Bilby’s Baubles

19

March 21, 2013 by mickeydownunder

Where do I even begin with this post today?

Hands up, who loves chocolate? 😉 So far, so good! 🙂

Who likes supporting local businesses? 🙂

Who likes playing with their food like me? 🙂 🙂

And who likes the bilby? 🙂 🙂  The bilby I “hear” you say? 

Remember the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and HOW questions Princess Svetlana and I used to ask via Kumato Choc Cherry Tomato Bread? 😉

WHO is the bilby?

The bilby is an Australian marsupial (makes babies in a pouch ;-)); has ears like a rabbit and greyish fur; looks like a rat; (let’s use our chocolate imaginations today okay? 😉

Did you know the bilby is only pregnant for 12 -14 days? ; the shortest of any marsupial? If not, I better get on with my post as I LOVE trivia too! Almost as much as my passion for food! (and um, chocolate too! lol)

The bilby resides in the desert and is on the Australian endangered species list due to their loss of habitat and are preyed on by other species. (ie foxes and rabbits)
There were originally two kinds of bilby; one is now extinct!

WHAT are baubles?

A small ornament which is also considered a trinket; in our chocolate imaginations today, please consider them as “bubble wrap” shards or “bubble wrap” bilby ears or simply…chocolate FUN! 😉
Did I mention “Bilby buble wrap chocolate baubles” too?

Ingredients
Tempered chocolate of your choice (I used  Haigh’s Chocolates dark courverture chocolate and a separate batch with Haigh’s Chocolate Milk Chocolate Pastilles)

Melt chocolate over a double boiler until completely melted.

Place pre cut bubble wrap on a flat tray; bubble side up.

Pour hot melted chocolate over the bubble wrap; spread with the back of a wooden spoon.

Hint or Tip
Make sure there are no air bubbles.

Due to the weather, I placed my tray in the refrigerator until the chocolate properly settled.

Remove tray from fridge, cut into shard pieces.

ENJOY!

NOTE
I “trialled” various sizes of bubble wrap and personally found the larger the bubble wrap, the more “profound” Bilby’s Bauble was! 😉

Feel free to “play around” with various bauble shapes within the bubble wrap! 😉

When I first saw chocolate “bubble wrap” creations on the net, (KNOWING I LOVE playing with food lol), “one day” this would be “on the list” too!

While I did see MANY wonderful creations, I particularly enjoyed Bubble Wrap Chocolate Decorations for Cupcakes on the Lone Baker. Thanks for “inspiring” me to do!

Am I the “only” one who thinks my Bilby’s Baubles shards “resemble” bilby or rabbit ears? Spooky eh?

I think I need more practice in shard shaving techniques okay? 😉

WHERE have I been this week?

At the Haigh’s Chocolates Factory FREE tour! WHOO HOO!

Haigh’s Chocolates are a South Australian icon. The “family owned” business was established in 1915 and is still continuing to grow. The company now has 14 stores; the original Beehive store, the Haigh’s family original house (now converted into the Haigh’s Chocolates store in Unley South Australia) as well as other stores in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

And no, I did not eat or buy too much chocolate! 😉

Can one “ever” eat or buy too much chocolate? 😉 Don’t answer that! lol lol lol

South Australia’s top 5 chocolates are: Milk Chocolate Apricots, Milk Chocolate Speckles, Dark Chocolate Truffles, Milk Chocolate Frogs, and Dark Chocolate Apricot fruit. *

WHEN is the time to enjoy chocolate? Any day that ends in “Y” of course! 😉

Let’s get “sampling” Haigh’s WONDERFUL chocolates! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Oh, what decisions one “has” to make! lol 🙂

Not in any particular order: 😉

                                       Dark Chocolate Shiraz Truffle
(think “someone” you know “might like” chocolate and wine? ;-))

                                              Peach Melba Truffle
After the GREAT success of the Mango Truffle last year, the Peach Melba Truffle was created this year and is only available for a short time!

QUICK! Get to one of the Haigh’s store and try before they are gone! 😉                                                 Cherry Ripe Bar
I LOVE Cherry Ripe! A combination of coconut and cherries! Could not help but choose this! 😉

                                      Hazelnut Praline Wafer Bar
Need I say any more with the flavor combination? 😉

       This year marks the 20th anniversary of Haigh’s chocolate Easter Bilby
http://www.haighschocolates.com.au/news-item/celebrating-easter-bilby/

 
                                  A”novelty” item I really enjoyed too!
Inside are Chocolate Speckles (like in the half egg photo above)
There is also a Teddy Bear suitcase style tin with little chocolate teddies in! 🙂

Can you TELL from the smile on this “mature” kid’s face, I REALLY enjoyed my visit to the Haigh’s Chocolate factory? 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

As a VERY proud South Aussie, I really enjoy sharing not only Haigh’s Chocolates, a South Australian “icon” with you, but cannot express enough how children of all ages should continue to be Tourists in their own towns too! 🙂

Thank you Beverley for your “highly” information, “highly” enjoyable tour! I LOVE the reward (CHOCOLATE! lol) for a job well done at the end of the tour too! 🙂

Should you wish to read more about my Factory tour experience
http://bit.ly/13aRqTv

FOLLOW UP NOTE
Bilby’s Baubles are SO much fun to do! GREAT for children of all ages to play with and next time, might consider experimenting in adding natural coloring and natural flavors to the chocolate too!  🙂

Hands up who feels like a piece of chocolate (also called chockie here in Australia) now?

Who now is “inspired” to make Bilby’s Baulbles now that you know how?

For readers overseas, had you heard of the bilby before and did you know the bilby was on the endangered species list?

This week I was once again “welcomed” to join The Foodie Friends Friday Party at Wine Lady Cooks.

I thought what better to bring to a Party than Bilby’s Baubles made with Haigh’s Chocolates! 😉 🙂

Hope I can “inspire” someone at the party at Wine Lady Cooks to make Bilby’s Baubles and have fun like I did too! 🙂
*
SOURCE
The Advertiser (local newspaper)
http://www.haighschocolates.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/States-Choc-Wedge-17-July-2012.pdf

HAIGH’S CHOCOLATES 

UPDATE

The word is truly out by now that I enjoy fun-filled food parties, TRUE!

Thanks Jenny for always making me feel welcome at your Rate The Plate Utah Food Holiday Link Parties; this week’s theme is National Milk Chocolate Day! 

Bilby’s Baubles are fun for children of all ages!