I had either read or heard somewhere about taking a leaf and painting it with chocolate and after it dries then you have a chocolate leaf. Is it really that simple? Do you use a real leaf or a fake leaf? And if you use a real leaf how would you go about preparing it...I figure you'd have to wash it or sanitize it some way. Thanks!!

I have done this with rose leaves. First, you must have leaves that have NOT been sprayed with any pesticides. Thenyou wash them. Paint with melted Candy Melts on the backside of the leaf. After the first coat has dried, apply a second coat. When completely dried, carefully peel away the real leaf and you will have a beautiful chocolate leaf. If you are really careful, you may be able to use the same leaf a second time. Here's thelink to a cake I made using the chocolate leaves on the top of the cake:

http://cakes.dqd.com/Weddings_web/images/Groom%20Roses.jpg

Yes, it pretty much IS that simple. You'll want a pretty thin coat first time out so that you get all the detail from the leaf.