| From the very first time our mothers feed us, we | | | | regular clay. |
| associate comfort, nourishment, and contentment | | | | Roll the chocolate dough into twelve 1/2-inch diameter |
| whenever a special woman cooks for us. | | | | balls (for each full-size rose) and put them on waxed |
| So let's show our mothers how much we appreciate | | | | paper about 1 inch apart. Press each ball with your |
| them by returning the favor. Chocolate roses are | | | | fingertips until it is a flat disk about the size of a |
| romantic, sweet, and gorgeous. Dads and kids, put on | | | | quarter. Make the bottom thicker than the top. |
| your aprons! | | | | Roll one disk into a cone to make the center of the |
| Chocolate Clay Ingredients | | | | rosebud, being sure to roll the thinner edge into the top |
| 10 ounces semisweet chocolate (coarsely chopped | | | | of the cone. Wrap the next disk around the opening of |
| chunks or chips) | | | | the tepee and the third disk at the back of the tepee - |
| 1/3 cup light corn syrup | | | | this is the rose bud. Now continue adding one disk at a |
| Melt the chocolate in a small bowl over hot water, | | | | time as individual petals, gently curling the top edge |
| stirring occasionally. The correct method for doing this | | | | slightly downward. You can leave some roses as |
| is to boil the water, take it off the heat, then put the | | | | rosebuds, then make various sizes, making them larger |
| bowl with the chocolate on top. If the chocolate cools | | | | by adding more petals. If there is excess chocolate at |
| and thickens too much, return the pot of water to the | | | | the bottom of your roses, pinch it off with your fingers |
| stove over low heat. | | | | to make more balls. |
| Stir the corn syrup into the chocolate, mixing well and | | | | Harden your finished roses at room temperature, |
| scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula. Fold the syrup | | | | which can take up to a couple days, and then store |
| into the chocolate until you can no longer see the | | | | them in a cool, dry place. To retain the best chocolate |
| syrup and the mixture thickens into a ball. Using wax | | | | flavor, it is best not to store them in the refrigerator. |
| paper or plastic, pour and spread the mixture with the | | | | You can get fancy for Mothers Day if you like by |
| spatula until 1/2inch thick. For about two hours, let it sit | | | | using white chocolate and experimenting with adding |
| and thicken uncovered at room temperature. Now it's | | | | food coloring. Or, decorate your chocolate roses by |
| ready for making your roses. | | | | painting them with melted white chocolate. |
| Chocolate Roses Instructions | | | | Tulips are fun too, and are really pretty made with |
| Knead a handful of chocolate clay at a time on a | | | | white chocolate and then painted. |
| counter or cutting board until it is soft and pliable like | | | | To make larger roses, start with larger chocolate balls. |