Olde Tyme Chocolate Cookies Perfect With An Ice Cold Glass Of Milk

VANILLA CHOCOLATE CRACKLE COOKIES
2 1/2 tsp good vanilla
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 large eggs
2/3 cup chopped pecans
2 squares melted chocolate (bitter-sweet)
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat vanilla, butter, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in melted chocolate. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture slowly with the milk. Stir in pecans. Chill the dough 2-3 hours. Shape into small balls. Roll in confectioners sugar and place on greased baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. The cookies will be soft and the texture will be similar to cake.

CHOCOLATE NUT BALLS
1 6 ounce can evaporated milk

6 ounces chocolate bits
2 1/2 cups vanilla wafers (crushed)
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup brandy (optional)
In heavy pan, heat milk and chocolate bits over medium heat. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted. Remove from heat, add rest of the ingredients and mix well. Let stand for 30 minutes. Then shape into balls and cover in nuts, confectioners sugar, or sprinkles. Chill

NANAMIA BARS
1/2 cup butter (soften)
1/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp cocoa powder
1 large egg
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup nuts (chopped)
1 cup coconut flakes
3 tbsp milk
2 tbsp dry vanilla pudding mix (not instant)
2 cups confectioners sugar
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1 tbsp butter
First layer:
Mix together in bowl over hot water the butter, sugar, cocoa and egg. When it looks like custard remove from heat and stir in the graham cracker crumbs, nuts, and coconut. Press mixture into 9x13 baking pan.
Second layer:
Mix the milk with the vanilla pudding and confectioners sugar. Spread over the coconut mixture and let sit for 15 minutes. Meanwhile melt the chocolate and butter together over hot water.Spread over cookie mixture and refrigerate for a couple of hours until set. Cut into bars.

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
1 stick of butter
2 cups peanut butter (I use creamy)
3 cups rice cereal
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 bar paraffin wax
10 ounces milk chocolate
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
Mix butter,peanut butter,cereal, and confectioner sugar. Melt the paraffin wax, milk chocolate,and semi-sweet chocolate in double boiler. Roll the peanut butter mixture into small balls and dip in chocolate mixture. Place on wire rack until set.

Deanna not only loves to make chocolate desserts but loves to share her cooking and recipes with everyone. If you want more chocolate dessert recipes and a very special chocolate cake recipe visit her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=30 From here you can get different recipes for all occasions not just chocolate or desserts. If you want to turn your passion for chocolate into something more check out her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=24 Enjoy

Original article

Entertain Your Family and Friends With Chocolate Desserts

The next time you are called upon to entertain family and/or friends, pull out the stops on chocolate desserts. This article offers you recipes for a variety of desserts made with chocolate. Serving only desserts and beverages is a good, easy, and inexpensive way to entertain. And when those desserts feature chocolate, you are bound to be a hit! From simple Triple Chocolate Chippers to a 4-Ingredient Pie to A Simple Homemade Ice Cream that doesn't even require an ice cream freezer.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CHIPPERS WITH WALNUTS
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pkg (12-oz) white chocolate chips
1 pkg (12-oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1 pkg (11 1/2-oz) milk chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the flours, salt, and baking powder; set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, combine the butter and sugars. Beat mixture, with an electric mixer on high speed, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time; stir in the vanilla.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Beat well after each addition. Fold in the chips and the walnuts.

Drop the dough onto ungreased baking sheets by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2-inches apart. Flatten dough slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes until light golden brown. Allow to cool on baking sheets for 4 to 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: Approximately 5 dozen cookies.

4-INGREDIENT CHOCOLATE FUDGE PIE
1 baked 9-inch pie shell
6 squares (1-oz each) unsweetend chocolate
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk (fat-free would be a good idea!)
1 carton (8-oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
fresh berries or chocolate curls for garnish, if desired

Microwave chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until melted and smooth (stir after every 30 seconds).

Whisk the sweetened condensed milk into the chocolate until smooth; let stand 2 minutes. Fold half the thawed whipped topping into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared crust.

Cover and chill for 4 to 8 hours.

Before serving, spread the remaining whipped topping over the top of the pie. Garnish with fresh raspberries, blueberries, etc, if desired. May also garnish with chocolate curls, if preferred.

NO ICE CREAM FREEZER NEEDED CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM
1/2 + 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cup heavy cream
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup chopped toasted nuts

Using a heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the brown sugar and butter. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

In a blender, combine the eggs, vanilla, and salt; blend at medium speed for half a minute. Add the brown sugar mixture and blend at high-speed for a minute. Set mixture aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the cooled mixture, chocolate chips and toasted nuts into the whipped cream. Pour the mixture into a foil-lined 9-inch loaf pan, cover with foil and freeze until firm.

Yield: Approximately 1 1/2-quarts

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Why Chocolate Contributes To Good Health

So many of us LOVE chocolate, don't we? We love the bitter and sweet taste aspects, along with the creamy texture and the oh-so seductive aroma. All these qualities contribute to our love of chocolate. However, not all chocolate is created equally. White chocolate and milk chocolate do not possess the health benefits of deep, dark chocolate.

Deep, dark chocolate has several advantages over its paler counterparts. First, dark chocolate is lower in sugar and it comes with a higher percentage of cocoa and cocoa fat which is a healthy fat. That healthy fat is called monounsaturated oleic acid. It's the same kind of fat as you will find in olive oil. We have been hearing for years about the exceptional heart-healthy benefits of olive oil.

Another reason to choose dark chocolate is directly related to those who are lactose or casein intolerant. Dark chocolate is a better choice when it doesn't contain milk. Be sure to read the label carefully when looking for milk-free chocolate.

Dark chocolate is high in a special class of antioxidants called which are called flavonoids. These help keep free radicals, destructive substances formed as by-products from normal daily activities such as breathing, under control. Dark chocolate is high in a particular antioxidant called flavanol which has been shown to increase vascular health by lowering blood pressure. Flavanol also improves blood flow to the brain and heart. Another plus is that this powerhouse antioxidant can also make blood platelets less sticky. These all add up to making deep, dark chocolate a heart-healthy choice. You might even say, "The darker - the better," when it comes to chocolate.

There are a few folks who don't like the taste of chocolate or have an allergy to it. They can also receive the benefits of flavanol by eating cranberries, apples and onions. It is also found in several red wines and in tea. The best red wines with the highest antioxidant benefits are pinots, merlots, and syrahs. For those who do enjoy dark chocolate, these same red wine choices will pair very well with your chocolate. It's an indulgence that reaps health benefits!

Red wine and dark chocolate share another health benefit: the flavonoid resveretrol. This tongue twister is pronounced RES-VEER-ETRAWL. Along with having heart-healthy benefits, it is considered anti-aging. Plus, it has been found to lower blood sugar.

Perhaps you have not acquired a taste for the bitterness of dark, dark chocolate. There's still hope. A great way to start is by slowly increasing the percentage of cocoa found in the chocolate you purchase. Many milk chocolate choices have a 35 percent cocoa content. Anything over 70 percent is considered healthy. By slowly adding a few percentage points to your chocolate choices, you will slowly notice an increase in the taste tolerance you have for the more bitter varieties. Over time you will come to enjoy the darker chocolates and benefit from their health-enhancing qualities.

Experiment! Have fun! After all, not only does it taste great - it's good for you too.

Free health tips at http://www.solutionthroughnutrition.com/
Sandi Thompson, NTP, Certified Wellness Coach, Professional Speaker
Sandi Thompson at Solutions Through Nutrition specializes in weight management and lifestyle changes for better, lasting health. Discover your individual nutritional needs.
The vision of Solutions Through Nutrition is, "Improving the way America eats, one dining room table at a time."
Sandi Thompson works primarily with women 50+ to create lasting change and reach their goal of better health.

Original article

You Are Gonna Love These Chocolate Desserts!

If you are like me and think you just can't get enough chocolate, these recipes are for you. Choose from Chocolate Pudding-Pecan Cookies or a Chocolate Chocolate Cake. Or why not just make both? They are totally different so couldn't you really use two desserts?

CHOCOLATE PUDDING-PECAN COOKIES
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 pkg (5 1/8-oz) chocolate fudge pudding and pie filling mix (NOT instant)
1 carton (8-oz) sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chopped pecans
1 pkg (12-oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly spray cookie sheets; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, vanilla, egg, and pudding mix, and sour cream at low speed until moistened. Beat for two minutes at medium speed. Add the flour, eats, baking soda and salt; mix at low speed until blended. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips by hand using a large silicone spatula or wooden spoon.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 to 7 minutes or until set; do not overbake. Allow to cool on pans for 1 minute then gently remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 5 to 6 dozen cookies.
1 cookie contains approximately 100 calories

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE
3 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole-milk
3 oz dark chocolate, grated

Set eggs out at room temperature for half an hour.

Grease and lightly flour 3 8-inch round cake pans; set aside.

In a medium bowl stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixer bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter for 30 seconds. Gradually add the sugar, small amounts at a time, beating after each addition until well combined. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for another 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in the vanilla extract.

Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk to the butter/egg mixture, beating on low after each addition but just until combined. Beat on high for an additional 20 seconds. Stir in the grated dark chocolate. Equally divided the batter between the three pans.

Bake cake layers for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on the wire racks. Frost with your favorite frosting recipe.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Coffee and Cacao Beans: Rich Sources of Phytonutrients

Sub Titled- Singing the Praises of the World's Healthiest Beans

While we have talked about the health benefits of dark chocolate and brewed cacao products in a previous article, we did not get in to much detail. This article may be considered as too scientific by some, but it is very important to know what is healthy and unhealthy for our bodies. Typically, when our medical doctor prescribes a pill, we take it without reservation. Is that wise? When we buy prepared food and drinks at the grocery store, we assume that our government only allows healthy products to be sold in our stores. Is that true? The answer to both questions is sadly no.

