Mix It Up With Jenny
Chocolate Desserts for Your Valentine
BY JENNY HARPER

Chocolate. Just the word on a page makes my mouth water! One of life's blissful pleasures is a mouthful of fragrant, dark and rich, creamy smooth chocolate. Whether morsels, chunks or bars, no other flavor comforts, soothes and satisfies quite like chocolate.

It's the favored flavor for sweethearts, family and friends alike. So come Valentine's Day, the news that dark chocolate contains naturally occurring antioxidants vindicates all chocolate lovers. Research indicates that dark chocolate may benefit heart health.

Turn your everyday chocolate recipes into over-the-edge indulgent desserts with one of the new European-style, premium baking chocolates. Created specifically for deeply chocolate, decadent desserts, they can be used in any recipe that calls for chocolate.

Indulge your passion for chocolate richness by checking out irresistible recipes at www.nestlechocolatier. com or www.VeryBestBaking.com.

DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Makes 24 strawberries

24 strawberries, rinsed and patted dry

1 bar (8 ounces) Nestlé Chocolatier 62% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar, broken into sections

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

LINE baking sheet with wax paper.

MICROWAVE chocolate and shortening in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power 1 minute; STIR. Pieces may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

HOLD each strawberry by stem or with wooden pick and dip into melted chocolate; shake off excess. Place on prepared baking sheet; refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.

NOTE: Pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, pound cake, cookies and/or other bite-sized fresh fruit, rinsed and patted dry, can also be used.

Nutrition Information per serving: 60 calories; 35 calories from fat; 4g total fat; 2g saturated fat; 0mg cholesterol; 0mg sodium; 6g carbohydrate; 1g fiber; 4g sugars; 1g protein

Jenny Harper is Senior Culinary Specialist for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com.

- Courtesy of Family Features