Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Friday, 8 November 2013

Had to happen....

Those of you who are good enough to read my blog on a regular basis - as some of you do - will know that my love of chocolate and making chocolates has been going on for quite some time. I have also shared a more recent pleasure in the art of Zentangle. I have created a separate blog for that so that this blog doesn't get taken over entirely by pictures of my doodles - you are very welcome to pop over to Annie's Tangles to see what I'm up to there.

And as the weather has changed, I'm making chocolates again - hurray! I've made some rather nice milk truffles flavoured with natural vanilla bean, dipped in dark chocolate; some milk chocolate honey and rum truffles also dipped in dark chocolate; some orange and almond milk chocolates, some dark, mint chocolate and ......


TA DAH....

Chocolate with Zentangle!!!

I piped the 'Betweed' Zentangle pattern in milk chocolate on some parchment paper then covered that with dark chocolate to get the contrast. The parchment doesn't give a good shine to the chocolate - it would have been better on some acetate...must bear that in mind for next time.
Unfortunately, I don't think anyone will want such a huge piece of chocolate, so it's been broken up and bagged....still tastes delicious!

And with the chocolate left in the piping bag, I made some 'Cruffles'...well almost...which is also a Zentangle pattern. These turned out really well and they're lovely to eat! 

Am I pleased with myself??? (Just a bit!)

And on the subject of the somehow inevitable - I'm teaching again! Not at the same academy and nowhere near the same number of hours, but it's lovely to be back in the classroom again. A new academy had opened in the town in September and they'd already asked me to work there, but the hours were awful and I had to turn it down. However, they needed someone urgently last week for their Thursday evening spot and asked me if I'd do it...which I did. And now I'm doing Thursdays every week. And very happy about it too...

It had to happen.


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23 comments:

  1. Ayak8 November 2013 at 14:44

    Ooooh...stop posting the choccy photos...they make me drool. Seriously though, they do look wonderful. I was going to say that the one with the zantangle looks too good to eat, but chocolate is never too good to eat is it?

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    1. Ayak8 November 2013 at 14:45

      Posted too quickly...meant to say well done re the job...maybe it will develop into a few more hours?

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    2. ArtyZen8 November 2013 at 16:25

      Thank you, Ayak. What I really like about this teaching is that it's only a few hours. I already have four hours in individual classes and am resisting taking on too much as I really want to be at home for the children....but we'll see!
      Axxx

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  2. Kathy8 November 2013 at 16:27

    I echo Ayak,. Stop tempting me to indulge in chocolate which can't possibly look or taste as good as yours. :-) Well done on the Thursday teaching job. You'll enjoy it.

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    1. ArtyZen8 November 2013 at 21:25

      I'd love to send you a box, Perpetua, but not sure how they'd survive the journey...I always feel they actually look better than they do in the photos!
      I'm glad to have a bit more teaching although I've just come back from 2 and a half hours with two groups of siblings. We made 'Snakes and Ladders' then played it - it was really lovely...with the forfeit of missing a turn if they spoke in Spanish!
      Axxx

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  3. GaynorB8 November 2013 at 17:13

    My family would have made short work of the large piece! Good for the short term well being but not so good for the heart and hips. Multi-talented Annie.

    I'm pleased you've been allocated some classes. You can't keep a good teacher out of the classroom.... Unless she has retired to France. ;0)) x

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    1. ArtyZen8 November 2013 at 21:33

      I was almost traumatised one year when I took some of my beautiful creations to my sister's tribe and they demolished everything in a nanosecond...they did't even pause to admire the handiwork...I was weeping inside!! I only made them plain chunky stuff after that.
      I do feel quite at home teaching despite never having done it before I came to Spain. Bet you can't wait to be that good, retired teacher in France!
      Axxx

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  4. Helen Devries8 November 2013 at 17:22

    I did wonder how long you would be able to resist a chance to teach again.....
    and get thou behind me with those chocolates!

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    1. ArtyZen8 November 2013 at 21:35

      I haven't stopped teaching all through the summer months, Helen, but only private classes. There's something rather special about standing at the front of a classroom and having all eyes on you....although it's rather scary, I love it!
      From behind, you can tell I'm a chocolate maker...! Axxx

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  5. ALoadofOldTat8 November 2013 at 18:43

    The cruffles look delish

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    1. ArtyZen8 November 2013 at 21:36

      I was really pleased with the cruffles!! Glad you liked them too. Axxx

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  6. Annie Cholewa9 November 2013 at 01:46

    Just catching up here. Your chocolates always look delicious, 'tangled' or otherwise. And yes, I was kinda expecting to hear that you were teaching again sometime soon. Enjoy :)

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    1. ArtyZen9 November 2013 at 10:40

      Hi Annie! Thank you - I will have to stop and think whether it's worth it to tangle chocolates...my research has shown that most people are concerned with getting the chocolate into their mouths as quickly as possible...being expected to appreciate the finish/pattern/ texture is absolutely secondary to the experience. My children know they can't eat without providing a running commentary about the whole thing.
      Which is exactly what I will expect my students to do when I take them some chocolate....I call it motivation! Thank you. Axxx

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  7. Chrissie9 November 2013 at 23:02

    Those chocs look and sound yummy, how lovely you are going back to something that you enjoy but still giving yourself and the family time. Have a good weekend

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    1. ArtyZen9 November 2013 at 23:46

      Thanks Chrissie - I love making chocolates, but I love even more when someone likes them! As for teaching again, I'm looking forward to chatting with another new group of students - it's like getting to know more about the people and the place we live. Axxx

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  8. nilly10 November 2013 at 15:16

    Mmmm - I think I'd call those spaguffles!

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  9. ArtyZen10 November 2013 at 15:48

    ...good name! I bet you'd be brilliant at giving names to things...I may be back to you with some nameless things. Axxx

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  10. gillyflower10 November 2013 at 17:47

    It all looks so yummy Annie! Well done too on setting up an Etsy shop and separate blog for your Zentangle art works - they are so clever.
    What with the choccies, zentangle and teaching again on top of everything else you're going to be pretty busy!
    Gill xx

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    1. ArtyZen10 November 2013 at 19:49

      Thank you Gill! I have no high hopes of Etsy but it's a good community to be part of and at least it keeps this blog from getting tangled (!) up in things that it wasn't meant for! If I'm not busy, I have to find something to do....
      Axxx

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  11. BacktoBodrum10 November 2013 at 21:22

    You are definitely well in to your squiggly period. Hope you can resist adding more teaching hours.

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    1. ArtyZen11 November 2013 at 07:52

      I'm squiggling all over...and rather enjoying it. As for teaching, well, I probably have time to work another couple of hours a week without overdoing it...just depends which hours!
      Axxx

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  12. Penny O'Neill11 November 2013 at 00:46

    My mouth is watering at your Zentangled chocolate, Annie. Well done! I love that you've mixed two talents into a single delicious one.

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    1. ArtyZen11 November 2013 at 07:57

      Thank you Penny - I did wonder if there were any other Zentangling chocolatiers....having' found any yet though. It's what happens when you're a dabbler rather than a specialist and I rather like the outcome.
      Axxx

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