@tomnickygrant are you the guy who post's that type comment on blogs. I have seen it on my blog.
12 Most Ridiculous Truffle Innards
If you’re a foodie, truffles might mean an incredibly expensive mushroom unearthed by specially trained truffle pigs and dogs. Dogs are preferred to pigs because pigs eat the truffles, and their owners carry a stick to beat the pigs away before they devour the high-priced fungi.
In my house, truffles mean little chocolate treasure boxes surrounding delicious centers of fruit, nut butters, or even more serotonin-inducing chocolate. We also have to use a stick to beat people away from eating our truffles.
Truffle hunting is a serious enterprise for our family and quite often we resort to manufacturing our own. We have encountered some delicious combinations and some disasters. I present to you a virtual box of chocolates containing a dozen ingredients, good and bad, that we have unearthed in our desperate need to ease our cravings as trufflaholics.
1. Bacon Truffle
For those lucky recipients of the vibrant purple box, you may well recognize Vosges Haut-Choclaut. We’ve tried the bacon truffle. It was like a wild night on the town that you don’t quite remember. You think you had fun, but if you dig too deep, you might find something you regret.
2. Super-Charged Truffle
I am just plain disappointed in this. A hyper-caffeinated truffle sounds like both a waste of good chocolate and a waste of good caffeine. Do you think if you wash it down with Four Loko you’ll end up on the evening news?
3. Balsamic Vinegar
I love balsamic vinegar…on salad! I am struggling to imagine biting into a creamy, cocoa-coated ball of vinegar. It’s tangy and tart, true, but is it tasty? Someone please buy me one of these truffles so I can make a decision once and for all.
4. Basil Truffles
I’m all for herbs enhancing desserts (look for a future blog post on this topic!) but the unfortunate look of these basil truffles would send the wary running. I, however, would bravely pop a whole one in my mouth and chomp away. I might not be so cavalier with the other flavors mentioned in their blog, including peas and carrots and garlic.
5. A Shot of Truffle
Check out the second one down on the left. A truffle with tequila? Now that’s just ridiculous!
6. Black Pearl
Sorry, no Johnny Depp here but we are back to Vosges, to see what happens when the soul of the European-based truffle encounters Eastern inspiration. The Black Pearl wraps dark chocolate around ginger-wasabi, dotted with sesame seeds. Do we eat it with chopsticks?
7. Spooky Truffles
When I saw the name Fat Turkey Chocolate, my first thought was “Someone stole my idea!” One day I hoped to be the first to introduce the world to the Thanksgiving Truffle, which obviously is chocolate wrapped around turkey, stuffing and gravy, topped with cranberry. But Fat Turkey’s Ghost Pepper Truffle is innovative enough. The world may not be ready for gravy in a truffle.
8. Healthy Truffles
I am all for healthy eating, but really, do we need a truffle that’s packed with fiber and life force?
9. Sweet Potato Truffle
Again, someone trying to beat my Thanksgiving truffle to the market, this sweet-potato obsessed truffle maker devised her own recipe for a ridiculous truffle filling.
10. Prune Truffles
Don’t wrinkle up your nose. Prunes are amazing and it’s ridiculous NOT to try prune truffles. It’s also ridiculous that something this good is so easy to make.
11. Unforgettable Truffles
So named because they contain a liqueur made from a fruit loved by elephants in Kenya. I adore elephants and I adore truffles. One day I will ride on an elephant and eat this truffle.
12. Ant Truffles
People will eat anything if it’s covered with chocolate, won’t they? I’m not absolutely sure this qualifies as a truffle but it’s supremely ridiculous. Considering people have eaten these ants for hundreds of years, you’d think I’d be more open-minded, but remember I wasn’t even impressed with the caffeinated truffle. I’ve got high standards.
By now you’ve possibly reached your credit card limit buying and shipping several of these truffles to me with the hopes that I’ll eat them, love them, and then eat my words. But honestly, truffle making is a simple form of dessert art that allows you to experiment with your own flavor combinations and discover something truly delicious. The hard candy-coated truffles take more work, but the softer truffles open a world of possibilities. We’ve made several and invented our own based on what’s sitting at the back of our cupboard that needs to be used before it expires. You, too, can clean out your kitchen and find inspiration. Share your amazing results, but don’t you dare attempt my Thanksgiving truffle. Its time has not yet come.
