Pink Champagne Truffles {And Awards Season}

Last weekend I was delighted to receive not one but two blog awards from fellow bloggers! As it turned out I was given them just as the red carpets were being unrolled in Hollywood for the Oscars so I decided it was fitting therefore to make something glamourous, chic and Oscar-worthy to honour the end of the awards season and my own first awards!

Makes roughly 16-18 truffles

225g good quality milk chocolate

15g butter

100ml double or whipping cream

Small pinch of salt (I use Maldon)

60ml pink Champagne

To decorate:

200g good quality white chocolate or cocoa powder

Pink food colouring (optional)

Edible glitter or lustre dust (optional)

Put the cream into a pan and gently heat until just before it boils.

While the cream is heating up, very finely chop the chocolate (or you can grate it if you prefer) and put into a medium sized bowl. Add the butter to the cream and stir until it melts then pour the hot cream over the chocolate stirring as you do. Continue to stir the mixture until all of the chocolate has melted and it's silky smooth. Add the salt and Champagne and stir well then pop into the fridge for 2 hours to set (or overnight if you prefer).

Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper (or you can use wax paper). Once the truffle mix is firm use either a very small ice cream scoop, a melon baller or a teaspoon and scoop out small balls. Roll quickly between your hand to get a smooth ball then place onto the baking tray. Repeat until you have used all of the mix then return to the fridge for 20 minutes.

If using, melt the white chocolate and put it into a small bowl (I normally just do it in the microwave – for 20 seconds at a time and stirring well in between, but you could always put it in a small bowl over a pan of barely simmering water if you prefer). Line a second baking tray with parchment then start dipping the truffles into the white chocolate making sure they are evenly coated. Carefully place onto the second baking tray and let set – repeat with all of the truffles.

If you like you can leave the truffles as they are but I like to sprinkle mine with some edible glitter for a final sparkling touch and with the left over white chocolate add a little pink food colouring then drizzle a little over some of the truffles.

If you would rather just dust the truffles with cocoa powder sift some cocoa onto a plate then roll the truffles in them.

Once all of the truffles are coated in the white chocolate (or cocoa) and decorated as you like, keep them chilled until you are ready to serve. Decadent, delicious and definitely Oscar-worthy!

The Awards!

Thank you so much to Sabrina from Eat Drink and be Merry for the 'Lovely Blog Award' and to Jill from Dulce Dough for the 'Stylish Blogger Award'. 

In accordance with accepting the awards there are some rules I have to follow so for the Lovely Blog Award I have to pass it on to 15 other bloggers. Whilst I admit I was a little hesitant of the whole 'passing it on' rule (don't want to be thought of in the same vein as those pesky chain mail people!!) I agree that it is a good way to give a shout out to other blogs who deserve a mention (besides I can't deny that I was delighted to have my own blog mentioned). Since there are so many amazing blogs out there it was hard to pick only 15 but I managed ; ) Below is my list – a real mix of blogs that quite simply I love to read. Some are well known, some are new – all are fantastic - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1. Wilde in the Kitchen
2. Sprinkles of Parsley
3. Picture Perfect Meals
4. Dulce Dough
5. Cakewhiz
6. The Kitchenmaid
7. Soupier
8. A Pinch of Love
9. Tarrino Bambino
10. Liv Life
11. Sweetpeas Kitchen
12. Cake Duchess
13. Sweets by Silianah
14. Gingerbread Bagels
15. Boulder Locavore

For the Stylish Blogger Award I have to list 7 things about myself.....hmmm not so easy, however after some thought this is what I came up with -

1. I have a law degree (but have never practised).
2. I have to have a cup of tea in the morning before I can function – preferably Earl Grey!
3. My foodie guilty pleasure is tomato ketchup – I will never deny the fact that I love it and couldn't possibly eat a bacon sandwich without it!
4. I may possibly be addicted to chillies....okay, I am addicted!
5. I was born and raised in Scotland and lived there until I was 26. All of my family still live there and to me it will always be home, although I am now a permanent resident of Canada - my other home! (My husband is Canadian).
6. I would love to eat my way around the world! In other words, spend a year travelling around the world eating as much as possible!
7. My son's first name is my maiden name.

As well as that I must now pass on the 'Stylish Blogger' Award to 10 other blogs.....

1. Sprinkled with Flour
2. And Now for Something Completely Delicious
3. La Mia Vita Dolce
4. Extra Relish
5. Brown Eyed Baker
6. Lemons and Anchovies
7. Eat Live Travel Write
8. The Cilantropist
9. Runs with Spatulas
10. With Style and Grace

Finally in following the rules of this award, I have to:

1.  Thank them, make a post, and put a link back to the person/s who gave me this award.

2.  Share 7 things about myself.

3.  Pass the award to 10 recently discovered great bloggers.

4.  Contact these bloggers and personally tell them about the award.

Done, done, done and done! Ok, so thank you again for the awards and I hope you all enjoy having a look at some new blogs.