Chocolate Alert:

[gracenote]

My local Market Basket in Gloucester has bulk Callebaut white, dark, and milk chocolate for $6.99/lb. They had a few bags of smaller chunks of milk choc. for $5.99/lb, At my store the chocolate was on a table in front of the bakery/deli section.

[lc02139]

The Burlington MB has it as well as well as the > 10lb bar

[threedogs]

Marty's Liquor in Newton has Callebaut for similar prices (I can't remember the exact price - I got white chocolate for a cake),and other, more expensive brands. Also, Trader Joe's Pound Plus (it's either $4.99 or $5.99) is made by Callebaut. They don't have white chocolate, though, sad to say.

[StriperGuy]

TJs pound plus is great.

[threedogs]

Yes. One would think it's called that because its actually more than a pound. I think its because its what one gains by eating the whole (#$% thing... one square at a time, of course...

[StriperGuy]

I often use it to make chocolate pudding from scratch, excellent pudding results...

[wonderwoman]

the pound plus 72% is part of my chocolate pudding as well, along with tj's light coconut milk, cocoa, sugar and vanilla.

[threedogs]

Sounds really, really good. I didn't have much for my daughter's vegan chocolate cream pie (don't know where it all went... lalalala... eyes staring at the ceiling...) I keep a steady supply of Hershey's (easy to get) extra Dark Cocoa, so I made it very much as you described, wonderwoman, with a tofu mixture w/coconut cream for the topping. That turned out great - going to try more coconut based desserts for her now.

I'm thrilled now that I found an express bus that goes to Copley Square. I think I'm tried every single TJ's in my area, to see which one is easiest for me to get to by the T. The smallish Copley one is the best (a healthy walk fr Copley Station & the bus stop). I *have* to make my pilgrimages there!

[wonderwoman]

i actually use light coconut milk as the liquid. no tofu and no thickeners.

[Science Chick]

Can I have your recipe wonderwoman? :)

[threedogs]

I'm seconding Science Chick's request for your recipe. Interesting that you didn't use any thickeners... do you find the coconut milk thick enough?

[wonderwoman]

3 tablespoons each sugar and cocoa (either dutch or natural)
pinch salt
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
14-ounce can light coconut milk (i use trader joe's in the green can)
1 teaspoon vanilla, or a split bean

mix cocoa with enough of the coconut milk to make a slurry. heat the rest of the coconut milk with the sugar, salt and vanilla bean until bubbles form. remove vanilla bean and wisk in cocoa slurry until mixed, then add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted, stir in vanilla (if not using bean).

the mixture will appear thin, but will thicken as it cools. i store it in a glass jar; it doesn't seem to form a skin.

[threedogs]

Awesome!! Thanks so much, wonderwoman. I copied it on my computer, just in case it disappears here... Love Trader Joe's - never tried their coconut milk. I have a terrible time with puddings for my pies - not thick enough, too thick... and since it's chocolate, and no tofu (some fam. members don't like tofu), I could make one version for both vegan & everyone else in the family (easier for me). I really appreciate your sharing this!

[wonderwoman]

i always have a few cans of the light coconut milk on hand. it's a great substitute if you only need a few tablespoons of light, or even heavy cream and don't want to have to buy a whole pint.

whatever's left, i just add into my roasted vegetable soups.

[threedogs]

I'm going to try that, StriperGuy. I swear if I keep this up, though, I'm going to gain 20 lbs before Christmas...

[StriperGuy]

My recipe is pretty basic, corn starch, whole milk, dark chocolate. Good luck with the wasteline ;-).