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A trip to Charlie's Chocolate Factory

This Book Makes Me Cook is reading a chocoholic's dream this month. Our book club's pick was Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - a fantasy story of young Charlie Bucket who wins a trip to Willy Wonka's extraordinary chocolate factory.

Willy Wonka, the factory's owner, is quite a character and equally fabulous is the dream world that he has built. I'm sure Dahl had concealed lots of morals in the book - what with all the other children who accompany Charlie on this trip falling prey to one of their faults and Charlie, the virtuous one, winning the factory as a grand prize. But what always fascinates me is the world Willy Wonka created inside this factory - chocolate rivers, Oompa-Loompas and that most amazing glass elevator that moves all-ways.

I've read this book many times over the years and enjoyed it every time. I've also craved a lot of chocolate during and after reading this book. So for this month's post, I decided to make chocolate truffles.



Start by making a firm ganache. Chop 150 gms semi-sweet chocolate into small bits. Heat 100 ml cream with 1/2 tsp vanilla essence in a small pan until it is simmering. Pour it on the chocolate, wait a minute and then mix to make a smooth paste. Cover the ganache with a plastic wrap and chill for a couple of hours.

Remove from fridge and carve out small bits with a melon baller. Roll between palms to make a round truffle, then roll into cocoa powder. That was half my truffles. For the other half, I rolled the ganache balls into finely ground almonds for that lovely white speckled effect.

Want to know what other members made from the book?
Sweatha did what I did and made truffles too.
Rachel made Chocolate Almond Bars.
Sunshinemom made Puffed Rice Balls

In February, we are reading my all-time favorite author Agatha Christie. Out of her 100-odd novels, we have picked "Adventure of the Christmas Pudding", a Hercule Poirot mystery. If you would like to join us on a trip to Poirot's world, leave a comment here and I will get back with more details.
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Comments

Sunshinemom said…
On the dot, Sim! I am making mine today and posting in the evening - hoping to get creative! Your truffles look pretty. I always have a vision of these covered in pista flakes!
January 25, 2009 at 9:56 AM
CurryLeaf said…
Simran I too made truffles. !!!!
January 25, 2009 at 9:57 AM
CurryLeaf said…
Simran,I will be posting mine tomorrow.Its still saturday night here.I know they are delish.I always associate Charlie with Truffles.
Great Minds think alike.This is the second time we did it.Lets wait and see what others post.
January 25, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Aparna Balasubramanian said…
I couldn't join in this month despite it being a grand opportunity for chocolatey stuff.:(
But at least I can visually savour the rest of chocolate delights!
I just saw Sweatha's truffles and now some more and in two variations. I'm feeling very happy now.:)
January 25, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Anonymous said…
yummy truffles everywhere... I need to make soon. too tempting. loved the way ur coated urs.
January 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Uj said…
Truffles look yummy..I always felt that they are difficult to make.. yours look perfect
January 26, 2009 at 9:11 AM
FewMinute Wonders said…
Wonderful!I have been focusing on other things that I did not think of event. Your blog makes me want to do something though I have not read the book recently.
January 26, 2009 at 6:54 PM
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