Guest Post: FoodBaby

Hey everyone!

As most of you know, I’m currently in the process of busting my butt and moving halfway across the country this weekend. Hopefully I have everything set up and ready to go in a day or two! Please bear with me!

Without further ado, I have a great guest post to entertain you guys today!

Hi Athletes!

I’m KaraHadley and I blog over at FoodBaby!

What’s a FoodBaby, you ask?

It’s someone who is always as excited about food as a kid is about a new kind of sugary cereal. Or finding two prizes in that sugary cereal. Unfortunately, I ate Envirokidz Gorilla Munch as a kid, so the prize was not having to eat it.

But you get the idea.

Anyway, I know that Matt keeps things pretty healthy around here, but as the hardcore ‘Baby that I am, I firmly believe in letting loose sometimes. What exactly does that mean?

Covering things in chocolate!

Are you getting excited yet?

Oh boy/girl, you better be!

The first thing you have to do before getting knee-deep in melted chocolate ecstasy is figure out what you want to dip.

I thought long and hard ran around the grocery store grabbing things and ended up with a good assortment of salty, sweet, chewy, and crunchy. From there, set up your double boiler.

Setting up this gadget is about as scientific as picking your dunkables. By which I mean, it’s not at all. Simply add some water to the bottom of a pot and place a bowl on top. I like using a glass bowl because it allows me to see 1) that the water isn’t touching the bottom of the bowl (VERY important) and 2) when too much steam accumulates so I can release it before the chocolate burns.

To aid in the retrieving and cooling of your soon-to-be chocolaty mouth-gasms, I like to have plenty of wax paper and two kabob skewers by my side.

And now, m’dear dear Athletes, it’s finally time to get dipping!

Toss in about half a bag of chocolate and set your stove to low. As the heat slowly but surely builds under the bowl the chocolate will slowly by surely melt. While it’s melting, you have the chance to get a little crazy.

By crazy, I mean adding in some mix-ins. It’s like Cold Stone, but so much better (and you don’t have to make awkward small-talk while the dude massages your ice cream). I like to add a little vanilla extract. Some people might be partial to tossing in instant coffee. Or if you want to be healthy, some freshly ground flax would make a nice addition. Really, the melting chocolate is your oyster. Just don’t spit in it. Or do, if you don’t want to share and aren’t grossed out about the idea of eating your own spit later.

I also added about a teaspoon of coconut oil to aid in the melting and because it keeps the chocolate from cracking and falling off whenever you take a bite.

Once the chocolate looks like Willy Wonka’s sexy silk sheets (or like Marvin Gaye’s voice, depending on which reference you identify with), throw in the goods.

Here is where the kabob skewers come in handy — use them like chopsticks to retrieve things. You can use actual chopsticks (if you have no imagination), but they tend to leave bigger marks as you pull things out. Also, there’s a chance there will always be a slight chocolate cool and aroma, so you may not want to jeopardize your good utensils.

There is no science to putting things in chocolate. Put them in. Make sure they’re covered. Take them out. The only advice I have is to move quickly if you’re dipping anything gummy. It’s surprising how quickly those things melt.

Other than that, you’re on your own. But don’t be surprised when things don’t turn out as smooth as a baby’s butt.

Sure, you could get all fancy by practicing tempering chocolate and other chef-y techniques like that. Or you could just dunk the goods and realize that for once, it really is what’s on the inside that counts.

So what if my if chocolate treats might kind of sort of look a little reminiscent of dog poo.

They’re darn delicious. And now I know not to waste my time on those pastry school applications.

It’s a win-win!

So I hope you follow my advice and spend your next lazy afternoon bathing in chocolate.

And I hope you come cover to FoodBaby sometime soon, because really, Athletes, it’s not rocket science. Just click the link.

This really makes me want some chocolate…

Tagged as: Guest Post