A little Chocolate is good for the soul
I never grew up with homemade chocolates. This was something that Brian's family has done for years. I remember being a newlywed and Brian's Grandma Reed showing me the ropes for the first time. She was very particular in how it was done in fact, I might have even cried when we left that very first time because I wasn't good enough but to this day, I am gratful for her stern instructions and high expectations!
We usually get together as an extended family for Christmas Chocolates. We obviously can't do that this year and with Grandma not doing too well, I knew it would be a perfect tribute to her.
I started on making a batch of peppermint fondant by myself one evening. It turned out pretty good for not having done them in so long. The plan this year was for my sister to come and help with the fondant the followng day. She has been wanting to learn for years so this year we dove right in.
Little did I know that as I was beating a semingly never ending batch of fondant, I got the message that Grandma Reed had passed away. Fondant making had never felt so dauting but also, so peaceful. I felt her there. Every single batch of fondant that we went on to do turned out perfect. Not to stiff, not to runny.
It felt like the perfect tribute to Grandma.
We let the kids dip some chocoaltes too.. how could we not, its such a wonderful family tradition. They were all so excited to get their hands in that chocolate, our hearts were full!
My mom & Sister and I got together that week to dip all of them. We made roughly 500 chocolates and I found myself being hard on them the way Grandma was on me, looking for that perfect looking chocolate. They were so patient (and I apologized for being so brash) they were gratful for the experience and their chocolate dipping skills got better and better! It all makes sense now.
I am so grateful for these extra hands that were so happy to do this project together. I am so gratful for my sister and her desire to learn chocolates too. I am gratful that our kids take such a big intertest and excitment in this tradition but more than anything else I am gratful for a Grandma who shared her amazing talents with me!
As a final tribute to her, Brian and I put together little boxes for Brian's parents and Aunts and Uncles. Grandma's Children. We missed giving one to sweet Aunt Joanne in Vegas because she couldnt travel to the funeral because of the pandemic. The chocolates werent perfect but a little piece of their mom was shared because heaven knows, Grandma always made these chocolates to share!
We usually get together as an extended family for Christmas Chocolates. We obviously can't do that this year and with Grandma not doing too well, I knew it would be a perfect tribute to her.
I started on making a batch of peppermint fondant by myself one evening. It turned out pretty good for not having done them in so long. The plan this year was for my sister to come and help with the fondant the followng day. She has been wanting to learn for years so this year we dove right in.
Little did I know that as I was beating a semingly never ending batch of fondant, I got the message that Grandma Reed had passed away. Fondant making had never felt so dauting but also, so peaceful. I felt her there. Every single batch of fondant that we went on to do turned out perfect. Not to stiff, not to runny.
It felt like the perfect tribute to Grandma.
We let the kids dip some chocoaltes too.. how could we not, its such a wonderful family tradition. They were all so excited to get their hands in that chocolate, our hearts were full!
As a final tribute to her, Brian and I put together little boxes for Brian's parents and Aunts and Uncles. Grandma's Children. We missed giving one to sweet Aunt Joanne in Vegas because she couldnt travel to the funeral because of the pandemic. The chocolates werent perfect but a little piece of their mom was shared because heaven knows, Grandma always made these chocolates to share!