Improve Your Health and Feel Happier With Raw Chocolate

Chocolate is known as one of the most delicious, sensuous, incredible foods on the planet. Now we are able to experience its healing and transforming properties through the growing popularity of raw chocolate.

We aren't talking about Snickers or Cadbury eggs, we're talking about raw chocolate in its most natural and unadulterated form.

Chocolate has amazing powers that are unlike any other food. Unfortunately, most of the chocolate being sold today is ruined by chemicals, sugar, hydrogenated oil, and a multitude of other harmful toxins.

Fortunately in recent times, raw chocolate has come on the scene. When you eat raw chocolate, you are getting all of the nutrients that may have been lost through cooking or mixing with other foods that are bad for our health.

Some of the amazing benefits of eating raw chocolate include:


More magnesium than any other food. Magnesium is essential for strong bones, good teeth, and few aches and pains. It is also brilliantly calming and helps with anxiety.

Magnesium is one of number one mineral deficiency in the west... no wonder most people are walking around feeling down in the dumps (not to mention full of aches and pains). We need magnesium...or Chocolate!


It has the highest amount of antioxidants of any food on the entire planet (so if we want to stay looking and feeling young, we need to pig out on CHOCOLATE!!)


Chocolate is vibrating with sulphur...the beauty mineral. For gorgeous skin, lustrous hair and strong nails eat more Sulphur. Think about all those sulphur hot springs that people have been flocking to for millennium for their beautifying properties. Maybe chocolate is like bathing in a hot spring, in food form!


Chocolate gets the serotonin pumping through your brain...Bliss out! People have talked about the high gained from chocolate for centuries, and this effect is 10 times higher with raw chocolate.


Chocolate is one of the only sources of PEA...the love hormone! If we want to feel more love (as if we don't) then chocolate may hold the key.

Chocolate is ultimately a food that can transform our lives. If we want to look and feel younger, fight disease, feel calmer, and experience more love, then we need to eat more raw chocolate!




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Do You Know All About Vanilla Chocolate?

Vanilla chocolate is usually thought of as white chocolate. There is an ongoing controversy on whether vanilla chocolate is even a chocolate at all. When one thinks of something made of chocolate, the picture in your mind is of a dark or rich brown morsel of tastiness. Vanilla and chocolate are on the opposite ends of the scale of chocolates in color and taste.

The processes of making vanilla chocolates are the same as with dark chocolate, the difference is in the ingredients. Vanilla chocolate is made from sugar, cocoa butter, milk or milk powder and vanilla. The Food and Drug Administration does not recognize white chocolate as a chocolate at all, as white chocolate contains no cocoa solids at all. There is an organization that is working on having white chocolate recognized since, without this standard, vanilla chocolate can contain vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter, and this can affect the taste and quality.

The process in which different chocolates are made is the same. When the seeds are ripe inside the fruit of the tree, the pods are picked off. The seeds are then placed in the sun to dry out and this process takes up to a week. This allows the seeds to ferment and dry. The beans have distinct flavors depending on where they are grown, how they are processed, and how they are mixed with other bean varieties. The chocolate maker blends the beans to create the right mix of flavor. Some chocolate manufacturers use Vanillin in place of real vanilla, which can effect the quality and taste of the vanilla chocolate. The first process for the chocolate is to be finely ground into a paste. The following step is to allow the paste to develop its flavor and smooth texture. This stage is called conching or kneading. The smoothed chocolate is then tempered to achieve the correct temperature. Next, the mixture is poured into molds or on a specially prepared surface to allow it to cool. It is then wrapped and packaged. The amount of time allowed in these processes will affect the outcome of the quality, taste and texture of the finished product. There is an option to use a mixture called confectionary coating, which can also be referred to as “summer” coating. This is where a vegetable coating similar to soy bean oil or palm kernel oil is used instead of the cocoa butter.

As many people may choose vanilla chocolate strictly on taste, having the option of a vanilla based chocolate adds a nice change from the original milk and dark chocolates available.



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Is Chocolate A New Health Food?

Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!

Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.

It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.

Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, don’t forget that most chocolate (unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated fat.

And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories. So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to your health and not to your waistline!

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelor’s degree in both nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center. Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and lose weight healthfully. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

Why Homemade Hot Chocolate Makes You Feel So Good?

You know that hot chocolate tastes good but why does it make you feel good too? Better yet, why does the homemade stuff taste better than anything else? The answer may surprise you.

You likely already know that chocolate is good for you. It’s a fact that chocoholics sing from the rooftops. Chocolate contains flavonoids. These handy little guys act like antioxidants and help protect our body against cell damage. Flavonoids also have a positive affect on our red blood cells and the production of certain hormones. In fact, chocolate has been tested and shown to have a positive affect on a person’s mood. Perhaps it is the creamy texture or perhaps it is a chemical in the chocolate itself.

What you may not know is that some chocolate will make you feel much better than others. Take for example hot chocolate made from scratch. You’re simply combining warm milk and chocolate. There are no ‘extras’ that you might find in a commercial mix. No preservatives. No artificial sweeteners and no tropical oils.

What do tropical oils have to do with it? Tropical oils are extremely saturated fats. Quite often they’re found in snack foods and yes, you guessed it, many commercial hot chocolates. This high level of saturated fat may have a good enough taste but it doesn’t make you feel good. It makes you feel heavy and lethargic. Homemade hot chocolate makes you feel youthful and happy. The best of both worlds can be found.

You can get a homemade cocoa feeling from a hot cocoa mix. Just look for a mix that is free of tropical oils and 99% caffeine free like the McSteven’s hot cocoa mixes. One cup of this cocoa mix and you’ll feel like you’re drinking the feel good homemade cocoa your grandma used to make. Mysecretpantry.com carries a variety of cocoa mixes and hot chocolate makers. Stock up for winter!


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Chocolate Bars - Still Delicious!

The term chocolate bar is a popular way of describing a confectionery treat in the form of a bar. This is usually packaged in a bar shape with individual perforations or in a long, narrow, shaped log covered with chocolate. Many types of chocolate bar exist and there are thousands of companies that create chocolate bars. Some of these companies produce many choices of fillings in their chocolate bar, such as nuts, fruit, mint, coconut, marzipan and many more.

The chocolate bar evolved in approximately the late 1900s. Chocolate had become popular many years before the introduction of the bar but the idea of creating a chocolate bar was to provide a more convenient way of consuming the chocolate. The bars could be packaged and sold to eat easily by hand or while on the go. Up to the invention of the chocolate bar, chocolate had been sold by bulk with loose, irregular or formed pieces.

During the Great Depression, the cost of a chocolate bar was five cents. The price rose to ten cents after World War II and remained that price for many years. More advanced packaging and advertising contributed to the increase in cost to the consumer of many types of chocolate bars. Many chocolate companies still make the same bars they started out with, also adding many more varieties. Some popular chocolate bars that are still popular today are Clark Bar 1917, Baby Ruth 1920, The Charleston Chew 1922, Three Musketeers 1932, Fifth Avenue 1936 and many more. The Hershey Chocolate Company makes several chocolate bars that have been enjoyed for many years. The Krackel Chocolate bar was introduced in 1938 and the bars first contained almonds and then in 1939 peanuts were added alongside of the almonds. In 1941 the Hershey company changed the direction of the Krackel bar and removed all nuts and peanuts, which is the way we know the Krackel bar today. The shape of the York Peppermint Pattie may be round but it is still considered a chocolate bar. The Peppermint Pattie was introduced in 1940 and is still enjoyed today.

Chocolate bars can be used for fundraising, as where a sports team, corporation or school uses the chocolate bars to raise money for needed supplies. There are companies that put their corporate logo on the chocolate for use at promotional shows, incentive programs, and customer appreciation or to encourage attendance at board meetings. Wedding favors and other special parties, such as Bar Mitzvahs or milestone birthdays or anniversaries, are perfect occasions to use personalized chocolate bars to mark the day.