Note: This article serves to inform you of the healthful benefits found in both caffeine and cacao beans so that you can make informed decisions regarding your diet and habits. We are not suggesting you change your diet drastically or stop taking prescribed medication without discussing it with your doctor.

What are phytochemicals?

Most people are familiar with the basic nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Less often discussed are phytochemicals, which are classified as "nonessential nutrients" There are thousands of phytochemicals that we are aware of and thousands more to be discovered, each with their own healing properties

Both the coffee and cacao beans are rich sources of phytochemicals. Caffeine and theobromine, provided by these beans, are photochemical alkaloids with numerous health benefits. Caffeine is widely known and is found in coffee, some teas, and over the counter medications. Theobromine, which is not as commonly known as caffeine, is found in dark chocolate and cacao brews. The photochemical alkaloids caffeine and theobromine are beneficial to the human body.

Health Benefits of Caffeine

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases respiration and blood circulation by dilating your blood vessels. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic. Caffeine increases the body's circulation while stimulating the oxidation of fatty acids, contributing to weight reduction and better athletic performance. Caffeine is often combined with aspirin to treat headaches. Remember, moderation is the key to healthy caffeine consumption.

Caffeine Facts

Plants containing caffeine have been used by different cultures over centuries. Caffeinated teas were used to treat headaches, coughs, and even the plague. Interestingly enough, only in recent history is caffeine used to avoid slumber and relieve fatigue. Caffeine is now one of the most widely used phytochemicals. Contrary to popular beliefs, caffeine is not addictive, but it can be habit-forming. Normal levels of caffeine consumption are not toxic to humans but are very toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Health Benefits of Theobromine

Theobromine has similar effects as caffeine but to a lesser degree, making it a healthy alternative to those with caffeine sensitivities.. Like caffeine, theobromine is a diuretic and a stimulant. Theobromine dilates your blood vessels, helping lower blood pressure. Unlike caffeine, theobromine does not affect the central nervous system yet remains a stimulant. Theobromine can also relax bronchia muscles in the lungs, making it beneficial for people with asthma and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Theobromine is also used as cough medicine. Studies show that theobromine acts positively on the vagus nerve, which runs from the lungs to the brain. Physicians in the Middle East recommend the consumption of 4 cups of coffee daily. They believe this limits heart disease and colorectal cancer, while reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. There are also claims that coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, depression, and prostate cancer. Studies have also shown that high coffee consumption is associated with decreased risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Researchers cannot determine what it is in coffee that produces these healthful benefits. We can only assume that coffee's positive effects are due to the high amount of phytochemicals found in every cup.

Facts about Theobromine

Theobromine is found in the cacao beans of the Theobroma cocoa tree. The tree produces the pods that cacao beans used to make roasted and brewed cacao beans, cocoa, and chocolate. Although theobromine is not harmful to humans, it is highly toxic to some domestic animals including dogs and horses. Theobromine has a bitter flavor, and is what gives dark chocolate its bitter taste. While theobromine levels are highest in dark chocolates, it is also present in teas and cola nuts. Caffeine and theobromine are both stimulants, but theobromine does not affect the central nervous system as caffeine does. Therefore, brewed cacao makes a wonderful drink for those that are sensitive to caffeine.

Health Benefits of Brewed Cacao

Consumption of theobromine via brewed cacao or dark chocolate has been shown to help decrease blood pressure, improve cholesterol ratio, and increase insulin sensitivity. Consuming cacao has also been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and blood clots, while dilating the arteries to improve blood flow. Cacao exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects on the body, helping to prevent osteoporosis. It also boosts blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours after consumption, suggesting that consuming cacao helps increase performance in tasks that requires an alert mind. It also triggers the production of endorphins in the body, which create a feeling of happiness. Just one cup of cacao brew per day has been shown to lower C-reactive protein levels, a strong marker of cardiovascular disease risk.

Conclusion

In this article we targeted the numerous health benefits of caffeine and theobromine, which are only two phytochemicals out of thousands. There is clearly many more health benefits to the coffee and cacao beans than previously thought. As discussed above, consumption of both caffeine and cacao can have numerous benefits. However, please keep in mind that moderation is key, and abuse of either of these plant alkaloids can be devastating.

Side-bar:Some are curious as to why preserving the rain forest and prairies is important to human-kind. One reason is the abundance of phytochemicals found in these climates. Plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves, and recent research demonstrates that these phytochemicals can also protect humans against diseases. Thousands of phytochemicals lay undiscovered in plants that don't even have a common name yet, proving there is much to be learned from the rain forest and prairies!

Customer service is the most important product we have. We offer information about the health benefits of cacao and caffeine for your benefit. We simplify the current findings so they are easy to understand. Come visit us at http://www.smallbatchroasters.com/ for more information, and to register for a free e-book filled with healthy and delicious recipes by our Master Chef Cacao.

Original article

Are There Any Health Benefits To Eating Chocolate?

Women (and men) across the world want to know - are there any health benefits to eating chocolate? Extremely popular with people across the world, chocolate is creamy, decadent, and easily mixed into milk and made into hot chocolate easily. In fact, it is one of the world's most popular foods. When research came out that chocolate may actually be good for you, consumers rushed to find out more. It turns out that the type and amount that you consume is critical in deciding overall health benefits.

Health Benefits

Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are known for having high levels of flavanols and antioxidants. Flavanols are known for being able to fight free radical damage from outside sources like pollution, certain diseases, and bad nutrition. Flavanols also help to improve vascular health by lowering blood pressure, promoting blood flow to the brain, and improving overall circulation in the body. Antioxidants also help to protect the body from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. It is important to note that cocoa beans and chocolate are not the only source of antioxidants and flavanols for our diets. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high levels of each.

Choose Wisely

When eating chocolate for good health, it is also important to remember that the type and quantity of chocolate you are eating is very important. Chocolate laced with high fat additives and lots of sugar is not necessarily good for you. The best choice seems to come from dark chocolate that is minimally processed by manufacturers. White chocolate and milk chocolate can contain high levels of sugar and added fats that hinder the good nutritional benefits of eating chocolate.

Eating small amounts is also important. One ounce a few times a week seems to be the optimal amount to achieving health benefits. Scientists and nutritionists seem to be encouraged that drinking a glass of red wine with one ounce of dark chocolate a few times a week can help you reach optimum health benefits from each.

However you choose to eat chocolate, it is important to remember that dark chocolate that is minimally processed is the best choice if you want to get the most health benefits. Dark chocolate does not loose the high levels of flavanols or antioxidants that can improve health and reduce overall damage to the body from outside toxins in the environment. What's your favorite way to eat chocolate?

Get the best nutrition chocolate can offer with raw organic cacao powder from ViJuvenate.

Original article

Lactose Free Chocolate

No need to panic! Even if you are lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy all the chocolate desserts that you love. There really are a wide variety of delicious chocolate sources that do not contain any dairy. This quick guide to lactose free chocolate will help you keep that sweet tooth alive.

Milk chocolate is obviously off limits. This is not lactose free not only because milk is a key ingredient, but also milk chocolate may also contain other dairy ingredients that you wouldn't think of.

Your easiest option is to look for top quality dark chocolate. Good dark chocolate really should only have four key ingredients: cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, sugar, and lecithin. (Don't worry! It's soy based.) Not all dark chocolates are created equal. Many mainstream brands have all kinds of ingredients that may include dairy sources. Always check the label for ingredients before you make a purchase.

What is cocoa butter?

Is cocoa butter lactose free? Yes, that is because cocoa butter does not come from dairy. While many consumers see the word butter and assume that butter contains milk, this is not the case. Cocoa butter comes from the fatty portion of the cocoa bean, not from dairy. It is also the vital ingredient that makes chocolate just melt in your mouth.

Where can I find lactose free chocolate?

It won't be very difficult at all to find different options for lactose free chocolate desserts. You can start by checking online as most companies post information on their ingredients and where you can buy them in a store. You can also simply check your local grocery store. Remember to look for high quality chocolate and check the label for any dairy ingredients. You may have better luck at a specialty grocery store or a vegan grocery store. People who are vegan or vegetarian will have plenty of chocolate desserts that are dairy free.

Lactose Free Chocolate Deserts:

1. Dina's Organic Chocolate 74% Dark Dairy Free Truffles. These truffles come in a 16 count box and are also Certified Fair Trade

2. Dark Chocolate Dream - From the makers of Rice Dream and Soy Dream milks. These chocolate bars come in 5 different flavors and use all natural ingredients.

3. Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Use for any baking projects, these chips are dairy, nut and soy free.

3. InJoy Organics - Organic Hot Chocolate. This is lactose free and gluten free hot chocolate mix that you can make hot, cold or even add to smoothies.

4. Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies. A great option that will satisfy your cookie cravings, these cookies are dairy free, gluten free and even certified kosher.

5. Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix. This brownie mix is a safe way to prepare lactose free chocolate brownies, made with quality extra dark Ghirardelli cocoa.

Viola Sharp is an author who enjoys writing about how your favorite foods can fit with diet restrictions. You can check out her latest website Lactose Free Easter Eggs where she posts a great recipe for dairy free chocolate eggs and has more resources for Lactose Free Chocolate desserts.

