Chocolate Leaves For Garnish Recipes

Steps:

• Line large baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth and instant-read thermometer inserted into chocolate registers 115°F. Brush chocolate over veined side (underside) of 1 leaf, coating thickly and completely. Arrange chocolate side up on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining leaves and chocolate, rewarming chocolate if necessary to maintain 115°F temperature. Chill leaves until firm, about 45 minutes. Starting at stem end, carefully pull back green leaf, releasing chocolate leaf; return leaves to same baking sheet. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.) Using small artist brush, carefully brush some leaves with gold dust, if desired.
• *Available at cake and candy supply stores, or by mail from Jane's Cakes and Chocolates at 800-262-7630.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla bean. Bring the mixture almost to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain and return to the pan. (Rinse and dry the vanilla bean and save it for another use.)
• Put the pan on low heat, add the chocolate, and whisk until the chocolate melts. Combine the cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Add the slurry a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the soup is thick and smooth. You will know it is ready when the bubbles are gone and the chocolate has thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Pour the soup into bowls and garnish with biscotti, raspberries, and mint leaves.

Steps:

• Using paintbrush, coat underside of 1 leaf with a thick layer of chocolate. Drape leaf, chocolate side up, over a skewer set on a parchment-lined baking sheet, top. Repeat. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes.
• Gently grasp each leaf with tweezers, and peel from chocolate. Use chocolate leaves to decorate as desired, or store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Combine 24 ozs of cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Blend in sour cream and vanilla; pour over crust.
• Combine remaining 8 ozs cream cheese and melted chocolate, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended.
• Add red raspberry preserves; mix well.
• Drop rounded measuring tablespoonfuls of chocolate cream cheese batter over plain cream cheese batter, do not swirl.
• Bake at 325°F for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
• Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan.
• Melt chocolate pieces and whipping cream over low heat stirring until smooth.
• Spread over cheesecake.
• Chill.
• Garnish with additional whipping cream, whipped, raspberries and fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Steps:

• In a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt 2 ounces white chocolate. Pat dry 20 pesticide-free non-toxic leaves (such as rose or lemon) and with a pastry brush coat backs of leaves about 1/8 inch thick with chocolate. Chill leaves, chocolate sides up, 30 minutes, or until very firm. Carefully peel off real leaves. Chocolate leaves keep, layered between sheets of wax paper and chilled, 1 week. Recommended for garnish on cakes, berry desserts, and chocolate mousses.

Steps:

• Place first seven ingredients (through and including soy sauce) in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
• Sift cocoa powder with a metal strainer to remove lumps, then add to avocado mixture and blend until smooth. At this point you can refrigerate the pudding in a tightly-sealed container for up to a week or freeze it for up to a month.
• Serve chilled, layered with raspberries, if desired, and garnished with fresh mint and shaved chocolate.