Chocolate Seascape

Directions

1. 1
   ["For the Base: Place a piece of the bubble wrap, bubble side up, on your work surface.", "Using a large spoon or ladle, randomly drizzle white and bittersweet chocolate onto the plastic.", "Using an offset spatula, spread the two drizzled chocolates evenly, creating a marbled effect.", "You can make the base whatever size and shape you'd like it to be, however make sure it is at least 1/4-inch thick.", "Place in the refrigerator.", "For the Fish Mold: If you would like your chocolate fish to be painted on the outside, start by mixing together a few tablespoons of the cocoa butter with a small amount of powdered food coloring, making as many colors as you'd like.", "(Please note: The easiest way to work with chocolate paints is to store them in a yogurt machine to keep them warm.)", "Using a paintbrush, paint the inside of the mold, applying color wherever you are inspired to do so (eyes, fins, etc.)", "and let dry.", "Using a ladle, fill the fish mold or shell with white chocolate.", "When it is full, empty the excess chocolate back into the bowl.", "The inside of the mold should be evenly coated with chocolate.", "Wipe the lip of the mold clean, and place it upside down on a wire rack over a baking sheet.", "Once the chocolate starts to harden, about 5 minutes, scrape the lip clean again with a paring knife.", "This is very important because once the chocolate sets, it will shrink or retract from the sides of the mold, and a clean edge will prevent it from sticking and cracking as it shrinks.", "You can place the mold in the refrigerator for several minutes to help the chocolate to harden.", "Once the chocolate has hardened, remove it from the mold, glue the two halves together with chocolate and let harden.", "Repeat with as many fish molds or shells as you like.", "For the Seaweed and Sea Grass: Make 2 cornets and fill 1 with bittersweet chocolate and the other with white chocolate.", "Draw some seaweed onto parchment paper using bittersweet chocolate then repeat the same technique with the white chocolate, painting over the bittersweet.", "Use this same technique to draw sea grass.", "When the chocolate sets, peel off the parchment paper, and reserve for assembly.", "For the Coral: Place large ice cubes in a tall, round plastic container.", "Pour the untempered bittersweet chocolate over the cubes and let set until the cubes have completely melted.", "Remove the chocolate from the container, drain off, and discard the excess water.", "For the Final Seascape: Arrange the pieces as you would like on the bubble wrap base and \"glue\"" them down using the melted chocolate.""