African Vanielje on Feb 12 2008 at 2:05 am | Filed under: Uncategorized
Along with her eclectic collection of biscuit tins which my mom always keeps stocked with fresh homemade biscuits, she generally has a freezer stash as well. My husband and my dad both have a late night sweet tooth and love nothing better than to snack on her secret hoard of syrupy sweet koeksusters (yes, kept in the freezer) or spoonfuls of homemade ice cream eaten straight from the tub.
Occasionally, a midnight freezer recce will offer up a coveted box of Italian kisses. This plain white, unassuming polystyrene box has nestled within 12 delicately delicious little chocolate covered ice cream kisses. The arrival of this box is never announced, just discreetly stashed to be discovered way after my mom has retired to bed to read or sleep. A secret ‘I love you!’ to be savoured in solitude.
Unless of course the kids have already discovered the box and sneakily eaten all but one lonely little kiss, (if you’re lucky).
Because I cannot find them here in Somerset, I have made my own Valentine offering, and a thousand heart shaped Italian Kisses, darkly delicious and achingly sweet, are presently nestled in their chilly bed, waiting breathlessly to declare their love. My secret Ti amo for the one I love.
- To make your own Italian kisses melt some dark organic chocolate in a double boiler and pour into a scrupulously clean chocolate mould.
- Pour out the excess and and allow to set.
- If you wish a thicker chocolate shell, add a second layer.
- spoon little dollops of half set homemade vanilla ice cream into the moulds and freeze
- Once completely frozen add a layer of chocolate to seal the moulds and put back in the freezer
- Pop out of the moulds and trim the edges with a paring knife just before serving.
- Each little kiss is perfectly bite sized – enjoy
Thank you for trying a Vanielje Kitchen recipe. I hope it fed you mind, body and soul
This is my entry for A heart for your Valentine hosted by Kochtopf . Entries are updated as they come in so check out who has entered so far at the roundup.
Happy Valentine’s Day !
Thes remind me of my favourite ice cream treats Revello’s or perhaps Eskimo Pies
Perfect little treats for those you love on Valentin’es Day:D
Your the chocolate wizard this month! Another work of art.
What lovely little treats! Oh, I wish I had the patience to make some of those!
Love the collage and story. Your mother sounds so amazing, I have a feeling the apple doesn’t drop too far from the tree. I would love to find those nestled in my freezer, hmmm, I better get busy!
I’m also crazy about these little pieces of heaven! And yours look just amazing, what a great idea for Valentine’s day!
My valentine could certainly woo me with those – I’m the sweet toothed one in our family though, so I’ll have to try making them for myself. I’ve never worked with chocolate moulds though …and I’m much more likely to scoff the chocolate before I’ve even transformed it into these scrumptious treats!
I hope your Valentine is suitable impressed with the freezerful of kisses.
Fantastic…as usual. I think I would use a dark chocolate ice cream in them though. I can never get enough chocolate.
How gorgeous! You’re on a roll!
You’ve just given me a great idea for Valentine’s Day – my family will be ever so pleased.
Thanks
Nina
Valli, there is something of the classic favourite in this combo, you’re right.
Courtney, I usually only get the chocolate moulds out at easter, but the edible art event inspired me
Mrs W, you just need to find somebody close to you who does, then you can just enjoy the result
Pasticerra, that is a great compliment, thank you
Miri, I keep sneaking little kisses formyself, at this rate there will be none left for my husband by Valentine’s day
Kit, I hope so too. You could always take the shortcut of buying some Italian kisses. You should be able to get them there. Or stick a roll of rolos in the freezer. Yum
Marye, that would be my choice too, but my husband is a classic kind of person, I’m the decadent one
Ann, there’s no such thing as too much chocolate
Nina, I’m glad you’re inspired. good luck
A mid-night snack I couldn’t resist neither! These kisses look awesome.
Thank you for your participation.
Wow, mouth-watering…
Your heart-shaped kisses are gorgeous!
MY god this is so simple but so so thoughtful and cute. I wish my valentine made me this! I want to try this really soon!
These are simply beautiful…how wonderful they look. I LOVE your art-work. Saw your entry at Art You Eat & was inspired enough to try a dark chocolate filigree on a strawberry swiss roll yesterday. Cheers Deeba
Zorra, it was a fun event with a great roundup. thank you
Barbara and Coco, thank you. There are not quite a thousand left. I think there are about three as I have eaten most of them while waiting for him to come home.
Deeba, I just saw your swiss roll on tastespotting and thought how fabulous it looked and then got your comment. I love this blogging stuff!
Your chocolate and vanilla ice cream kisses are fabulous. My children would love a dessert like this. Thank you for sharing!
Sheltie Girl @ Gluten A Go Go
Those look so wonderful! I love making chocolate candies, and filling them ice cream sounds so good.
Ooooh, I remember Italian kisses from home! I also remember the polystyrene boxes that they came in and how excited we used to get about them as kids. Our other favourite was the similarly-apackaged but larger ice cream Tartufos – remember those? We used to have them for dessert after Sunday lunch with some Kahlua poured over them – gilding the lily was never seen as a problem in my family
Clever you for recreating these little sweet treats – they look divine!
Lovely Itallian kisses I must say!!! I must tell my valentine next year to make me some of those…
Or maybe I’ll just be the one to make… 
I love chocolates a lot…