Chocolate and Goat Cheese Truffles

Chocolate and Goat Cheese Truffles

Chocolate, Black Pepper and Goat Cheese Truffles
 Makes 20 Truffles

I love chocolate.  What better day to indulge than Valentine’s Day.  Here’s a simple recipe for Truffles – literally, you need to know how to boil water and roll a piece of chocolate on the palms of your hand.  That’s it!  Really neat taste.  You should have all of the ingredients (except maybe the Goat’s Cheese – oh come on now, in whose house is Chocolate not a staple pantry ingredient that gets replinished weekly?!)  This is a one dish dish.  Best part is that you will look like a pro when you bring these out. You can easily make this for your significant other or just for yourself.  

 

Ingredients
4 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 ounces fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coarsely crushed black peppercorns
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (sift this into a small bowl)

Procedures
Place about 2 inches of water in a small saucepan, and place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over, but not touching, the simmering water to melt the chocolate. Once chocolate is melted, remove bowl from the pot and set aside to cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, using a spatula, combine gently the goat cheese, melted chocolate, sugar, vanilla, and peppercorns until well incorporated. Cover the mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour..

Once firm, portion a heaping teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture into clean hands and roll into a ball. Coat the bottom half of the ball in cocoa powder, place on a cookie sheet to let set.  Serve 6 or so on a small plate, sift some  cocoa powder over the top.  Throw in a few raspberries (berries) for colour.  

The recipe says the Truffles will last, in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (if they last that long).