Chocolate Lollipops - you can do it!

Chocolates.  Everybody loves them.  And with a sweet tooth like me, I always need a fix.  Way back in 2003, when Ramir and I were just starting out in the family life, we resorted into selling chocolate lollipops to have some money to put in the bank.  Fast forward to today, we're not selling chocolate lollipops anymore but I realized that making chocolate lollipops would be a very good bonding activity for me and my 6-year old daughter.

You can be as creative as you can be.  And I think your kids would really enjoy doing it with you.

Here's what you would need.

Ingredients: (I brought everything at the Chocolate Lovers in Quezon Avenue.)
1. 1/2 kilo chocolate bar (yields around 12 lollipops)
2. smallest pack of sprinkles or mini marshmallows or rice crispies or crushed nuts (for dipping)

Utensils:
1. double broiler**^^
**I create a makeshift double broiler with a mixing bowl (pyrex or metal) and a pan where the bowl will tightly fit on top of it. Boil some water on the pan and melt the chocolates on the bowl.
^^If you have the 2-tiered stainless steel lunch container, you may use it too. Just boil some water in a pan, transfer the water to the bottom container and then put the 2nd container on top of it.  You may melt the chocolates on the top container.

2. chocolate mold
3. hard plastic straw (similar to the Zesto straw)
4. 3x3 plastic bags (if you need to pack them)
5. wire or ribbon to seal the bag

Procedure:
1. Slice your chocolates to small pieces.

2. Boil some water in a double broiler and melt the chocolates completely.

3. Put the chocolates in the chocolate mold.
4. Put the straw.

5. Put in the freezer for 3 minutes or until the chocolates are set.**
**You would know that the chocolates are ready when they appear to be matte rather than glossy.
6. Remove from the freezer and unmold.  When you turnover the mold, the chocolates would come off freely unless they're not yet fully set.
7. You now have your bare chocolate lollipop to work on. Coat it with some melted chocolates. A thin coat would do.
8. Dip it into any dipping of our choice.

9.  Put in the plastic bag and tie it up with a wire or ribbon.

Eating it is as fun as doing it!  Have a sweet day!