Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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   The sort-of-tedious part: Melt chocolate chips in a glass bowl by placing in the microwave oven for 1 minute. Remove bowl from the microwave and stir chocolate. Return bowl to microwave for 30 seconds. Stir again and repeat process until the chocolate is mostly melted, heating for only 30 seconds at a time. When it's ready it should be mostly melted but there should be lumps of chips still visible. Remove bowl from oven and let it sit. The extra lumps will melt away soon enough. I've learned this is an easy way of tempering chocolate so you won't get a blush of white when it hardens.

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   The easy and fun part:

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   Have a tray lined with wax paper ready to go. Wash and dry berries. Put your garnish of choice into a shallow bowl.

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   With the hull still on, dip the berry into the melted chocolate, then dip it right into your chosen garnish (or not at all), then place on the wax paper. Do this until you run out of berries.

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   Now, I've considered scooping the leftover chocolate with a big spoon and just eating it, but instead, I found some mini pretzel twists and dunked one side in the chocolate and garnish. They're a nice salty-sweet treat that adds even more visual interest to a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. Imagine!

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.