Chocolate Truffles

http://www.chocablog.com/reviews/beyond-chocolate-caramelised-orange-truffles/ 

No, these are not the truffles I made.  These were made by this guy, but were a good example of the ones I made for Men in the Kitchen.  Things were crazy, my hands were COVERED in chocolate, and, well, a picture did not get taken.  Also, I don't have the strength (or basal metabolic rate) to make another batch...so make a batch yourself and you can see how awesome they are!

Truffles are actually little mushroom things found in France and Italy (dug up by truffle-hunting pigs, no less) that are worth like $200/oz or something stupid like that.  Fungi people.  The dessert, chocolaty truffles are meant to look like said fungi truffles...so imperfect, lumpy, and inconsistently covered in cocoa and fingerprints are ok here.  These would be a good project for toddler hands, if you happen to have a pair or two of those around.

I survived week 1 of surgery (one down, 7 to go).  I can't help it guys, surgery in general gives me bad juju.  I'm on peds surgery for a month, which is a slower service (not as many surgeries) AND I get to be in the PICU/NICU/peds wards, which I of course love, but there is just a different feel to it.  Plus I'm dreading being on General Surgery B team.  I know what you're thinking..."oh-hum Amy, suck it up."  I probably should....but surgery people are not the warmest, fuzziest human beings on the planet.  And there are just a lot of rules...don't touch this, don't EVER page your senior, unless you are dying (and even then, think twice), don't keep your knees locked, don't need more than 6 hours of sleep, because you will be back at the hospital at 5am, etc.  I did get to see a tonsilectomy/adenoidectomy (ie, taking out extra crap in your nose and throat) of a 1 year old this week...that was neat.  Maybe I'll find more ENT cases to watch :)  Thanks for listening guys.  Go make some truffles.

Chocolate Truffles
8 oz bittersweet chocolate
8 oz semisweet chocolate
1 cup cream
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp Gran Marnier
Cocoa Powder, Nilla Wafers (crushed), coconut, or nuts for rolling

Finely chop the chocolate (NOT chocolate chips...get good quality bars) and place in a large glass bowl.  Heat cream in a small saucepan over med-high heat until just below boiling.  Pour warm cream over the chocolate, and leave it alone for a minute or so until the cream melts the chocolate.  Then stir until smooth (if by some chance there are still chunks of chocolate, you didn't do a good job chopping finely enough.  Microwave for super short intervals, stirring between (20 seconds).   Stir in vanilla extract and booze, and let set in the refrigerator for an hour or until set (you should be able to turn the bowl upside down).

Using a spoon or small cookie scoop, scoop out some chocolate and roll in the palms of your hands.  Roll in your choice of toppings, and set on cookie sheet or serving platter.  Can be refrigerated for another time, or served right away, whatever you want.