free advice and help. They are also likely to have information available to assist you in organising such an event, or their event manager should be able to advise you as part of the overall package. Get advice from your entertainment agent for what works best in different venues. Usually live music works well for drinks reception and mealtime (we’re thinking less Kraut Rock, and more Bossa Nova, however!). Watch out as stand-up comedians can be loose canons, so best stick to a speaker who is talking on a pre-agreed and relevant topic for 30 minutes or so after dining. Take a break: it’s going to be a long day, so if you can, stay at the venue, or close by the night before. Don’t forget to plan some breaks for you and your team throughout the day. Put your best foot forward – we know you’ll do a fabulous job!
- [Party Pitfalls and How to Prevent Them!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/party-pitfalls-and-how-to-prevent-them): Things just ain’t what they used to be. And we mean that in a good way. Once, corporate entertainment amounted to a sorry looking platter of sandwiches in a gloomy function room, and DJ Keith spinning a selection of 80’s classics. And these days? Even in this current economic climate, smart companies know that corporate ents are really worth investing in. If done properly, not only do such events leave clients feeling mighty appreciated, they are also invaluable opportunities for networking. However, the key is in the words ‘done properly’. With this in mind, My Chocolate present to you our Potential Pitfalls list – we’ve come up with the things that might go wrong so you get a head start: Low Price = Low Value? It’s one thing being price conscious. But it’s another thing to get sucked into buying the cheapest packages, as low prices don’t necessarily mean value for money. Don’t forget, you are aiming to make your important clients feel valued . Make the event feel like a stingy and miserly affair, and it’ll be worse than not having an event at all. Even if you have a shoe-string budget, it’s your job to find a way to make the entertainment feel generous and high-quality. The Devil is in the Detail It’s a dull business, but there is nothing like fine-combing a contract. Always check exactly what is included in the corporate hospitality package and clarify any points that aren’t clear. Similarly, always check the cancellation policies that have been put in place by the hospitality provider. What if your numbers go down at the last minute – will you still have to pay for the original amount of people? And what if the company cancel on you ? Make sure there is provision for all of these scenarios, and most importantly – get it in writing! Location, Location! Ask for the locations of the facilities that make up the package. They should all be close by, and if they are not within comfortable walking distance, confirm that (elegant) transportation will be covered by the event providers. All that Glitters… Do not be taken in by spectacular photography, costly looking brochures and collateral. These do not necessarily reflect what you will get on the day. Ensure you visit the venue, taste the food and drinks, sample the service and, if possible, sit in on the workshop or entertainment that you wish to book. Don’t be afraid to ask for previous client recommendations and endorsements either! And Remember: You are always welcome to come down to My Chocolate HQ to discuss your potential event with us. Just give us a call, and we promise you’ll leave with a good taste in your mouth (that’ll be the hazelnut praline, then!).
- [What Can Wreck A Team...And How To Solve It](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/team-building-training-what-can-wreck-a-team-and-how-to-solve-it): We at MyChocolate are more likely to be polishing off a chocolate box than ticking boxes. However, when a nice lady kindly offered to give us free psychometric testing, we thought that sounded rather intriguing, so we sharpened our pencils and got to work. The results were genuinely interesting and revealing, and taught us much about the way our particular, tight-knitted group interacts. Team building training is all about reinforcing positive group dynamics. However, it is just as important to be aware of what can go wrong. Awareness of this allows you to rectify situations before they get out of hand. Here are the 3 most frequent team issues: Alpha Tendencies You know how in those nature documentaries, there’s usually a gorilla that thuds it’s chest and yells the loudest? Same with teams. There is often a member who works on the principle, ‘my way or the highway’, dominating discussions and being uncooperative if they do not get their way. They will also attempt to sabotage proceedings by undermining the authority of others, through subtle (back-stabbing, bitching) and not so subtle means (direct confrontation, aggression). This behaviour shows all the hallmarks insecurity. The best way to deal with these people? Take them aside, and really hear them out. If they feel they are being valued and appreciated, 9 time out of 10 they will pipe down. Pack Mentality Cases of sexual harassment frequently make the papers. However, there is another form of harassment stemming from pack mentality in the workplace in which multiple employees pick another employee as a “fall guy”, one who is singled out for excessive criticism or is given a disproportionate workload. More often than not, this person is someone who is has a mild and shy disposition, a character who stands apart from the crowd through socially awkwardness and/or eccentricity. Be alert to this behaviour; not only is it extremely damaging to the individual and to your group dynamic, it prevents you from seeing that person’s actual capabilities and contributions, as well as falsely absolving others of their responsibilities. Infighting Think of your company as an orchestra. If Jane in HR is a violinist and Matt in accounts is a bassoonist, your boss is the conductor, keeping time and creating harmony and solid rhythm…or not, as the case may be. It’s really important to be aware of how your boss sets the tone for the company culture. If they are conniving and play colleagues off against each other, chances are the staff will behave similarly; conversely, if the boss is kind, fair and considerate, the same qualities will be felt in the workplace overall. Awareness of this is vital when it comes to team building training. If you quietly identify to yourself your bosses positive and negative traits, you can work to balance these out with your own group dynamic. Easier said than done, but well worth it. Your boss may even sit up and take notice when they see how successfully your team is doing!
- [Corporate Events: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/corporate-events-from-the-sublime-to-the-ridiculous-2): We at MyChocolate feel we have it pretty good. As our aim is to continually devise new and delicious recipes for your delectation, we get to flavour the ganache, pour the cream and lick the spoon at the end. It’s no bad existence. However, of late we’ve been having fun checking out how the other half live – you know, the half who have their own helipads and stuff. We’ve done a little rekkie of the ‘net, and discovered the most extravagant corporate events experiences out there. Here are the ones that most tickled our fancy: Not Quite Do Wah Diddy Yeh, Cheryl Cole is no slouch on X Factor, but dontcha just miss her singing with the other lasses? Well, fret no more! For a not so modest fee, you can hire Girls Aloud to sing at your company’s bash. For the older clientele, we have Depeche Mode or for the discerning older lady, hunky opera boys Il Divo. Celeb Speakers Did you ever read that book, ‘The Game’? The one written for men about how to pick up just about any single lady on the market? How about hiring Neil Strauss the author as your guest speaker? (NB Not quite sure how this will boost your company’s profits). Or you could bring in a certain Mr G Ramsay, but we wouldn’t recommend asking him for dating tips. Drive a Bentley on Ice We’re not totally convinced of the benefits of this one. Fly to the Finnish wilderness, take this classic Brit car for a spin on a frozen lake – this seems like some kind of advanced driving proficiency course. But the bit about the huskies and the traditional Lapp dinner sounds good. Your Very Own Submarine Yes, for an undisclosed amount, you can drive your very own two-seat submersible. Designed to “fly” underwater, The Super Aviator allows you to experience the wonders of the ocean without getting wet. Just don’t say, “Red October”. Rent a Private Island You’d have to have done something pretty damn impressive to get HR to agree to this corporate event. Bahamas? Seychelles? Choices, choices. As long as it comes with it’s own fully staffed bar and a white sandy beach, we’re not too picky.
- [Chocolate Corporate Event Ideas](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-corporate-event-ideas): Like good old Augustus Gloop, we at MyChocolate can’t get enough of the sweet, dark stuff. We are guessing you are people after our own heart, since you’re reading this blog. So to further whet your appetite, we’re going to take you on a magical mystery tour of chocolate corporate event ideas. Chocolate Making We’re not ones to boast (promise!), but we’re pretty good at this. Well, it has been 8 years non-stop hosting this most popular of workshops. Cut, dip and decorate your own handmade treasures, pop them into ribbon tied boxes, then toast your newly found choc prowess with your clients. Everyone’s happy – that is unless you arrive home with an empty box. Chocolate Fountain Picture the scene: you arrive at the venue, you’re booted, suit ed and fluted…it’s time to mingle. Now whilst the lucky few glide around delivering effortless quips, some of us (ahem) may feel a wee bit shy in such situations. And this is the beauty of the chocolate fountain. Awe-inspiring and endlessly delicious, the fountain is the leveller of all men. It’s an easy talking point…unless you have a mouth full of chocolate-covered profiterole, that is. Wine and Chocolate Pairing We are certainly partial to a glass or two of red, but coupled with a complimentary truffle and you’ll be in a very chocolatey seventh heaven. We consulted our lovely sommelier who helped us find the most delicious combinations. One of our many favourites? Deep tawny port with a rich cinnamon milk truffle. This event is popular with the menfolk too. Chocolate corporate event ideas will get your taste buds tingling and bring smiles to many faces. Contact the MyChocolate office to discuss a bespoke corporate event for your clients.
- [Surviving Corporate Events](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/surviving-corporate-events): I want to tell you the story of a young lady who loved Christian Louboutin heels. She was also a regular attendee of corporate events and it’s not a happy ending. Ok, we’re exaggerating a little but seriously, the number of times we’ve seen ladies walking around corporate events in impossible shoes made us think: time to write a few simple tips for surviving corporate events for organisers and clients alike. Even just for the sake of your future bunions. Ok, here goes: Wear comfortable shoes Surprise, surprise, this is number 1. We know, it seems obvious, but uncomfortable shoes will make you tired, irritable and ultimately less effective – they’re not called killer heels for nothing. So ditch the heels, and put on some comfortable flats. If you want to go all glamazon then bring the heels in a separate shoe bag and change at the venue. To aid further, try and sit down whenever possible and take plenty of breaks. Networking…organising…it can all take it out of you. Don’t forget to eat We’re going to sound like your mum here, but you really must eat. It’s so easy when you are running round to forget to take care of yourself. But it’s essential! If you are a client enjoying hospitality, go easy on the wine as the canapes usually offered can be dangerously insubstantial. Try and eat something filling beforehand and ensure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Watch out for cocktails – you don’t know how much alcohol they contain until you try to stand up! Plan carefully Whether you are the event organiser, or a client, planning can turn a social occasion into an excellent business opportunity. Is there anyone in particular that you wish to network with, impress, gain contacts through? If you can, do your homework and make a bee line for those people when you arrive. Remember: knowing what you want is the first step to getting what you want. With these 3 top tips for surviving corporate events, success is practically guaranteed. Throw in a little chocolate, and it’s assured.
- [The Oreo Whoopie Pie](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-oreo-whoopie-pie): If this is your first introduction to the Whoopie Pie, the name may be worth a giggle, but it’s misleading! A Whoopie Pie is somewhere between a cake and a biscuit. The Oreo Whoopie Pie Whoopie Pie Sponge 35g Cocoa Powder 300g Plain White Flour 1tsp Baking Powder 100g Salted Butter 175g Dark Muscovado Sugar 1 Medium Egg 1tsp Natural Vanilla Extract 125ml Full Fat Milk Makes 6 Whoopie Pies Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper or silicone mats. Whisk together the butter and sugar. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Whisk in the egg. Beat well. Fill a piping bag with the mixture and pipe 5cm round cakes onto the lined baking trays. Bake for 10-15 mins or until the cakes spring back when touched. Allow to cool before adding your filling. Whoopie Pie Marshmallow Filling 20 White Marshmallows 20 White Chocolate Buttons 20ml Water Makes filling for 5 Whoopie Pies Add the water to a metal bowl over a bain-marie on a low heat. Break the marshmallows in half and add to the water. Stir for a few minutes and then add in the white chocolate buttons. Stir the mixture until the chocolate and marshmallows have dissolved. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes. Spoon the mixture on to one half the whoopie pie and sandwich the other half on top.
- [Green & Black’s Exclusive Truffle Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/green-blacks-exclusive-truffle-recipe-2): MyChocolate’s famous vanilla cream truffle recipe is featured in the new Green & Black’s cookbook. Jo Fairly, co-founder of Green & Black’s , attended one of MyChocolate’s delicious chocolate making workshops last year. She loved the experience so much that she asked me to submit one of our mouth-watering recipes for the new Green & Black’s book! In case you hadn’t heard, MyChocolate are using Green & Black’s Organic chocolate in all our corporate events, hen parties and gift experiences. You can even make your own personalised Green & Black’s bar at the workshops. MyChocolate’s Vanilla Cream Truffles 175g whipping cream Pinch of salt 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways 75g granulated sugar 125g unsalted butter, at room temperature 1-2 tablespoons Mirabelle or other liqueur to taste (optional) About 250g dark (70% cocoa solids) chocolate, for dipping Cocoa powder, for dusting Put the whipping cream, salt and vanilla pod in a saucepan over a low heat and bring to scalding point, then reduce the heat to its lowest setting and gently simmer for about 20 minutes to allow the cream to absorb the flavour of the vanilla. Do not boil. Remove from the heat, stir in the sugar and allow to cool until it reaches a temperature of 20°C (room temperature). Whisk the butter in a bowl using an electric stand or hand-held mixer until it forms a soft smooth mass. Gradually add the cream mixture, beating continuously. Add some liqueur, if using, at this stage. If the mixture curdles (a sign that it is too cold), reheat over a pan of barely simmering water until it re-emulsifies. If it is too soft, set the bowl over iced water and beat. Line one or two baking trays with baking parchment. Fill an icing bag fitted with a size 2 piping bag nozzle (approx. 3cm long and 1.8cm wide) with the truffle mixture and pipe little rounds about the size of nutmeg onto parchment; this amount will make around 50 truffles. Transfer the tray(s) to the freezer. After about 45 minutes, remove. Meanwhile melt the chocolate over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water, then set aside to cool until it reaches 40°C. Put the cocoa powder in a shallow bowl or on a plate and have a sieve to hand. Dip the truffle fillings into the melted chocolate, then lay them in the cocoa powder. When they have set, transfer a few at a time, to the sieve and shake off excess cocoa powder. Store the truffles in a sealed box in the fridge or, to keep them fresh for longer, in the freezer.
- [Cupcakes: Starting with a Basic Sponge](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/cupcakes-starting-with-a-basic-sponge): How to make a soft, classic sponge… Ingredients 50g Caster Sugar 50g Salted Butter 50g Self-Raising Flour 1 Medium Egg Makes 6 Cupcakes Recipe Preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4). Place paper cases into a muffin baking tray. Using an electric whisk or wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and fold in the flour. Bake in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes. After 15 minutes, see if the cupcakes are ready by inserting a cocktail stick into one of the cupcakes. If it comes out dry then the cupcakes are done. If not, pop the cakes back in the oven for a few more minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave on a wire rack to cool.
- [Marshmallow Filling - Ideal for Whoopie Pies](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/marshmallow-filling-ideal-for-whoopie-pies): The traditional marshmallow recipe only contains water and white marshmallows but because we’re all chocoholics, we’ve added white chocolate to create a richer flavour. Ingredients 20 White Marshmallows 20 White Chocolate Buttons 20ml Water Makes filling for 6 Whoopie Pies Recipe Add the water to a heatproof bowl over a bain-marie on a low heat. Break the marshmallows in half and add to the water. Stir for a few minutes and then add in the white chocolate buttons. Stir the mixture until the chocolate and marshmallows have dissolved. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes. Spoon the mixture on to one half the whoopie pie and sandwich the other half on top. Easy peasy.
- [How to Make Whoopie Pies](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-to-make-whoopie-pies): In case this is your first introduction to the Whoopie Pie, the name may be worth a giggle, but it’s very misleading! A whoopie pie is somewhere between a cake and a biscuit. It’s made with more flour and less egg so the end result is a thin, flat and chewy sponge. Ingredients 125g Butter, softened 200g Light brown sugar 1 Large egg 350g Plain flour 50g Cocoa powder 5.25ml Bicarbonate of soda 1.25ml Salt 250ml Low-fat buttermilk Makes 6 Whoopie Pies Recipe Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper or silicone mats. Whisk together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg. Sift the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and salt into another bowl. Gradually combine the mixtures and slowly add the buttermilk. Fill a piping bag with the mixture and pipe 5cm round cakes onto the lined baking trays. Bake for 10-15 mins or until the cakes spring back when touched. Allow to cool before adding your filling.
- [Chocolate Vodka Martini](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-vodka-martini): We get asked for this recipe all the time. After you’ve tasted the martini, you’ll understand why. Ingredients 25ml Whipping Cream 25g Milk Chocolate Buttons 25ml Vodka & 25ml Cocoa Liquor Two Handfuls of Cubed Ice 100g Melted Milk Chocolate Makes 2 Martinis Recipe Heat the cream in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the solid milk chocolate buttons. Add the ice to the cocktail shaker and pour in the chocolate cream mixture. Add the vodka and cocoa liquor. Securely fasten the cocktail shaker lid and shake well. Hold a martini glass at a 45 degree angle and slowly turn the glass while drizzling the melted milk chocolate from a tablespoon. Pour the martini mixture into the decorated glass.
- [Gooey Caramel Chocolate Fudge](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/gooey-caramel-chocolate-fudge): Ingredients 225g Granulated Sugar 150g Organic Whipping Cream 300g Chopped Dark Chocolate Recipe To caramelise the sugar, place a large stainless steel saucepan on a high heat, add 125g of the sugar and wait for it to dissolve. Use a chopstick to stir the sugar in small circles. When it has nearly dissolved, slowly stir in the rest of the sugar until a lovely amber coloured caramel has been made. Pour the whipping cream into a separate pan and place on a low heat. Switch off the heat and gradually pour the warm cream into the caramel. Be aware that the melted sugar has reached a temperature of 180º and may splatter when you add the cream. Use a whisk to stir the mixture until smooth. Wait until it stops bubbling and add the dark chocolate. Pour the mixture on a tray lined with baking paper. Leave to cool for 2 hours at room temperature before cutting. We also love to drizzle this fudge with caramel and sprinkle over some coarse sea salt for that salted caramel kick!
- [St. Patrick's Day Whoopie Pies](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/st-patricks-day-whoopie-pies): These delicious little cakes are a play on the traditional chocolate and vanilla whoopie pie but with the addition of a bright green buttercream to get you in the mood for St Patrick’s Day. Whoopie Pies 150g chocolate (we recommend minimum 70% cocoa solids) 125g butter 3 large eggs 225g sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g plain flour 30g cocoa powder ½ tsp baking power Makes 12 Buttercream Filling 140g butter (room temperature) 280g icing sugar Green food colouring (we recommend 100% natural food dye ) Method Preheat the oven to 180C/250F/Gas 4 Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper or a silicone sheet Melt the chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl does not touch the water. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla, then fold in the melted chocolate mixture. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder in to the bowl and fold in gently. Drop a tablespoon of mixture on to the baking trays to create each whoopie pie half. Aim for 12 per sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until they feel springy to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in to the top. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. To make the filling, cream together the soft butter and icing sugar until smooth. Add food colouring (paste works best) until the desired shade of St Patrick’s Day green! Spoon the filling on to one half of the whoopie pie, and sandwich with another.