Original article

Top 5 Occasions to Celebrate With Chocolate Gold Coins

Chocolate gold coins were first made for Queen Marie Antoinette of France to conceal the bitter taste of medicine. Since cocoa was believed to have several health benefits, the royal family physician developed the treats by mixing cocoa, sugar and medicine together. While the Queen consumed chocolate to improve the taste of the bitter medicine, today it has come to being associated with celebration. This is because several religious rituals include the custom of celebrating with sweet coins made from finely ground cocoa. Today, you can buy customized chocolate gold coins to make the celebrations even more special.

Popular Occasions to Celebrate with Chocolate Gold Coins

Here are some of the important festivals/occasions that you can celebrate with chocolate gold coins:

1. St Patrick's Day: The day is also celebrated as the beginning of Christianity in Ireland. Therefore, you can relish the legend of the leprechaun (a 2-feet-tall, magical Irishman) with decorations of pots filled with edible treasure.

2. Talk Like a Pirate Day: September 19 can be celebrated in real pirate spirit by offering favors that pirates like the most - treasure in the form of edible coins. The host can assemble a heap of chocolate treats customized into golden treasure. While the treasure decoration would be an innovative idea to impress guests at the party, the guests would be delighted to take back gourmet treats with them.

3. St Nicolas' Day: A popular legend says that St Nicolas helped a family of poor people by the sliding down a bag full of money through the chimney, which then happened to land into a sock hung near the fireplace to dry. To commemorate this legend on Christmas, you can fill colorful stockings with chocolate gold coins and hang these around the house.

4. Baby Shower: Customization can help you personalize the treats with the name of the expected baby or the date of the shower. You can choose a reliable retailer to order high quality gourmet treats made from rich Belgian cocoa in bulk.

5. Children's Birthday Parties: While mothers tend to run out of games that they can plan for the children to play at a birthday party, a treasure hunt is an exciting option to consider. You can plan the rewards in the form of boxes or bags full of chocolate gold coins.

You can customize the treats with interesting graphics, one-liners or even images embossed on them. Also, make sure that the retailer uses high quality chocolate to prepare the treats. Visit the retailer's website to find out more about his services before making the purchase.

If you want to place an order for world class chocolate gold coins for any occasion, visit MyChocolateCoins.com. They prepare treats from high quality Belgian chocolate and allow personalization of the order.

Original article

How About An Old-Fashion Chocolate Dessert Tonight - Easy Bittersweet Pudding, Sauce, Fudge Pie

Chocolate has been a favorite of almost all the world's populations over the years. Personally, I love all the modern chocolate but I love the old fashion chocolate recipes of my younger days,too. The next time you decide to make something chocolate, why not try one of these recipes from my vintage recipe collection? This decadent Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding is easy and good enough to impress guests. They will never guess the secret ingredient that brings out the pleasant bittersweet touch! Busy cooks can bring out a delicious dessert by serving this rich homemade Chocolate Sauce over a store purchased pound cake or some ice cream. It is also good with strawberries and other fruits. This Fudge Pie Alamode is unique without a crust.

EASY BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE PUDDING
Cola (I use COKE) takes the place of the milk in this pudding. It adds a pleasant bittersweet flavor. A great surprise for family and friends!

1 pkg (4-serving size) chocolate pudding mix (not instant!)
1 cup water
1 bottle (6 1/2-fl oz) cola beverage
whipped cream for garnish, if desired.

Combine the pudding mix, water, and cola in a saucepan. Cook while stirring over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil. Remove the pan from the heat and pour evenly into 4 individual dessert dishes. Chill until set. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.

Note: You know this is an old recipe when the cola is called for in a 6 1/2 ounce bottle! You will probably have to measure out your cola today!

I am a diabetic now and can still make this pudding. Use a sugar-free pudding mix and I prefer a Coke Zero but Diet Coke would be okay, too.

GOOD OLD FASHION CHOCOLATE SAUCE
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/2 tall can of evaporated milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan mix the sugar and cocoa together. Stir in the water and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to boiling. Boil, while continuing to stir, for 3 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and add the evaporated milk and the vanilla extract.

This pie is a recipe of my late mother's from the 1950s. My mother absolutely loved chocolate and would have made all our desserts chocolate except my dad tolerated it. That was the one area my parents could not agree on! I can remember how dad would come home after work and find a chocolate pie or cake. He would almost always ask if there was another dessert hidden somewhere. And there often was! Usually, when mom made a chocolate pie she would also make a lemon, my dad's favorite. I like this pie because I don't care for crust.

FUDGE PIE ALAMODE
3 sq. unsweetened chocolate
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teasp. salt
1 teasp. vanilla extract
1 pt. vanilla ice cream

Day before: Start heating oven to 350 degrees F. In double boiler, melt chocolate and butter, stirring. Cool slightly. Stir in sugar. In large bowl, beat eggs; stir in chocolate mixture, then nuts, salt, and vanilla. Pour into a well-greased 9" pie plate. Bake 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into pie-shaped wedges and serve topped with ice cream.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's old-fashion recipe collection visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com/
For more of her recipes and diabetic information visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Dazzling, Decadent, Desserts For Your Chocolate Fix

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE
12 ounces semi-sweet or bitter-sweet chocolate 1 package chocolate wafers (about 41 wafers)
2 cups heavy cream GARNISH; whipped cream and shaved chocolate

Have a 8 inch spring form pan ready. Heat chocolate and 2/3 cup of the cream in microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Make sure bowl is safe for the micro-wave. Chocolate will have it's form and not look melted. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes, and then stir until smooth. Meanwhile put 14 of the chocolate wafers in food processor and use the pulse setting until crumbs are fine. Add 2 tbsp of the heavy cream and process until crumbs are moistened. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of spring form pan. Beat remaining cream in medium chilled bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form when beater blades are lifted. Add about half of the cream to cooled chocolate mixture and stir gently. With a rubber spatula, gently fold remaining chocolate mixture into remaining cream until no white streaks remain. Pour about 1 cup of chocolate over cookie crust in pan. Arrange 9 cookies on top. Repeat layers twice, spreading remaining mousse on top. Cover pan and refrigerate at least 12 hours or overnight. To serve place pan on plate. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen it. Remove sides of pan and slice. Top each slice with a spoonful of whipped cream and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

Note: To make chocolate shavings, Hold a chunk of chocolate over waxed paper and firmly pull a vegetable peeler across the chocolate to make the shavings.

FLOUR LESS CHOCOLATE CAKE
7 ounces good semi-sweet chocolate 1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter 4 eggs (separated)
Grease a 9 inch round cake pan
Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Melt chocolate in double boiler. Make sure the bowl does not touch the water and water is just barely simmering, or the chocolate could seize up. Using an electric mixer beat the egg whites. Slowly add remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 40 minutes or until a knife comes out with just a few crumbs on it. Cool 30 minutes then dust with confectioners sugar. It's not a very impressive cake to look at, but the taste will make up for that. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if you wish.

EXCELLENT FUDGE BROWNIES
Grease 8 inch square pan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
3/4 stick butter 1 tsp vanilla
1 6 ounce package chocolate bits 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Melt chocolate and butter together in double boiler. Cool chocolate mixture so eggs won't scramble. Beat the eggs and sugar into the melted chocolate mixture. Mix together flour and baking powder. Stir flour mixture into chocolate mixture. Stir in vanilla. Bake in prepared pan for 25 minutes. To make these more of a dessert, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Original article

Is There a Good Sugar Free Cocoa Drink?

Being diabetics, we went searching for a sugar free chocolate flavored drink that would fit within a diabetic's diet. We spent quite a bit of time looking at labels in local grocery stores. We're trying to live by the principal that if you can't pronounce an ingredient, you probably should not be eating or drinking that product. We thought that this would be fairly easy to do. We were wrong. Even the number 1 brand states in the ingredient list that it has cocoa processed with alkali.

We were looking for a cocoa drink because of the antioxidants found naturally in cocoa. While it's true that chocolate is made from cocoa, almost every chocolate product is has more sugar than cocoa. We also wanted a drink low in calories and low in carbohydrates.

The other problem is that every cocoa drink found on the grocery shelves requires sugar, honey or some other sweetener before you can drink it.

Happily, there is an internet. We must have looked at 50 web sites and tried looking at ingredient lists for cocoa drinks. A few hours of Google searching later, we found something we wanted to try. We placed our order and waited.

It's not often that we find a food that is both good and good for you, especially for diabetics. Well, we found one we really like. It's called Crio Bru and it's made from 100% roasted cocoa beans. The great news is that cocoa beans have several health benefits, all of which are preserved when roasted and brewed into a delicious sugar free chocolate flavored drink.

Low Calorie -Only 10 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams sugar and 0 milligrams sodium per 6 oz. Cup. These numbers are for just the brewed cocoa itself. Many people add sugar, honey and/or creamer or milk. Naturally, this adds to the calories.
Antioxidants - I've learned that raw cocoa beans, by weight, have more antioxidants than almost any food in the world, even after being roasted and brewed, Antioxidants help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals thus helping your immune systems. Brewed cocoa beans are also 100% gluten free.
Carbohydrates - A 6 oz serving of brewed cocoa beans contains only 1.5 grams of carbohydrates. For us diabetics, this is a real treat. Almost no carbs with a great chocolate taste.

