Let's Cooking: TNL!

[Nomi]

I usually just melt chocolate in a double boiler

Okay, I have a HUGE problem with melting chocolate. I don't own a double boiler but I have two pots that fit enough to function this way... I still always burn it. My roommate can just throw chips into a pot on the range and get instant melted chocolate but no matter how much I stir and how low I keep it, nothing ever happens.

How do people do this magic?

[icarusfall]

You could taste it a bit. So I guess so?

It could have turned out better, but I'm a noob.

Next time you fuck around with liquor set fire to the sauce with a grill lighter. It burns away (most) of the alcohol and you don't get that taste.

[icarusfall]

Okay, I have a HUGE problem with melting chocolate. I don't own a double boiler but I have two pots that fit enough to function this way... I still always burn it. My roommate can just throw chips into a pot on the range and get instant melted chocolate but no matter how much I stir and how low I keep it, nothing ever happens.

How do people do this magic?

Buying a double boiler is a stupid thing to do. Just buy a metal mixing bowl that's bigger than the pan you intend to use for the water. Part of your problem is nesting pans. THere's too much heat from the steam under your pan and you're ending up with scorch.

Fill one pot with a few inches of water and bring it to a gentle boil (not just on high) set the bowl over the pan and add the chocolate chips. Just keep moving them around until they melt. Add a little cream, a touch of vanilla (spend the $6 and get the real deal made from bourbon vanilla beans, please) and you're set.

[Tones]

Yeah, that's all I use. I have a little saucepan that my grandma gave me and it is perfect to boil a little water with chocolate in a big metal bowl on top. Because the bowl fits a pretty tight seal, the steam from the boiling water condenses back into the saucepan... not much water is needed. I just make sure to stir the chocolate slowly with a whisk and it will melt slowly and evenly. When I add the cream, I just heat it up in the microwave to about 150-170 degrees in a measuring cup and add it a little bit at a time.

This is how I make my hot chocolate BTW. Heat up chocolate (for this purpose 60% cacoa Godiva is the best balance between price and quality imo), add a little cream, and then thin out with milk. Add a little vanilla to taste, and then pour in cups and love life. Sprinkle a little nutmeg or cinnamon on top . Super fatty, super rich, but I don't have it too often so it's not a problem. Compared to the powder it will blow your mind.

[animegirl]

Have you ever had drinking chocolate? It's little beads of chocolate that you add milk to (and heat up) and it tastes like heaven. It's basically a melted candy bar drink.

[arjue]

Is that like the kind you get at a Max Brenner? (best shop ever btw)

[icarusfall]

Beef Bourgignon on the stove right now.

[Tones]

Pot of sweet-hot vegetarian stew on the stove at my place.

[Mman]

You could taste it a bit. So I guess so?

It could have turned out better, but I'm a noob.

I think the problem was adding chocolate liqueur to chocolate. Adding something like frangelico or some other fruityness would have added a lot more flavor.

Nomi, everybody is right about not wasting your time with a double boiler. A good metal mixing bowl works excellent. In fact, I reccomend you get a good one because it awesome to use for all kinds of things. A good metal bowl will make it much easier to make things like dressings and mayo (if you do it by hand).

However, for melting chocolate I wouldn't reccomend using the stove at all. The microwave does an amazing job of it. You still have to be careful because it might still burn. The best thing to do is turn the power down some and cook it for a few seconds at a time. The crushed chocolate should start to warm and melt and when it does you can mix/swirl the bowl to get all the chunks to melt down. This way you will just barely melt it and won't worry about burning. You can even temper chocolate in the microwave.

[animegirl]

I marinaded some chicken thighs in coconut milk, curry power, cumin and sriracha sauce last night. I reserved some of the marinade. Today I broiled the chicken, cut it up, made some rice and heated up the rest of the sauce to go with it and topped off with some fresh chopped cilantro. It was very tasty. Pic: