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Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory |
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Written by Sayuri Yamane
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008 |
There is a reason we all remember Willy Wonka—CHOCOLATE! For years we have tantalized our taste buds with cocoa. Each holiday is another excuse to indulge in heart-shaped boxes, caramel-filled chocolate eggs, dark cocoa Santas, and sugar-shelled chocolate jack-o-lanterns. However, we don’t need these special occasions as a reason to pamper. We can succumb to our cravings more regularly….that way, holidays aren’t an excuse to go hog wild. Deprivation never got any of us anywhere!
For these occasional acts of self-coddling, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is ready to serve! This six-month-old sweet spot has an easy-access permanent location, and has been busy at many Reno special events. Stretching from April to September, owners Greg Zrinyi and Brita Ingstad focused on mingling with the community. For Mother’s Day, 300 chocolate-dipped strawberries from the factory awaited hungry moms at the Squeeze In…a little post-breakfast treat. The Sparks Farmer’s Market, Earth Day, The Rib Cook-off, and the National Championship Air Races, to name a few, turned out to be a wonderful way to meet Reno and share a factory favorite—caramel apples.
These are no ordinary apples. They take treats on a stick to another level. These edible masterpieces are made fresh daily by Brita, Greg, and their small staff of two. “The beauty of these apples is her,” Greg says of Brita. “She is the crafty, creative, artistic side.” With Halloween parties on the horizon, these apples make a great guest of honor. Each apple can be cut into eight wedges (above) for a platter, or used as a fun edible center piece and enjoyed after dinner. The best seller is the Rocky Road (on page 30)—a layering of caramel, marshmallows, walnuts, and three kinds of chocolate. Wow!
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is ready to satisfy that sweet tooth. Keep an eye out for them at upcoming events or visit them at their local store in northwest Reno. If you want a fun family night, try out the do-at-home caramel apple recipes they have shared.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
5100 Mae Anne Ave., Ste. 101, Reno
In the Ridgeview Plaza at Mae Anne Ave. & McCarran Blvd.
(775) 787-1212
Open: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–
9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Check out caramel apple specials all month long for Halloween!
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Courtesy of Brita Ingstad, co-owner, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Basic Caramel Apple Recipe
Caramel apples can be made with any type of apple, but the tart taste of the Granny Smith complements the sweet caramel nicely. And the larger the apple, the better.
What you will need:
• Apples
• Caramel apple starter kit (usually available in your grocer’s produce section-- by the apples)
• Additional toppings of your choice
• Large sauce pan
• Cookie sheet (greased)
• Wear long sleeves to avoid splatters from the hot caramel
1) Wash apples and remove stickers and stems. 2) Stab all the apples by simply pushing the skewer into the top of the apple. Do not skewer any bruised apples. 3) Prepare and set toppings aside (see specific toppings below for different varieties). Mix toppings on a baking pan or plate depending on the quantity of apples being made. 4) Prepare a non-stick surface to place the apples on, such as a greased cookie sheet. Now you are ready to start the caramel. 5) Follow the directions on the starter kit for heating the caramel. Use the biggest sauce pan you can find. This way you can fully dip the apple. Plus, it will help because the caramel needs to reach such high temperatures in order to thicken, it will start to pop like hot bacon grease. 6) Be careful not to scorch the caramel. Keep the heat on medium-low and continuously stir. 7) Once the caramel vigorously boils in the pan, test a stabbed apple by dipping it in the caramel and spinning the excess caramel off. If caramel coats the apple to where you can’t see any green, the caramel is ready. 8) Begin to dip all of your apples in caramel. a. If you are making the Rocky Road, you would immediately roll it in the marshmallow and walnut mixture. b. Set aside the rest of the apples to make Tiger Butter and Apple Pie (directions below).
Apple Pie Caramel Apples
Toppings:
• Melted white confection chocolate to drizzle
• 1 bowl of brown sugar for dipping the apple
• Cinnamon to dust on top of the brown sugar
1) Allow the caramel apples to cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 2) Once cool, melt down white confection chocolate in the microwave using a large microwave-safe bowl. 3) Dip caramel apple completely in the white chocolate. 4) Roll in brown sugar and dust with cinnamon.
Rocky Road Caramel Apples
Toppings:
• Equal parts mini-marshmallows and chopped walnuts
• Melted milk chocolate
• Melted dark chocolate
• Melted white chocolate
1) Melt down milk, dark, and white chocolate (in order to drizzle on the apple).
2) Chocolate needs to be tempered before using or it will bloom (when chocolate gets that white, flaky look). Tempering machines can be bought on line, but to make at home: a) Start by breaking chocolate into chunks and heating it in a double boiler until it melts, not allowing it to exceed 133 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). b) Take the chocolate off the boiler, stir in a few pieces of “seed” chocolate, and keep the chocolate warm with the use of a hot pad while you stir it so that it cannot solidify. If you do not have a hot pad, dip the chocolate in and out of the double boiler. c) For dark chocolate, hold the temperature at around 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius). Milk chocolate should be kept at 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), while white chocolate prefers 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). d) Test the temper by spreading a thin layer of chocolate onto a flat surface and cooling it. It should be dry, hard, and glossy. If it is not, retemper the chocolate. 3) Once the chocolate is tempered, use a spoon to drizzle the apple with all three types of chocolates.
Tiger Butter Caramel Apples
Toppings:
• White confection chocolate
• Peanut butter
• Milk or dark chocolate
1) Mix white confection chocolate and peanut butter and melt it down in the microwave using a large microwave-safe bowl. 2) Dip the apple in the mixture.
3) Drizzle with your choice of melted milk or dark chocolate. Then let dry. |
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