As we said earlier, it is very easy to brew. Just brew it exactly the same way you brew your coffee. It will take a little longer to brew. You can use a permanent filter or paper filters, both work very well. To brew it thicker and richer, think hotter and longer. Set your auto-drip to brew slowly or brew it longer in a French Press. We like it "black" but many of our friends add cream and honey or sugar. Either way, it's very good. For many years, we drank only coffee in the mornings. Now, we substitute brewed cocoa beans 2 or 3 days a week. Even better, you can get this product in 6 flavors,

As I write this, I'm brewing a very small amount of Vega Real flavor. No, it's not to drink. I'm making chocolate cupcakes with it. I'll use both the brewed liquid and some of the grounds. There are many other ways to cook and bake with roasted and brewed cocoa beans or the grounds.

In conclusion, there are very few chocolate flavored foods that fit comfortably within a diabetic's diet. Most diabetics have to severely limit our chocolate. Here is one of a very few exceptions I've found that is 100% pure food, no chemicals, no additives, no whatever. Be careful as this product is very, very good. If you order it once, you will be back for more.

Tom and Nancy Cory are the authors and provide information related to living with diabetes. This brewed cocoa bean drink is very good. They have a blog at http://tinyurl.com/brewed-cocoa-beans

Original article

How to Make Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies can be soft, chewy, cakey, or crispy. Lots of people love a soft texture, but a few prefer them to be crisp and crunchy. A standard recipe for chocolate chip cookies usually won't result in crispy cookies. Use these tips to switch up your recipe and make sure they come out crispy instead of soft or chewy.

Reduce the Brown Sugar or Leave it Alone

Sometimes I like to increase the amount of brown sugar when I want a chewy cookie. If you want to make them crispy, either reduce the brown sugar or leave the recipe as is. When you increase or reduce it, adjust the regular sugar amount at the same time. For example, if the recipe calls for 3/4 cup each and you want to increase the brown sugar, make it 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup regular sugar. This way there is still the same amount of sugar in the end.

Increase the Butter

The butter is what makes the cookies nice and crisp. More butter will make them spread out more and will fry the edges a bit. To make it crispy, the cookie must be thinner and more browned.

Increase the butter by 2 to 4 tablespoons. There doesn't need to be a lot extra. When you add more butter, the cookie will spread out more as the butter melts because there is a larger portion of butter in the cookie. Also, that extra butter will bubble and fry the edges crispy without burning them.

Bake a Tad Bit Longer

Usually I say not to increase the baking time because it makes the cookies hard. With crispy cookies, you want them to be a little harder. Also, when they spread out thinner, they will be more crunchy than hard.

Let the cookies bake an extra minute or two longer than usual. They should be light golden brown across the top of the whole cookie and a little darker around the edges.

Use Mini Chips

When making crispy cookies, I like to use mini chips instead of regular morsels because they tend to be thinner. When they are thinner, the big chips look bumpy and bulky. Mini chips are flatter and add more chocolate to more of the cookie. This way you still get chocolate in every bite, even in the thinner areas of the cookies. It tastes good and still looks like a good cookie.

You can Christine's favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here where she also talks about how to make chewy cookies, if that is your preferred texture.

Original article

Where Did I Get This Chocolate for Your Candy? A Brief History of Chocolate

The quick answer is from my local distributor, and he gets it from Belgium, but how did it get to Belgium and why is it considered the best chocolate in the world?

The chocolate that I used today to make your candy came from a long line of cacao seeds that became trees in the Amazon Rain Forests more than 40 centuries ago. These trees were most probably discovered by the Incas who then traded the seeds to the Olmecs.

About 30 centuries ago the Olmecs planted the seeds and began enjoying the fruits of their labor - cacao seeds. The Olmecs were a trading society that traveled quite extensively throughout the region and they introduced the cacao seeds, among other seeds, to the Aztecs.

The Aztecs started mixing ground up cacao with various spices and vanilla to make a chocolate drink. When the Spanish Conquistadors were exploring modern-day Central America they noticed the nobility drinking this chocolate drink. They acquired the seeds and brought them back to Spain. Unfortunately, for the Spanish, the cacao trees can only grow in the equatorial regions so they needed to plant the cacao seeds in their colonies in the West Indies and the Philippines. The Spanish being a trading society passed on their new commodity to other European countries over the next two hundred years. One country that got these cacao seeds was Belgium.

Belgium colonized an area of Africa, in the late 1800's, that had both the weather conditions and the soil to plant the cacao seeds. The Belgians took over the land (and the cacao trees) in The Congo and started importing the cacao seeds to chocolate makers in Belgium. These cacao seeds were mixed with various items by the fine chocolate craftsmen to create the best chocolate in the world. Some of the ingredients that the chocolatiers used were various nuts, thus inventing the praline. Therefore, technically, unless pralines are made from Belgian chocolate they really are not pralines.

The Belgian chocolatiers shared their recipes with foreign chocolatiers but the Belgians apparently did not share their techniques because over the last century Belgian chocolate is still the industry standard for the finest quality chocolate available. Belgian chocolates place in History was solidified in 1912 when the Belgian chocolatiers Jean Neuhaus created what is called couverture (the term translates from the French as roughly meaning "coating"). This creation made it possible to make chocolates with fillings. Today the European Union regulates the amount of cacao (at least 35%) and fat (at least 31%) in the finished chocolate.

A. Conway
Owner/Chocolatier
The Nut Shop
http://www.thewoodburynutshop.com/
We offer the finest hand-made chocolates available.
We're nuts about chocolate!

Original article

A Chocoholic Party

Create a Chocoholic Party

Looking for some fun party ideas?  How about a chocoholic party?  New research is touting the benefits of dark chocolate and in fact, our ancestors knew about many of the benefits for many years.  Hosting a Chocoholic party is easy and your guests will enjoy the unique idea.

First Things First - The Menu

This is not supposed to be a fancy, sit-down meal.  Instead go with the flow of a chocolate fountain as your centerpiece. You can purchase small chocolate fountains at most of the big box stores and don't feel limited to the pre-packaged chocolate bits that are supposedly designed to be used with these machines.  Read the directions that come with your machine and you will almost always find that you can use any type of chocolate, even white chocolate.  Just add a little good quality oil to help it flow easily.

Serve an assortment of fruit, candies and marshmallows, and even cookies and pretzels or wavy potato chips for dipping.  I love to lay out a large selection of sectioned oranges, grapefruit, and other bite sized fruit for my guests.  But one word of advice.  Set your table up so it can be accessed from both sides.  This will help to relieve the traffic jam around the chocolate fountain.  You could also offer small plastic cups or bowls to allow your guests to take their goodies back to a table or other areas where they can form small groups and keep the talk going.

But just as a buffet has a main meal and dessert, you should not forget to add an assortment  chocolate deserts.  Chocolate cakes, pastries and  a pile of different kinds of chocolates for nibblers. Be sure to have plenty on hand as you  can use them for games or prizes during the gathering.

Don't be enticed into buying a load of expensive gourmet chocolates as your favorites from the grocery store will undoubtedly please most people.

Yes, chocolate and wine are a great pairing bud do some research on wines that would go well with chocolates.  Talk to your local wine merchant for some good suggestions, and of course, don't forget the milk and coffee.  How about Hot Cocoa?

Setting the Stage

You may wish to consider using your best linens. If you have chocolate designed-linens, that would be great but if not you can easily design your own using stamps, fabric paint, browns of course, and an inexpensive length of cloth.!

Set up several tables for your guests, one  for eating and the other for the chocolate fountain and chocolate and wine tasting. You may also want to set up some chocolate grazing stations around the house or yard or  display desserts for later.

Decorate using tones of chocolate, from tan to bark brown.  Love fruit with chocolate then consider some splashes of fruity colors such as raspberry, orange, or apple green.

Plan for fun

While just indulging in eating pounds of chocolate may be enough for many, you may want to plan some games.  Here are a few ideas.

1. Who is the worst chocoholic?  Give a prize to the one who eats the most chocolate.

2. Paint by Chocolate - Use milk, white, and dark chocolate to paint a pre-made pizza crust.  Decorate with fresh fruit. Who's yummy creation receives the most votes?.

Now that I have you thinking about chocolate, get to work. A Chocoholic Party is a great alternative to the traditional get-together.

NOTE: Scientific studies now indicate that a little chocolate a day is GOOD FOR YOU. so, Eat your chocolate...it is a Health Food! Enjoy.

At http://mealtime.us/ you can download free cookbooks and find lots of recipes. Check it out and don't miss the links to all the other cookbooks. Great for gifts. Happy Mealtime.

Original article

Why To Buy Bulk Candy

If there is one thing that people love, then it would have to be their candy. There are all sorts of candy for people to fall in love with. There are many distributors who know that people might need a lot of candy and they know that it can be quite costly to buy that much candy. That is why some might want to consider buying bulk candy online. There are many reasons that people might want to do this.

Why To Buy Bulk Candy

The first benefit there is when buying bulk candy online is that you can find some things that are hard to find in stores. Many of us remember the penny candy. These are nice to hand out as prizes and such and there are all types of them out there. There are the wax bottles. There are the flavored tootsie rolls and more. However, finding these seems rather hard. When people do find them in store, they are way more than a dollar a piece. However, go online, and you can find many who sell them for a rather reasonable price and in bulk too.

You get more for your money when you go to buying bulk candy online. When you go to buy this, you find that you get more than you were anticipating. So, those people who find that they need a mass amount will find that they can get this for relatively cheap when they buy from these websites that offer candy in bulk. You would not imagine the types that are out there. Making a selection might be hard and not ordering too much might be even harder.

Some others will find that when you go to buying bulk candy online, you are buying straight from the wholesaler. This means that you don't have to deal with a third party that might up the price and might not be able to get orders right. This is what you need when you need that amount of candy and when you are working on such a tight budget. When you look at how much you are spending, you will find that you are spending the same amount for a rather large box where you would pay that amount for a rink a dink box from the store nearest to you. Put that into perspective when you are looking at saving. The problems you get from the store as that they might not have on hand as much as you need and that you need to order well in advance is no longer an issue. Nor do you have to worry about going to go pick it up as it is shipped to you!