- [Fancy something different this Easter?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/fancy-something-different-this-easter): We’ve scoured the internet for the quirkiest (and most delicious) Easter recipes. Have a go at a recipe or two this weekend and send pictures of your creations to info@mychocolate.co.uk . 1. Creamy Chocolate Mouse Eggs Each cup is made with a crisp milk chocolate shell and decorated with a sunshine yolk…the perfect Easter feast! 2. Peanut Butter Fudge Bunnies Make peanut butter fudge to form the centre of these luscious little bunnies. 3. Crispy Chocolate Chick We absolutely love this little guy! 4. Bird’s Nest Cookies A dark cocoa cookie is spread with creamy ganache, sprinkled with coconut and topped with white chocolate mini eggs. 5. Egg Shell Cupcakes These Easter cupcakes are baked inside real egg shells. Yes, real egg shells. Happy Easter and rememeber to send your pictures to info@mychocolate.co.uk < Image provided by Lupe02 via pixabay>
- [Vanilla Cake Pops](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/vanillacakepops): Vanilla Cake Pops These delicious little bites are made from fresh sponge cake blended with a cream cheese frosting. Popped on a stick and dipped in a velvety white chocolate coating, these mini treats not only taste wonderful but look impressive. Vanilla cake 120g unsalted butter, at room temperature 150g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 free range eggs, at room temperature 180g self-raising flour 4 tbsp milk, at room temperature Vanilla cream cheese frosting 80g unsalted butter, softened 40g cream cheese, softened 200g icing sugar, sifted 1 tsp vanilla extract You will also need 400 g (1 bag) of white candy melts or white chocolate Vegetable oil Lollipop sticks Method To make the vanilla sponge Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Lightly grease and line a 25cm round cake tin or a 20cm square cake tin. Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure they are incorporated each time. Gently fold in the flour and milk until fully combined. Pour the cake batter in to the tin, and bake for 25-35 minutes or until springy to the touch and a cocktail stick inserted comes out clean. Remove cake from the tin and cool on a wire rack. To make the cream cheese frosting Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the icing sugar a little at a time, until fully incorporated. Beat in the vanilla extract. Place icing the fridge for at least 30 minutes before proceeding. To assemble the cake pops Crumble the cake as finely as possible in to a large bowl. You want the sponge to resemble grains of sand. Add the cream cheese frosting to the bowl one tablespoon at a time, bringing the sponge together to create a fudge-like texture. You may not need all the frosting, but keep adding it until the mixture can be squeezed in your palm without crumbling. If the mixture is too dry it will not form balls, but if it is overly wet and it will be too heavy for the lolly stick. Wrap the finished mixture in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. When you are ready to make the cake pops, remove the mixture from the fridge. Scoop off a small piece of the dough, about the size of a ping-pong ball, and roll in to a ball. Place the balls on a tray lined with baking paper and place in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to firm up once again. Next, melt the candy melts in the microwave for 1 minute on medium power. Stir thoroughly, and if not fully melted return to the microwave for 30 seconds increments, stirring the bowl each time. Candy melts do not always achieve the same smooth consistency as melted chocolate. You can create a smoother dip by beating in 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil thoroughly. Take a lollipop stick and dip one end into the melted candy by about 2cm. While it is still wet, push this end of the stick in to a cake ball, until just over halfway through. This will help fix the ball to stick. Place on a tray to set, which should take just a couple of minutes. When set, dip the cake pop in to the candy melts, twisting it very gently or using a spoon to cover the entire ball. Gently tap the stick on the side of the bowl to remove any excess candy and to create a smooth surface. While the coating is still wet you can decorate the pop with sprinkles. Place the pop either cake-down on a tray lined with baking parchment, or to ensure a fully round finish, insert the lolly stick in to a polystyrene block to dry the cake pop upright. < Image provided by Mud Cake >
- [Amaretto Chocolat Chaud](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/amaretto-chocolat-chaud): Hide away from grey skies with this luxurious hot chocolate. We’ve added amaretto to this traditional French chocolat chaud, but any sweet liqueur will complement this indulgent drink made with 70% cocoa. Amaretto Chocolat Chaud 500ml semi skimmed milk 100g dark chocolate minimum 70% cocoa, grated Light brown sugar, to taste Amaretto liqueur, to taste Method 1. Gently the milk in a small, heavy based saucepan 2. When the milk is warm, whisk in the grated chocolate until melted. Continue heating the mixture until it begins to thicken just slightly, being careful not to boil it. 3. Add amaretto liqueur and brown sugar to taste, stirring on the heat to dissolve the sugar. 4. Divide the chocolat chaud between two cups, and serve. < Image provided by Paul Lomax >
- [White Chocolate Cheesecake with Earl Grey Rhubarb](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/white-chocolate-cheesecake-with-earl-grey-rhubarb): With rhubarb in season this month, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate St George’s Day than with this sweet, sharp and quintessentially English fruit. An ideal canvas for our rhubarb is this smooth, creamy cheesecake made with organic white chocolate. We’ve poached the rhubarb in Earl Grey tea to add a perfumed note that will cut through the rhubarb’s acidity and is, of course, just as English in origin. Happy St George’s Day! Ingredients 200g oat biscuits 85g butter melted 450g organic white chocolate 284ml pot double cream 400g full fat soft cheese 4 eggs 1 tsp vanilla essence 5 tbsp early grey tea leaves 6 tbsp sugar 4 sticks rhubarb, cut into 3cm pieces Method 1. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line the base of a 23cm spring form tin with baking parchment. 2. Whizz the biscuits in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Pour in the melted butter, whizz briefly again, then tip the mixture into the tin and press down firmly. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes, then leave cool. 3. Reduce oven temperature to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1. Wrap a double layer of foil, lined with cling film, around the base and sides of the tin to make it watertight. 4. Break 400g of the white chocolate into a pan, then pour in the cream and heat until the chocolate has melted. Leave to cool slightly. In a bowl, blend together the cream cheese, eggs and vanilla essence together with the melted chocolate and cream until smooth. 5. Put the tin in a deep roasting tray, then pour in the filling. Half-fill the roasting tray with boiling water then bake for 1 hour, then turn the oven off. Leave to cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 1-2 hours. Lift the tin from the water, discard the foil, then cover with cling film and chill for a further 2 hours in the fridge. 6. The cheesecake can be made up to 3 days ahead. Grate the remaining chocolate over the cheesecake before serving. 7. For the rhubarb, make a pot of tea with 800ml of water and all of the earl grey tea leaves and infuse for 4-5 minutes. Strain into a small saucepan, add the sugar and then the rhubarb. 8. Bring to a gentle simmer over a low-medium heat and poach the rhubarb for about 5 minutes, until just tender, then remove from the liquid. 9. Place two or three pieces of the poached rhubarb on each slice of chilled cheesecake before serving. < Image provided by Ben O’ Donogue >
- [Mint Chocolate Macarons](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mint-chocolate-macarons): We’re so excited about Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby which opens this week. Not only do we love the talented Carey Mulligan, but we can’t wait to get lost in the gorgeous jazz-era drama. Our favourite scene from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is set on a sweltering hot day, where the characters – from the safety of a hotel room in prohibition America – drink endless mint juleps. These pastel green macarons are flavoured with peppermint essence to capture this iconic drink, and are beautiful enough to serve at a decadent 20s inspired party. We love this photo of Leo with his very own pastel green macarons! Mint Chocolate Macarons Ingredients 190g icing sugar 65g ground almonds 3 large egg whites, aged for 24-48 hours Pinch of salt 3 tbsp white caster sugar Green gel/paste food colouring (we recommend this ) A little cocoa powder for dusting 100ml double cream 200g organic dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa, broken into pieces 1 tsp natural peppermint essence (we recommend this ) Method 1. 24-48 hours before you want to make the macarons, separate the 3 egg whites and place in a ceramic bowl covered with cling film. Leave the bowl on the kitchen work surface for between 24-28 hours, do not place in the fridge. This process dries out the egg whites and is essential for creating the perfect macaron shell. 2. Once the eggs are ready to be used, prepare two large baking trays by lining with baking parchment or silicone mats. 3. Whizz the almond flour and icing sugar in a food processor for 30 seconds. 4. Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl with a pinch of salt and mix with a handheld electric whisk until it forms stiff peaks. Try hard to stop whisking as soon as stiff peaks are formed. 5. With the whisk on a lower setting, begin to add the caster sugar one tablespoon at time. At this point the mixture should be thick and glossy in texture. 6. Dip the very tip of a teaspoon in the gel food colouring and scrape off in to the egg whites. Gently stir with a metal spoon until the colour is evenly distributed. You can choose how bright you want your macarons, but we think a light pastel green looks best. It is very important to use a gel colouring, rather than a liquid, so as not to disturb the delicate texture of the batter. 7. Next, gently fold in the almond and icing sugar mix with a metal spoon. Stir carefully until it is fully incorporated. 8. Fill the piping bag with the macaron batter, and pipe on the lined baking trays in circles around the size of a 50p. Once piped, you can gentle tap the baking trays on to your work surface to help shift any air bubbles. 9. Very lightly, sprinkle the top of half the macarons with cocoa powder. 10. Leave the macarons on the worksurface for 1 hour. This process will try out the batter, and help the ‘feet’ of the macaron to form later. 11. After an hour, preheat the oven to 170 degrees C. 12. When up to temperature place the macarons in the oven, one tray at a time, for about 10 minutes or until set. Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool. Mint Chocolate Filling 1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until just boiling. Take the pan off the heat then whisk in the dark chocolate and peppermint essence. 2. After cooling for a few minutes, place the mint chocolate filling in a piping bag and pipe a small amount on to the half of the macarons without cocoa sprinkles. Sandwich each macaron with one with a cocoa top. < Image provided by Liliana Bozier >
- [Gulab Jamun](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/gulab-jamun): In honour of London Mela, a celebration of Asian music and culture this Sunday, here’s one of our favourite Asian desserts. Gulab Jamun is made up of sweet dumplings – like dough balls in rose flavored syrup. Ingredients Makes 8 to 10 Gulab Jamuns. Preparation time: 15 minutes (plus an hour for soaking). 100g milk powder 25g all purpose flour 1 tbsp ghee ¼ tsp Baking soda 80ml milk 100g sugar 150ml water 3 pods cardamom 1 drop of rose essence Oil for deep frying Method 1. Sieve the flour, milk powder and baking soda into a bowl and mix well. 2. Mix in the ghee and gradually add the milk. Knead until it forms a soft, sticky dough. 3. Grease your palms with a little ghee to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. Pinch small portions of the dough and roll between your palms to make balls. Set aside. 4. Pour oil into a saucepan. There should be enough oil in the pan so that the balls can later be completely submerged in it. Put the saucepan on a medium heat – do not add the dough balls yet. 5. Whilst the oil is heating up, prepare the syrup in a separate saucepan: add the sugar, water and crushed cardamom pods. Stir well. Place the saucepan on a low heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens slightly. This will take approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add a drop of rose essence. 6. Now back to the oil. Turn the heat to low and gently slide the dough balls in to the pan. Make sure you do not crowd the pan. 7. The balls will sink to the bottom and then gently rise up. Slowly, and at frequent intervals, roll each ball with a slotted spoon to ensure they evenly brown. 8. Turn off the heat. Using the slotted spoon, remove the balls from heat and place them on tissue paper to remove any excess oil. 9. After the balls cool down, move them into the prepared sugar syrup, roll and set aside for an hour.
- [Papaya Pie Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/papaya-pie-recipe): Looking forward to the Notting Hill Carnival this Bank Holiday weekend? To start the celebration, try this tropical Papaya Pie recipe. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this fruity dessert! Ingredients Shortbread Pie Crust 105g unsalted butter, cut into pieces at room temperature 60g sugar 1 large egg yolk 300g all-purpose flour Papaya Pie Filling 1 freshly chopped seeded papaya 1 tablespoon lime juice 130g sugar 65ml pineapple juice 65ml orange juice 40g cornstarch 40ml water 1 teaspoon lime zest 1 teaspoon orange zest 1 tablespoon butter 65g lightly toasted sweetened coconut flakes 6 lime slices Sweetened Rum Whipped Cream 190g double cream 580g confectioner’s sugar 580ml coconut-flavored rum Method: Shortbread Pie Crust In a bowl, combine the butter with the sugar and blend to make a paste. Add the yolk and blend thoroughly. Add the flour and using your fingers, combine to make a crumbly dough. Pat the dough firmly into a 9-inch pie pan and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and prick the bottom of the crust with a fork. Place a sheet of parchment in the pie tin and fill with pie weights (dried beans or rice). Bake the crust in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pie weights and parchemnt. Bake for 5 minutes or until light golden brown. Method: Papaya Pie Filling In a bowl, combine the papaya and lime juice. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, pineapple juice and orange juice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the marinated papaya and simmer for 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the papaya to a bowl and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Add to the simmering juices and whisk. Add the lime and orange zests. Cook over low heat whisking until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add the papaya. Add the butter and stir until melted. Leave the mixture to cool. Pour the mixture into the prebaked pie crust. Refrigerate until set for about 2 hours. Method: Sweetened Rum Whipped Cream In a medium bowl, whip the cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Add the rum and whip until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over whip. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut. Arrange the lime slices in a decorative pattern and serve. < Image provided by Creative commons >
- [Cherry Turnovers](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/cherry-turnovers): Are you heading for a wine tasting experience day courtesy of Wine Unearthed or just consider yourself a bit of wine connoisseur? This fruity dessert is perfectly complimented by a sparkly berry wine or a fortified ruby port with cherry and plum overtones. Ingredients Serves 8 340g all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 100g salted butter 6 tablespoons cold water Cherry Filling: 470g fresh or pitted cherries 20g sugar 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon Glaze: 240g confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 to 2 tablespoons milk Method In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the shortening until the mixture resembles a crumble. Gradually add the water, tossing with a fork until the mixture forms a ball. Wrap the ball in a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile in a large saucepan, combine the cherries and sugar. Mash slightly and let stand for 15-20 minutes. Stir in cornstarch until blended. Bring to a boil over a medium heat. Cook and stir for two minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon. Divide the dough into eight portions. On a lightly floured surface roll out each portion into a 5 inch square. Place about 3 tablespoons of cherry mixture on one side of each square and fold the dough over the filling. Press the edges with a fork to seal. Prick the top of each turnover. Place the turnovers on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 190°C for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. While the turnovers are baking combine the sugar, vanilla and milk in a bowl. Drizzle over the warm turnovers once they are cooked. Serve warm.
- [07-13th October London Cocktail Week - Bailey’s Chocolate Martini](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/07-13th-october-london-cocktail-week-baileys-chocolate-martini): Celebrate London Cocktail Week with your very own choc-tail! This Bailey’s chocolate martini is ludicrously easy to make and sure to impress! Ingredients 60 ml Bailey’s Irish cream 10 ml vodka 15 ml chocolate liqueur Sprinkle of cocoa powder Method 1. Mix Bailey’s, vodka and liqueur in a martini shaker with several ice cubes. 2. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. 3. Garnish with cocoa if desired.
- [Halloween Cupcake Ideas: The Werewolf](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/halloween-cupcake-recipes-and-ideas): Looking for really unique (and scary) recipe ideas for Halloween?? We love this werewolf cupcake. The recipe is really easy and it’s sure to impress. After you’ve made your werewolf, why not try our Cookie Monster Cupcake too. Ingredients 12 Vanilla Cupcakes 100g Caster Sugar 100g Salted Butter 100g Self-Raising Flour 2 Medium Eggs Chocolate Buttercream Frosting 250g dark organic chocolate 500g unsalted butter, softened/room temp 100g icing sugar 1-2 tbsp milk to loosen Vanilla Buttercream Frosting 600g butter 8 tbsp milk 16 drops vanilla extract 1200g icing sugar Werewolf Decorations 12 large white marshmallows 1 packet of red licorice laces 1 packet of Smarties Method: Vanilla Cupcakes Preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4). Place paper cases into a muffin baking tray. Using an electric whisk or wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and fold in the flour. Bake in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave on a wire rack to cool. Method: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Melt chocolate au bain marie and set aside to cool. Beat together the softened butter and icing sugar. When combined, stir in the melted chocolate. Add milk to loosen butter cream if needed. Method: Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Beat together the butter and icing sugar. When combined, stir in the vanilla extract and milk. Method: Werewolf Decoration Using a sharp knife, cut two triangular-shaped wedges off of each marshmallow until you have 12 pairs of ears. Don’t worry if they don’t look perfectly neat; they will be covered with frosting. Cut a large wedge out of the center of the marshmallows to create the mouth shape. Using kitchen scissors, cut small lengths of red laces and press them over the “mouth” area. They will easily stick to the gummy inside of the marshmallow. Pipe a few drops of chocolate frosting onto each cupcake to use as glue to attach the ears and mouth. Using a pastry bag with a “V” tip filled with chocolate frosting, c over the ears and pipe a circle of “fur” around the outside edge of the cupcake. Continue piping from the outer edge of the cupcake towards the center and up the snout until the cupcake is completely covered. Place smarties for the eyes and the nose. Using a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip and filled with vanilla frosting, pipe teeth around the edges of the mouth. < Image provide by Brett Jordan >
- [5th November Guy Fawkes Night – Firework Cupcakes](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/bonfire-night-firework-cupcakes): Light up your life with this Bonfire Night cupcake recipe! Ingredients Basic cupcake mixture 150g butter, softened 150g caster sugar 150g self-raising flour 3 medium eggs 2 tbsp of milk A few drops of vanilla extract 12-hole cup cake tray, lined with paper cases 1 tsp vanilla extract 60ml milk Dark blue food colour paste Gold star sprinkles For the buttercream icing 110g butter, room temperature 500g icing sugar For the fireworks 400g white chocolate 100g coloured sprinkles 25g edible gold glitter You will also need: 2 piping bags and a plain tip Method Basic Cupcakes 1. Set the oven to gas mark 5 or 190°C. 2. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat until smooth. 3. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the centre of the oven for 15-18 minutes or until the cakes have risen and are just firm to the touch in the centre. 4. Remove cakes from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. Fireworks 1. Melt the white chocolate on a bain marie until completely melted and smooth. 2. Put the melted chocolate into a piping bag and snip the end off with a sharp pair of scissors. 3. Place a sheet of baking parchment on your kitchen surface and pipe 12 firework shapes, making sure you pipe a long stem with shorter ‘branches’ as you can see in the picture. 4. Cover each shape with sprinkles and gold glitter immediately after piping it, before the chocolate sets. 5. When you have finished all 12, pop them in the fridge to set for 30 minutes. Buttercream 1. Add the butter, icing sugar, a drop of navy blue food colouring and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. 2. Beat the mixture for about 5 minutes with an electric whisk until smooth. 3. Pour the milk in gradually if you need to moisten the mixture (you may not need all of the milk). 4. Once the cakes have cooled completely, pipe the buttercream on top of the cupcakes in a swirl pattern by piping from the outer edge and working your way in. 5. After you have iced each cupcake, seal the piping bag to prevent the buttercream from drying out. 6. Sprinkle with the gold stars. 7. When the ‘fireworks’ have set, push one in the centre of each cupcake. Check out the original recipe at https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/530893/firework-cupcakes
- [Zebra Cake - London Zoo Fire Walkers](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/zebra-cake-london-zoo-fire-walkers): On Thursday, London Zoo are running a fundraising event. The challenge is to walk barefoot over red hot embers. In all honesty, we’re a little too scared to take part. So instead, we’ve sponsored a friend and baked them a good luck zebra cake! Ingredients butter, for greasing 4 large free-range eggs 250g golden caster sugar 100ml milk 250ml sunflower oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 480g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 30g cocoa powder Method Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Butter a 23cm/9in cake tin. Put the eggs and sugar into a large bowl with the milk, oil, vanilla extract and 175g of the flour. Whisk with a hand held electric whisk for a minute or two, until the mixture is smooth. Pour half of the mixture into a separate bowl. In one bowl, stir in ½ tsp baking powder and 170g flour. In the other bowl, mix in the cocoa powder, 130g flour and ½ teaspoon baking powder. Spoon two tablespoons of the non-cocoa mixture into the centre of the cake tin. Straight away spoon two tablespoons of the cocoa mixture on top. Continue doing this until all the mixture has been used – you will end up with lots of alternate rings of mixture in the tin. Don’t worry if it’s not very neat! Cook for 40-50 minutes, until the cake is cooked through. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool before serving.
- [Christmas Pudding Ice Cream Sandwich](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/christmas-pudding-ice-cream-sandwich): After years of making mince pies and Christmas cakes, we wanted to try something a little different this year. This Christmas recipe combines soft chocolate cookies with Christmas pudding flavoured ice-cream. Ingredients Cookie mixture 113g vegetable shortening 250g light brown sugar ½ tsp baking powder ¾ tsp salt 60g dark cocoa powder, sifted ½ tsp instant espresso powder ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp vanilla extract 220g plain flour, sifted Chocolate Christmas Pudding Ice Cream 2 cinnamon sticks, snapped in half ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg ¼ tsp caraway seeds 4 cloves 300ml full-fat milk 100g dark chocolate 3 large egg yolks 100g caster sugar 300ml double cream 250g Christmas Pudding 2 tbsp brandy Method Cookies 1. Pre-heat your oven to 170°C. Prepare two or three baking sheets with baking paper. 2. In a large mixing bowl beat together the shortening and sugar with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes. 3. Add the baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, espresso powder, ground ginger, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract. Mix again until combined. 4. Mix in half the flour and 2 tablespoons of water. 5. Mix the rest of the flour and 2 or 3 tablespoons of water. The dough should be well combined and soft but not sticky. 6. Roll the dough out between two pieces of baking paper until the dough is about 5mm thick. 7. Use a circular cookie cutter to cut out cookies and transfer them to a baking sheet. Re-roll any scraps until you have used it all up. 8. Place the baking sheets in the freezer for 10 minutes or the fridge for an hour. The longer you leave them the less they will spread. 9. Bake for around 7 or 8 minutes until the cookies have just set. Don’t overbake them. 10. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool. 11. Keep in the fridge or freeze until you are ready to use them. Ice Cream 1. Prepare a large baking pan by lining with foil or baking paper. 2. Crumble the Christmas Pudding and place in a bowl. Pour the brandy over and leave covered. 3. Place the cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, nutmeg, caraway seeds, cloves, milk and chocolate in a saucepan. Bring to the boil slowly and stir to mix in the chocolate. Take off the heat once it starts to boil. 4. Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick. Slowly pour the hot milk mix over the top, whisking all the time. Pour it all back into the saucepan. 5. Place on a low heat and cook gently, stirring all the time. The custard is ready when it is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. 6. Cool in the fridge overnight. 7. Whisk the double cream until it forms soft peaks. 8. Pour the custard through a sieve and fold the cream into it. 9. Churn in an ice cream maker until it is frozen. 10. Stir in the brandy infused Christmas Pudding and pour into the prepared baking pan. 11. Freeze until firm. Putting them together. 1. Remove the ice cream from the freezer and lift out of the pan using the foil. 2. Use the same cookie cutter as for the cookies to cut out the ice cream. Place between two cookies and freeze the sandwiches. 3. Decorate if you wish and serve.