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The Scoop On Hot Chocolate

What could be better than eating chocolate – that delicious, creamy concoction that’s adored the world over? Drinking chocolate of course! Nothing completes a cold winter’s day like a cup of steaming hot chocolate. So revered is hot chocolate that is has become part of our holiday traditions – starring in ice skating outings, sledding, and holiday decorating. As if chocolate isn’t luxurious enough – you can enjoy it completely melted down and drinkable. Could there be anything more decadent?

The truth is that the advent of hot chocolate actually preceded chocolate in its solid form. The ancient Maya and Aztec of South and Central America first discovered the glorious properties of chocolate contained in the seeds of the cocoa tree. These first experimentations with the cocoa seeds found these ancient people combining the seeds with combinations of spices and then drinking the mixture. This liquid chocolate substance was revered by their population and was used in everything from social to religious functions.

When the Spanish conquered Mexico in the early 1500s, the conquistadors were introduced to this exotic beverage. They became so accustomed to it that they brought cocoa seeds with them on their return home and began having the product shipped back to Spain. Because the price of importing the cocoa seeds was so high, hot chocolate was reserved exclusively for the wealthy.

The Spanish enjoyed chocolate as a beverage for nearly one-hundred years before its existence became known to the rest of Europe; Europeans soon adopted chocolate as its collective own, adding sugar to sweeten the mixture and serving it piping hot; it had been served cold up until this point.

The word “hot’ was added to the term hot chocolate when people began enjoying chocolate in its solid form. This was a way to differentiate the chocolate bar from the chocolate drink.

As mass production took hold, more and more people could enjoy hot chocolate as prices came down. In the mid-1920s, a powder mix was invented that would allow consumers to simply add hot milk or water to make their own hot chocolate. Many of us enjoy the beverage this way today.



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Healthy Chocolate

Valentine’s Day could qualify as a national holiday. Love is in the air and more than $1 billion in candy will fly off the shelves. You can give your ‘love’ healthy Chocolate without guilt.


Healthy Chocolate! Yes! Healthy Chocolate. Few people know that chocolate contains nearly twice the disease-fighting antioxidant value of red wine, three times that of green tea or that Chocolate improves blood flow and calms stress. NO wonder we feel so good when we eat chocolate.


Now there is an even healthier Chocolate. Xocai (pronounced sho-sigh) a health supplement cleverly packaged in dark Belgian chocolate.... this is raw unprocessed cocoa with NO preservatives or indigestible fats or unpronounceable additives... unmitigated, un-compromised pleasure of the REAL stuff, processed without the caffeine or other undesirable extras. The cocoa powder in the Xocai products is combined with blueberries and the newest highly rated antioxidant -- the acai berry. They are sweetened with acave nector not processed sugar.


This HEALTHY anti-oxident chocolate nuggets (ONLY 70 calories) and a 3,120 ORAC is a perfect gift for chocolate lovers—including those with diabetes—because there is NO processed sugar. http://mxi.myvoffice.com/dorothymneddermeyer/


How to enjoy eating [Healthy] Chocolate.


• Eat at room temperature. Do not refrigerate
• Savor the flavor—take small bites
• Savor the flavor—inhale the aroma with each small bite
• Savor the flavor—place the bite on the tongue, press it against the roof of the mouth, it will begin to melt
• Savor the flavor—allow the bite to completely melt and then swallow
• Savor the flavor—chew and crunch—enjoy the crunchiness. This healthy chocolate leaves no waxy taste behind
• Savor the flavor—enjoy the slightly fruity aftertaste


Remember Xocai healthy antioxidant Chocolate has only 70 calories and has a rating of 3,120 ORAC per nugget.



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Organic Chocolate

Chocolate has always been associated with a variety of health problems. This is the reason why some people steer clear of this delicious treat. But now, there is good news for chocolate lovers. Chocolate, specifically organic chocolate, has been proved to offer many health benefits.

Organic chocolate is made from high-quality organic ingredients. It meets or exceeds all standards of qualification that classify it as an organic product. When a chocolate is labeled organic, it means that the product’s cacao content was farmed in an environmentally suitable way. This ensures that there are no harmful pesticide residues.

