A Sweet Surprise

For the last two days whenever I get in the car with my host mom, I don't usually know exactly where we're going.  Today was no different.  This morning I gathered that she was going somewhere, there was something to do with cooking, and I had the option of going with her.  Since I understood that much, I opted to go with.  Experience Ecuador and all that.  After a hurried breakfast, I hopped in the car and off we went.

We ended up at the apartment of one of her friends.  And then I spent the morning making chocolates and other sweets.  Not a bad surprise destination.

I'm a bit fuzzy on the specifics of what all the sweets are for.  My best guess is the cousin of my host mom's friend is a wedding planner or party planner, and these are favors for a party tomorrow.  However there was something said during the day about children, so they might fit into the picture too.  In any case, it was fun, and I got to try a bunch of REALLY good and extremely rich treats.  Plus they're pretty.


 A picture is worth 1000 words.  Here's a bunch of pictures.  And some words.

White chocolate.  Good for everything.  Apparently.

Like making little chocolates in molds.  These have a filling of something.  I'm not sure exactly what, but I'm positive it's delicious and very rich.  Crushed nuts got put on after, and then a top (bottom) white chocolate coat.

Balls of white chocolate, maracuyá jam (reeely good fruit) and something else.  Insert plastic lollipop stick.

Wrap in tissue paper, tie with ribbon.  Suddenly they're kind of adorable.

First stages of the chocolates on the left.  Balls on the right have chocolate, sugar, chopped nuts, and chopped raisins.  Not quite as sickly sweet as the other goodies, but I still thought it was delicious.

Cover in white chocolate, add plastic lollipop stick, put in small bag, and tie with ribbon.  Again, pretty cute.

These looked like the little lantern plants from the States.  Only these have fruit in them.

(Disclaimer: I don't know if the ones back home have fruit in them.  I've never actually checked.)

Turn them inside out, add ribbon, then they turn all cute.

Prepare bunches of little cupcake papers with lacy print cellophane circles

Wrap fruit (which is tangy-sour in a surprising way) in little fondant circles.  Put into little cupcake papers.  Presto.

(Disclaimer: I don't recommend trying to wrap little fruits in fondant circles.  It is annoyingly difficult.  Fondant doesn't like to stay stuck to fruit.  At all.)

Little tiny canastas (baskets) made out of cupcake papers and ribbon, and little edible sugar flowers at the base of the handles.  The treat inside is a mix of sesame seeds, sugar, amaretto, nuts, and maybe something else.  Very sweet, very rich.  The sesame seeds made me think birdseed, but I wasn't complaining.

And that was this morning's adventure.

Stay posted for more adventures.