- [Chocolate Clementine Cake with Hot Chocolate Sauce](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-clementine-cake-with-hot-chocolate-sauce): Forget traditional Christmas desserts! Here’s a recipe to make the most of clementines being in season this month. Ingredients Chocolate Clementine Cake 340g dark chocolate, chopped (we recommend at least 74% cocoa) 225g unsaled butter, cut into pieces 7 large eggs, separated 225g caster sugar, divided 96g all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons grated clementine zest from 2 clementines 2 medium clementines, peeled and coarsely chopped 3 tablespoons orange liqueur 1/4 teaspoon salt Hot Chocolate Sauce 100g dark chocolate, chopped (we recommend at least 74% cocoa) 170g whipping cream 2 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup 1 1/2 tablespoons orange liqueur 15 g unsalted butter Method For the cake Preheat oven to 175°C/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, stir together the chocolate and butter until smooth. Remove from heat. Beat the egg yolks and 170g of sugar in a large bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer. Add the melted chocolate to the mixture, beating until blended. Add flour, again beating until blended. Stir in the zest, chopped clementines and orange liqueur. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites in a separate bowl. Add salt and the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture; repeat twice. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 175° for 50 to 55 minutes or until slightly firm to touch. Remove the cake and leave on a wire rack to cool. For the sauce Stir together all ingredients in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until smooth. Serve warm poured over the cake.
- [December - Santa Hat Brownie Bites](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/december-santa-hat-brownie-bites): Easy to make…and even easier to devour! Make your party guests chuckle with these adorable and delicious Santa Hat Brownie Bites! Ingredients Mini Brownie Bites 115g unsalted butter 200g caster sugar 200g unsweetened cocoa powder 58g 70% cocoa dark chocolate 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 2 medium eggs 75g self raising flour Santa hats 18 strawberries, with the stalks and tips cut off. 140ml whipping cream 18 white chocolate chips Method Mini Brownie Bites Butter a mini muffin tin (with 18 muffin basins). Preheat the oven to 170°C (gas mark 3). Place the butter in a large bowl over a bain marie. When the butter begins to melt, add the sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate. Stir occasionally until the butter and chocolate have completely melted and mixed together. Remove the bowl from the the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in the vanilla. Mix in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the flour until the batter is thick and smooth. Spoon the batter evenly into the cupcake basins. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until moist but firm in the middle. Cool at room temperature. Santa hats With a whisk, beat the cream until thick. Spoon or pipe the cream on top of each brownie bite. Place the strawberries on the cream. Add a dot of cream on the top of each strawberry and place a white chocolate chip on top of the cream.
- [Valentine’s Day Treats: Chocolate Covered Strawberries](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/valentines-day-treats-chocolate-covered-strawberries): Sometimes the simplest things are by far the best! Chocolate covered strawberries are a must for Valentine’s Day and these recipes show you how to make them extra special. Chocolate Drizzled Strawberries 20 strawberries (washed and dried well) 200g milk chocolate (at least 32% cocoa solids) 150g white chocolate (at least 30% cocoa solids) Melt the milk and white chocolate in separate heatproof bowls au bain-maire. Remove the chocolate from the heat and leave too cool for a few minutes. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Hold a strawberry by the stem and dip the fruit into the milk chocolate. Slowly lift the strawberry out of the chocolate, twisting it slightly and letting the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Place the strawberry on the parchment paper. Repeat the process so all the strawberries have been coated in chocolate. Dip the end of a tablespoon into the bowl of white chocolate and practice drizzling over the melted chocolate. Hint: Loosely hold the top of the spoon. Once you feel confident, drizzle the white chocolate over the strawberries. Leave the strawberries to set. Strawberries in Suits 10 strawberries (washed and dried well) 150g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids) 100g white chocolate (at least 30% cocoa solids) Melt the dark and white chocolate in separate heatproof bowls au bain-maire. Remove the chocolate from the heat and leave too cool for a few minutes. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Hold a strawberry by the stem and dip the fruit into the white chocolate. Slowly lift the fruit out of the chocolate, twisting it slightly and letting the excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. At a 45 degree angle, dip the strawberry into the dark chocolate to make the jacket. Let the excess drip off and place on the parchment paper. Dip the rest of the strawberries. Add 2-3 tablespoons of dark chocolate into a piping and pip a bowtie and three buttons on each strawberry. Leave to set and devour at will! < Image provided by Kumar >
- [Heart Shaped Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/heart-shaped-red-velvet-cheesecake-brownies): Surprise your loved one on Valentine’s day with this clever little recipe and a brownie straight from the heart! Ingredients Red Velvet Layer 420g Self Raising Flour 500g Granulated Sugar 3 tblsp cocoa powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 3 large eggs 240ml vegetable oil 4 tbsp milk 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 tbsp red food coloring 2 tsp white vinegar Cheesecake Layer 230g Cream Cheese 165g Granulated Sugar 2 large eggs 2 tsp vanilla You will also need: 1 x heart-shaped cutter Method Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 18 inch cake tin. Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. In a separate bowl whisk together 3 eggs, vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla extract, red food coloring and white vinegar. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Remove 250g of the batter and place in a separate bowl. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of milk. Set to one side. Pour the remaining batter into the cake tin. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the tin to cover the red velvet layer. Drop spoonfuls of the separate red velvet batter onto the top of the cheesecake layer. Drag the tip of a knife through the red velvet and the cheesecake layers to create swirls. Bake for 30 minutes until the center is set. Once cool, cut out the brownies using the heart-shaped cutter. < Image provided by linno via pixabay >
- [5 Reasons Why Team Building is Great for Business](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/5-reasons-team-building-great-for-business): Most business leaders agree that good team-building is a key part of any successful company. There are some managers, however, who do not recognise the benefits of team building and would not think to use it to help their business. Here at MyChocolate, we’ve seen first-hand the advantages of team building, so we thought we’d lay down the 5 main reasons why it can help your company. 1 .Goals are fully realised In a team building environment, goals are clearly laid out and collaborated on within the whole group. With the right amount of support and feedback, each team member will fully understand the objective and expectation placed upon them. This in turn means all team members have a vested interest to successfully complete their task and help the group. 2. Open communication is urged By its very nature a team encourages communication, so it’s no real surprise that any great team will have great communication at the heart of it. With team building exercises, members of a group are reassured that their contributions are valued and welcomed. Creating an environment where no question is too absurd is exactly how problems are solved, systems are improved and new ideas are borne. 3. Members gain a sense of place and purpose True motivation within a team comes from members fully believing in the role they play within it. Good team building allows leaders to delegate tasks whilst giving them a proper context to the overall activity. With open communication, team members will also begin to offer up their expertise to the group. This can not only improve the effectiveness of a team’s work, but can also give individual members a further sense of ownership to the task at hand. 4. Trust is built Trust is a key element to working relationships; both business and personal. Team building exercises ensure a lot of trust is placed in both team leaders delegating tasks and team members carrying out those tasks. Once trust within a team has been established, and strengthened through positive feedback and constructive criticism, it can be easily transferred to a working environment. 5. There is a shared sense of achievement When a team building task is successfully completed, a feel good factor begins to flow through a group. This feeling comes from a communal sense of accomplishment. This can be very powerful for business as it breeds a winning mentality, which for a company becomes infectious and repeatable. There are plenty of team building activities that can help improve your business model. We may be a little biased, but we believe that chocolate workshops are a great way to build up communication, purpose and trust within a team. On that note, we reckon anyone who doesn’t want to make chocolate is pretty untrustworthy to begin with! Check out our unique team building activities for more information.
- [Pressure is Great for Team Bonding](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/pressure-is-great-for-team-bonding): The Apprentice Chocolate Challenge for team building When we ask our clients what the purpose of their team building activity is, we find the vast majority are looking for similar outcomes: 1. To treat their team 2. To teach their team a new skill 3 . Most importantly, for everyone to leave the activity knowing something new about themselves and about their teammates We learn the most about ourselves and those around us when we are under pressure to perform and make quick decisions. Using this to our advantage, we created The Apprentice Chocolate Challenge. During the activity teams must create a chocolate product, the packaging and a sale pitch, all within a limited amount of time. Teams must quickly allocate roles and work together to ensure they complete the tasks on time. To add to the pressure, managers are often looking out to see who will keep their cool and who will crumble under the heated conditions. Not forgetting the first outcome, we ensure the team activity is certainly a treat by supplying plenty of chocolate, props and entertaining Chocolatiers! See The Apprentice Chocolate Challenge in action to gauge if it’s the right team activity for you:
- [Every Team is Unique - You Need a Unique Team Building Activity](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/every-team-is-unique-you-need-a-unique-team-building-activity): All too often team building activities get a bad rep; employers worry activities will be a waste of time. In our experience, the only time team building days don’t work, is when the wrong activity is chosen. In order to select the right activity, the purpose of the event needs to be decided before embarking on team building. Step 1: The Purpose Take time to consider what you are aiming to achieve. For example, are you looking to: Integrate a new team Treat your team to an office day out Improve relations between departments See how your team works with one another Discover how your team works under pressure Celebrate alongside your team Teach everyone a new skill Watch your team take on new roles by putting those who are more inclined to be followers in to leadership positions. Step 2: Made to Measure Once the purpose of your team building activity has been decided and you have a clear idea of your aims, the next step is to find a company who can create an event to match your goals. Here at MyChocolate, we firmly believe one size doesn’t fit all! The majority of our clients have tailor made workshops. Sometimes this is as simple as creating an activity to meet a specific time and budget. On other occasions we build full day events so managers can see how their employees work in different team configurations. Case Study Client: A City Law Firm The Background: The firm recently went through a merger. The Purpose: To build relations between colleagues and teach everyone a new skill. The Team Activity: We offered a creative approach, focusing on a fun activity which would enable everyone to relax and enjoy one another’s company. Guests learnt how to be chocolate connoisseurs, tasting chocolate from around the world and identifying different levels of cocoa. Everyone also learnt how to make and decorate their own handmade chocolates and flavoured chocolate slabs. The Outcome: The event was memorable, fun (who doesn’t love chocolate!) and the new chocolate skills will certainly be discussed in the office. During the workshop, employees took part in different activities; they worked in pairs, in small groups and with everyone at their table. This ensured interactions with different colleagues and there was plenty of time to get to know one another. Feedback: “It was very informative, well-structured but done in a way that was really relaxing and fun” “It was a great day out and everyone was able to take part and enjoy it” “Greg made me feel welcome and comfortable right from the outset. I had not met most of the team before and Greg made sure we had an opportunity to meet everybody. He was very confident with what he was doing and talking about and in turn that made me feel confident and comfortable” To discuss your unique team building activity , Contact Holly on 0207 269 5760 or holly@mychocolate.co.uk .
- [10 of the Best Team Building Ideas](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/10-of-the-best-team-building-ideas): We’ve previously talked about why team building is great for business , so today let’s have a look at some of the best team building ideas that are out there. If you’re looking for ways to bring a group together, look no further! Tug of war A simple one to start off with. Tug of war has been played for centuries and has never failed to arouse team spirit – it is essentially team competitiveness in its most basic form. What’s more, it’s affordable and straightforward to organise – all you’ll need is 2 teams, a rope, and a big enough space and you’re good to go. Apprentice-style tasks Due to the popularity of the TV show, there’s been an epidemic of Apprentice-style team building events. In fact, we’ve found our own Apprentice Challenge to be one of our most popular activities. Much like the TV show, teams must work together to come up with a product which they then present to a judge (who’s hopefully a bit less aggressive than Sir Alan). Zip lining Always popular for teambuilding, zip lining is a great excuse to get your fellow workmates outdoors. With the wind sailing through your hair the office couldn’t seem further away – just hope that the weather holds up! 2 lies, 1 truth This is more of an exercise than an activity, but it is a perfect ice-breaker for groups who’ve just met. The objective is to tell the group 3 statements about yourself with only one of them actually being true. Not only are you forced to think outside of the box, but you also learn personal stories you might never have discovered otherwise. Cocktail making Another team building event for the creative at heart – you’ll find as the cocktails flow so will the conversation. But why not combine cocktail-mixing with chocolate? Our mouth-watering choc-tails are to die for and no that’s not just the booze talking! Flash mobbing You’re probably already aware of flash-mobbing; it’s when a group of people suddenly gather in a public space to perform a pre-rehearsed routine, usually a dance or a song. This is a relatively modern team-building event but it’s been found to be so effective that it’s now used by top companies like Google, Coca-Cola, Disney and Ford. Climbing/abseiling One of the main purposes of team building is to build team trust and what better way to do that than by placing your life in the hands of a colleague! Scavenger hunts Scavenger/treasure hunts come in various forms and guises but are usually based around a theme – for example, hunting pirate treasure or orienteering in woodland. Scavenger hunts are great for improving a group’s problem-solving skills and they also require excellent communication between individual team members. Clay-pigeon shooting People love to shoot things. Fact. People dislike pigeons. Fact. What better way to bond with colleagues than to collectively take your anger out on clay versions of these winged beasts? Chocolate making You probably saw this one coming, but in our opinion chocolate making is the best way to bring a team together. It’s messy, it’s fun and it’s delicious – what more could you possibly want from a team building task!
- [MyChocolate's Indulgent Guide to Chocolate - Infographic!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mychocolates-indulgent-guide-to-chocolate-infographic): We hope you enjoy this chocolate infographic! Feel free to share it or use the code to embed it on your own blog ! MyChocolate’s Indulgent Guide to Chocolate – Text Version Chocolate doesn’t make the world go round…but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile! Over the last century chocolate has become one of the most loved foods on the planet and has been scientifically proven to be good for your head and your heart. Frankly, we don’t quite know where we’d be without the stuff. In fact, we love it so much we thought we’d whip up some chocolatey facts and share a few of our favourite workshops with you. Bon appétit! A CHOCOLATEY HISTORY 1400AD the Aztec empire traded cacao beans with the Mayans. Residue of cacao drinks have been found at archaeological sites around Central America dating back to 2000BC. The first solid chocolate bar was created in 1847. The Spanish explorer Hernandez reported what cocoa beans were worth: 100 beans could buy you a turkey or a slave 10 beans could buy you a prostitute 4 beans could buy you a rabbit dinner 3 MAGIC COCOA BEANS FORASTERO – The main bulk bean, accounts for over 90% of all beans produced. It has a clean chocolate flavour with low acidity. CRIOLLO – Treasured for its complex, fruity flavour. It is very susceptible to disease and accounts for less than 1% of world cacao. TRINITARIO – A fusion of the two strains, Trinitario combines the best of both – good flavour and dyield. Accounts for around 5-8% of the world’s cacao production. IT’S GOOD FOR YOU! Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that help reduce blood pressure. Eating dark chocolate every day reduces the risk of heart disease by one third. The smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves, which trigger relaxation. Chocolate has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay. YOU WON’T BELIEVE… Chocolate magnate Milton Hershey cancelled his reservations to travel on the Titanic due to last minute business matters. The world’s largest chocolate bar weighed 5,792KG. Research published last year showed high correlation between a nation’s chocolate intake and the number of Nobel prize winners. The inventor of the chocolate chip cookie sold the idea to Nestle Toll House in return for a lifetime supply of chocolate. UNIQUE WORKSHOPS ORIGINAL – Indulge yourself in our Original Chocolate Workshop and create your own personalised chocolate treats. The chocolate workshops are great for both individuals and group special occasions. CHOC-TAILS – Get your girls together to enjoy your very own choc-tails, that’s chocolate vodka martinis where even your glass is drizzled in chocolate! Our chocolate making workshop will be a hen party to remember! MADE TO MEASURE – Looking for that perfect event? One that meets your budget, group size and taste? MyChocolate have created innovative and indulgent events for small businesses, blue chip companies and private clients. GET MAKING! CHOCOLATE MAKING FOR EVERY SPECIAL OCCASION Our unique workshops are ideal for treating corporate clients, building a great team, planning an indulgent hen party or the perfect gift experience. We were the first chocolate events company in the UK. Nine years on and we’ve run events for 109,097 people! We use organic chocolate in all of our workshops. We run our chocolate making events in London and Manchester .
- [Building a Team is Like Building the Perfect Chocolate Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/building-a-team-is-like-building-the-perfect-chocolate-recipe): One of the things we love about making chocolate is the similarity it shares with teambuilding. You see, they both require a certain degree of care and the right blend of ingredients in order to produce a winning recipe. As with any activity, it always begins with some good old fashioned planning. For anyone arranging a teambuilding task, the important thing to consider is why it is needed in the first place. Of course, there could a whole host of reasons to team build, from introducing a group to each other for the first time, to improving the communication within an existing team, to simply teaching colleagues a new skill. The same goes for making chocolate Before even a spoon is licked, you’ll need an underlying reason to don your apron. This is why there is usually a theme for chocolate-making activities. Are you treating a bride-to-be to a hen party ? Perhaps you’re showing your Valentine your true love for chocolate? Or maybe you want to mix things up with a choc-tail party? Okay, so once you’ve got your plan together you can begin to mix your ingredients. For team building, these are the members of your group and much like following a recipe, there is certainly an art to this. The trick lies in getting the right balance between your team members, too many cooks spoil the chocolate fondue so to speak. Likewise, if the task involves presenting in any way, you’ll also want to make sure you don’t fall victim to the ‘style over substance’ trap. This is why good teambuilding disperses a good mix of logical and creative thinkers within a team – with each member playing to their own particular strengths. In order to catch this balance, you need a team leader in charge who understands these strengths and will delegate the tasks accordingly. Once you have people in their best positions, it’s time to pour in some hard graft, mix together with good communication and of course add a splash of creativity. Keeping each team member happy is important – you don’t want to be left with a bitter taste in your mouth, likewise don’t work them too hard or they will burn out. A team that works together in unison is a wonderful thing to behold, and as soon the task nears completion you can sit back and apply the finishing touches. Chocolate making is a similar alchemic process. However, instead of a team leader you have a head chocolatier; one who also has a clear plan in place, who understands the right balance of ingredients (how many cocoa nibs are needed again?) and who possesses the finesse to produce artistic flourishes. So there you have it, teambuilding is like creating the perfect chocolate recipe – the end product being just as sweet. And in our opinion, what better way is there to build a team than by making chocolate together!
- [Want Your Team to be Chocolate Connoisseurs? Then come to our Corporate Events!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/want-your-team-to-be-chocolate-connoisseurs-then-come-to-our-corporate-events): Let me take this opportunity to tell you about our corporate chocolate-making events. We may be a little biased (!) but we think there are no other team building activities in London quite like our chocolate making. So, why would you choose chocolate making for your corporate event? 1. Chocolate and team building go hand in hand They say a productive environment is a happy environment and the same rule applies to corporate events. The great thing about chocolate is that it makes us all happy. Just the smell of it releases theta brain waves, which help to reduce stress and anxiety. Introduce this to a corporate environment and you’ll find people are much more likely to make new contacts, relax into a new team and improve existing business relationships. What’s more, a messy chocolate workshop is far removed from the confines of the office. By getting stuck in and using your imagination with your chocolate creations, the workplace boundaries will be broken in no time. 2. You get to learn about the wonderful world of chocolate Whether you decide to book one of our chocolate workshops or choose to go with a networking event, prepare to be transformed from chocolate lover to fully fledged cocoa connoisseur! Discover the history of chocolate and the process from bean to bar. Samples are of course compulsory! 3. Business leaders agree Most businesses agree that good team-building is a key part of any successful company. In a team building environment, goals are clearly laid out and collaborated on within the whole group. With the right amount of support and feedback, each team member will fully understand the objective and expectation placed upon them. This in turn means all team members have a vested interest to successfully complete their task and help the group. 4. Feel good factor When a team building task is successfully completed, a feel good factor filters through a group. This feeling comes from a shared sense of accomplishment. This can be very powerful for business as it breeds a winning mentality which becomes addictive. 5. Above all else – trust! Trust is a key element to working relationships; both business and personal. Team building exercises ensure a lot of trust is placed in both team leaders delegating tasks and team members carrying out those tasks. Once trust within a team has been established and strengthened through positive feedback as well as constructive criticism, it can easily be transferred to a working environment. Check out our unique team building activities for more information!
