Chocolate dipped Strawberries

I have been waiting to prepare this from along time. At first I wasn't sure if they would come out right or if the recipe was not easy enough. But now after I have tried it, its a totally easy and perfect recipe.
We were kind of busy on Valentine's. So I prepared these yesterday. My kid's couldn't wait till they dried and wanted to eat them right away!

Usually if you want to buy these outside in a good chocolate store, they are very expensive...I should say very very expensive. I rather make it at home with a good variety of chocolate and some fresh starwberries. They do taste the same minus the expensive part!

So while looking for the recipe, I saw that many people just melted the chocolate and dipped the strawberries in and some made it this way. I was curious to know why they were adding vegetable shortening. The reason is to get a smooth finish on the strawberries. Adding shortening helps in achieving that as chocolate tends to contract when it gets dry or withdraw. Well this may not happen if you are using a fatty chocolate.
Another trick to get a smooth finish is to shake the strawberry after dipping, to get the chocolate into all the holes and the turning it upside down before laying it on the parchment sheet.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)
2 tbsp vegetable shortening
12-16 Strawberries

a sheet of parchment paper

Method:

Wash the strawberries and dry them on a paper towel.
Melt the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening in a double boiler or in the Microwave.
I used the microwave. It took about 1 1/2 minute for complete melting.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. (I think parchment paper works the best)
Slowly dip the strawberries till how much you want.
Lay them to dry on the paper.
Refrigerate it for 10 min.
They are ready to be savored.
Serve as is or chilled.
Enjoy!!!

A good friend of mine made cake pops for Valentine's and sent them over to my kids...My Kid's always enjoy gobbling them up!!

Sending the chocolate dipped strawberries to Torview Toronto for the event 'Food Palette series - Brown'

Sending this to Kid's Delights, brainchild of Srivalli and guest hosted by Champa of Versatile Indian Kitchen