Your Daily Dose of Life: Amaretto and Toasted Coconut Chocolate Truffles

Something my dad has taught me is that each and everyone of us has a choice we can make daily; we each have the power to be happy. My family has always instilled within me and my sister that nothing can buy or create happiness; it's a mindset. Every new year we all make New Year's Resolutions that we believe will make us happier people- "I'm going to lose 20 pounds." "I'm going to earn a promotion by June." Yes, to an extent those things can be great, but this year, my New Year's Resolution is different than the usual. My resolution is to not only be content, not just happy, but ecstatic about my life every day exactly the way it is- not how I wish it would be instead. Why shouldn't I be happy? Every morning that I wake up, I have been given another opportunity do something in this world- yet like most of us, I find something to complain about. I sit and complain about my 8am Geography class yet isn't it such a blessing to have the chance to have an education? My resolution is to rejoice in the good things, accept the bad, learn from my mistakes, love people for who they are, and to be thankful for all of the people who have gotten me to where I am.

Nothing makes my day more than to cook something that brings a smile to someone's face. That's the wonderful thing about a love of food- it's a two-party deal; there is someone who cooks the food and then someone who eats it. It's pure brilliance on the behalf of God that He made something that is vital to our existence so enjoyable. Some people, like myself, LOVE to prepare the food that others enjoy, while others love to enjoy the food that others prepare. I am one of the people who belong to both sides of this culinary game.

My boyfriend comes from an Italian family deeply entrenched in the love of good food. Considering my family is filled to the rim with foodies as well, that factor is probably one of the things that keeps our relationship going. Having the opportunity to relax, laugh, travel, eat, drink, dance, and learn from his family for over two years now has been such a blessing. I have been blessed with the most wonderful family and it's the most wonderful gift that John lets me share his family as well.

For New Year's with his family this year, I decided to bring something along with me that is a little out of the ordinary when it comes to party food. Its convenient and easy to bring a bag of chips and some dip, but I felt that I should do a little something more special to introduce 2011. This recipe for chocolate truffles is easy, yet impresses even the most difficult of culinary critics. So here it is, the easiest yet most impressive thing I will probably ever make.

Amaretto and Toasted Coconut Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:
1/2 pound of dark or semi-sweet chocolate (approximately 2 1/2 cups if you don't have a scale and are using chips)

1 stick butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 Tablespoons Amaretto liquor

2 cups coconut, toasted

Game Time:

Chop the chocolate and butter into equally sized, small pieces and place in a large bowl

Pour the cream into a small pot and bring to a very soft boil (if you bring it to a full boil, the cream will curdle)

Immediately, pour the cream over the chocolate and butter and stir until the pieces are completely melted.

Stir in the amaretto.

Refrigerate until firm (I always chill overnight)

Using a tablespoon, scoop out a portion of the chocolate ganache (do not shape into a ball yet. The heat of your hand will cause the chocolate to become sticky)

Place your portion of ganache into your toasted coconut. Use the coconut as a barrier between your hands and the ganache to quickly shape into a small ball. Work as gently and quickly as possible- the more you work the ball of ganache, the stickier it will become.