- [MyChocolate's Vanilla Cupcake Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mychocolates-vanilla-cupcake-recipe): Wonderful in their simplicity, cupcakes are a timeless classic and quintessentially British. While they are perfect for beginners they also make great practice for the more advanced bakers among you. What’s great about them, is that they hardly take any time at all to make and are perfect for birthdays, hen parties or just a rainy day in. Luckily, with this vanilla cupcake recipe there couldn’t be a simpler way to appease your sweet tooth. The ingredients in this recipe will make 3 cupcakes. Ingredients 50g self-raising flour 50g caster sugar 50g butter 1 egg 1-2 tbsp milk A pinch of baking soda Tip: weigh the egg(s) in the shell and use the same weight for each of the flour, sugar and butter. Method First, preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4) and place paper cupcake cases into a muffin tin. Using an electric whisk, food processor or a wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, beating it well. Next, gently fold in the flour. If the mixture is looking a little thick you can loosen it out with a splash of milk. Add a pinch of baking soda at this stage if you want your cakes to rise lightly. Place the tin in the oven and leave for 20-30 minutes. After 20 minutes, check to see if the cupcakes are ready. To do this, simply insert a cocktail stick into one of the cupcakes – if it comes out dry cupcakes are done otherwise pop the cakes back in the oven for few more minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for a short while. If you gave this recipe a go and liked it, why not also try our Lemon and Poppy Seed Cupcake recipe?
- [MyChocolate's Lemon and Poppy Seed Cupcakes](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mychocolates-lemon-and-poppy-seed-cupcakes): These zesty cupcakes are easy to make and are a tasty companion to afternoon tea. The lemon and poppy seeds make for a great twist on a classic recipe, so if you’re looking to bulk out your cupcake repertoire, look no further! NB: You may add extra icing if you wish, but we think they are delicious simply as they are. The ingredients in this recipe will make 3 cupcakes. Ingredients 50g soft butter 50g self-raising flour 50g caster sugar 1-2 tablespoons of milk 1 egg Finely grated zest of ½ a lemon and 2 drops of lemon essence 25g of poppy seeds Tip: weigh the egg(s) in the shell and use same weight each of flour, sugar and butter. Method Preheat the oven to 180°C (Electric oven | Electric fan oven 160°C | Gas Mark 4). Using a wooden spoon or whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and make sure to beat in well. Next, gently fold the flour into the mixture, adding a splash of milk if the mixture is too thick. Finally add your poppy seeds, lemon zest and essence. Place cupcake mixture in paper cases in a muffin tin. Bake for 20-30 minutes until well risen and light golden brown. After 20 minutes, check to see if the cupcakes are ready. The best way to do this is to insert a cocktail stick into one of the cupcakes – if it comes out dry cupcakes are done otherwise place the cakes back in the oven for a couple more minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the muffin tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for a short while. If you gave this recipe a go and liked it, why not also try our Vanilla Cupcake recipe?
- [MyChocolate's Hazelnut Truffle Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mychocolates-hazelnut-truffle-recipe): Truffles are the epitome of luxury and are usually reserved for special occasions. So whether you are throwing a dinner party, a hen party or are just trying to perfect the art of making truffles – we thought we’d share this Hazelnut Truffle recipe with you. It’s no secret that chocolate and hazelnuts go amazingly well together (mmm think Nutella). Give this recipe a go and discover how easy it is to make truly delicious and decadent chocolates! Ingredients Makes around 30 luxurious truffle chocolates. 170g whipping cream 400g dark chocolate 100g crushed roasted hazelnuts 40g whole hazelnuts 100g crushed wafer 20g cocoa powder Method Break 170g of dark chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl. Warm the whipping cream in a pan until it’s hot. Slowly pour the hot cream over the broken pieces of chocolate and stir continuously until the chocolate melts into the cream, forming a smooth paste. Add the crushed hazelnuts and stir evenly through the mixture. Leave the mixture to set in the fridge. Once the mixture has chilled and thickened, spoon out small amounts and push a whole hazelnut into the middle. Dust your hands with cocoa powder and roll the mixture into a ball be­tween your palms. Keep the truffles under an inch in diameter. Melt 150g of chocolate “au bain marie”, meaning a bowl resting inside a pan of simmering water. Once it has melted, break 10g of the remaining chocolate into small pieces and add to the molten chocolate to bring the temperature down to 32ºC. Using a fork, dip the truffles into the tempered molten chocolate and roll immediately in crushed (not powdered) wafer. For more chocolate recipes check out the MyChocolate blog !
- [How To Plan A Unique Hen Party Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-to-plan-a-unique-hen-party-event): Planning the perfect hen party shouldn’t be a chore, so relax and take a look at MyChocolate ’s top 6 ideas for planning the perfect evening or weekend (including some unique hen party events) with your friends to luxuriously see of your last free moments … 1. Perfume Creation – For a pretty original hen party, why not get together with your friends and let the creative juices flow, by making your very own perfume. This fragrant idea is guaranteed to be fun and get everybody together rallying off ideas of what’s pleasant and what pongs. 2. Pampering & cocktails – Pretty traditional but that’s for a reason, it’s golden. Every woman likes to feel special and what’s better than pampering yourself in the company of friends with massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Oh and having a few cocktails of course! 3. Party games – It’s a simple but very effective idea that can help unite a big group and will break the ice between new groups better than a fat penguin. This is endless, whether it’s wedding themed or not so why not get creative? Story time, never have I ever, dress the bride, the handbag game, Mr & Mrs, rate the man, banned words… we really could go on. 4. Vintage tea party with an arts & crafts twist – This is a perfect idea to get everybody involved and having fun. For the ultimate gal who loves make-up and being creative a great idea is to choose a decade and everybody will dress up and have a makeover to fit that decade and then have a tea party. Think sophisticated 60’s tea party. A great little addition to the theme is to add some arts & crafts, like making all of the cute vintage decorations and bunting. This is a great plan for a truly relaxed hen party. 5. Baking, cooking & dinner party – If the bride to be has a bit of a passion for cooking and fancies herself as a bit of a foodie. Getting everybody in the kitchen to display their culinary skills will be great fun (and more than likely a little competitive too). Whether it’s treating her to a dinner party or getting in the kitchen and baking some cake! The hen is guaranteed to have a fun food filled party, and I’m sure there will be time to squeeze in a glass of wine or two in the process. 6. Camping (well … Glamping) – Perhaps we’re dealing with a very outdoorsy hen? Another unique hen party idea is camping, or more than likely glamping will be another great way to get away and truly unwind and have some fun with friends. I mean it’s camping without all the bad bits, in fact glamping tents aren’t the traditional nylon jigsaws we imagine. They are beautiful tee-pee looking havens with all of the facilities of a hotel room. What a great idea! And after masterminding your incredible plan, nobody wants tensions or hiccups at the party. So, although we can’t help you with the post party hangover, here are MyChocolate’s top tips for a smooth and enjoyable party: Organisation is crucial – Child’s play. If everything is well planned then everybody can relax and have fun from the off. Define a budget – Ensure the budget for the evening/weekend is accurate and in line with everybody’s pocket, eliminate rifts and tears over who had an extra cocktail. Swot up on the guest list – Nothing is more embarrassing than somebody knowing your name, but you not knowing theirs. Prior to the party, ensure you know who everybody is in order to give a nice friendly welcome from the off. Ice Breaking – Hen parties are more than likely going to include the bride’s family and friends from home, university, work, etc. So there are likely to be a few unfamiliar faces, so a great tip is to break the ice by getting to know them a bit before and playing some silly group games. Prioritise the bride – Last but certainly not least, given you are there to give the bride a wonderful send-off it is vital to make sure she has a fantastic party and gain a lot of great memories. If you’re planning a hen party event why not try one of our special hen party workshops ?
- [Why Do Food and Team Building Go Hand In Hand?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/why-do-food-and-team-building-go-hand-in-hand): So this one is simple, the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, right? And this certainly creates happy, enthusiastic and sociable people which in turn creates great team building opportunities. So why is it that food and team building go hand in hand? And how can these team building activities in London help you? Few things can unite a group as easily as food and drink, it is this shared mutual enjoyment of something that allows people to relax and indulge in a chilled atmosphere, which can help form relationships and promote strong team building. It is therefore becoming increasingly common to see offices, companies and colleagues putting on relaxed events revolving around food to induce good team building in London. Food creates a lot of buzz and when you get the opportunity to get together as a group and have some fun in a low stress environment, there will inevitably be some great moments of team building and friendship-making that are likely to resonate in the office. This is an especially effective way to form bonds between new groups by breaking the ice via a common interest, food. We have all experienced the laid back atmosphere of a summer BBQ or the sophisticated atmosphere of a dinner party, where it is easy to soon find yourself talking to people who were originally unfamiliar. This is precisely why a growing number of companies are using food as a team building activity and a particularly effective stress alleviation policy. So why is team building so useful? Team building in an office is crucial as it helps to foster better, open communication between the employees themselves, as well as between the employees and the higher management. It goes a long way in improving professional relations, understanding and co-operation, and this is very much reflected in the quality of work being done. Team building in the workplace significantly contributes towards employee motivation and building trust among the employees, thereby ensuring better productivity and of course a much more friendly place to work. It is this unique relationship that people have with food that allows them to communally bond and build team ethos. Several ideas for team building activities are: – An office picnic in the sun – A summer BBQ – A dinner party – Visiting a restaurant Although these rather traditional examples, food being used for team building in this way will undoubtedly be very effective. It is even truer that people will engage with each other through teamwork and co-operation. So perhaps try something rather more unorthodox: – Food workshops, such as making your own delicious chocolates – Cocktail making class – Group cooking Allow people to work together, with a common goal and leaving with a sense of achievement. Whatever the team building activity you decide to undertake, using food as a main focus is guaranteed to be a real hit and will get everybody involved!
- [Why is a Hen Party called a Hen Party (and a Stag Do a Stag Do)?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/why-is-a-hen-party-called-a-hen-party-and-a-stag-do-a-stag-do): Nowadays it would be pretty unheard of to get married and not have a hen party or stag do in order to celebrate the final free moments before you tie the knot. Consequently we’ve heard of some pretty unusual hen party events along the way from perfume creation to go kart racing! But why are they called a hen party and a stag do, and how did this traditional come about? Okay, so here’s the history lesson. A common misconception is that the terms ‘hen’ and ‘stag’ both originate from simple social stereotypes. In fact, it’s more likely that the word hen hasn’t always meant female chicken, in middle English, hen could mean the female of any bird and so a hen party was a party exclusively for ladies. Similarly, but going back even further, is the stag party, and you’ve guessed it, originally stag could mean the male of any animals, not just a male deer and so a stag party is one exclusively for gents. It turns out hen party’s aren’t a creation of modern society and they actually go pretty far back. Although I bet they didn’t have such unusual hen party events all that time ago…skydiving hens anyone? So where did the terms actually originate from? The tradition of the stag party, goes back even further (sorry Hens) certainly as far as Tudor times. Just imagine how busy Henry VIII must have been with sending invites to paint balling weekends in Prague! Numerous sources suggest that the very first stag party was actually held in the 5 th century in Sparta, where a pre-marriage feast was held in order to toast the the groom-to-be. On the other hand, hen celebrations have their roots more grounded in North African, Middle Eastern and Asian lifestyle. This is because the authentic phrase from which hens get together is believed to be henna, which is a wedding custom in all these cultures. Henna has significant importance in the East and is considered to have tendencies to be capable of purifying the bride and hold her risk-free from evil. Here in the UK, we are somewhat on our own with our abstract names of hen and stag parties to see off the final moments of freedom. Australia is similar, but slight cultural differences mean that they call it hen party and buck party. Alternatively, America appear to be very vanilla in the naming of their pre-marital parties calling them a bachelorette party and a stag party respectively. Whatever your background, there is no escaping the fact that marriage is possibly the most important decision of your life. So what better way to say goodbye to single life than to celebrate in style! Everyone knows that chocolate and hens go hand in hand, so if you’re after an unusual hen party event why not try your hand at one of our chocolate workshops?
- [Would you make a good Hen Party planner?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/would-you-make-a-good-hen-party-planner): We’ve seen many a Hen party here at MyChocolate and been touched by the lengths Hens go to to plan a perfect party. Whether you’re party girls or prefer nothing more than a good night in, planning a Hen do for a friend is such an exciting opportunity to show her just how much you care. The bride-to-be’s most loyal friends are probably being trusted to plan a great party, with maybe just a few surprises! In fact, these days ladies are branching out from the crazier ‘Stag’-esque nights out and looking instead to plan unique hen parties, giving Hens a better chance to do what Hens do best, chatter! Hens are happiest in a gaggle, and without the need to prance like Stags, a girl’s Hen night is the perfect time to relax and share advice (and maybe a few embarrassing stories). Creating a good party atmosphere requires a balance of expectation and surprise, and it can be easy to get carried away in the planning process. However, a good Hen always has the bride in mind and won’t subject her to a chubby, middle-aged strip-o-gram if she knows it will really make her squirm! Yet there’s only so much one can plan, as we all know that what really makes a party are the guests; great friends make for a great time. A Hen Party is what you make it, but a good Hen is always on task to ensure smooth running, looking after the bride after a few too many cocktails and being sure to take snaps of every special moment! A Hen’s most important job is to remind the bride they are always there for her as she takes such a momentous step in her life, and talk her through any anxiety she may be experiencing, because that’s what friends are for, right? Lasting memories and moral support are a Hen’s greatest gift to a bride-to-be, and she’ll be eternally grateful. Whilst she may be enjoying a ‘final night of freedom’, the bride-to-be will probably appreciate being told how wonderful her man is, she’s just about to enter into a huge commitment and it won’t hurt to big up her other half in anticipation of their special day, letting her know she has your full approval! If you’re planning a Hen party and need ideas, your first thoughts may be quite traditional, but looking into other ideas may throw up some gems. Now obviously we’re a little biased, but we believe a good Hen would most definitely provide an indulgent supply of every girl’s best friend – chocolate … and our unique hen parties are packed full of it! From chocolate making to cocktail shaking, what better way to bond than over a classy ‘ choc-tail ’? Watch out gents, here come the Hens!
- [The Members You Find in Every Team Building Activity](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-members-you-find-in-every-team-building-activity): Here at MyChocolate , we’ve seen our fair share of team building workshops, so this week we thought we’d share some of the characters that regularly pop up. Now we all know every team has its cheerleaders and those who prefer to boo from the side lines, so when it comes to an office team building activity there are bound to be some who dread the thought of organised fun with a group of people they studiously avoid all week, but what are the true personalities that make up every team – and which one are you…? The Enthusiastic One – No words can describe this team member’s undying dedication to everything ‘team’. The first one there, the last one to leave and the only one to enjoy every single minute (and they probably made up the ridiculous team name!) Yet this is the one person who gets everyone through with their cheerleader-style encouragement, remembering you are on their team is the key to accepting this team member and overcoming your strong desire to throw things at them when things get tiring and they’re still chirping “come on GUYS we can DO this!” The Sulker – Or the direct opponent of Mr Enthusiastic. Far too cool, and close to physically disgusted by communal team building activities. This team member will make the most disdainful comments about what you’re supposed to be doing as opposed to what they could be doing right now. They probably also have a sidekick, or some sort of BFF, there to support them in their time of endless complaining and sulky looks. Expect to find the pair leaning on well, anything, and attempting to outdo each other’s contempt. The Sulker may be no more useful than a hungover sloth, but make them feel needed and they’re bound to perk up – all that’s required is to convince them that they really are the cool guy, even if this requires a slight bending of the truth… The Joker – This one can make anything a joke. Literally anything. The problem is that not all jokes are funny – and have you ever actually seen this person do something productive? As a team member, you’ll find the Joker directly behind your Enthusiastic leader, doing sarcastic impressions of each and every excited schoolgirl shriek and encouraging grin. Don’t underestimate the power of the Joker though, you’ll need them when something goes wrong, their witty one-liner will definitely rescue morale quicker than a stiff gin and tonic and you’ll feel a renewed sense of love for their goofy, grinning face. The Slave-Driver – Most likely to say “DROP AND GIVE ME 20!!” well maybe not, but they could definitely be mistaken for being an army major and despite your grumblings that it’s only a team building activity, will crack the whip at anyone visibly drooping or not paying full, undivided attention. Over prepared for any eventuality, following a full kit inventory, expect to stand in line and salute! The Slave-Driver will definitely compete with the Enthusiastic one for rule of the roost, but this will be a battle the Enthusiastic leader doesn’t even know they’re a part of (they’re just SO happy to be there). Then again, when strict precision pays off and the results are fabulous, you’ll be so pleased you’ll be saluting the Slave-Driver with a well-deserved “Yes Sir!” Looking for a team building activity that’s a little outside the norm? Look no further than one of our chocolate workshops! Let’s just hope the group isn’t overburdened with Sulkers and Slave-Drivers!
- [MyChocolate's Ginger, Cardamom and Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/mychocolates-ginger-cardamom-and-cinnamon-dark-chocolate-recipe): Are you looking for a treat? Why not follow MyChocolate’s recipe to making your own delicious, velvety ginger, cardamom and cinnamon flavour dark chocolate. This is some truly fragrant and elegant choc that is guaranteed to wow your friends and family and the biggest secret of all … it’s so simple! Ingredients 375g dark chocolate 13 drops of ginger cooking essential oil ½ teaspoon of grounded cardamom 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Method Firstly melt down dark chocolate on a low heat. This is best done using a bain marie, as to not scold the sugar in the chocolate. Temper the chocolate at 30 degrees centigrade. To temper the chocolate it must be heated and cooled, to 30 degrees and then left to cool until crystals begin to form and then reheated again to 30 degrees. Tempering is what gives chocolate it’s luxurious shiny finish and it’s satisfying snap. Now add the ginger cooking oil, the cinnamon powder and the ground cardamom. Cover the table with parchment paper and pour the melted chocolate onto it, creating a lovely slab, now spread the chocolate out evenly with a spatula, trying to cover most of the parchment paper. Now leave it to set at room temperature until it is hard and brittle, this may take around 2 hours. Lastly, break it into small pieces and enjoy! We assure you will … One of our favourite games at MyChocolate is to keep our friends guessing the ingredients we’ve used, when we have them over for dinner! Especially if we’ve made a couple of different things, so why not check out our MyChocolate recipes to give you some more delicious inspiration. Also keep an eye on it for even more great and very unique recipes coming up really soon!
- [The 6 Stages of a Hen Party](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-6-stages-of-a-hen-party): If you’re the designated party planner, then this checklist is your new best friend! MyChocolate knows how daunting planning a special event can be when you’re anxious to get it just right, so don’t stress, just check off this list of ‘must dos’: Get Chatting – many minds mean many ideas, and getting an idea of everyone’s thoughts and expectations of the party will set you up for success, as unusual hen events can be particularly fun and memorable. Obviously the party is in honour of the bride-to-be, but she’s likely to invite family and maybe old friends, so replicating the wild nights out of your youth might not be the best idea! However you’re honoured to be in such a position of trust and you do know best when it comes to the likes and loathes of your best friend. Be Proactive – it seems obvious to say, but time can really run away with you, so be sure to leave ample time for any hiccups to rectify themselves. You’ll also be sure to get exactly what you want if you’re ready to book well in advance – and of course there’ll be time to consider those all-important Hen Party themed accessories…! Budget – Set yourself a reasonable budget to work from and get an idea of what costs you’re going to incur – that way you can try to eliminate surprises. It’s probably also a good idea to let guests know what the arrangements are for footing the bill, so that everyone’s on the same page in terms of what funds are required! Don’t Stress – you’re planning fun, so have fun doing it! Get everyone involved and plan nice surprises for the bride, or get creative and compile her a photo album of all your favourite old snaps – with space for all the new ones! If you do get a little party planner anxiety, you’ll soon shake it off when you hear how stressed the bride-to-be is for her big day… Be a Stickler – whilst stressing won’t help, being a stickler for detail beforehand will help ensure everything goes smoothly and you can relax and enjoy the fantastic party you’ve so expertly planned and coordinated. Enjoy Yourself ! – you’ve earned it – having planned an exciting event, it’s time to enjoy it and be happy to see everyone else doing the same. If everything’s gone to plan, so should the party, but if it doesn’t – so what, it’ll only add to the memories! If you’re stuck for a place to start, take a look at MyChocolate’s selection of unusual Hen events , from chocolate making to fancy cupcake decorating, all topped off with cheeky ‘choc-tails’, and see if any take your fancy.