All of these reasons make it great for people who have a need for that much candy. It doesn't matter if you are going to be using this for fundraising or for a party. When you have a need for a special sort of candy and you have to have a large amount, buying bulk candy online is said to be the safe and easiest way to go. Some might go as far as to say it's the only way to go.

RoyalCandyCompany.com is the leading online candy retailer to Buy Bulk Candy. If you're looking to Buy Candy Online, you'll find RoyalCandyCompany offers the lowest pricing on all products. If you find a competing site offering lower pricing, they'll match and beat the price by 10%.

Original article

The Seduction: Chocolate and Chile

A few years ago, I attended a charity event in Albuquerque called Mayan Mystic Charity. My son, who lives in Albuquerque, had just broken up with his significant other, and at the suggestion of a friend asked me, his mother to attend the event with him as his date...such a sweet boy!

It was at this event that I had my first taste of chile and chocolate and I have loved it ever since. The sweetness and smoothness of the chocolate sliding down your throat; followed by a faint tingle in the back of your throat is pleasurably seductive.

This combination of chocolate-chiles was used by early Aztecs as determined by archaeological discoveries of storage vessels containing cacao pods and chiles. The chiles and cacao pods were also used as tax payment to Montezuma, the emperor of Tenochtitlan (which is now Mexico City). The great Montezuma liked his cup of hot cocoa flavored with vanilla, honey and spiked with a good dose of red chile. The Conquistadors picked up the habit, too, and brought it across the pond and, of course, the rest is confectionery and gastronomic history.

The story of how chocolate was added to savory chile sauces involves nuns. It seems that mole poblano was created in the 16th century by the nuns in the convent of Santa Rosa in the city of Puebla. Evidently the archbishop was coming to visit and the nuns were concerned because they had no food sophisticated enough to serve someone of his importance. As they all prayed for guidance, one of the nuns had a vision. She directed everyone to begin chopping and grinding everything edible they could find in the kitchen. Into the pot went dried red chiles, fresh chiles, tomatoes, a variety of nuts, sugar, tortillas, onions, bananas, dried fruits and raisins, garlic and dozens of herbs and spices. The final and crucial ingredient was the enchanted one: chocolate. Then the nuns killed their only turkey and served it, with the mole sauce, to the archbishop, who avowed it to be the most excellent dish he had ever consumed!

About ten years ago the chocolate-chile combination seemed to be rediscovered by chefs as they realized how beautifully the combination worked. Who knows, maybe they tasted mole and decided that chiles might work in a myriad of chocolate creations, savory and sweet. Even now, many artisan chocolatiers now proffer some variety of "Aztec" chocolate, spiced with the original "new world" flavors of chile and cinnamon.

I recently offered the following dessert to a group of friends. I didn't tell them what the dessert was; however they could see that it was a chocolate mousse. What they didn't realize, until the first bite, was the addition of chile powder. They immediately recognized it and described the dessert in such amazing adjectives...luxurious, silky, smooth, but with slight kick of spiciness, a light but bright accent, lingering at the back of the palate. The next morning they all called and asked for the recipe! So now, I'm offering it to you to try on your friends.

As a footnote, when I was putting away all of the ingredients I used in the mousse recipe, I placed the box of cocoa powder up on a top shelf of my cabinet. Unfortunately, I didn't get it quite up to the shelf and it dropped, hit me on the head, and spilled its contents all over my face, my glasses, my tee-shirt and my jeans. It also spewed its contents on a counter top, the stove and the floor. It took me a couple of hours to clean up the mess; leaving my personal cleanup to last. However, my husband came to the rescue and vacuumed me clean!

Red Chile Spiked Chocolate Mousse

8 servings, about 1/2 cup each

The idea of chile with chocolate still surprises most people, but the duo pairs beautifully in many chocolate desserts.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

4 tablespoons water, divided

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons mild-to-medium New Mexican red chile powder

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

3/4 cup low-fat milk

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (see cooking tip below)

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

8 teaspoons dried egg whites (see Note), reconstituted according to package directions (equivalent to 4 egg whites)

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

Preparation

Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl; set aside.

Combine cocoa, granulated sugar, chile powder, espresso powder and salt in a large saucepan. Whisk in egg, then milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until steaming and just beginning to thicken, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately whisk in the softened gelatin, chocolate and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is melted and fully incorporated.

Beat egg whites, brown sugar and cream of tartar in a medium bowl in an electric mixer on high speed just until firm peaks form.

Stir one-fourth of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture until smooth. Fold in the remaining egg whites until fully incorporated. Spoon the mousse into 8 dessert glasses or cups.

Chill the mousse until set, at least 2 hours. Top with some whipped cream and a chocolate-covered coffee bean..

Notes

Pasteurized dried egg whites are a wise choice in recipes that call for uncooked egg whites. Look for brands like Just Whites in the baking or natural foods section of most supermarkets.

Cooking Tip: If you have a block or a square of chocolate, grating it on a box grater allows the chocolate to melt faster when you are heating it.

Karleen Werk of Casa Karleena's Corner
http://www.newmexicochileproducts.com/

We pride ourselves in bringing together the highest quality New Mexico food products. New Mexico Chile Products.com is an easy way to get your "Chile Fix". Our foods are rich in taste and tradition. Our web store is a combination of over 25 local New Mexico companies specializing in some of the finest spices, soups, salsas, jams, coffee and Chile products made in New Mexico.
Read more at http://www.newmexicochileproducts.com/, Casa Karleena's Corner

Original article

Chocolate Party Favors for Theme Bridal Showers

Chocolate is believed to be an aphrodisiac since the time of the Aztecs. Scientists, reinforcing this belief, say that the presence of PEA and other chemicals, such as tryptophan and phenylethylamine, create an aphrodisiac like effect. The former chemical is released in the brain during sexual arousal, while the latter is released when a person falls in love. Therefore, chocolate party favors are ideal for bridal showers. These treats can be customized to complement a number of themes for the bridal shower that both the guests and the bride-to-be would love.

Bridal Shower Theme Ideas with Chocolate Party Favors

Here is a list of themes you can experiment with for the bridal shower with chocolate party favors that complement the theme well:

Stock the pantry

Inform the guests about the theme a few weeks before the events, so that they can come up with their classic recipes and some non-perishable convenience food, like frozen chicken, cocoa powder, etc. You can conclude the ceremony by giving away chocolate party favors, customized with kitchen-related clipart printed on the treats. You can also ask the bride-to-be for photographs of her while cooking or in the kitchen and imprint them on the favors.

Home Poker

Surprise the guests and the soon-to-be-married couple with a poker theme bridal shower. Ask the guests to do a little homework on a few simple poker games that you plan to include, such as the 5-card draw. Guests can bring in gifts like ash trays, alcoholic beverages and poker ties for the groom and hand fans for the bride, or even green felt as a common gift. You can give away chocolate party favors that are customized as colorful poker chips. You can even use the edible casino chips to play the games.

Wine tasting shower

For a peaceful evening or a leisurely afternoon, the guests and the bride can be delighted with an extravagant theme. Guests can simply bring in different kinds of cheese, chocolates, their favorite winery, etc. You may extend bottle openers, bottle stoppers and other wine themed favors. Get wine glasses, a wine bottle, or the famous quote by Jonny Depp, 'Wino Forever', etched on the chocolate treats.

Lingerie

If you do not want to stick to the classic girly theme parties, then a lingerie-theme bridal shower is can be great fun. Guests can bring in essentials like exotic lingerie, scented candles, chocolate treats, and you can give away red and pink chocolate coins customized with etched hearts, kissing-couples, in-love couples, or pictures of sexy lingerie items.

Other themes, such as a honeymoon shower, holiday extravaganza, garden party, etc, can also be made memorable with the customized chocolate party favors.

If you are planning a bridal shower, visit MyChocolateCoins.com to buy exotic chocolate party favors that are customized at attractive prices. They use state-of-the-art technology to customize the treats with colors, clip-art and photos.

Original article

Here Are Some Really Good Chocolate Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHEF CAKE

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 13x9 baking pan
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
4 tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
2 tbsp grape jelly
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients into dry mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool and frost with Chocolate butter cream frosting.

1 stick butter (soften)
1/2 cup cocoa
13 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
enough milk or cream to spread

Beat all ingredients together and spread over cooled cake.

TOLL HOUSE BROWNIES
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Brownie layer
1 stick butter
6 ounces chocolate bits
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour

Spread in 8 inch square pan.

Toll House layer
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp vanilla
1 large eggs
4 ounces chocolate bits

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat together with electric mixer butter, sugar, brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix by hand. Put spoonfuls of the dough on top of brownie mixture. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

GRASSHOPPER PIE
24 cream-filled chocolate cookies (finely crusher)
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/4 cup Creme De Menthe*
1 jar marshmallow creme
2 cups heavy cream

Combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into 9 inch spring form pan, reserving 1/2 cup for garnish. Gradually add Creme De Menthe to marshmallow creme, mixing until well blended. Beat heavy cream with 1 tbsp sugar until stiff. Fold cream into Creme De Menthe mixture and pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Freeze for 3-4 hours

*If you prefer, substitute 1/4 cup milk, few drops green food coloring, few drops peppermint extract, in place of the Creme De Menthe.

