posted by Kerri 04-14-100 1:05 PM
Rosie Show:
Easter Chocolate Eggs
by Heidi Safer
12 medium size eggs
3 (12 oz.) Bags of chocolate chips (white, milk, semisweet or all of them- your choice)
assorted gel coloring
Prepare the Eggs:
Use an ice pick or the pointed end of a thermometer to pierce a hole in the larger end of the egg. Enlarge the hole to a circle about 1/2 inch (no larger than size of a dime) in diameter by pinching off tiny pieces of the shell with your fingertips.
Shake the raw egg into a bowl. It can be saved for another use. It is easier to get all of the egg out of the shell if you stir it up a little first. Completely rinse out the inside of the shells with warm water. Boil egg shell to kill any potential bacteria. Place clean shells on a baking sheet and dry them out in the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 250 degrees. Put the dry egg shells back into the clean egg carton-hole-side up.
Melting the Chocolate:
Put the desired amount of chocolate into various zip bags. Place bags of chocolate chips into very warm water until melted. If using white chocolate, add the gel food coloring and stir completely for a solid color or just partially for a marbled effect. Use the amount needed to create the color that you want.
Snip off the end of the zip bag and squeeze the melted chocolate into the eggshells until full. Wipe off any chocolate that has gotten on the outside of the shells. Place the egg carton (containing the chocolate filled eggs) into the refrigerator and chill until firm. Takes at least 5 hours or overnight. Once the chocolate has set, crack the shells off the egg and peel off.
Variations/Presentations:
Give someone the carton full of eggs and let them peel the eggs.
Make a nest for the eggs to rest in using melted chocolate and crispy Chinese noodles. Either use milk chocolate or white chocolate with food color. The nests can be made in a variety of colors and sizes.
Fill a basket or a cute box with paper Easter grass, position the chocolate eggs in a nest on top of the Easter grass, wrap the basket in clear cellophane and tie it with colored ribbon. Add more decoration using jelly beans.