- [Hen Party Do’s and Don’ts](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/hen-party-dos-and-donts): A hen party is the last hurrah for a bride to be, so it’s got to be special and revolve entirely around her. If you’ve been given the honour of organising the party, thinking of unusual hen do ideas can be tricky and whilst unusual ideas can be great, if they’re not planed properly they also have the potential to go haywire, so it’s best to keep to some simple do’s and don’ts when planning a hen party. They may all seem obvious, but can be easily forgotten! Firstly, your good decision making must start at day one of planning, choosing activities which involve everyone, giving the chance for everyone to chat if they already know each other, or get to know each other if they don’t. Ensure that your party idea ‘matches’ your guest-list, for example if you’re inviting the mother in law to be and she’s a bit of a prude, then anything too risqué may be inappropriate, leaving both you and her feeling more than a little awkward. Remember, you can always save the crazy stuff for those who make it past bedtime and keep it a bit more civilised during dinner or drinks beforehand. That’s not to say you shouldn’t go all out though, as long as everything is within your budgets then you can really go for it, so if dressing up is your thing, then really go mad for it! (Take a look at our top ten hen party costume ideas for some MyChocolate inspiration…) Word on the street is that the best hen parties strike a good balance between drinking/eating/doing just to make sure everyone is keeping up and having a great time. We also like the idea of having plenty of fun games and trivia ready for the evening, so at any point you can crack out a great game or fun fact or trivia about the bride. However, our big no-no tip would be not to go too far with anything, you don’t want anything to happen that might mar your memories of a great party, hilarious and embarrassing stories are great, just don’t get into anything you’re not proud of or end up in a crazy Hangover style situation, the bride may not thank you for it! Overall, if you’re planning a hen party, it’s because you’re the bride’s best friend – and she’s rightly trusting you to put together a fantastic party. Therefore probably the easiest pitfall to fall into is making things too much about your friendship and the things you enjoy together, so it’s just a case of remembering that her other guests may know her in an entirely different capacity and not enjoy doing the things you two might do together. Yet at the front of your party planner mind should always be the fact that you’re planning a party for your best friend- and what could be more fun than that?!
- [The Ten Best Hen Party Costume Ideas](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-ten-best-hen-party-costume-ideas): If you feel as though all Hen Party ideas have been done a million times, you may be looking for unusual hen party ideas – and that we can certainly help with. Our indulgent chocolate workshops are a great way to have fun with the girls and with a whole range of Hen Party activities on offer, including learning how to make handmade chocolates and tasty chocolate cocktails, we’re sure there’ll be something for everyone! Of course another serious consideration when it comes to a Hen Party is what to wear and if it’s fancy dress you’re going for you’ll want to pick a theme, so we’ve put together a quick top ten list of our favourite Hen Party fancy dress ideas to give you some inspiration… 80s brides : Think Madonna in ‘Like a Virgin’, white corseted lace, sheer stockings, mussed up hair and a huge dose of attitude. You’ll make for a troupe of badass looking brides with this fun look. Barbie Dolls: This one’s pretty self-explanatory, but cast your minds back to the impressive range of professions Barbie took on – we’re pretty sure ‘Scuba-Diving Barbie’ was a bestseller! It’s sure to be a fun outfit to create, especially the big hair and bug-eyed beauty makeup. Down the Decades (60s, 70s, 80s): You know the drill – get your groove on Austin Powers style, go all hippy-dippy or rock out those neon leg-warmers. There are so many ways you can go about this style, and all the crazy accessories on offer mean you can really have fun with it. Gypsy Brides: We’ve all seen the show and secretly wished to try on one of those extravagant outfits, just the once… Have fun with lashings of fake tan, colourful clothes, heavy sprinklings of diamante and huge hair. Hens: Yes, we said it, actual hens. We’re talking feathers all round and a bushy tail – a hilarious look for a gaggle of Hens. If you don’t fancy going all out, small touches like feathered head pieces and stick on beaks also make this costume an easy one to get in and out of and you can always add in the classic L plates and sashes! Pink Ladies: The classic Grease-inspired fancy dress for any group of girls. Get your pink bombers out and put in your curlers for a pretty, perky look fresh from the 50’s which will certainly stop the boys in their tracks. Vintage Style Flapper Girls: With excessive lashings of beaded spangles and sequins, fancy feathered headdresses and long strings of pearls – you won’t be able to stop your feet from dancing the Charleston! A great fancy dress for a classy evening on the champagne. Glamorous Icons: Think Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor and Jackie O – big hair, bigger smiles and a whole lot of glamorous personality. We’ve all wished we were one of the above at some point in our lives – so here’s your chance to dress up like an all-time icon. Rainbow : Pick a colour, go crazy! Wigs add a great touch to a colour theme, as does crazy makeup. Accessorise with tutus and cheap and cheerful jewellery to complete your colour themed look, or even go neon for a bright twist. Disney Princesses: Pick your childhood favourite and transform into a Disney dream, from sweet Snow White to feisty Pocahontas, there’s a princess to fit any personality and complete your perfect princess party, tiaras and all.
- [Case Study: Building the Perfect Team Building Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/case-study-building-the-perfect-team-building-event): Last week, we ran a cocktail and chocolate making event for a client who was looking for a fun and unique way to treat their team. We thought it might be useful for us to provide you with a case study so that you better know how we go about hosting exciting events like this. The Client: A well-known energy firm. The Background: After years of outdoor activities, subject to poor weather, the client decided to host an indoor event at their office in Central London. The Purpose: To simply give four sales teams a real treat for all their hard work. The client specifically requested a team activity which ensured that everyone could relax in each other’s company and have something to take away with them at the end of day. MyChocolate’s Team Activity Proposal: Firstly, we decided the main focus of the workshop would be cocktail making (after all, what relaxes people better than alcohol!). After making three unique flavoured cocktails under the guidance of trained mixologists, everyone would then be taught how to flavour and pipe rich dark chocolate truffles. This skill is relatively easy to get a grasp of after a few goes and it’s something that stays with you, so you can use it to really and truly impress friends and family for years to come! Once the chocolate truffles were completed, people would then package these handmade goodies in boxes to take away to enjoy at home or give to loved ones. The Outcome: Unsurprisingly, the combination of cocktails and chocolate worked very well indeed! The cocktail and chocolate making recipes were very hands on which ensured everyone got involved, worked together and learnt new skills. Just as the client requested, the event had a fun and relaxing fell to it. Feedback from the Client: “It was a great experience, exactly what we wanted.” “Loved it. A great balance of chocolate, alcohol and humour. Thank you.” “Fun. Informative. Well explained. Plenty of chocolate and booze. Couldn’t ask for more.” “Fantastic Day. I would definitely recommend MyChocolate.” So now you can see how we can very easily tailor events to cater for your specific objectives. We take real pride in doing this, so if you’d like to treat your colleagues to a MyChocolate event then please do get in touch ! We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with even more detail as to what we could provide you with.
- [Team Building Activities – How Not To Do It](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/team-building-activities-how-not-to-do-it): Whether you love or loathe team building activities , you can see the value in getting a working team together once in a while for a little bonding time, but as many of us may have already experienced, there are some very wrong ways to go about it! The worst case scenario is that people just feel embarrassed or humiliated by an activity and therefore go away feeling not only silly, but even professionally compromised – far from having bonded with the rest of their team. This could certainly be the case with physical activities, which may not be everyone’s forte. Although these sorts of things may breed team spirit, they can also breed feelings of inadequacy if competition is high. Therefore it’s best to set the level right for all individuals, planning activities which will promote team building in a way which doesn’t compromise anyone. No one likes to feel like they’re having ‘organised fun’ so be sure you aren’t forcing it or holding expectations of how much fun people really ‘should’ be having. However, this goes hand in hand with hosting a very well planned event that runs smoothly, great organisation and planning will help to create a relaxed mood amongst guests, rather than creating periods of flat time where nobody knows where to be or what to do – and the event planner is running around like a headless chicken, never a good look! The event should be as part of ongoing activities rather than a one off, otherwise all the positive gains made are likely to be lost when they should have been carried over and improved upon. It’s also not best to fuel any office feuds or bring up problems specifically at a team building event – the event has potential been sparked by such an issue. However, a successful team building day should help to resolve issues or tensions naturally, interlacing the fun with the more serious challenge of solving problems as teams spend time together in a relaxed, out of work space. That’s also why activities with very high stress or competition levels may not be the best options, as they don’t allow for a situation in which a team can relax and have a little fun. Overall, with just a little consideration of all the characters in your team, you’re unlikely to go far wrong in your planning as the whole aim is to get people thinking just a little about those around them. We run a whole range of fun chocolate making team building activities in London, ranging from luxurious chocolate cocktail making , to Apprentice-style chocolate making challenges with tasty MyChocolate prizes, all designed to get teams bonding as they work together to produce and decorate handmade chocolates.
- [Milk Chocolate Gianduja Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/milk-chocolate-gianduja): While our last recipe, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon dark chocolate , contained an unusual spice, this week we’ve decided to steer back to a classic combination: chocolate and nuts. Hazelnuts specifically. If you agree these two are the most heavenly of combinations then you’re in for a treat with this delicious Gianduja recipe. Gianduja is a specialty that originates from the Piedmont region in the north of Italy and is essentially a mixture of ground hazelnuts and chocolate. You’d be correct in thinking it sounds extraordinarily similar to Nutella – in fact the popular spread was originally called Pasta Gianduja! Ingredients 300g melted milk chocolate 400g hazelnut brittle Method Firstly, you’ll need to grind up the nut brittle clusters into fine crumbs. The best way to do this is place them within a bag and give them a good bashing with a rolling pin. Once you have your nutty crumbs, set them aside for later. Now place a bowl over a pan of simmering water (au bain marie) and melt two-thirds of the chocolate into it. Once the chocolate has melted, remove from the heat and gradually stir in the remaining solid chocolate to bring down the temperature to 32º. If you do not have a thermometer, you can test the temperature of the chocolate by dripping a drop on to your finger and quickly putting on your lip (and if you happen to taste some here for yourself who’s noticing). When the chocolate is tempered it should feel cool as if it’s below body temperature. Next mix 300g of the ground-up nuts into the melted milk chocolate and pour out on to a metal tray lined with greased baking paper or non-stick parchment. Leave it to harden and then break into pieces, or if you’re feeling a bit more creative you can cut the praline into shapes. Once you have your individual praline pieces, dip them in the melted milk chocolate. For the final step, roll the chocolates in the remaining 100g of caramelised nut crumbs in order to give them an eye-catching layered effect. All that’s left is for you to share them with your friends and family. Or you know, yourself : ) If you enjoyed making this recipe then we KNOW you will love our back catalogue. View them here , where you can see how to make all kinds of snacks from truffles to cupcakes to choc-tails!
- [Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-balsamic-vinegar-recipe): Last week we looked at a classic Italian chocolate dish – Milk Chocolate Gianduja – made famous by the popular hazelnut spread Nutella. As you can probably deduce from the title, this week we’ve decided to get a little more adventurous. Now before you think we’ve gone stark raving mad, chocolate has been a staple of South American savoury dishes for thousands of years; it’s only now that it’s finally creeping into Western savoury palates. This sweet, tangy and slightly bitter balsamic vinegar is perfect as a salad dressing, “mole” sauce or can be used for bread dipping with a little olive oil. It can also be drizzled over fruits and deserts or as an interesting accompaniment to cheese platters. Talk about versatility! Ingredients 100g caster sugar 100ml balsamic vinegar 30g dark chocolate, broken into pieces Method The best thing about this recipe is its simplicity; it’s really a two step process. First of all you need to reduce the vinegar, so you’ll need to gently heat a pan, into which add all of the sugar and vinegar. Allow them to mix together until all of the sugar has dissolved. Let the mixture gently bubble for 5 minutes, keeping an eye on it and stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pan. Next take the pan off the heat and make sure to whisk in the dark chocolate. Once they have mixed in together in the pan, set it aside and leave it to cool for 2-3 minutes. After the mixture has cooled, stir the mixture together again thoroughly. Voila! Whatever the occasion, whether it’s dinner, a hen party or a team building event you now have yourself a quirky treat that’s sure to impress! If you thought this recipe was great, why not check out our back catalogue? You can do so by clicking here .
- [Lemon and Poppy Seed White Chocolate](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/lemon-and-poppy-seed-white-chocolate): Were you a fan of our Lemon and Poppy Seed Cupcake s? Well, if so then it’s your lucky day as we’ve decided to convert it into a chocolate recipe. Don’t say we don’t spoil you! The real beauty of these flavours comes from the zestiness of the lemon, which cuts through the sweetness of the chocolate, providing a refreshing aftertaste. The poppy seeds are once again not just a treat for the eyes, but add texture and provide a satisfying crack when you bite into them. Who said seeds are just for bread? Ingredients 375g white chocolate 13 drops of lemon cooking essential oil Small handful of poppy seeds Method The first trick is to temper the white chocolate. Tempering is the way you treat chocolate to ensure it has a glossy finish and breaks when you snap it. To do so, you’ll need to add the chocolate to a pan and heat it to 29 degrees until all of the chocolate has melted down. Set it to one side and let it cool until crystals begin to appear. Once they have began to form, return the chocolate to the pan and reheat it to 29 degrees. Next add the 13 drops of lemon oil and stir them thoroughly into the liquid chocolate. When you think the lemon oil is fully mixed in, cover a tray with parchment paper and pour the melted chocolate onto this, creating a slab. Spread evenly with a spatula in order to cover most of the tray. Finally, sprinkle the poppy seeds as quick as you can before the chocolate starts setting up and then leave it to dry a room temperature for a couple hours before breaking into small pieces and serving. This is a chocolate treat for all occasions, from corporate events to hen parties . We think you’ll find the wacky flavour combination a surprisingly tasty spin on white chocolate, making it very difficult not to reach for one more piece!
- [Chocolate Buttercream Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-buttercream-with-real-chocolate-for-cupcakes-and-cakes): Now that you’ve learnt how to make Gianduja , we’ve decided to venture back to the world of cakes. So, today on the blog we’ve decided to share our Chocolate Buttercream recipe, which we hope you’ll find to be a sumptuous spread for cupcakes and cakes. While this has been a real hit with our hen parties and team building events , we feel now is the time to share it with the rest of you, so enjoy! Ingredients 250g dark organic chocolate 500g unsalted butter, softened at room temp 1kg icing sugar Milk to loosen Method The first step is to melt the chocolate in a bain marie – a pan suspended over simmering water – all the while making sure you do not mix it with the water. Once it has melted into a thick, chocolatey liquid, take the pan off the heat and leave to one side. Whilst your chocolate is cooling beat together the softened butter with the icing sugar. The icing sugar will expand within the bowl so make sure to beat carefully otherwise you may end up with a very messy kitchen! You can either use a hand held whisk or an electric one, which ever suits you best. When they have combined, it is time to stir in the melted chocolate. Try to get them mixed as evenly as possible, you don’t want to have a marbled buttercream because although it might look unusual the ingredients will not mix together and it won’t be so pleasing to taste. Once mixed, add a few glugs of milk to loosen the butter cream. Finally, pipe the buttercream onto your cakes or cupcakes. If you’re feeling a bit creative you can dollop them on into specific shapes…icing smilies anyone? While this is a great treat to have at kids parties on cupcakes, you’ll also find it can bring sophistication to traditional sponges; the rich taste of the dark chocolate complementing almost any cake. For more delicious MyChocolate recipes simply visit our chocolate recipe page and learn about making a cake to go with your new buttercream recipe. For a winning combination, use this buttercream on our decadent Vanilla Cupcakes …
- [How to Plan a Corporate Team Building Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/how-to-plan-a-corporate-team-building-event): The amount of pleasure people experience when doing team building activities on a corporate away day is often directly related to the amount of effort that has gone into creating the event. A poorly thought out team building day will be horrendous for those attending it and comical to anyone observing it. Attendees will be left unsure of what they are meant to be doing as no structure will be present. This will lead to many losing any focus they initially had and people will retreat once more into their separate groups as opposed to coming together and getting to know one another. This is why MyChocolate place such an emphasis on planning – to make sure that everyone present knows what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Not only does this make people know that they are in skilled hands, but it ensures that their time is being used constructively so that they can do what they came here to do – have fun and get to know their work colleagues better. That’s why we’ve worked with some of the biggest companies on the planet and been put in charge of making sure that their team building day out is both tasty and useful. To give you a better idea of how the MyChocolate team go about hosting the ultimate corporate events, we’ve decided to tell you how one must be planned in order to please all parties: Have a clear objective in mind. Make sure you know what your employees or staff want to gain from a team building event. Do they all want to get to better know a new MD? Do they want to get find out more about other people in other divisions? Do they simply want to speak to those they work alongside daily in an informal and friendly setting? Once you know the answers to these sorts of questions you’re well placed to decide on how to split or rotate teams during the actual event. This means that everyone comes away from it with a better understanding of someone they actually felt the need to bond with. Make sure everyone actually wants to do what you plan to do during the team building event. If people are not committed to getting into the spirit of things then it will be an uphill struggle to get people to really make an effort and become involved. In short, ask what people would like to do or at least present them with some options. We must say, though, that with our chocolate workshops a reluctance to get involved has never been an issue! Make sure you have everything you need . It sounds basic, but you’d be shocked at how often some team building events companies don’t bother thinking about the relationships between the number of people attending and the resources needed to cater for them. For chocolate workshops the equation between the amount of necessary ingredients and the number of people is a relatively simple equation to make. A good rule of thumb is to always order a bit more of whatever it is that you need. Make sure you also have people! Think about when you want to have a team day out – if half the office is away on holiday then clearly only half the office will get to properly know each other. Make sure everyone can do what you plan to do. Just be careful to take into account the physical health of everyone. Allergies are often overlooked so be careful to check if anyone’s effected by something like this. Otherwise some may feel excluded and not thought of – not what you want from a teambuilding day! Let people think for themselves. Micro managing every part of the event will leave people feeling suffocated and under pressure. So if we take our chocolate workshops as being a good example of how to do things right, then you’ll see that we often let people decorate their sweet creations however they want. It makes it more fun and varied for everyone. So there you have it – the definitive checklist for planning any team building event. Adhere to these points and your team will certainly reap the benefits. Don’t, and your day will be about as useful as a chocolate teapot !
- [Around the World in Chocolatey Ways: Part 1](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/around-the-world-in-chocolatey-ways-part-1): Chocolate doesn’t make the world go round…but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile. From it’s humble Mayan beginnings to the meteoric rise of the chocolate bar in the 20th century, chocolate has certainly found a special place in hearts (and tummies) the world over. It’s been consumed on all occasions, as the focal ingredient of ancient religious ceremonies to modern day birthday’s, Valentine’s, even our hen parties (we wonder what the Mayans would think about chocolate being used in our corporate team building events in London today?!) In recognition of the world’s love affair with chocolate, we’ll be spinning our globe in this, the first part of this series, and have a look at how chocolate is significant to different cultures… Mexico Mexico…chocolate’s Garden of Eden. Central America can claim to be the birthplace of chocolate, where the sticky, tropical rainforests provide the ideal conditions for the Cacao Tree (Theobroma Cacao) to grow. Ever since the dawn of the Mayan civilisation 4,000 years ago, the tree and the cocoa beans have been coveted as a gift from the gods. The beans, traditionally mixed with spices, were fermented to make a bittersweet drink used in religious ceremonies. The later-ruling Aztecs even used the beans as a currency, also believing them to be sacred – a gift from Quetzalcoatl, the God of Wisdom. Today, Mexicans still prefer to start their day with a drink of chocolate, flavoured with traditional spices – cinnamon, cardamom and chilies. Although no longer used as a money, it is commonly sold in the markets in the shape of discs, a contemporary trademark for chocolate in this part of the world. Spain Our next country on the map is Spain, whose conquistadors brought cocoa beans back to Europe in the early 16th century. They were unable to pronounce the name of the Aztec cocoa drink, Xocolatl, so changed it to ‘Chocolat’, from which its modern name derives. Chocolat was found to be too bitter for European palettes however, so Spain became the first country to sweeten the beans with sugar cane. The country can also claim to be the first to open a chocolate factory and they remain a proud chocolate-producing nation today (it’s famous modern brands are Valor, Trufas and Torras). England Chocolate arrived in England in 1520, delivered by none other than Christopher Columbus, and mass production of the food became big business for the Quakers at the time. In fact, some of the greatest chocolate companies there have ever been have derived from the Quakers, including Fry’s, Cadbury’s, and Rowntree (who later merged with Nestle). Fry’s is famous for producing the world’s first ever chocolate bar, in their factory in Bristol in 1847. Today the UK is still a prolific producer of chocolate, the fourth argest in the world no less, and was also the first country to produce organic chocolates. That’s it for part 1 in our ‘Around the World in Chocolatey Ways’ series. We’ve still got a lot of miles to travel, so make sure to tune in next time for a look at chocolate in Peru, France and Italy. If you can’t wait until the next installment, and want to learn more about the wonderful world of chocolate, why not try out one of our delcicious workshops …
- [Chilli and Orange Dark Chocolate Recipe](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chilli-and-orange-dark-chocolate-recipe): Did you miss our Chocolate Buttercream recipe from last week? If so, not to worry, you can catch up right here . Chillies and oranges are commonly used in chocolate recipes but not always together. We find the tangy and fiery flavours to be a winning combination, so, for your eyes only, let us present our Chili and Orange Dark Chocolate recipe. As we have tried to accomplish with all of our recipes, the steps involved are very straightforward and can be replicated by chocolatiers of all levels and shouldn’t take any longer than half an hour to make. Right, without further ado, let’s head into the kitchen… Ingredients 220g dark chocolate 2 drops of orange essential oil A quarter of a tea spoon of ground up chilli flakes (not chilli powder) Method The first thing you want to do is set up a bain marie, which although sounds complicated, is actually a simple case of placing a bowl over a pan of simmering water. With the pan heated at 30°C, place the dark chocolate inside and wait for it to melt. Once it has, set the pan to one side, letting it cool until you begin to see little crystals form on the surface of the chocolate. When you can begin to see crystals, return the pan to the bain marie. We know this heating, cooling and reheating may seem a bit baffling at first, but this ensures the chocolate is tempered, which ultimately gives the finished product its shiny finish and satisfying snap. Okay so with the chocolate reheated to 30°C, pour in a couple of drops of the orange essential oil and the chilli flakes, stirring them thoroughly into the mixture as you do so. Finally, pour the dark mixture onto a tray covered with parchment paper, allowing to cool into an even slab. Snap or cut the finished bar into whatever shapes you like, feel free to get creative (in one of our corporate team building events in London we had a team cut the chocolate into shapes into Sir Alan Sugar’s face!)