TOFFEE BARS
1 cup butter (soften)
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chocolate bits
1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Cream butter and sugar in bowl until fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla, mix well. Gradually add flour and beat well after each addition. Spread in prepared pan and bake 25 minutes.

remove from oven sprinkle chocolate bits over top; return to oven for a few minutes to melt chocolate. Remove from oven and spread chocolate evenly over bars. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.

Deanna not only loves to make chocolate desserts but loves to share her cooking and recipes with everyone. If you want more chocolate dessert recipes and a very special chocolate cake recipe visit her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=30 From here you can get different recipes for all occasions not just chocolate or desserts. If you want to turn your passion for chocolate into something more check out her website at http://deannamartin.us/?page_id=24 Enjoy

Original article

Cooking With Chocolate: 5 Simple Tips

Well I have a few tips for you. Chocolate is a commodity that generates millions of dollars on an annual basis. We definitely get satisfaction out of consuming chocolate and making delicious creations. When cooking with chocolate there are 5 simple tips that will set your chocolate apart from the ordinary pieces out there.

· Use Stainless Steel or Tin Cookware
· Store Properly
· Be Aware of Expiration Dates
· Explore all of Your Possibilities
· Quality Over Quantity

Use Stainless Steel or Tin Cookware
Too many times I have seen people preparing to make a delicious chocolate recipe and they have the wrong equipment. Using cookware that has nonstick coating or cookware that is poor in quality can have an effect on your chocolate. Often times the coating on those nonstick pots begin to chip. And that can end up in your dessert! Not only that but your chocolate will then start to stick and burn. Avoid this problem all together and use stainless steel or tin cookware.

Store Properly
When storing chocolate it does not need to be exposed to air or intense heat. Air can cause the chocolate to taste stale and that will not enhance your dessert. Also, melting and re-melting of your chocolate will change the taste too.

The refrigerator can carry many odors and chocolate absorbs them all. When storing chocolate make sure that it is in a vacuum packed package or sealed up tightly with no air in it. Also keep chocolate away from high heat or extreme cold.

Be Aware of Expiration Dates
If your chocolate is expired chunk it. There is no need in spoiling your recipe and reputation simply because you used an old package of chocolate.

Explore Your Possibilities
There are so many recipes, candy molds, and gift ideas out there. To keep things interesting do not get caught up doing the same recipe over and over again. Buy new molds, use a different type of chocolate, or use a different ingredient in conjunction with the chocolate! You will be surprises at what you create! Do not limit yourself you will be so glad that you did explore.

Quality Over Quantity
There is such a temptation that arises when we see a sale tag at the supermarket. Do not give in if the chocolate is on sale and it is not a quality brand. Some generic brands are ok but it is wise to test them out before you use them in your recipes. You will thank yourself and your guest, family, and loved ones will thank you for sparing them the disappointment and upset taste buds. Stick to the best and forget the rest.

With these tips you will be able to make your recipes better...

For more Free Amazing Candy Making Tips and a Free Mini-Course on making homemade candy sign up at http://www.candymaking101.net/

Original article

Bulk Chocolate Candy For Easter

Easter Sunday is not only a significant religious holiday, but it is an important holiday for candy makers. Chocolate covered Easter eggs filled with caramel (or other fillings) and chocolate or white chocolate Easter bunnies are some of the candies that are offered before and during Easter in convenience stores and grocery stores. Yet, whenever you fill plastic eggs for the holiday with quarters, dimes, pennies, and even dollars, you can also fill chocolate candies in the Easter eggs. Just make sure that the chocolate is cold and does not sit out in the sun, because the chocolate will melt. For Easter Egg Hunting Parties, many types of chocolate are bought in bulk in order to lessen the amount of cost. At the grocery store or the convenience store, you buy chocolate candy at a higher cost, for a specific bag. If you buy your chocolate in bulk, you get to have more chocolate for your money.

By buying bulk candy, you work directly with the wholesaler. The wholesaler may offer discounts on the chocolate as well. If you are holding a large scale Easter Egg Hunt such as at your church, a government building, a specific company event, or even the White House, in Washington, D.C., your organization needs to buy chocolate candy in bulk for Easter. Some wholesalers offer incentives for selling bulk candy, like buy three packs, get another pack for free. The chocolate candies come in various shapes and sizes. Chocolate also comes in different colors and can contain nuts, caramel, coconut, or peanut butter.

Buying Bulk Chocolate Candy

You do not necessarily have to buy bulk chocolate candy around the holidays to enjoy the satisfactory feeling of fine chocolate. You can buy bulk chocolate candy at any time. You can even make your order online for bulk chocolate candy; You can have bulk chocolate candy to give out for your guests, friends, and family as treats. For example, mini chocolate bars to give out to your guests. Your guests can have the option to choose to have nuts in the bars or straight milk chocolate. There are various candy warehouse vendors all across the United States, even the world who are waiting and wanting to have your business. Some of which, the business have been in operation for a long time. These candy warehouses can work with the public at large as well as organizations (private or public).

If you are having a fundraiser for your school club, such as DECA, you can incorporate bulk chocolate candy. Buying bulk amounts of chocolate candy bars (with or without nuts) can guarantee that you can buy your candy at a discount and sell your candy at a profit. You can work with the wholesaler to get further incentives on fundraisers. Sometimes, the chocolate is sold per pound or per unit. The chocolate can range from white chocolate to dark chocolate. If the chocolates are in M&M form, they can be monogrammed with a limitation of letters on the backside. These monogrammed M&Ms are great presents for weddings, holidays, baby showers, and other events.

RoyalCandyCompany.com, the leading online wholesale candy retailer, allows you to Buy Bulk Chocolate and other Bulk Candy at highly discounted prices. Their price guarantee keeps customers coming back as they will match and beat any competitor's price.

Original article

Ferrero Rocher - A Hazelnut Chocolate

Ferrero Rocher is one of most famous and most liked chocolates in the world. It was introduced in the year 1982 by the famous chocolate maker, Ferrero SpA. A Ferrero Rocher is a round shaped chocolate containing roasted hazelnuts that are enclosed by a slim wafer shell. One small pack is of 73 calories and is covered in a bright gold wrapper. Due to its exquisite look and extremely delicious taste, this chocolate is known as one of the most sought after chocolate treats for people around the world. The taste and innovative advertising campaigns were the major reasons behind the immense popularity of Ferrero Rocher. It is one of a few niche chocolates and is quite affordable too.

The company, Ferrero SpA, has been in the confectionery business for last 65 years and is headed by Giovanni Ferrero. It is a private organization and is considered to be one of the most trustworthy organizations across the globe. Most of the company's products are made up of hazelnuts and cocoa, an amazing combination discovered by the founder of the company, Pietro Ferrero. Their first product was Nutella, a chocolate spread made up of hazelnuts, cocoa and skimmed milk. The success of Nutella inspired the owners of the company to introduce different chocolate related products. Pocket Coffee, Giotto, Mon Cheri, Tic Tac, Confetteria Raffaello and Hanuta were the products successfully introduced by the company.

Confetteria Raffaello looks similar to Ferrero Rocher but contains almond and milk cream instead. Another famous candy is Garden Coco that is similar to Raffaello and Ferrero Rocher, but it is made of coconut cream. A famous chocolate from Ferrero SpA is Kinder Surprise, which has a chocolate egg in it. It comes with a surprise toy for kids. Other products that Ferrero SpA specially makes for kids are Kinder Chocolate, Kinder Bueno and Kinder Happy Hippo.

Forrero Rocher comes in a pack of 6, 12 and 24 pieces. It is an extremely well scented chocolate candy. It is not like a typical bar of chocolate that melts instantly, so you have to eat it slowly to fully enjoy its taste. If you compare the prices of Ferrero Rocher packs with other chocolates, you may find them a little more expensive as compared to other chocolates, like Cadbury, Kit Kat, etc. However, Forrero Rocher has its own flavor and niche style. Its packs are perfect as romantic gifts, therefore, their demand increases substantially on the occasion of Valentine's Day.

If you are searching for any type of online gifts for your loved ones then click here MyGiftShop and if you are searching for delicious Ferrero Rocher chocolates, then click here Ferrero Rocher Chocolates.

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5 Wording Ideas for Custom Candies Wedding Favor

Personalized M&M's can be used for many occasions. One of which is having them given away as a wedding favor. You could change the color that matches your wedding color, put your picture on it and put short phrases on it. If you preferred to give away custom M&M's on your wedding, you have the option to put short phrases and short messages on each M&M candy. But your option is very limited because only up to 19 characters are allowed on each candy. So you might have to go informal in some way by using "text message" wordings.

Here are 5 wordings that you can put on your personalized M&M's wedding favor:

1) Date of your wedding
It could be in formats like mm/dd/yy or mm-dd-yyyy. The candies will end up being eaten but your guests will surely remember the date and how cute your personalized M&M's wedding favor was.

2) The couple's names
Just the first names of course. It would not fit a single M&M candy if the complete name is used. For example, James & Gina, Rob & Tina, etc.

3) Together Forever!
This phrase will surely spruce up the romance on your wedding. Your guests will definitely think of your wedding favor as something sweet and I'm not just talking about the taste. It may be a short, common and simple phrase. But it would truly show the strength of your relationship.

4) Thx 4 coming!
Thank your guests for coming to your wedding. This may be a shortened phrase but they will still get the message and will truly appreciate it. You don't have to worry about informality at all once they put the M&M's candy in their mouth.

5) Mr & Mrs at last!
Show your guests how happy you are to be bonded with each other. Who cares if it's cheesy or mushy? It's your wedding and you should care less about what others would think. The only important thing here is that you and your wife-to-be or husband-to-be are now one.