Featured image courtesy of jamesjyu licensed via creative commons.
Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan
http://www.tryitandyoumay.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan is a writer and mother to three boys that are forced to endure her edible adventures weekly. Desserts are her speciality, as well as failed pancake experiments. Elizabeth writes the blog Try It & You May and Our Better Daycare. She also owns Sweet Tooth Communications, LLC. You can follow Elizabeth at @prbysweettooth and find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/SweetToothCommunications.
35 comments
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"Prune truffles" can't be too far from chocolate covered raisins.
"Balsamic Vinegar" reminds me of pickle flavored potato chips, its strange when you 1st try it, but I became addicted to them. The best pickle chips are Frito Lays so far. Not too sour or salty.
Have you tried the chocolate covered potato chips?
There are brandy filled truffles tequila doesn't surprise me at all.
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I don't know how to "digest" this list (bahaha, I crack myself up). @kfvickery and I occasionally have truffles as our chocolate of choice to go along with our wine. We are old fashioned with some form of chocolate in chocolate...perhaps with some extra chocolate sprinkled on. I guess we are just kinda simple that way (hey, I love Oreo balls, so that explains my culinary depth). Although I keep hearing about people combining bacon w/chocolate, so I guess I'll have to put that one on the short list.
Got a Ghiradelli story, too...
@dbvickery@kfvickery Do you ever have trouble pronouncing Ghiradelli? I'm always nervous about saying out loud because my mispronunciation will reveal my ignorance. Same with Vosges. So much easier to type.
@PRbySweetTooth@kfvickery Well, that is part of the story. I was in the Bay Area one time, and I went to the Ghiradelli location (probably 10 years ago). I asked where was a great local place to get chocolate to bring home to my wife. So, I stand in line, and I take my time making the choice.
I get home, and I'm so excited because I love bringing chocolate back. My wife opens it, and she is sweet...but she says "oh, you can get these at King Soopers/Krogers". When bringing home chocolate, you are better off finding the truffles at Godiva. See them put *those* in the local grocery store ;)
@PRbySweetTooth@dbvickery@kfvickery Funny you say that, I've never really known how to say Vosges! I've asked multiple times when I've been in their stores, but it just doesn't stick for some reason :)
@dbvickery@kfvickery oreo balls are delicious! Isn't chocolate the best with wine?! PS - I'm not super adventurous when it comes to desserts, but I have tried the bacon chocolate and it is delicious. It's not overwhelmingly bacony, but you get the smoky saltiness mixed with the chocolate and it is fantastic. Cheers!
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Hi Elizabeth!
Welcome to the 12 Most family! I do not like chocolate however, Vosges is pretty outstanding. The caramel with sea salt is great.
You should try a recipe with sweet potato - I made some fudge that had sweet potato and it was incredible.
Peggy
In an effort to be cute and fresh, you ended up falling flat and just sounding clicheishly bitter. It's as if you were trying out for "Mean Girls Part Two - The Writer version." You insulted the look and taste of truffles you've never even tried or seen except for in a picture on a blog. The most supremely ridiculous part of your whole article is the claim you have high standards. High standards is all relative. No, I won't be one of the folks sending you a box of chocolate to change your mind. You need to grow up and buy your own chocolates like the rest of us. I don't believe you should be allowed to eat chocolate ever again. That should be your punishment.
@GloriaStrohm High standards is definitely relative. Sometimes I'll eat chocolate my kids have dropped on the floor because I'm desperate for the seratonin boost.. That is also a form of punishment.
@GloriaStrohm I have to agree with you... this is pretty snarky- the writer should remember that a lot of these truffle makers are just small businesses that could really use some POSITIVE press.. it really surprises me the people who are calling you negative when really you are calling out the writer for her negativity.
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@justwannaread@GloriaStrohm "“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” Oscar Wilde.