- [Ethical, Fair Trade & Organic Chocolate Guide](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/ethical-fair-trade-organic-chocolate-guide): As cacao beans grow in tropical and usually extremely remote and poor parts of the world, the working conditions of the workers doing the hard work – the harvesting – are often fragile to say the least. Wages can be compressed and slavery and child labour have been known to exist in some parts of Western Africa, where the majority of the world’s chocolate bars originate from. It’s a very serious and distressing part of an industry most people gain huge amounts of pleasure from numerous times on a daily basis. Luckily, over the course of the last two decades, intrepid human rights activists have opened the worlds eyes to many of these issues and consumers have responded accordingly. Nowadays, chocolate in shops is no longer referred to as being merely ‘chocolate’; rather it is prefixed with words like ‘fairtrade’, ‘organic’ and ‘ethical’. This has been done by companies in direct response to the growing body of consumers who are not willing to simply sit back and consciously eat and enjoy cheap chocolate whilst knowing all too well about common industry injustices. The MyChocolate team are thrilled that this is the case as we strongly believe that the big players in the industry have a corporate duty to make sure people benefit on every level from the globes insatiable appetite for all things chocolate. The money pot is plenty big enough for them to be able to do this. At MyChocolate teambuilding and corporate events , we always go out of our way to source only the finest organic chocolate to use in our chocolate workshops. On a day to day basis in your local shops, we recommend keeping an eye out for the following things to ensure that chocolate doesn’t compromise your conscience: Fairtrade: If chocolate is marked as being fair trade, then you can eat it in the knowledge that those involved at its origin are making a fair amount of money from their commodity. Fairtrade see that farmers receive at least a certain amount of money and this is usually driven back in to the local communities. It’s quite brilliant to think that when you’re next in the supermarket in somewhere like London or Manchester that you can help people out in a profound way by simply spending pennies extra on your chocolate bar. Lazy philanthropy at it’s very finest! Organic: If chocolate is labelled in this way then you know that it has been grown in an area which has been free of often toxic pesticides for a prolonged period of time. This can improve the health of the workers who harvest and monitor the cacao beans, as well as the immediate local ecology. There is usually a premium charged for these products but it’s minimal and absolutely worth it in our humble opinion. It’s also worth keeping an eye out on individual brand websites because they will more often than not indicate that part of their money is spent on various admirable projects in the country where the chocolate originates from. This strengthens their relationships with their suppliers and it also helps them with branding, so do take a look. If you fancy having some chocolate fun then please do get in contact with MyChocolate and we’ll get back to you asap. Hopefully you can come along to one of our chocolate party’s or corporate events and enjoy the sweet taste of some organic chocolate!
- [Chocolate From Childhood](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-from-childhood): “And everyday, as he came near to it, he would lift his small pointed nose in the air and sniff the wonderful sweet smell of melting chocolate. Sometimes he would stand motionless outside the gate for several minutes on end, taking deep swallowing breaths as though he were trying to eat the smell itself.” Perhaps your earliest chocolate memory is not one of actually eating chocolate, but of having it described to you by Roald Dahl? His world of ‘Chocolate waterfalls’, ‘lickable wallpaper’ and ‘cows that give chocolate milk’ creates an irresistible allure around the silky brown substance that sets children’s mouths salivating. In fact- we’re introduced to Wonka’s chocolate kingdom at such a formative age, the book cements any juvenille choccy- intrigue into a life-long obsession. If you weren’t introduced to chocolate via Roald Dahl, then perhaps jolly old Father Christmas made the introduction? Solid chocolate coins at the bottom of Christmas stockings, bumper tins of Quality Streets and Roses, and boxes of thick chocolate biscuits laid out for the scoffing. Perhaps you remember standing beneath a towering tree and giving it a little shake to dislodge one of the chocolate fondant treats? No doubt you remember plunging your little arm deep into a tin of Roses, and finding all the purple ‘hazelnut-caramels’ gobbled already by a greddy parent? The shiny, coloured wrappers gleaming, with the empties rolled into balls and a surplus of pale green, praline triangles at the bottom. There’s a distinct ‘chocolate progression’ which takes place throughout life. Playgroup is usually a time of chocolate buttons, popped into mouths and sucked until they disappeared. The kiddie sized bags just about the right size to make sure nobody was sick. A humble ‘Cadbury’s fudge’ at the bottom of a party bag never goes amiss, or even a ‘Curly Whirly’. Next is junior school- the Twix and KitKat lunchbox years. And do you remember the pleasingly chunky Caramel Rocky? There’s a funny time of life, between the ages of 5 and 9 when children delight in biting the chocolate off the sides of the biscuit, methodically, if not ritualistically, and leaving the best bit til last. In high school, one graduates into the world of Toffee Crisps and Lion Bars; (a preference for each makes and divided friends) gnawing through the chewy, crackly layers made exams that bit more bearable. (If only we’d had chocolate classes back then!) And of course, Yorkies were a favourite among many, for who could resist such a jaw-stoppingly chunky bar? Indeed chocolate follows us like a sweet and melty guardian. It’s the friend who doesn’t ask any questions, bringing comfort at times of need from earliest youth til death do us part. Now if this trip down memory lane hasn’t got you in the mood for one of our chocolate classes then we suggest you go back and read some more Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
- [Around the World in Chocolatey Ways : Part 2](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/around-the-world-in-chocolatey-ways-part-2): We hoped you enjoyed our first instalment of Around the World in Chocolatey Ways . We are now thrilled to be continuing our journey with you on the second leg of our adventure, so let’s get going! If you want to know how we think chocolate should be done, come along to one of our chocolate courses or even go all out with one of our chocolate parties. However, if you’re interested in knowing how others do it elsewhere in the world, carry on reading… Last month we took you through Mexico, Spain and England, this time let us transport you to the exquisite locations of Peru, France and Italy. Peru Home of the Inca tribe, the indigenous people of Peru have been using the Cocoa plant for centuries, long before the days of chocolate parties and workshops. These people chewed the Cocoa plant for essential strength to go about their daily treks and work in the mountains. Nowadays, the country is famous for its use of the plant to make yummy chocolate treats. Chocolate made from real Peruvian cocoa is some of the most intense in the world, much like the rest of the country it is bold, impressive and totally unforgettable! France Perhaps more similar to the delicious chocolate you might learn to make at one of our chocolate making courses is that originating from France. Despite the fact you might perhaps hear more about chocolate from France’s neighbours, Switzerland and Belgium (to which we will pay a visit at a later date), the French chocolatier’s expertise is a very well-kept secret that needs sharing! Chocolate first arrived in France from Spain in 1615, when Anne of Austria, introduced the chocolate drink to her new husband, Louis XIII of France. The sweet treat was first popular among the court (who we’re sure loved chocolate parties), before it quickly took the rest of the country by storm and earned the love it enjoys today. The country favours very fine, very dark chocolate, perfect dipped in a delicious café au lait. The country even have their own chocolate academy – we wonder what they’d make of our own chocolate classes. Italy You could in fact argue that it is thanks to the Italians that we can enjoy chocolate at all, for it was the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, who first set eyes on a cocoa plant and introduced it to the continent. Now, all sorts of chocolatey treats can be found there, including many varieties of gelato al cioccolato (or chocolate ice cream to us and you.) The homes of Italian chocolate are said to be Turin and Piedmont, where, like with many other foods in Italy, chocolate is an art form. Ok that’s all for week’s trip around the globe, thanks for joining us and see you next time!
- [Host your own Chocolate Making Party!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/host-your-own-chocolate-making-party): We have exciting news! We’ve launched a partner company, The Chocolate Hedgehog , which offers chocolate making party kits ! The kits contain everything you need for two hours of chocolate making fun, including organic chocolate and specialised chocolate making equipment. We have even included easy to follow recipes so you can host your own chocolate making party from your home. The Chocolate Hedgehog offers two types of chocolate making party kits; a Gift Kit for up to 4 people and a Group Kit , for up 12 people and ideal for hen parties and group get-togethers. See the Kit in Action You can see a Chocolate Hedgehog kit in action in the below video. You’ll see the sheer quantity of chocolate contained in each kit – there’s a lot !
- [Orange & Pistachio Chocolate Truffles](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/orange-pistachio-chocolate-truffles): As we hope (!) you’re aware, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re anything like us, we are already wondering what to do doing on the day itself. Unsurprisingly chocolate features at the forefront of most of our plans. In fact, if we are being really honest, most of us are helping out with our Valentine’s chocolate making class as Valentine’s is one of the business times of the year for us! Having helped out at many, many Valentine’s chocolate making workshops over the years, we can honestly say that making personalised chocolates for your other half is always going to be a perfect Valentine’s gift. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, we do offer chocolate making party kits, which contain all the ingredients and equipment you need to make your own truffles, fudge and flavoured chocolate bites. We are also big fans of our sumptuous orange & pistachio truffle recipe and what says I love you more than a homemade selection of indulgent, melt-in-your mouth truffles? The recipe is quick and easy to make. All you need are a few simple ingredients and half an hour spare. You will need: 260g of premium quality dark chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa, broken into small pieces 3 tablespoons of double cream 1/2 cup of honey 1 knob of butter, cut into small pieces 1 1/2 cups of pistachios, finely chopped 1 orange, zested Heart-shaped cookie/pastry cutter, preferably 1 inch in diameter Instructions: Simmer the honey in a frying pan for a few minutes, or until it turns a medium brown colour and gives off a sweet caramel scent. Remove the pan from the heat. Melt the chocolate au ban marie , making sure to stir frequently. In a separate thick-bottomed pan, gently heat the cream. When the chocolate has melted into a smooth and glossy mixture, remove ¼ of the chocolate and keep in a separate bowl. Pour the warm cream and caramelised honey into the larger quantity of chocolate and whisk the mixture until it has blended together. Mix in 1 cup of the pistachios and half of the orange zest. Set the mixture aside to cool for 5 minutes or so. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the pistachios and orange zest in a large bowl. Once the chocolate mixture has set, use your hands to roll it into bite sized pieces, roughly 2 inches in diameter. Place the pieces on a chopping board and flatten with a rolling pin. Use the cookie-cutter to cut the pieces into lovable heart shapes. Once you have your chocolate love hearts, carefully dip them into the smaller bowl of melted chocolate and then coat them with the pistachio/orange zest mixture. Place the finished truffles on a serving tray lined with parchment paper and devour at will! Variations What’s great about this recipe is you can easily vary the ingredients if you want to make them again. For example, you can replace the pistachios with hazelnuts or almonds for a subtle twist or if you’d prefer to spice things up, add five cardamom pods and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. If you enjoyed these truffles, and you’d like to read more from MyChocolate, please browse the rest of our blog .
- [10 Unique Gift Ideas for Mothers Day](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/10-unique-gift-ideas-for-mothers-day): It’s that time of the year again. Mothers Day is round the corner and you’ve got no clue what to get the woman who already has the best gift in the world (you, obviously!). Well here at The Chocolate Hedgehog we thought we’d lend a helping hand by giving you 10 Mothers Day gift ideas (you’re welcome). We’ve come up with a list of some of the most unique and sickly sweet gifts imaginable. Just take a look… 1) Breakfast in bed So it’s not the most original idea in the world, but your efforts definitely won’t go unnoticed. You could even make heart shaped pancakes to add a little extra love! Try this recipe from skinnytaste.com 2) A homemade candle Not got much money to spend? Not a problem. Candles are surprisingly easy to make and all you need is some household items, beeswax and a candlewick. You could even get creative and make it in a teacup or a mason jar! (Oooh so Pinterest). Check out how to make them here! 3) Monthly tea subscription This is the perfect gift for your tea-addict mother. From black tea to oolong tea, the vast array of options will be sure to keep her enticed. Buy yours here . 4) Chocolate Making Kit Every chocoholic’s dream come true. This Chocolate Making Party Kit from The Chocolate Hedgehog allows you to follow simple tips and recipes to make and pipe truffles, dip and decorate milk chocolate fudge and create flavoured chocolate bites (drool…). It’s a great way to spend time with your mum and show her how much you appreciate her. Just try to resist gobbling down all the chocolate before Mothers Day! 5) Make a compliment jar Get ultra cheesy with a jar full of little notes describing all the things you love about your mum. From her ability to find anything that is lost, to her delicious Sunday roasts. It may take a little extra effort, but a compliment jar will show her how much she truly means to you and even give her a pick-me-up on her down days. 6) DIY bath bombs If you want to create a pamper day but don’t want to break the bank, DIY bath bombs are the perfect solution. Making them yourself also gives you the opportunity to personalise the bath bombs to create whatever scent and colours your mum loves most. Just a few ingredients needed and you’ll be giving Lush a run for their money! Find out how to make them here. 7) Strawberries dipped in chocolate A simple way to create absolute luxury. Just get your favourite organic milk melting chocolate and some succulent strawberries and you’re good to go! Why not check out The Chocolate Hedgehog for some unique ingredient inspiration. 8) A blank cookbook for her to fill with family recipes Having a personalised family cookbook not only brings together all the details of her favourite recipes, but it also means you can steal a couple tips for yourself too! Check out My Family Cookbook here. 9) Make a scrapbook filled with your favourite memories Instead of a card this year, why not make a scrapbook filled with photos and trinkets? Search through those boxes of old photos (and albums on Facebook!) to build a collection of some of the special moments you’ve shared together. Take a look at Etsy for some photo album inspiration! 10) Make a pressed flower card If writing a personal note is more your kind of thing, try making a pressed flower card to share your feelings in this year. It’s easy to do, cheap and beautiful. It’s also a great one to get kids involved in! Find out how to make your own pressed flower card here.
- [No-bake Triple Chocolate Brownies](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/no-bake-triple-chocolate-brownies-with-caramelised-hazelnuts): Let’s be honest, these easy to make brownies look like heaven! With organic milk melting chocolate and crumbled caramelised hazelnuts, what’s not to love!? Whip up a batch of these so you have something to nibble on whilst you hop over to The Chocolate Hedgehog to order your own chocolate making kit . Then your next chocolate making adventure will be just as easy and even more delicious! Makes 16 small brownies. Ingredients 90g graham cracker crumbs 80g crumbled caramelised hazelnuts 30g cocoa powder ½ teaspoon salt 180g sweetened condensed milk 110g organic milk melting chocolate, melted Directions 1. Line an 8-inch (20cm) square baking dish with two crossed strips of parchment paper, letting the long ends hang over the sides of the dish. Grease lightly with butter or baking spray 2. In a large bowl, mix together the crackers, hazelnuts, cocoa and salt. Pour in the milk. Add the melted chocolate and stir firmly to thoroughly combine 3. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and press firmly into the pan 4. Chill for at least 1 hour, until firm enough to cut. Lift the parchment paper to remove the brownies from the pan. Cut the brownies into small squares. They will be fudgy but quite firm 5. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days
- [Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Flakes](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/recipe-red-velvet-brownies-with-white-chocolate-flakes): Spring doesn’t only mean fruity flavours. Try chocolate making at home by having a go at this brownie recipe. Made with delicious organic milk melting chocolate and white chocolate flakes it’s nearly (but not quite!) as good as our Chocolate Making Party Kit. INGREDIENTS For the brownies: 110g organic milk melting chocolate 170g butter 400g sugar 4 large eggs 190g all-purpose flour Few drops of red food colouring 1½ tsps baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/8 tsp salt For the cream cheese frosting: 300g full fat cream cheese 150g unsalted butter 45g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract White chocolate flakes DIRECTIONS For the brownies: 1) Preheat oven to 150°C. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square pan with aluminium foil, allowing 2 to 3 inches of foil to extend over the sides; lightly grease the foil 2) Microwave the chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for 1-2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals 3) Whisk in the sugar 4) Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition 5) Gently stir in the flour and next 4 ingredients 6) Pour mixture into prepared pan 7) Bake at 150°C for 44 to 48 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack (takes about 2 hours) 8)Lift the brownies from the pan using the foil sides as handles; gently remove foil For the cream cheese frosting: 1) Place the butter in a large bowl with the caster sugar 2) Beat the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until light and creamy 3) Then beat in the cream cheese until smooth 4) Stir in the vanilla extract 5) Spread the cream cheese frosting on top of the brownies, and cut into 16 squares 6) Garnish with white chocolate flakes
- [The Origins of the Chocolate Easter Egg](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-origins-of-the-chocolate-easter-egg): Easter is the most important chocolate event of the year, but that hasn’t always been the case. Throughout the history of spring and Easter, eggs have always been a symbol of fertility, new life and the new beginnings of spring, long before chocolate even came to Europe. For many years, hard boiled eggs were painted and decorated and hung from branches. Often, egg shaped toys were given to children at Easter filled with sweets and treats, without no chocolate in sight – shocking, we know. But then, in Europe in the 19th century, chocolate Easter eggs became increasingly popular, as the availability of chocolate grew. Most likely the trend started in France and Germany before coming to England in 1873 when confectionary company JS Fry & Sons started making early versions of what we now consider a staple of holy week. The first incarnations of Easter eggs were made from dark chocolate and were most likely grainy and bitter. Eating chocolate was relatively new and was hard to mould into shapes, so the eggs were normally completely solid. But then, two things happened that changed the face (and taste) of Easter eggs. Dutch inventor Van Houten created a press that separated cocoa butter from the cocoa bean, and the Cadbury brothers introduced a pure cocoa. These changes in manufacturing created a kind of chocolate that was not only less grainy and bitter but also easier to mould into an egg shape. These eggs quickly became popular and by 1893 Cadbury’s had 19 different Easter patents on Easter Eggs – that’s loads for the 1800’s. These eggs were often decorated with Marzipan or filled with sugared almonds, and as the 20th century arrived, they only became more popular. These days, there’s every variety of Easter egg you could imagine lining shops, with loads to choose from whatever your chocolate taste. Fun fact! 43% of kids say they can’t wait until Easter Sunday, and eat their Easter Eggs before then.