Those wordings for your personalized M&M's wedding favor aren't even 19 characters long and will definitely make your guests smile. You don't have to worry about your wedding favor ending up in a clutter box or in the attic. Your guests will enjoy your M&M's wedding favor while they munch on it.

If you need more wording ideas to put on your personalized M&M's wedding favor, just visit this page: Personalized M&M's Wedding Favor Ideas.

Quennie V. has been writing since the age of 16. She can write about any topic but prefers to write on things that is of her interest.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Quennie_V.

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Top 10 Most Popular Chocolate Bars in the World!

Brand loyalty is something all businesses strive for. But in terms of chocolate which comes out on top? Below is a list of the Top 10 most popular chocolate bars in the world in terms of consumption. But before you read on why don't you take a guess as to what is number one?

10. Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars

Invented by Milton S. Hershey of Lancaster, PA in 1894, Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars were the first mass produced chocolate bar in the USA. Still going strong they have been described as 'The Great American Chocolate Bar' and possess a slightly sour and tangy taste that is distinctly 'Hersheys'.

9. Oh Henry!

Created in 1921 by the Williamson Candy Company, this chocolate bar contains a delicious mix of peanuts, caramel and fudge which is coated in smooth milk chocolate. Particularly popular in Canada this chocolate bar is believed to have been named after a boy who frequently flirted with the girls at the offices of the Williamson Company.

8. M&Ms

Named after the surname initials of the companies two founders, M&Ms were originally produced in the summer of 1941 and are now sold in over 100 countries world wide. Comprising of a different range of coloured candy shell with the letter 'm' imprinted on it in lower case, this product is now available with a number of fillings including milk and dark chocolate, crisped rice, mint chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, orange chocolate, coconut, pretzel and wild cherry.

7. Baby Ruth

Originally known as 'Kandy Kake' this bar of chocolate covered peanuts, caramel and nougat was introduced to the U.S in 1900. Similar to a Picnic, this product was first produced in Chicago by the Curtiss Candy Company who renamed it to Baby Ruth in 1921, supposedly in honour of the daughter of President Grover Cleveland. Nowadays it is manufactured by Nestle.

6. 3 Musketeers

Made by Mars Incorporated, 3 Musketeers is a chocolate bar with a centre that many people incorrectly refer to as nougat. In fact it is actually made of chocolate marshmallow and whipped cream. Launched in 1932 it originally contained three pieces in one package, flavoured strawberry, chocolate and vanilla, which led to the product being so named. Costing five cents when it was first introduced it was initially marketed as one of the largest chocolate bars on the market and something that could be shared with family or friends.

5. Milky Way

Created in Minnesota by Frank C. Mars in 1923, the Milky Way was the first commercially distributed filled chocolate bar. The name and taste of the bar was taken from a famed malted milkshake of the day, not the earth's galaxy as many contend. In its first year of sales in 1924 the Milk Way generated $800,000 in revenue.

4. Butterfinger

Popularised by Bart Simpson this concoction of butter and peanut butter covered in milk chocolate was lauched by The Curtis Candy Company of Chicago in 1923. The product got its named after a public contest was run by the company and quickly became a firm favourite on the back of early marketing ploys which saw the company drop Butterfingers and Baby Ruth bars from airplanes in cities across the United States.

3. Kit Kat

First created by Rowntrees of York in 1935, Kit Kat's in its original four finger form were developed after a worker at the Rowntree York factory put a suggestion in a recommendation box for a snack that 'a man could take to work in his pack up'. Originally called 'Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp' the product was renamed to Kit Kat after WWII. Today it is produced by Nestle in 17 countries around the world including the UK, Egypt, Australia, Algeria, China, Malaysia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Venezuela.

2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Introduced in 1928 by Harry Burnett Reese, this chocolate has been one of the best-selling candies in U.S. History. Consisting of a delicious peanut butter filling enrobed in milk chocolate it comes as an individual 'Big Cup' or in a pack of 2, 4 or 8. Anyone who has seen the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore film '50 First Dates' will recognise this product instantly.

1. Snickers

The best-selling chocolate bar of all time, the Snickers Bar was introduced to the world in 1930 by Mars Incorporated. Consisting of peanut nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel and covered in smooth milk chocolate the product was named after the Mars family horse. Today it has worldwide global sales of $2 billion.

Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar
http://www.moolollybar.com.au/
The best online chocolate, lolly and confectionery store on the web!

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Chocolate Pizza and Pretzels: Edible Treats to Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

America loves pizza and pretzels. From mini bites to loaded versions, it seems like we can never get enough pizza or pretzels. Now it is time for both of them to be elevated to superstar status. You can substitute your favorite chocolate and include other toppings for the ones I have listed below. Kids can also get involved in making their custom treats. This is also a great way to keep older kids entertained at birthday parties.

Start with a pre-baked sugar cookie crust. I like to use a homemade sugar cookie instead of the refrigerated cookie dough found at most grocery stores. Freshness counts here. You can vary the sizes of your sugar cookie crust for the number of people you want to serve. Place the sugar cookie on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Spread a mixture of broken pieces of milk chocolate and white chocolate over your sugar cookie. Take some miniature sized marshmallows and spread them over the chocolate. Slice up some bananas and add those to the top of the marshmallows. Add your favorite chopped nuts.

In a preheated 400 degree oven, place your cookie sheet and heat for 3-5 minutes, depending on the cookie size, or until marshmallow melts and is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Melt some peanut butter candy coating in the microwave at 10 second intervals until smooth and then drizzle it over your chocolate pizza.

To make chocolate covered pretzels, you start with miniature pretzel rods. These are easier to work with than the larger variety. In a microwave-safe bowl, add a regular sized bag of caramel bits and two tablespoons of liquid whipping cream. Stir together and then place into the microwave for 10 second intervals until the caramel mixture is completely smooth. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Use parchment paper sprayed with butter spray to cover your counter. Dip a miniature pretzel rod into the caramel mixture at a angle. You want to cover two-thirds of the pretzel rod. Twist the pretzel rod to remove the excess caramel and then place it on the butter spray covered parchment paper. Repeat until all of the caramel mixture has been used. The caramel mixture will start to get hard and can be placed in the microwave again at 10 second intervals until softened and smooth again. Let caramel set until completely cool. If the caramel has spread out from the pretzel, you can gently wrap it around the pretzel to smooth it out, or you can use kitchen shears to remove the excess and smooth the caramel to get ready for dipping in the chocolate.

In another microwave safe bowl, melt mint chocolate wafers at 10 second intervals until smooth. Remove the miniature pretzel rods from the parchment paper one at a time and dip them into the melted chocolate mixture at an angle. Twist them to remove the excess chocolate and then place back on the parchment paper to cool. Make sure that you set them down on the flat side or they will roll over and mess up the chocolate coating. Allow to completely cool before eating. If you want to add nuts, coconut or any other topping, you can add it immediately after you dip the caramel covered pretzel rods into the chocolate coating.

Either of these chocolate treats would make a great gift for someone you love. Smile and enjoy.

Debra J. Mosely is the author of The Cake & Cookie Closet: All Dolled Up in Sugar and The Cake & Cookie Closet: Mini Wedding Treats (release date August 2011). She's out to teach the world how to "dream in sugar" with simple techniques and great tips that teach you how to become a sugar star. Check her out and tell your family and friends about her. http://www.thecakeandcookiecloset.com/

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What to Expect in Chocolate Gift Baskets

The funny thing about these baskets is that unlike other chocolate items that a person gets, these are usually not consumed all that quickly. Because the contents are such high quality and precious in nature, they are consumed over time and enjoyed for days or weeks. It is also not at all unlikely that the recipient will keep the basket for years to come. All in all, this is a fabulous gift to give anyone who has a taste for things that are chocolate.

There are few gifts that you can give someone that will always receive such an unabashedly enthusiastic response as chocolate gift baskets. These are unique gifts in that each one is very different, and they offer a huge variety of treats for the recipient. If you are looking for just the right basket, then there are a few things that you should keep in mind with regard to the contents.

First of all, most chocolate gift baskets will have a variety of chocolate items, some of which will be pure chocolate of various types - semi-sweet, dark, or even white chocolate - and also items that either go good with chocolate or use some chocolate in them. You will also find some baskets that offer solely dark chocolate or white chocolate in their offerings.

In addition to chocolate bars or candies, you will also find some of the following items inside:

- Chocolate biscotti or other types of cookies that go well with coffee and hot chocolate, or just to eat as a snack.

- Mixes for hot chocolate or chocolate milk.

- Chocolate-covered peanuts or other types of nuts.

- A mug for your coffee or hot chocolate.

These chocolate gift baskets also come in a variety of sizes, ranging from those that are perfect for a small gift for a co-worker to one that is big enough for an entire family. Some of the larger gift baskets have towels, clothing, or other non-edible products that have a chocolate motif.

When you are buying chocolate gift baskets for friends or family, one thing that you should keep in mind is whether anyone in their household has an allergy to nuts. If so, make sure that the baskets you are looking at are nut-free.

You may also want to see if the recipient has a preference for a particular brand of chocolate or type of chocolate (dark, semi-sweet, or white). You can find baskets that have all of them or you can choose a basket that has only the type of basket that the recipient truly enjoys.

Also, it is important to remember that some of the items in any chocolate gift baskets may be prone to melting, so if you are having it sent (particularly to a warmer region of the country), make sure that it is being sent with sufficient packaging and protection from sun and heat. Many gift baskets are shipped in dry ice or hand-delivered (rather than sent via regular mail) so that there is no chance that the gift basket is left sitting out in the sun.