Thank you @justwannaread I thought I was clear about what got me all in a twit. It was not deep seeded. More specifically I was offended that she called the basil truffles ugly... ok, in truth she wrote "the unfortunate look of these basil truffles would send the wary running." I wouldn't want anyone saying that about me or about something I made. She has no clue who the makers of Salt Side Down Chocolates are. I do. I know the chocolate maker personally. I know her because I shop the Occidental Farmer's Market every Friday evening. I know the chocolate maker takes great care to make her truffles by hand. Her truffles are beautiful individually and if you'd like more than one they are boxed with hand tied satin bows. I love my small business owners and make an effort to support them when I can. Full disclosures - I've actually tried and bought more than half of the truffles on this list. Margie herself has a link about the need for more kindness right under her written spanking to me. Yeah, I went and read it. I read her blog on kindness and was so surprised that this same person was the one who wrote this. I didn't attack her personally. I didn't call her names though she very nicely tossed out that editor-in-chief title so I was sure to know who I was being spanked by. That must look good on a business card. As you have pointed out she could have been much more supportive in her write up of the small businesses. Does that fall under "quality control?" Thanks @BrandFlair for helping me hugh it out.
@GloriaStrohm I get what your concerns were. I personally would have been a lot more supportive of your position if you would have just written this comment (above), rather than the first one.As a small business leader, I get your concern and I am sympathetic. However, two negatives don't make a positive.
@GloriaStrohm@justwannaread@BrandFlair Sorry to all if I offended. That was not at all my intent. I didn't understand from your initial comment that these truffles were made by specific companies/people. I thought they were simply random goods that had been happened upon/found or heard about.
My effort was not to prop myself up - it was just to try to remove some of the heat from our author. In the end, the editors, and then I are responsible for what goes live on this site, and it's my job to protect our authors in that regard.
Again, I apologize if I offended. That was certainly my last intention.
Latest blog post: Being Kind Doesn't Make Me Stupid
@GloriaStrohm Hi Gloria, we at 12most hold our content up to the highest of standards, but what we value even more is our sense of community here. I am not sure what about this post rubbed you the wrong way, but unfortunately, in situations like this, you are simply presenting yourself as a person who is bitter. I hope that you return and become a valued and beloved member of our community here, but comments like this can only be hurtful and are never necessary, especially in regards to a topic that was intended to be fun and whimsical.
If you have more deep-seated issues with the content here, please feel free to contact me directly as I am editor-in-chief here and accept responsibility for quality control. You can reach me via email at margie at 12most dot com.
Latest blog post: Being Kind Doesn't Make Me Stupid
@GloriaStrohm Hi Gloria. Hug Patrol here. Sending you and your endorphins uber super duper fab-o pixie dust hugs and sprinkling rays of happy happy joy joy sunshine on your socialsphere so that the frowns get turned upside down. Cheers!
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Thanks so much for including my truffle here. . . I think?! I couldn't tell whether you thought it was a good idea or not! Let me just say that the hubs scarfed down five of those babies in quick succession, and no one ever guesses what the "secret ingredient" is. . . but they sure do love them! And the filling makes a fabulous healthy-yet-decadent-tasting frosting for your kid's birthday cake. :D
@RickiHeller I'm secretly in love with the sweet potato, too. We use it a lot around here and I am definitely going to be experimenting with your recipe. Let me know if you figure out a way to include cranberry, gravy and stuffing, OK? It will change the world...
Okay, now I think I must run off and start to work on a cranberry-filled truffle, too! That actually sounds delicious to me. ;) @PRbySweetTooth
Ah, you may have been joking, but here's your hummus truffle filling, already made: http://bit.ly/qlVyMQ :D
@RickiHeller I know, right? No more of these average hazelnut or caramel filled truffles. We're going to push the truffle horizon! Spawn new delicious offspring of original ingredients! Reshape the chocolate empire!! On a side note, do you think there's any chance of a hummus truffle? Or feta cheese?
Mine is the sweet potato truffle. It was born of a desire to create something fabulously decadent that was actually healthy as well. . . I think I succeeded (you can decide for yourself if you read through the comments). Thanks for asking!
@RickiHeller I think when Elizabeth said "ridiculous" it is just the term she chose when describing unique fillings in this article. As far as I can tell, your truffle sounds delicious and I'm glad she brought it to my attention! When/if I get the chance to take a shot at making my own truffles, I will be sure to attempt your sweet potato truffles and let you know how it turns out. Cheers!
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