- [Top 10 Gift Ideas for Mother's Day](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/top-10-gift-ideas-for-mothers-day): We may be a little biased and think that nothing could beat the gift of chocolate or – even better – a chocolate making experience for Mother’s Day, here’s a little list of our favourite ideas for Mother’s Day gifts and treats. Flowers What better way to brighten not only your mum’s day but her house too? A bunch of flowers hanging about your house is not only good for mental wellbeing, but they will also put you in your mum’s good books for sure! Flowers in season mid-march include the hyacinth, which is symbolic of love and sincerity, and the daffodil, the ultimate sign that spring has sprung! Cook a Meal It was, most likely, your mum who made sure you were fed and watered every day when you were little, so why not return the favour? A three course slap up meal that you’ve put the time and effort of making into will make your mum feel treasured as anything – as long as you do the washing up too. Cocktails To go alongside that scrumptious meal why not treat your mum with the fanciest of fancy drinks, and take her out for some cocktails? From espresso martini’s to mojito’s now being served in most bars, you can take your pick of where to take her out and treat her. If you fancy ramping up your cocktails to a whole other level, look at our luxury chocolate making experience where you can make your own cocktails and your own chocolates! Spa Day Of all people, your mum deserves some TLC. Book in a spa day so that she can get the rest, relaxation and pampering that she deserves. Spa’s get their name from the town in Belgium, named after the Latin word Spargere, which means to scatter, sprinkle, or moisten. In more modern times, spa’s offer everything from massages to facials. There’s an endless supply of relaxing treats perfect for your mum out there, just waiting to be enjoyed. Photo Album For the well thought out, homemade approach, a photo album is the way to go. Your mum loves nothing more than to show off photos of you and your achievements, and this way you can include her and hers in the album too. For a bigger photo gesture, you could even get a family photo printed onto a canvas, so she can hang it in her house, and remember how much you love her every time she looks at it. Afternoon tea It’s the quintessentially British way to while away an afternoon, and is perfect for mums and grandmas alike. Tea, cake, coffee, scones… and maybe Prosecco if you’re lucky. Afternoon Tea has been going in England since about 1840 when it was introduced by the seventh Duchess of Bedford, so it’s a time old tradition. Be sure to choose your venue wisely; why not go for an afternoon tea with a view, to make it an extra special treat. Breakfast in Bed The ultimate in treating your ma like the queen that she is, fresh coffee and carefully selected pastries delivered as she lingers in her lie in is the perfect start to mothering Sunday. Why not put one of her favourite flowers on the tray too, to make it tailor made just to her. CD Mix Another homemade, sure fire winner, burning your mum a CD playlist of her favourite songs that she loves to bop along to will show just how much you care. Making sure there’s a mix of the songs she liked when she was younger, the ones she likes now, and the ones you’ve listened to together, will show how much her music choices have influenced yours! Smellies A calming, relaxing, sweet smelling treat for your hard working mum will help her unwind and allow her to treat herself whenever she wants and needs. Be it a candle, bath bomb or even perfume, these gifts will not only show your mum that you care, but allow her some well-deserved me-time. Chocolate Making Experience And finally, our favourite, why not treat you and your mum to one of our chocolate making experiences? It’s a fun, informative and exciting way to spend time together, and you get to eat loads of chocolate together – what more could you want?
- [Why is Chocolate an Aphrodisiac?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/why-is-chocolate-an-aphrodisiac): There’s nothing that gets us more in the mood for romance than a chocolate experience. But is there a reason why heart shaped chocolates get our actual hearts pumping? The science In the 1980’s scientists in New York discovered a chemical in chocolate called Phenylethylamine (or PEA), which triggers the release of dopamine. This same chemical is released in our brains when we’re in love, and so scientists theorised that chocolate also gives us that heart-pounding, sweaty palmed feeling of true love. Although the amount of PEA in chocolate is incredibly small by the time it gets to our brains, it does make sense that we feel happy when we’re having a chocolate experience – it is chocolate after all. And what’s a better aphrodisiac than feeling happy? The history Long before chocolate was served in bar form it was a drink mixed with honey and spices that was greatly enjoyed by Aztec emperor Montezuma. It is said that he would drink it from golden goblets, before throwing them away, never using the same one twice for his beloved ‘chocolatl’ drink. When Montezuma needed something to fuel his long romantic nights he would drink a goblet of chocolatl before entering his harem, claiming it made his tongue dance, and pulse quicken. It’s certainly the same feeling we get when we’re sneaking leftover chocolate after one of our chocolate experience workshops. The culture Our go to chocolate related film is of course the creamy delight that is Chocolat. Based on the book by Joanne Harris, Chocolat follows Vianne as she moves to the small french village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and sets up a chocolaterie, upsetting the repressed locals. One person she doesn’t upset, however, is the woman who is gifted some very special chocolate, to spice up her marriage and help her husband fall back in love with her. If Vianne believes it, then we think we do too. And if you’re single, proud, and having a you-en-tines day, why not follow in Bridget Jones’s footsteps and enjoy a relationship with two men simultaneously – “one named Ben, the other Jerry.” Whilst it may not be scientifically proven that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, it will certainly improve your life and your libido. Chocolate makes you feel good, gives you a handy sugar rush, a kick of caffeine, and the added bonus of knowing that someone loves you enough to buy you some chocolatey goodness. And if that’s not enough, you can treat yourself to a visit to our luxury chocolate making class and really spice up your valentine’s day.
- [The Chocolate Show 2017](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-chocolate-show-2017): What is The Chocolate Show? The Chocolate Show is an annual showcasing of some of the finest of the UK’s chocolate experts and professionals – the perfect event for the sworn chocoholic. Professional Chocolate Making The show is one of our favourite places to go to get inspiration on the latest in chocolate making tips, trends, tools and techniques. Last year we were blown away by some of the ‘Desert of the Year’ entries, which got our Chocolatiers’ heads in a bit of a spin! Mini Chocolatiers Designed as a family day out, The Chocolate Show has lots of entertainment for the littlies including a demos, a children’s area, chocolate sculptures and workshops. If they get the chocolate making bug, you can bribe them away at the end of the day with the promise of one of our Mini Chocolatiers children’s parties! Our Hot Tip Tickets are discounted if you book in advance (even the day before), so it’s worth getting online before you visit.
- [The Ingredients for the Perfect Hen Party](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/the-ingredients-for-the-perfect-hen-party): The bride is no doubt working away hard planning the big day, so it’s up to you, the ‘hens’ to give her the fun hen party that she deserves! We’ve put together a list of the ingredients for the perfect hen party, so that you can send your bride off into marriage, secure in the knowledge you gave her the best send off ever. Ice breakers Chances are, not everyone at a hen party is going to know each other already – university friends and work friends, ex-flatmates and aunties, all might not have had much cause to hang out together before. But you don’t want it to get awkward. Ice breaker games to kick start the party are the perfect way to make sure everyone knows who everyone is and to get some laughs going early doors. Wedding themed drinking games are a great way to kick start this, or a Mr & Mrs style quiz about the bride to be to get everyone reminiscing and sharing stories about her! Something for everyone Just like everyone might not know each other already, they might also have different ideas of fun. There might be guests of all ages, or some guests who don’t drink, or eat certain foods. One solution to this, and a good way to please everybody, is to divide the party up into different kinds of activities, so that people can be flexible, and not feel any pressure. Something more casual like food to start with before heading off for drinks means everyone can enjoy a piece of the special party. Forward planning It may seem obvious to suggest planning the hen party, but you’d be surprised! Making specific bookings at specific things for specific times will help the party to move along nicely and give the festivities a sense of direction. Similarly, thinking carefully about the bride and what she will want from the party when you’re doing your planning is of the utmost importance – it is her party after all. Treating the bride to be… and yourselves One of the most important things is to treat yourselves. You’re here to celebrate the woman who’s about to get hitched, but also to celebrate your friendships. Female friendship is one of the most powerful forces out there so be sure to celebrate it in style and to honour it in luxury. Make sure you do all of your favourite things, whether that be that indulging in some gorgeous chocolate or drinking some fancy cocktails. Celebrate! Now that all the planning is done and the ingredients are mixed together nicely… it’s time to get your partying on. Enjoy!
- [Top 10 Creative Hen Party Ideas](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/top-10-creative-hen-party-ideas): Now that the royal wedding is out of the way, it’s time to focus on how to make yours even bigger and better. And what better way to do that than a creative hen party? Ceramic Painting Wedding’s can be a stressful time, so why not kick back with something truly relaxing, like painting? There are tons of cafes across the country dedicated to not only supplying you with the best cakes and coffees, but also giving you the chance to paint something special onto a plate, mug, or a simple tile. For your hens this could give them the chance to get those wedding gifts in early, or for the bride it might be a chance to cement your love for your partner to be in pottery form. Upcycling Getting married marks the beginning of your life as a couple, and what better way to begin that journey than by giving your most old and battered furniture a new lease of life? This also gives the hens the chance to get cracking on the ‘Something Old’ and maybe even the ‘Something Blue’, and all without spending too much money, because you’re using things you already own! Flowers Obviously, flowers are an integral part of the wedding ceremony. But what do you really know about them? Having your hen party revolve around flower arranging, or even making flower crowns, is the perfect way to get green fingered, and get more info on that beautiful bouquet you’ll be clutching as you make your way down the aisle. It’s also info that you can all carry with you, as you get those gardens blooming, so they’re ready to be the site of all those post honeymoon catch ups. Life Drawing As well as the standard life drawing fare, bringing you all closer together through art, there’s also a whole wealth of themed life drawing classes you can head to, featuring everything from bowls of fruit to burlesque acts. Art is the perfect way to spend some quality time with your hens, and bring you all closer together through your creativity. Get your pencils at the ready, it’s time to get sketching. Jewellery Making The perfect way to top off that beautiful wedding dress is with jewellery hand made by your closest family and friends. From hammering rings to glass bead making there are plenty of ways to incorporate some hand-made jewellery into your outfit on your special day, and something out there for all abilities. Cocktail Masterclass We all love a martini from time to time, and who can blame us?! But rather than having to rely on seeking out a skilled bartender, a cocktail masterclass will provide you with all the skills to make your favourite drinks from the comfort of your own home, and even impress guests with your shaker moves. For the non-drinkers it’s also a chance to discover a wealth of drink possibilities in bars other than water! Pottery Channel those Ghost vibes and have a go behind a potter’s wheel with your hens. Learn all about the clay and the best ways to shape it, whilst getting creative with your design ideas. Perhaps a vase for the bouquet to sit in? A dish, for all your wedding jewellery to sit in? The possibilities are endless. Glass Blowing If you really want to learn a new skill this hen party then glass blowing is the way to go. This glass forming technique has been around since the 1st century AD, and will see you transforming molten glass into a bubble with your breath. If that’s not impressive then we don’t know what is. Perfume Making Perfume is an incredibly personal thing; one scent might be lovely to one person, and not to another. So why not craft your very own perfume, made up all the smells you truly love, and discover more about your hens as they do the same? Chocolate! Now, we may be biased, but we can’t think of a better way to spend your hen do than surrounded by chocolate. Our luxury chocolate making workshops not only give you the chance to learn more about those delectable delights, but also to make your own and get a cheeky cocktail as well. And after all, if there’s a wedding involved, it should be luxury all the way!
- [Everything you need to know before your Virtual Event!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-before-your-virtual-chocolate-challenge): These are the essential tips and insights for a successful virtual chocolate challenge with MyChocolate. From preparation steps to engaging activities, this comprehensive guide will ensure a fun and interactive chocolate experience. Explore various chocolate themes, creative ideas, and expert advice to make your virtual event memorable and delicious. 
- [All you need to know before your Live Chocolate Truffle Webinar!](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/all-you-need-to-know-before-your-live-chocolate-truffle-webinar): Discover essential insights and tips for your upcoming live chocolate truffle webinar. Learn about the webinar schedule, preparation guidelines, and what to expect to ensure a satisfying and enriching chocolate-making experience. Perfect for enthusiasts looking to enhance their truffle-making skills.
- [Need to know before the Virtual Valentine Truffle and Martini Making](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/need-to-know-before-the-virtual-valentine-truffle-and-martini-making): Essential tips for your virtual Valentine experience with our Truffle and Martini Making class. Learn how to prepare for a delightful evening of chocolate and cocktail crafting, right from the comfort of your home. Uncover the secrets behind creating delicious truffles and expertly mixed martinis, ensuring an unforgettable celebration with your loved one. Dive into our guide now for a truly sweet and sophisticated Valentine's Day event.
- [What should you look for in your next corporate event to create a memorable experience for your team?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/what-should-you-look-for-in-your-next-corporate-event-to-create-a-memorable-experience-for-your-team): Creating memorable experiences as a team is hugely important for boosting morale, creating and strengthening working relationships and getting your team to think outside of their usual work. A corporate team building event that allows the team to relax but also think and function creatively can have many beneficial impacts on your work place. So what should you look for in your next corporate event? A little Healthy Competition Bringing a competition element into a teambuilding event is always a fantastic idea. Firstly, competition is healthy and often involves mixing up roles within your team. This allows everyone to access their full range of skills which can highlight people’s strengths, as well as showing how people work well as a team. Also, problem solving is a key part of competition within an event, which importantly, means colleagues thinking outside of the box and engaging specific skills to get their team further within their challenge. This can then be brought back into the workplace, either as skills they’ve learnt or little challenges and competitions that allow people to work together and develop their skills as a team, which as studies show, does wonders for your business. At My Chocolate, we run the Apprentice Chocolate Challenge where teams create a chocolate product for a specific market segment. It’s a race against the clock as teams define roles and identify their market niche before diving into creating their chocolate product, packaging and sales pitch. This high paced competition mixes up roles in teams as for example, the head honcho boss becomes the Chocolatier and the Apprentice becomes the Project Manager. This mix up can allow for different strengths to be realised by employees as they are challenged under the pressure of the competition and time limits. Building and Nurturing Connections Strengthening connections within your team is such an important part of allowing that team to excel and function well. Using a corporate team event to play games or take part in a fun activity that allows colleagues to get to know each other in a new way can be really fun and refreshing. In our Virtual Chocolate Making workshops , we encourage teams to play “Two Truths and a Lie”- this allows colleagues to think outside of the box about two things that are true in their life (but maybe they have never shared) along with something that is a lie (but they may be able to pass off as the truth). As a team they can work together to see if anyone knows if any of the facts are true or not to then settle on an answer. We love implementing fun ways for colleagues to get to know each other as it allows the team to discover new information and open up exciting conversations. Ultimately, the better that colleagues know each other, the stronger their connections are. Fun Creativity Studies show show that a lack of creativity in the workplace can cause lack of progression on projects and work in general. This is because creativity in work, often means taking a risk, which can be scary and uncertain. Doing creative things allows you to understand each other more and how you work. In our Truffle Making workshops, you are able to see how everyone crafts, shapes, designs and decorates their truffles. Some people will be very neat and precise, others will be more messy and abstract. Some will follow ‘less is more’ whereas others will follow ‘more is more’. All of these differentiations allow you to understand what makes your colleagues tick and how you can work more effectively with them. Who knew that some truffle making could be so beneficial for your business?! So, if you are looking for a way to get to know your team more, allow them to bond and to get creative, then consider booking an event that will leave you with memorable experiences. There are so many benefits to stepping away from work to do something competitive, creative and fun. We guarantee it will have a positive effect on your colleagues and the workplace. Why not book a corporate team building event today – at My Chocolate we have so many choices – what’s stopping you?
- [Hen Party Planning](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/hen-party-planning): What things should you consider when personalising your Hen Party to make the day extra special for her? We’ve added a few handy tips and tricks below. Activity she will LOVE It is so important when planning and organising a hen do that you pick an activity that the bride will love. Does she want something active and outdoors, something calm and relaxing, or something different and fun? When you have decided on this, think of all the details to really make the experience personal for the bride. For example, if the bride loves prosecco, at My Chocolate, make sure to choose the Luxury workshop which includes a glass of prosecco as well as lots of fun chocolate making! An activity for all The next step is to consider who will be coming to this hen party. Is it for friends, family, people of all ages? You will then need to see what activities are suitable for each particular group. Maybe you are doing a few activities so you can cater for different parties to do with the bride-to-be; but if you are going for one big activity, make sure it is suitable for children, through to adults so that everyone can enjoy it and have fun. (P.S. Chocolate making is a fantastic activity for all ages- and it is delicious!) Surprises Another consideration is whether the event you have booked has the option to add in some extra surprises. Can they throw something extra in that makes the bride-to-be feel really special- whether it is a gift (like a goody bag), being spotlit within the activity or getting to do something extra that others may not. These small details can make a huge difference to the experience for the bride. Make it Personal Whatever activity you choose, make sure there is a part that is really personal for the bride so that she will always remember the activity and the people that were there. Maybe you could play a fun game over dinner, take some fun pictures at specific locations or if in one of our workshops, get everyone to make a special chocolate for the hen. Make the bride-to-be feel special and your day will be remembered for a long time to come!
- [10 Top Tips To Organising A Successful Virtual Corporate Event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/10-top-tips-to-organising-a-successful-virtual-corporate-event): If you are considering a virtual corporate team building event but don’t know where to start, have a look at the tips below to help you on your way! Choosing the right platform for your event There are a wide range of options to choose for your virtual event including Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and more, each with plenty of great features from screen sharing, polling, live Q&A and host sharing. Think about what features you will want for your event so that there is interaction and that everything can flow smoothly. Be interactive & run a hands on experience It’s easy to become distracted when we’ve spent so much time online, so make sure the event has elements of interaction to keep everyone engaged. If possible, make it a hands-on experience, where the team is creating something, whether drawing, cooking etc. This can be aided by making sure that you have a great host, who is charismatic, engaging and warm – the host needs to bring joy and light to the event so your team are able to escape and really enjoy the event. Here at My Chocolate, we pride ourselves on having exceptional hosts for our workshops! Number of participants If you have a lot of people joining your event, do you want to do it all at the same time with the option to split into smaller groups at some point (for example, in a virtual breakout room)? This allows for interaction between team members at points in the event. Alternatively, you may want to book separate smaller events and to make it more intimate and personalised. Choosing the right time of day Do you want it to begin, break up, or end your working day? Think what would be best as a motivator for your team. You could always do a poll or ask around for opinions and liaise with the event organisers to see if they can accommodate this. That way, your team feel listened to and heard which is so important. Additionally, are any of your team based overseas? If so, think of a time that will work for everyone. Nobody wants to be up in the middle of the night if they don’t have to be! Remind people it’s happening! It is so easy to forget things, if we don’t remind ourselves constantly in this digital world. So remember to send emails or set reminders for your team in the run up to the event. If there is a hands on element, do the team need to prepare anything- keep them up to date, as it is a great way to build excitement within your team, so that they end up reminding each other! Prepare for technical troubles As we have all discovered over the last year, technology is fantastic but it can crack under pressure. Make sure that you are in a good spot to receive a steady internet connection, so that you don’t keep dropping out and missing bits of the event. Is it an inclusive event? Where possible, is the event inclusive and accessible by all members of the team so that they can all engage and take part in it? See if amendments can be made for any people that have specific requirements and check this with the event organiser before booking. Most companies will be able to work with you to facilitate this! For instance, here at My Chocolate we can cater to most allergies so everyone feels included. Make it creative and different Look into an event that takes you away from the workplace and allows you to do something completely different and creative. It is really important to be able to switch off from work and engage a different part of the brain. Your team will thank you for it afterwards. Social aspect Is there an element that allows for social interaction? What many people miss about being virtual is being around colleagues and having a laugh with one other. Make sure that you give time within the event for this interaction to take place, even if it is an unwind section afterwards. This is just as important as the content of the event itself. Have fun! Most importantly, enjoy it! Nobody wants an event that will make you or others stressed. So make sure it will be fun- a lot of this will come down to your communication with event organisers and trusting them to do what they do best! If all the above seems like a lot to take in, do not worry, My Chocolate have run virtual workshops for clients such as Apple, Amazon, BBC and Facebook. We can take care of your event by offering an interactive, fun and creative event for your and your team. Have a look through what we offer and get in touch, we will do the rest!
- [Top Tips for organising your next Corporate event](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/top-tips-for-organising-your-next-corporate-event): Corporate events should bring your team together, get them thinking outside of the box and ultimately having fun! Below are some of our tips on how to do just that: OBJECTIVE Firstly consider what is the objective of the event? What do you hope yourself and your team will take away after it? Remember that the purpose of all corporate events is to keep your team energised and happy. It’s almost like building a psychological contract between the company and employee to improve staff retention. BUILDING RAPPORT Communication is key within a company, and sometimes this can deteriorate over time, doing the same routine. Holding an event that challenges employees, gets them working together and makes them think creatively will help them to understand each other’s feelings or ideas better and communicate well. Therefore, building rapport can help to increase productivity within the workplace. REWARD Make sure to reward your team with time off for the event so that they don’t feel rushed getting ready, or that they need to finish that last work email so therefore might be late to the event. You could even include a meal before or after the event- people are always happier when they are fed and watered! CREATIVE ACTIVITY Look into an event that takes you away from the workplace and allows for a brain break. Something that is ideally creative and hands on to engage different parts of the brain and help your mind switch off from work. Also, make sure that it is a new skill for people to learn so that the team feels more invested in the activity. TREAT ELEMENT Having some form of treat tied into the event will make it extra appealing and allow colleagues to feel valued. At My Chocolate, all of our events include delicious chocolate to make and then eat- we’ve combined the treat element within the event already- it’s a no brainer really 😉 CONSIDER THE WHOLE TEAM Think about your whole team: are there any dietary requirements, religious beliefs or family commitments they may have that you need to factor into the planning of the event? This will help your team feel hugely valued that there have been considerations put in place to ensure everybody can (hopefully!) make it. For example, with a My Chocolate event, we can always send a chocolate kit to employees who cannot come to in person events or we can cater to most dietary requirements so no one is left out! REFLECTION Make sure that there is an element of reflection at the end of the activity to give awareness to strengths and weaknesses to take back to the office. This allows people individually to see where the skill set is but also, it allows colleagues to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which will improve the understanding of one another, leading to better productivity!
