Chocolate is used in a lot of desserts. These include ice cream, soufflés, custards and a host of other dishes. Almost everyone loves it because studies have shown that it is an aphrodisiac. If you are too lazy to go to the store to buy one, why don’t you make it yourself by following these tips.
First, you have to get ready all the materials and ingredients you will be using. The two most important happen to be the chocolate and the mold both which can be purchased at the craft store.
Chocolate comes in many flavors. Some examples of these are bitter sweet, milk, dark, semi-sweet, sweet and white. These are often sold in blocks if you don’t have the time to convert these from cocoa beans. As for your molds, make sure that these are made from FDA approved food grade plastic.
You will also need sugar as this is a basic ingredient in most chocolates recipes. When you buy this from grocery, make sure that this does not have any trace of flour, salt or other kitchen ingredients.
Another important ingredient is unsalted butter. This is because the kind that contains salt is hard to ascertain and there are instances where it could spoil the taste of your dish. You must never substitute butter with margarine if you don’t have any because this will just make the cooking time longer as the water content here is much higher than that of butter.
There are three ways to liquefy chocolate before shaping this to its final form. You can heat this using the microwave, a double boiler or the oven. When making these into candies, it will be a good idea to also use a thermometer so you are able to monitor its temperature.
If you are using a thermometer that has a bulb, make sure that it does not touch the sides of the pan because this could give you the wrong reading.
When the chocolate is ready, this is the time that you put these into the mold. So it doesn’t look messy, get some using a teaspoon and pour this into the cartridges. This is also the time you should add in other ingredients like peanuts, marshmallows or candy sprinkles.
If there are air bubbles, remove them by holding the mold a few centimeters from the ground and dropping it on the table. You may have to do this several times to make sure that there is nothing left then you put these in the freezer.
You should check on your chocolate molds after 5 to 10 minutes. The bigger the mold, the longer it takes but you can check if it is ready by looking at the back of the mold. If a graying figure appears on the bottom, this means it is ready to be removed from the mold.
Once they are removed, put this in a plate or in a box if this is going to be given away. As for your molds, wash them in hot water and never with soap because this will remove its stickiness.
It should be dried thoroughly using a dry piece of cloth and stored properly so it looks good as new when you need to use it again.
You won’t have any problems making home made chocolates as long as you follow these tips. Who knows, this could open new doors for you like starting your own business.
In any business, promotion must be carried off well and good for you to be able to tell people how good your products are. This is also true in making chocolate. If you want to turn this hobby into money making venture, you can use postcards to lure people to come have a bite of your delicious treat.
Why Postcards?
Postcards are affordable with rates you can definitely give way to. If you are new in the business and you don't know anything about marketing, postcards will be a safe and also a good way to start.
Reaching your targeted list through this medium.
Your chosen printing company can help you determine printing costs. Now what you have to remember is to use this tool wisely.
There are certain elements about postcards that must be taken into deep consideration for you to be able to use them to work towards your advantage.
First, you must know who your target market is. You can base a lot of your next decisions on this one. If you know who will be patronizing your products, you will be able to serve them better. You will know their preferences.
Which ads are better?
Put a tracking code on your ads to find out which sales copy is pulling better. Split test and then tweak your ads
Are you adding images? Images draw the eye to your postcard and result in higher sales in most cases. Depending on the images that you use, you will be able to achieve the perfect one that will appeal to your target market.
Chocolates can be very tempting. So use all your photography talent for this reason. You must come up with photos that will justify what you have to offer your target market.
Match the design with a good headline, something that will make your audience hold on to your material. You must remember that you are in constant competition with other chocolate makers. And most of them may have used this tool before.
Your Business Contact Information
Don't forget to include your business contact details on your cards. You don't want people to be lured by your promotions only to be left hanging in the end with nowhere to go to ask for directions about you.
There are many tools that you can use to market you products.
Chocolate Business Success
Start up that biz of making chocolate. If you are really good at it, you might as well share with other people your expertise. You never know what a good fortune is awaiting you for this trick that started out as a hobby. Postcards can be your ally to success. Just remember to follow the rules accordingly.
But you must also learn to bend it at times if you deem that it will work more appropriate for you.
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