Chocolate Creations Within Library Education

By Shannon Hicks

The United States is one of just six countries that celebrate Valentine’s Day. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate were sold in 2003 for Valentine’s Day, according to The Chocolate Manufacturers Association.

Young adults who participated in a Pre-Valentine’s Day Chocolate Workshop at Booth Library this week just might help contribute to this year’s chocolate tally if they take home any of the hints and ideas they were given by Marie Walker on February 1. About a dozen sixth and seventh grade students participated in Mrs Walker’s workshop Tuesday afternoon, which was presented in the lower meeting room of the library.

During the 90-minute workshop the students tried painting with chocolate, filled molds to make lollipops, filled small cups to make chocolate-covered cherries and chocolate-covered rice cereal, made chocolate bark, and then used any remaining chocolate to dip pretzels into.

To begin making their chocolate lollipops, participants used small paintbrushes to paint the inside of plastic molds. White chocolate had been melted, and then colored with food coloring, giving the students choices of white, blue, red, and hot pink chocolate to work with.

“The paintbrushes moved the chocolate well,” said workshop participant Heather Smith (perhaps the smartest participant, too, since she arrived with apron in hand). “But the chocolate dried fast, so it was a little hard to work with.”

Jacque Ross liked using the paintbrushes.

“They made it easy to paint small designs before you filled the molds,” she said. Once the colored chocolate was laid down, participants had their choice of milk or dark chocolate to fill the mold. After putting sticks into the molds, the lollipops were put into the refrigerator to set.

Helping Mrs Walker with the workshop was Booth Library Young Adult Librarian Margaret Brown.

The students did not need too much coaxing to try each new project. Each new chocolate creation meant another opportunity to taste dark and milk chocolates either on their own or with bits of cherries, cereal, candy canes, or pretzels. The only downside to the workshop seemed to be when Mrs Walker mentioned something about how much the students’ parents were going to enjoy their chocolate valentines.

“You mean we’re supposed to give these away?” came one anguished cry.

The good news is, according to Marie Walker, there was some educational value to the workshop.

“You can go home and make more homemade candy now,” she told the students.

A second Valentine’s Day workshop with Marie Walker — this one featuring crafts centered around the holiday — is scheduled for Saturday, February 5, also at the library. As of February 2, ten of the 15 available spaces had been filled.

The workshop will run from 1 to 2 pm and is for children ages 6 and up. There is a $3 materials fee for the workshop. Call the library before heading in for the workshop to make sure space is still available.