Everyone loves chocolate and giving a chocolate gift basket is an ideal way of showing your appreciation for your friends and loved ones.

http://www.firstavenuegiftbaskets.com/page/597428

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Barnhart

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How Chocolate Candy Bars Are Made

It is late at night and you have been sleeping soundly for hours. Then, suddenly, a strange sound wakes you with a start. You begin to wonder, "Is there someone in the house? Do I need to grab a baseball bat and explore?"

Finally, you work up the courage and head downstairs, ready to take on the intruder. After a thorough search, you discover the culprit. You cat has simply knocked over a few pots and pans. You breathe a sigh of relief and start to head back upstairs to bed.

Then another thought hits you. After all, you are in the kitchen already, so why not have a delicious midnight snack?

For the most part, midnight snacks come in two categories: salty or sweet. Nobody is getting up and having a banana for a snack in the middle of the night. Nope, you are either having a bowl of salty chips, decadent ice cream, or a delicious and filling candy bar.

Candy bars are a fantastic snack that many of us take for granted. Half the time we just grab them on an impulse while waiting in line at the grocery store. We never consider, however, just how much time and effort goes into making such a handy and convenient treat.

The chocolate that you find in the store is the product of an incredibly long and complicated refining process. This process starts off bean pods that come from a tree called the Theobroma cacao. Aztec and Mayan cultures had a great respect for this food, and the name literally translates to "food of the gods."

The Chocolate-Making Process

To start the process of making chocolate you must first harvest the cacao pods. These pods grow all over the tree, so to get them down you must chop them down with machetes by hand. But you can't just ship the pods out as-is from the tree. You must first split them open. This reveals the cocoa bean that lies inside.

After that, you must scrape at the beans and the sweet pulp that surrounds them. From there the pods are left to ferment for approximately two to eight days in baskets. This important step helps to mellow out the flavor of the beans. If you didn't do that, they would be far too bitter to enjoy.

If you like a higher-quality chocolate bar, then you are probably eating something where the beans were left to ferment for much longer. This results in a fruity and floral flavor. Once finished fermenting, the cocoa harvesters spread them all out into one single layer. They then allow the cocoa to dry out completely in direct sunlight.

From there the beans are packaged and shipped out to the manufacturing plant. At the plant, they first roast the cocoa. This helps to bring out the most intense flavors and colors. Different types of beans require different times and temperatures of roasting.

After the roasting process is completed, it is time to put the beans in a winnower. This machine gets rid of the shells, leaving only the "nibs" of the bean. This is the best part of the cocoa bean, which is then ground into a rich and thick paste. This chocolate liquor (which contains no alcohol) is the building block of all chocolate products.

Once the liquor is produced, it is time to press it. The pressing removes the cocoa butter, and leaves behind a powdery disc, called a "cocoa presscake." From there the process is different depending on what type of chocolate you are producing. In some cases, you re-add cocoa butter. In others, you add it to the conching machine to knead and massage the chocolate. From there it is tempered and wrapped into the candy bars you know and love!

Exciting New Varieties

Of course, there are all different delicious varieties of candy and candy bars. For one, the Tiramisu Bar is a delight that uses only the very finest chocolate all the way from Belgium. This exciting bar is made from the finest cocoa beans, and is an incredible imitation of an exotic dessert.

If you are a coffee enthusiast, then you probably know that chocolate actually contains trace amounts of caffeine. This makes sense when you think about it, because like coffee it is also derived from a bean. The delicious Espresso Bar is made from delicious Belgian chocolate that is combined with a little dash of energy-filled espresso. This candy bar truly combines the best of both worlds.

These are just two of the amazing, incredible varieties of chocolate bars that come in all different shapes and sizes. It is incredible to think that all of these delightful pieces of candy are produced from just one modest little cocoa bean! So the next time you are going to pick up a candy bar at the supermarket check-out, remember all the incredible work it took to get it there.

Andrea Mills is a freelance writer who writes about shopping and food products including candy bars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_M_Mills

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3 Healthy Ways to Enjoy Chocolate - Really!

If my observations at coffee shops, airports, and checkout counters are accurate, many of us are wild about the flavor of chocolate. And yes, I'm one of them. If you are too, I have great news: You do not--do not!--have to swear off your favorite treat to remain committed to healthful eating.

But not all chocolate is equal. Milk chocolate, the basis of most candy bars, offers little or no benefit. Typical candy-bar chocolate tends to be overprocessed, which destroys many nutrients, and loaded with added fat, sugar, and preservatives that negate its good qualities. Milk chocolate might satisfy your sweet tooth, but it's not something that should be a regular part of your diet.

Fortunately, your choices don't end there. Read on for three of my favorite ways to enjoy the rich flavor of chocolate--and get disease-prevention and energy benefits as well.

1) Raw Organic Cacao Powder

Anything that even remotely relates to chocolate has my vote, but the original cacao bean can't be beat. As the source of all chocolate and cocoa products, there's no more pure chocolate than this.

Cacao is a time-tested beneficial food. South American cultures have enjoyed its healthful and invigorating properties for thousands of years. Modern science tells us why: Cacao is naturally rich with antioxidants, magnesium, and fiber.

The only trick to getting your best boost from natural chocolate is to be sure you get the raw, organic product. I recommend buying raw organic cacao in a powdered form because it's so easy to incorporate into all kinds of food. I add cacao powder to smoothies, desserts, and sauces when I want a chocolate flavor. (And when don't I? So, every day!)

2) Natural Chocolate Flavored Drink Powder

Yes, getting fresh fruits and vegetables is always best, but consider adding a whopping extra 5 to 9 daily servings of fruits and veggies right into your breakfast using a nutritional drink powder. These convenient formulas can be mixed into fruit and yogurt smoothies or added directly to almond milk or water.

When you compare brands, look for a formula with an alkaline to optimize your body's pH level. Also look for enzymes and probiotics that aid digestion and absorption. Remember it's always best to choose products that are raw, organic, and sugar-free. And, of course, choose a flavor that suits your taste. Chocolate, anyone?

Energy and nutrition drink powders are available in most health food stores, but you may find it more convenient to comparison-shop for these products online. Just type "chocolate flavor natural drink powder" into your favorite search engine to get started.

3) Chocolate-Covered Cacao Nibs

Bursting with real chocolate flavor, just a few of these tiny morsels are enough to quell a chocolate craving fast. Even better: They are packed with healthful antioxidants.

When you shop for these treats, look for a brand made of 100% dark cacao nibs, covered in dark chocolate--that is, a chocolate with 70% or more pure cacao content.

Is your mouth watering? Mine is! See, maintaining wellness through a balanced diet doesn't have to mean cutting out everything you crave. Commit to adding one of these beneficial and tasty choices to your menu this week, and give yourself a health boost...enjoyably!

Ready to take the next step? It's simple! Through my Virtual Wellness Coaching program, you can get completely individualized, focused-on-you coaching calls with an experienced healthcare professional who really "gets it." Now's the time to step up and claim your best health and wellness. Call me at 212-686-0939, or visit Virtual Wellness Coaching to reserve your spot.

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Buying Bulk Candy Online to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Who could ever resist the sweet temptation of chocolate candy? Or, the smell of butterscotch candies in a candy bowl? Candy is a sugary treat known throughout the world. It comes in many different varieties, shapes, and sizes. Candy canes, gum drops, bubble gum, and more are a favorite of many, from kids to adults. If you like to eat candy, and spend a lot of money on candy, consider buying bulk candy.

Why You Should Be Buying Bulk Candy

Buying bulk candy is cheaper than buying candy individually from the store. If you go to a convenience store or a wholesale store, you would notice that individual boxes and bags of candy would sell for over one dollar. With the economy being in such a poor condition, you have to save each penny that you earn. If you work with a candy wholesaler, you can save your hard earned money.

Working with wholesale candy suppliers is very easy. If you are with an organization that consumes a lot of candy, such as a church, a school, or a non-profit organization, you can receive a discount from the wholesaler for buying bulk candy. Discounts are great if you or your organization is on a tightly strapped budget. If you would have bought candy straight from the store, you would have had to sell double the cost in order to cover your expenses and to make a profit.

Various manufacturers carry certain brands of candy in bulk. Chocolate covered candy can contain nuts, caramel, coconut, and other types of flavors, and are a popular choice. Other popular types of candy are bubble gum, peppermints, sweet tarts, and butterscotch. You can even have candy personalized for an event, such as a sporting event or a wedding. This will have your customers or your guests to keep a momento of your event.

Another reason to buy bulk candy is that it is a good fundraising activity. Kids and adults love candy, especially chocolate bars. You can order packages of chocolate bars in bulk to give to your teachers at school. The teachers can give the children an order form for the children to keep track of the candy bars. The children can take the candy bars home and sell them to family, friends, neighbors and church members. As a fundraiser, you can have prizes for the children who sell the most boxes of candy in the entire school. Prizes, such as a pizza party for the person who sells the most candy would be exciting to younger children. For older children, a day at the amusement park would be exciting. The fundraiser could go to help to fund a school's band trip, specific club, or another type of expense.

Finding a candy wholesaler is not difficult. In fact, it is relatively easy. Search online. Many reputable ones exist around the world, specializing in many different types of sweet treats. If you search for a bulk candy company wholesaler, be sure to contact them through telephone or through e-mail for any special types of deals that they can offer. This will save you money in the long run.

RoyalCandyCompany, the leading online wholesale candy retailer, offers the top Bulk Candy and Bulk Chocolate at highly discounted prices. Their price guarantee keeps customers coming back as they will match and beat any competitor's price.

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