Chocolate Covered Greatness

Chocolate covered strawberries are a hit around my house, and friends are always asking me, "How do you do it?" So, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I would share, in ten easy steps, just how simple they are to make. Believe me, if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT! 

ITEMS THAT YOU WILL NEED:

1. Strawberries (Approx. 20)

2. *4 Large squares of Chocolate 

3. Double Boiler 

4. Wax Paper 

5. Colander

6. Paper Towels

7. Knife 

8. Wooden Spoon

Directions:

1. In the double boiler, POUR about 1.5 Cups of water in the bottom pan, and place on high heat until it comes to a BOIL. 

2. Examine all of your strawberries and throw out the ones that don't "pass the test." Next, WASH your strawberries and place them in a colander, so that the excess water can DRAIN.  

3. BREAK up the Chocolate squares and CHOP the chocolate into smaller pieces. This will keep the chocolate from over heating or getting scorched. 

4. Your water should be BOILING at this point:

Turn your heat DOWN a notch or two and place the top portion of the double boiler on the boiling water. ADD the chocolate pieces, and let the chocolate "do it's thang!" Do not touch the chocolate for about 3 to 6 min. 

5. While you are waiting on your chocolate pieces to soften, take a paper towel and wipe all strawberries. THEY CANNOT BE WET WHEN YOU DIP THEM OR ELSE THE CHOCOLATE WILL RUIN AND YOU WILL HAVE A MESS!!!!

6. Now that the chocolate has softened and is glistening, take the wooden spoon and stir. Once the chocolate is rich and smooth, you are ready to dip! 

7. Grab a cookie sheet and place wax paper on the cookie sheet. Have it sitting beside the double boiler so that you can dip and place the strawberries easily. 

8. With your dry strawberry, hold the berry by the green stem and dip the tip into the chocolate. In a back and forth motion, get the excess chocolate off of the berry. (I know, I know, the more chocolate the better, but not in this case.) Just DO IT! Once the excess chocolate has drizzled, place the strawberry on the wax paper sheet, and repeat this process until all strawberries have been dipped. 

9. Place tray of chocolate dipped strawberries in the refrigerator for about 30 min. or until the chocolate has hardened. 

10. ENJOY!!!!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

*Just a little side note.

This is a great gift for Valentine's Day!!! In fact, that is what I plan to give to my friends this year. I went to Hobby Lobby and found some cute and affordable Valentine's themed boxes that I plan to use. Chocolate covered strawberries are great any way you get them, but they are more special when they are made with love. So, get started and Happy DIPPING!!1