Make your own Valentine's chocolate gift

Valentine's Day is once again approaching fast on the 14th of February. Treat your Valentine this year with a homemade gift of love. Chocolates have been associated with Valentine's Day since we can remember. Why not make your own chocolates and wrap them in a decorated box for your Valentine this year?

First of all, you will need to find a box and trimmings. Florists and art shops have large collections of boxes - all different shapes and sizes. Buy a box of suitable size. This depends on the size and number of the chocolates that you want to place inside the box. Shiny silver or gold boxes go well with red trimmings.

You will also need ribbon and perhaps small shiny hearts or other decorations to trim the box with.

Chocolate making:

1. Purchase a slab or two of cooking chocolate and a chocolate mould with heart shapes of different sizes.
2. Melt the chocolate on the stove on low heat.
3. Pour the melted chocolate into the mould and leave to set.
4. Pop out the chocolates and wrap them in shiny paper: red, silver or gold.
5. Use the smaller wrapped chocolates as trimmings for the gift box.

Preparing the gift box:

1. Pack the gift box with chocolates.
2. Hide amongst the chocolates a special gift for your loved one.
3. Tie the box with ribbon, Valentine's trinkets and small wrapped chocolates.

If you do not want to take the trouble of making your own chocolates, buy a variety of different shapes and sizes to pack in your gift box.