One of the main reasons why you should eat organic chocolate instead of its non-organic counterpart is because you minimize the risk of ingesting pesticide residues. While non-organic chocolate itself is fine to eat, there can be pesticide residue present in the cocoa powder used, which can have harmful effects on the body. Unlike non-organic chocolate, organic chocolate is made from organic cocoa which is cultivated in small plots under a shade canopy, therefore minimizing the use of pesticides.

And since there is less risk for pesticide residue ingestion, organic chocolate has been proven helpful to the body. When eaten in moderation, it can contribute to heart health, suppress chronic cough, add much-needed magnesium to the diet and help control blood sugar. However, too much of something is not good for your health. You should avoid excessive intake of chocolate.

Recent studies have shown that chocolate itself is actually good for you. What makes eating it a health hazard is the kind of ingredients used to make it. This is why it is important that you choose organic over non-organic chocolates. Organic chocolate is a healthier and tastier option for your body. Now you need not worry too much about possible health risks when you indulge your sweet tooth.




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Chocolate is Good for Health

Since ages, chocolate is loved by all people due to its special taste. Many experts have noted that chocolates are unhealthy and continuous eating often results in tooth decay. Some medical experts have stated that chocolates contain sugar substances and thus add calories to the body and increase the sugar levels in the blood. But, it has been recently found that chocolates are good for our health as they have a lot of advantages. Chocolates contain antioxidants. Therefore they kill the free radicals and obstruct the oxidization of lipids into our body. The antioxidants are a concentrated form of flavonoids.

The antioxidants help in the anti-ageing process. According to the study if you consume chocolates you are reducing your chance of heart problems. Chocolate is an anti-inflammatory agent too. Chocolate contains cocoa butter to some extent and this helps in regaining the lost elasticity in the body.

Besides these properties, chocolate acts as an interesting medication for depression. The French suggest that you munch a chocolate whenever you feel like eating it. You can really pass your time in a very interesting way and forget all the problems of life when you taste delicious chocolate. So, what are you waiting for, go get your chocolate bar now!

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1704.html

How To Choose Perfect Chocolate Wedding Favors

Choosing the perfect chocolate wedding favors is not a hard job as long as you know what you want. For example, there are many different types of chocolate wedding party favors and you must be able to pick and choose between them to find the one that best suits your party. The following examples will help you make a decision.

One example is a chocolate truffle made especially for the couple. A chocolate truffle is made and then the couple’s last name initial is drizzled over the truffle in white chocolate or a darker chocolate so it is visible. This is a fabulous wedding favor because it looks good, is tasteful, and is scrumptious!

Other chocolate wedding favor ideas include candy bars with the wrapper displaying the bride and groom’s names as well as their wedding date. In some instances a photo of the couple may even be printed on the label. This is a fun favor to give and one that is appropriate for more laid back weddings that are not so traditional or formal.

Another example of a chocolate wedding favor is a milk chocolate shaped initial wrapped in a pretty plastic bag with an attractive bow. This letter should be the initial of the couple and it can really make for an attractive favor on the table as well as something yummy for guests to eat.

There really are many different types of chocolate wedding favors to choose from. However, if you are having an outside wedding you should think twice about using chocolate wedding favors. That is because if the temperature rises very much the chocolate will begin melting and that will just make a mess. Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid chocolate in outside weddings unless the temperature will not be too high or the chocolate is not likely to melt.

You should also consider the quality of the chocolate. Since it is a wedding celebration you will want to have the best quality chocolate you can afford. So, search around and find chocolate that will really make an impression. Guests will love the fine chocolate wedding favors and may even ask where you purchased them. When you put this much time and effort into finding the right chocolate wedding favors you will be happy knowing that your wedding is just what you imagined it to be. So start looking for your chocolate wedding favors today.




