The fact that this is Halloween week has just dawned on me like Zeus' bolt striking through the sky!
And now I am left with the enormous task of redeeming myself in the eyes of my two little ones who, like a score of other equally expectant boys and girls all around the US are anticipating ghoulish and ghostly treats to magically appear on the table for their afternoon and after dinner snacks.
Alas! I have failed them indeed.
So busy have I been with family visits, company for dinner and school bakes that I have done nothing - zero, nada & zilch to this end. Neither am I capable of spending hours on end thinking up wicked and witchy ways to delights my boys.
Fortunately, redemption appeared rather unexpectedly - in the haven of my refrigerator where I had, on this rare occasion a plethora of semi-sweet brown chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and many many red strawberries.
Having recalled these lovely bites from some Halloweens away, the fact that it is a mere 15 minutes in the making, inpired from one in the Taste of Home magazine is just the thing.
So if you too are scampering to gain some Halloween redemption, here are Ghostly Strawberries to the rescue!
All that is required is a dozen fresh strawberries, 3/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup semi-sweet brown chocolate chips, vegetable oil, a tooth pick and a cookie sheet or cake pan line with parchment (of a size that will fit in your freezer)
Note- Stay away from using any emulsions, extract or liqueurs as called for in many recipes since it results in an immediate curdle of the melted chocolate chips. Trust me on this one - I learned the hard way!
In a microwave safe bowl, add 3/4 cup white chocolate chips and 1-1/2 tsp vegetable oil.
Why the oil ?
Because the oil keeps the chocolate from solidifying at an alarming rate, giving us the time we need to swirl those strawberries in the molten chocolate.
Microwave for about 1 minute. Stir till all the chocolate chips have melted and you are left with a smooth molten chocolate.
Swirl each strawberry into the white chocolate and place on the cookie sheet or cake pan lined with parchment paper.
Half way through, in another clean microwave safe bowl, add the semi-sweet brown chocolate chips, 1 tsp vegetable oil and microwave for 1 minute until the chocolate has melted. Stir till smooth and uniform.
Using a toothpick draw eyes and a long '0' mouth on each strawberry 'head'. Feel free to use mini brown chocolate chips for the eyes but since I never have them at hand, I prefer to just draw it all using a toothpick.
Once all the Ghostly Strawberries have been complete, place the cookie sheet pan in the freezer for 5 minutes. Set a timer so you don't forget about them.
So here you have it, Ghostly Strawberries!
Aren't they adorable?
Whew...
Now as they say - all is well that ends well and once again it seems that Mum has earned a nod of approval between squealish ghoulish bursts of delight and order has once again been restored in our home.
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