- [A Return To In-Person Events. Long May That Continue…](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/a-return-to-in-person-events-long-may-that-continue): It’s no secret that just like many other event companies, MyChocolate navigated the pandemic by pivoting the business to a virtual model. I can still vividly recall last Christmas debating with Hannah the possibility that virtual was the future and some day all events might be beamed live through a laptop screen and participation would be a more solitary affair. Now as we enter summer 2022, those companies booking a virtual MyChocolate Truffle Making experience is tailing off and in-person events are well and truly back in vogue – and I couldn’t be any happier. Why? I’m a firm believer that for a business to thrive it needs people to be in a room together. Regardless of whatever sector you work in, creativity and ideas flow when people spend time together in a shared space, we are social beings after all! One of the great pleasures of being at Chocolate Towers is when a corporate team building event is taking place and I can look over our balcony and see everyone having an absolute ball. The music, the laughter, the excitement of colleagues critiquing each other’s chocolate truffle making prowess – try as you might, you can’t replicate that in an online breakout room. Now more than ever, companies are using our event space to bring remote colleagues together to build relationships and create team camaraderie. Don’t get me wrong, we’ll always offer virtual chocolate making events to those who simply can’t make it to one location – we’ve already taken one such booking for Christmas this year! Our fabulous theatrical Chocolatiers are trained in the art of chocolate making and entertainment regardless of whatever stage they’re on – live or online! And where we have seen a noticeable change in requirements, are corporates wishing to book our event space and AV facilities in advance of their experience for a team meeting. The ability to get people together in a fresh environment with a different head-space is being seen as the ideal way to creatively hot-house in advance of having an engaging and thoroughly indulgent chocolate truffle making experience. And long may that continue. Lee Lawrence Managing Director
- [Chocolate and Well-Being: The Surprising Health Benefits](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/chocolate-and-well-being-the-surprising-health-benefits): In a world that often associates indulgence with guilt, it may come as a delightful surprise that chocolate, especially when of high quality, brings more to the table than just a sweet treat. Recent studies and ongoing research have unveiled a spectrum of health benefits associated with the consumption of chocolate, shedding light on its positive effects on both mood and overall well-being. The Mood-Boosting Magic of Chocolate: Chocolate has long been celebrated as a mood enhancer, and science supports this age-old belief. Rich in compounds like serotonin precursors, endorphin releasers, and anandamide, chocolate has the ability to stimulate the brain and induce feelings of happiness and relaxation. The interaction of these compounds with neural receptors creates a neurochemical symphony which boosts oxytocin and can lift spirits even on the gloomiest of days. Moreover, dark chocolate, in particular, contains flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that contribute to improved blood flow to the brain. This enhanced circulation not only supports cognitive function but also fosters an environment conducive to positive mental states. The Wellness Connection: Beyond its influence on mood, chocolate has been linked to broader aspects of well-being. Research indicates that the consumption of high-quality chocolate, in moderation, may contribute to cardiovascular health. The flavonoids found in chocolate can help lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall heart function. Additionally, the presence of minerals such as magnesium and copper in chocolate plays a role in supporting various bodily functions, from bone health to the production of red blood cells. The combination of these elements positions chocolate as a surprisingly rich source of nutritional value. Chocolate Recipes for Health-Conscious Indulgence: For those seeking to incorporate chocolate into their diet while maintaining a health-conscious approach, the possibilities are endless. Here are three delectable recipes that allow you to savour the goodness of chocolate without compromising on well-being: Dark Chocolate and Berry Smoothie Bowl: Chocolate, Banana & Blueberry Smoothie Bowl Blend together frozen berries, a ripe banana, Greek yoghourt, and a square of dark chocolate. Top with nuts, seeds, and additional dark chocolate shavings for a nutrient-packed breakfast or snack. Avocado Chocolate Mousse: Chocolate, Hazelnut & Avocado Mousse Combine ripe avocados, cocoa powder, honey, and a splash of almond milk in a blender. Blend until smooth and refrigerate for a guilt-free, creamy chocolate dessert. Chocolate and Almond Energy Bites: Chocolate & Nut Energy Bites Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup almond butter 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste) 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup ground flaxseeds 1 teaspoon vanilla extract A pinch of sea salt 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips 1/3 cup chopped almonds (or other nuts of your choice) Shredded coconut for coating (optional) Instructions: Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, cocoa powder, ground flaxseeds, chocolate chips, chopped almonds, and a pinch of sea salt. Add Wet Ingredients: Add almond butter, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix well until the mixture is evenly combined. Chill the Mixture: Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Chilling will make it easier to handle and shape into bites. Shape into Bites: Once chilled, take small portions of the mixture and roll them into bite-sized balls using your hands. If desired, roll each bite in shredded coconut for added texture. Store and Enjoy: Place the energy bites on a parchment paper-lined tray and refrigerate for at least another 30 minutes to firm up. Once firm, transfer the energy bites to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. These chocolate and almond energy bites are not only a delicious and satisfying snack but also packed with fibre, healthy fats, and antioxidants from the dark chocolate. They make for a perfect on-the-go treat or a quick energy boost during the day. Enjoy guilt-free indulgence! A cube of good-quality dark chocolate also makes a wonderful addition to thicken casseroles, stews, and chilli-con-carnes. Remember, the key lies in choosing high-quality chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or higher, as this ensures you reap the maximum health benefits without unnecessary added sugars. By embracing chocolate mindfully and moderately, you can indulge your sweet tooth while supporting your overall well-being. In conclusion, the world of chocolate is not just a realm of pleasure for the taste buds but also a surprising ally in the pursuit of health and happiness. So, the next time you savour a piece of decadent chocolate, know that you’re not just indulging; you’re nourishing both body and soul.
- [Creative Chocolate Pairing: Beyond the Basics](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/creative-chocolate-pairing-beyond-the-basics): When it comes to pairing chocolate, many immediately think of the classic winning combination with wine. However, the world of chocolate pairing is far more expansive and exciting than the traditional. In this exploration, we will venture beyond the basics, suggesting unique and creative chocolate pairing ideas that go beyond the ordinary and outline some things to think about when discovering your own delicious pairings. From unexpected flavour combinations to tips for creating memorable pairings at home, let’s elevate your chocolate-tasting experience. Exploring Various Flavour Combinations: Chocolate and Cheese: Move beyond the expected and pair your favourite chocolate with a selection of artisanal cheeses. The creaminess of brie, the sharpness of blue cheese, or the nuttiness of aged gouda can complement and enhance the nuanced flavours of different chocolates. Chocolate and Spices: Experiment with the exotic by pairing chocolate with various spices. A dark chocolate infused with chilli can create a spicy kick, while cinnamon or cardamom can add warmth and depth to the tasting experience. Chocolate and Citrus: The bright acidity of citrus fruits provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of chocolate. Try pairing dark chocolate with orange slices or try a bar of citrus-infused chocolate for an exciting and zesty surprise. Chocolate and Herbs: Delve into the herbaceous world by pairing chocolate with fresh herbs. Mint and chocolate are a classic combination, but consider more adventurous pairings like basil-infused chocolate or rosemary-infused dark chocolate. Chocolate and Coffee: While coffee and chocolate are often enjoyed separately, combining them can create a symphony of flavours. Experiment with different coffee varieties to find the perfect match for your favourite chocolate bar. Chocolate and Spirits: The velvety smooth feeling of chocolate contrasted with the boozy hit from a good whisky or rum can be very pleasant. Try a piece of 80% dark chocolate with your favourite rum or dark cocktail and see what you think! Tips for Creating Memorable Pairings at Home: Consider Intensity: Match the intensity of the chocolate with its pairing. For example, a bold, dark chocolate may overpower a delicate fruit, while a lighter milk chocolate may pair beautifully with berries or honey. Texture Matters: Pay attention to the texture of both the chocolate and its pairing. Creamy chocolate can be accentuated by a crunchy companion, while dense chocolate may be complemented by something soft and gooey. Experiment with Contrasts: Embrace the power of contrasts in flavour and temperature. Pairing a sweet chocolate with a salty element, or a chilled chocolate with a warm, savoury component, can create a memorable tasting experience. Personalise the Experience: Tailor your chocolate pairings to your personal preferences. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different elements to discover your unique and perfect combination. Host a Chocolate Pairing Party: Invite friends or family for a chocolate pairing party. Encourage everyone to bring their favourite chocolate and pairing suggestions, creating a diverse and enjoyable tasting experience. Unlocking the potential of chocolate pairing goes far beyond convention, inviting you to savour the richness and diversity of flavours that chocolate can offer. So, the next time you indulge in a piece of chocolate, consider the endless possibilities that await when you step beyond the known.
- [Why is a Hen Party called a Hen Party (and a Stag Do a Stag Do)?](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/why-is-a-hen-party-called-a-hen-party-and-a-stag-do-a-stag-do-2): Nowadays it would be pretty unheard of to get married and not have a hen party or stag do in order to celebrate the final free moments before you tie the knot. Consequently we’ve heard of some pretty unusual hen party events along the way from perfume creation to go kart racing! But why are they called a hen party and a stag do, and how did this traditional come about? Okay, so here’s the history lesson. A common misconception is that the terms ‘hen’ and ‘stag’ both originate from simple social stereotypes. In fact, it’s more likely that the word hen hasn’t always meant female chicken, in middle English, hen could mean the female of any bird and so a hen party was a party exclusively for ladies. Similarly, but going back even further, is the stag party, and you’ve guessed it, originally stag could mean the male of any animals, not just a male deer and so a stag party is one exclusively for gents. It turns out hen party’s aren’t a creation of modern society and they actually go pretty far back. Although I bet they didn’t have such unusual hen party events all that time ago…skydiving hens anyone? So where did the terms actually originate from? The tradition of the stag party, goes back even further (sorry Hens) certainly as far as Tudor times. Just imagine how busy Henry VIII must have been with sending invites to paint balling weekends in Prague! Numerous sources suggest that the very first stag party was actually held in the 5 th century in Sparta, where a pre-marriage feast was held in order to toast the the groom-to-be. On the other hand, hen celebrations have their roots more grounded in North African, Middle Eastern and Asian lifestyle. This is because the authentic phrase from which hens get together is believed to be henna, which is a wedding custom in all these cultures. Henna has significant importance in the East and is considered to have tendencies to be capable of purifying the bride and hold her risk-free from evil. Here in the UK, we are somewhat on our own with our abstract names of hen and stag parties to see off the final moments of freedom. Australia is similar, but slight cultural differences mean that they call it hen party and buck party. Alternatively, America appear to be very vanilla in the naming of their pre-marital parties calling them a bachelorette party and a stag party respectively. Whatever your background, there is no escaping the fact that marriage is possibly the most important decision of your life. So what better way to say goodbye to single life than to celebrate in style! Everyone knows that chocolate and hens go hand in hand, so if you’re after an unusual hen party event why not try your hand at one of our chocolate workshops?
- [Team Building with Chocolate: A Recipe for Success](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/blog/creative-chocolate-pairing-beyond-the-basics-2): In the fast-paced corporate world, where teamwork and collaboration are the cornerstones of success, innovative approaches to team building are becoming increasingly essential. One unexpected yet highly effective method gaining popularity is the integration of chocolate crafting into corporate workshops. In this article, we’ll delve into the team-building aspects of chocolate workshops and explore how this sweet endeavour can be a recipe for success in fostering teamwork and collaboration as employers look for new ways to bond and reward their team members. Corporate Workshops: Beyond the Boardroom Corporate workshops have evolved from traditional seminars to experiential learning opportunities that aim to enhance communication, boost morale, and strengthen the bonds among team members. Enter chocolate crafting workshops — a unique and engaging way to achieve these objectives while indulging in a delightful sensory experience. The Sweet Success of Chocolate Crafting Workshops: 1. Enhancing Communication: Chocolate crafting workshops provide a relaxed and enjoyable environment where team members can break down communication barriers. The hands-on nature of the activity encourages open dialogue, fostering a culture of transparency and understanding. 2. Boosting Morale and Creativity: Engaging in a creative process like chocolate crafting stimulates the mind and boosts morale. Teams find themselves tapping into their creative sides, exploring innovative solutions, and embracing a positive, can-do attitude. 3. Fostering Teamwork: Collaborative tasks, such as creating intricate chocolate designs or coordinating in a timed apprentice challenge, require effective teamwork. These shared experiences help build trust among team members and strengthen the collaborative fabric within the group. As well as creating a general feeling of unity over the delicious chocolate on offer. Insights into Teamwork and Collaboration: Beyond the surface-level enjoyment, chocolate crafting workshops offer profound insights into teamwork and collaboration. The act of creating something together, whether it’s a delectable chocolate masterpiece or a shared achievement, establishes a sense of unity and accomplishment. The workshop environment encourages individuals to recognise and leverage each team member’s strengths, fostering a collaborative mindset that transcends the chocolate crafting table and permeates the workplace. The shared experience becomes a metaphor for the collaborative challenges faced within the professional setting, creating lasting bonds that extend beyond the workshop itself. This is especially true in our apprentice workshop where collaboration, creativity and business acumen are vital to successfully completing the task. In conclusion, team building with chocolate is more than just a sweet indulgence — it’s a recipe for success in cultivating effective teamwork and collaboration within corporate environments. As companies continue to seek innovative ways to strengthen their teams, the sweet and savoury world of chocolate crafting emerges as a delightful solution, offering a perfect blend of enjoyment and professional development.
- [The Ripple Effect of Cocoa Shortages on the Chocolate Industry](https://mychocolate.co.uk/blogs/news/the-ripple-effect-of-cocoa-shortages-on-the-chocolate-industry): MyChocolate Founder, Hannah Saxton, appeared on ITV news recently, talking about the effect of rising cocoa prices due to a myriad of factors causing shortages. While these issues are shaking the chocolate industry from the farmers all the way to the consumers, the underlying causes are more complex than simple supply and demand. Issues like climate change, ethical labour practices, and market control play significant roles in shaping the current crisis. Climate Change and Disease Outbreaks Cocoa yields in major West African producers—Ivory Coast and Ghana—have plummeted due to climate change-induced factors like extreme heat, shifting rainfall patterns, and diseases such as the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV). These issues have drastically affected production, resulting in cocoa futures reaching over $10,000 per metric ton in early 2024—a record high that has disrupted the global market. Many farmers have resorted to abandoning their crops due to high costs of pest management and disease control, leading to even further shortages. The reduced supply is compounded by issues like soil degradation and deforestation, which limit the land's productivity and sustainability. As one source notes, environmental stressors exacerbate an already fragile supply chain, making recovery difficult even if market conditions improve. The Ethical Paradox: High Prices Don’t Always Benefit Farmers Despite skyrocketing cocoa prices, the farmers who produce the bulk of the world's cocoa often see little to no benefit. In West Africa, farmers typically receive only 40-50% of global market prices due to government price controls, a legacy of colonial market structures. In contrast, South American farmers can receive up to 90% of market prices because of more liberalised markets and access to capital. Moreover, the increase in prices doesn't necessarily cover rising costs of production. Farmers who invest in mitigating climate impacts or battling diseases often find that higher prices merely offset their expenses, not increase their profits. For example, Ivory Coast's cocoa board estimates that farmers need at least $3,000 per ton to achieve a living wage—a far cry from the premiums they currently receive. Compounding this issue, many fair-trade initiatives fall short of truly supporting farmers due to certification costs and low premiums.&nbsp; The Role of Market Dynamics and Corporate Practices Large corporations often hedge their supply by purchasing cocoa in futures contracts, meaning the recent price hikes don't immediately translate to higher costs for these businesses. However, long-term shortages will force these companies to reassess their pricing structures. Unfortunately, some brands prioritise cost-cutting over ethical practices, with allegations of child labor and poor wages still prevalent in the industry. Mondelez, the owner of Cadbury, has faced criticism for such practices, highlighting the need for greater transparency and ethical sourcing. Until companies adopt fairer pricing models and wealth redistribution, the current system will continue to exploit vulnerable farmers despite rising market prices. Consumers and the Future of Chocolate For consumers, these shortages and ethical dilemmas might lead to higher prices and changes in chocolate availability. In response, some companies are exploring alternatives like lab-grown chocolate, claiming sustainability benefits. However, critics argue that this approach sidesteps the real issue: ensuring fair wages and ethical practices for cocoa farmers. In the end, solving the cocoa crisis requires systemic change—from improved farming practices to corporate accountability and ethical consumer choices. Supporting brands committed to transparent and fair practices can help drive this change, ensuring that the joy of chocolate doesn't come at the expense of those who produce it. At MyChocolate, we are certainly feeling this pinch but we are doing everything we can to ensure that we don’t need to pass these costs on to you, our guests. We think chocolate is a magical thing and are committed to promoting a sustainable supply chain which supports the farmers, and provides high-quality, affordable chocolate to consumers The rising cost of cocoa has made us cherish every moment of chocolate indulgence even more. Book a chocolate-making workshop or order a box of artisan truffles and enjoy the hands-on joy of chocolate while supporting fair and sustainable practices. Let's make every bite count! Sources Reuters : Cocoa Prices Surge Bantu Chocolate : Cocoa Shortage and Fair Prices FoodNavigator : Cocoa Market Challenges


## Pages 
- [About MyChocolate](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/about-mychocolate): Discover the world of MyChocolate, a UK-based company offering unique chocolate-making experiences. Learn about our journey, commitment to quality, and passion for crafting unforgettable events, perfect for corporate team building, private parties, and workshops. Explore our story and indulge in the art of chocolate.
- [All Blogs](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/all-blogs): Discover delicious tips, fun stories, and all the latest from our chocolate workshops. Stay inspired with our sweet updates and creative ideas.
- [Angela Johal](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/angela-johal): Discover the art of Angela Johal, inspired by the vibrant psychedelic era, blending geometric shapes and music to create striking, large-scale pain...
- [Choc-Tails (Corporate)](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/choctail-fridays-corporate): Indulge in a unique, fun, and delicious team-building experience with Choctail Fridays at MyChocolate. Perfect for corporate events, these workshops combine cocktail making and chocolate crafting for an unforgettable night out. Explore your creativity, boost team morale, and enjoy some of the finest chocolate and cocktails around.
- [Choc-tails Friday (public)](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/choctail-fridays): Experience a unique Friday night indulgence with Choctail Fridays at My Chocolate. Unwind and savour the perfect blend of gourmet chocolates and crafted cocktails in a unique, delightful experience. Join us for a memorable evening of tasting and fun at our London or Manchester location. Book your spot now and start your weekend right!
- [Contact](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/contact): Get in touch with us to plan your next chocolate-making adventure. Whether for a corporate event, party, or private workshop, we’re here to help cr...
- [Corporate - Book A Workshop](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/corporate-book-a-workshop): The ultimate team-building experience with our corporate chocolate making workshops. Ideal for boosting morale and creativity, these engaging events offer hands-on crafting with premium chocolate guided by expert chocolatiers and performers. Ideal for any corporate event, from team bonding sessions to client entertainment. Book now for a memorable and delicious experience that your team will love.
- [Corporate Contact Form](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/corporate-contact-form): Get in touch with us to plan your next chocolate-making experience. Whether for a corporate event, party, or private workshop, we’re here to help c...
- [Corporate Workshops](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/corporate-workshops): Discover our exciting corporate workshops, designed to enhance team bonding and creativity through chocolate-making challenges, tastings, and bespo...
- [Customised Chocolate Events](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/corporate-book-a-day-package): Plan an unforgettable corporate experience with MyChocolate's 'Book a Day' package. Perfect for team-building events or client entertainment, our tailored chocolate-making sessions promise a fun and engaging day filled with creativity and indulgence. Let your team mix, create, and taste exquisite chocolates while strengthening bonds in a unique setting.
- [Event Calendar](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/event-calendar): Find engaging chocolate-making events on our Event Calendar page. Explore a variety of exciting workshops, tasting sessions, and team-building activities designed for chocolate enthusiasts. Join us at MyChocolate in London or Manchester for a memorable experience that indulges your passion for chocolate. Check out our upcoming events and book your spot today!
- [Fabulous Family Fun](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/fabulous-family-fun): Exciting family chocolate-making workshops at My Chocolate, where you and your little ones can enjoy crafting delicious treats together. Perfect for adults as well as kids and teens of all ages, our workshops offer a delightful blend of fun, creativity, and bonding. Explore our classes to create unforgettable memories with your family.
- [General Contact Form](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/general-contact-form): Get in touch with us to plan your next chocolate-making adventure. Whether for a corporate event, party, or private workshop, we’re here to help cr...
- [Junior Apprentice Chocolate Challenge](https://mychocolate.co.uk/pages/junior-apprentice-chocolate-challenge): Discover the Junior Apprentice Chocolate Challenge with MyChocolate, where young chocolatiers can unleash their creativity and embark on a delicious adventure. Ideal for birthday