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Delicious Chocolate Wedding Favors

Who does not love chocolate? Chocolate wedding favors always work with your guests. You can first choose from a variety of types of chocolates, such as white chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate covered nuts, and so much more. You can pair chocolate with fruit for great taste (a wonderful snack) and an exquisite look with the contrasting colors of chocolate and fruit. You can also choose dark chocolate that is rich in antioxidants for a healthy little snack for your wedding guests. You can also create some unique and artistic chocolate wedding favors, but no one will want to eat them! They might, but not before admiring the beauty of the art that obviously went into them.

Chocolate Wedding Favor Ideas

Place Cards - Consider chocolate wedding favor place cards for each of your guests that have their name written on each one, and they are all edible!

Chocolate Lollipops - You can have personalized chocolate lollipops with you and your groom’s name on them, or with your wedding guest’s names on them. You can have regular circular lollipops, or almost any shape you can think of – hearts, leaves, crosses, an animal, a house – anything!

Chocolate Drops - You can have chocolate drops for your wedding favors, much like Hershey’s kisses or hugs. The silver wrapped around the chocolate will match any color theme you have chosen for your wedding reception, and a pure white ribbon can be added with your names on one side of the ribbon, and the date of your wedding ceremony on the other side.

Wedding Favor Boxes - You can store your chocolates in a tin box with any decoration on it – something with animals, a religious theme, a painting, wedding bells and more. But get this – you can even have a wedding favor box created out of chocolate with small chocolates inside of it, and with your chosen design on the top! You could even have someone create the chocolate boxes with you and your groom’s names on them with the date of your wedding ceremony!

Chocolate Charms - You can have small square chocolates wrapped in a beautiful silver protective sheet with a charm (a silver heart) attached to the ribbon on the chocolate.

As you can see, you have lots of options when it comes to chocolate wedding favors. So, enjoy this part of planning your wedding. It may be the most delicious planning you do!




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The Ten Questions and Answers About Chocolate

The following questions and answers are just for fun. Please don't take them seriously. Feel Free to share them with your friends. 1. What does it mean if you have chocolate all over your hands after eating your favorite candy bar?

It means you ate the candy bar way to slow.

2. Are chocolate covered strawberries considered a fruit?

Absolutely

3. Can I eat chocolate on my diet?

Eat a chocolate bar before every meal. It will take the edge off your appetite and you will eat less.

4. How can I get all my chocolate home from the grocery store with it melting in the hot car.

The solution is quite simply: eat the chocolate before you get home.

5. How can I reduce the calories in my chocolate.

Store it inside your fridge. This will cause the calories to get cold and leave the chocolate.

6. If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet?

Correct me if I am wrong but balance is recommended in any diet.

7. Won't chocolate cause me to age faster?

Quite the opposite. Chocolate is loaded with preservatives. Hence, you should eat more chocolate because preservatives help you look youner.

8. Won't eating chocolate ruin my calorie intake for the day?

A nice box of See's candy will provide you with your total calorie intake for one day. Hence, simply eat chocolate. What an easy way to count calories.

9. Besides being really good, what are the benefits of eating chocolate.

Eating chocolate is good for the economy. If no one ate chocolate several industries could go under. For example, chocolate factories, girdle factories, control top panty hose companies, weight loss clinics, gyms. Wow, the list just keeps going. Just think of all the people who would be out of a job if we all stopped eating chocolate.

10. Why do women crave chocolate when on their monthly cycle.

Because chocolate puts us in a good mood. Hence, encourage your wife to eat chocolate during those 'special times'. She will be much easier to get along with.

The above questions and answers were developed by a group of my friends on a day when we had nothing better to do. Enjoy but don't take them seriously. The answers really don't work, but they are good for a little chuckle.




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Dream In Chocolate: How Much People Love Natural Chocolate

Take away a woman’s chocolate and some say you take away her soul. People throughout the ages have loved healthy bites of divine chocolate.

Queen Isabella first learned about chocolate when Columbus returned from America. He bestowed the magical brown beans known today as cocoa beans.

Often called the food of the Gods, natural chocolate was used by the Aztec Indians who made their own hot chocolate as a sort of royal drink. Emperor Montezuma served bitter chocolate in golden goblets, but Spaniards later decided to sweeten it with cane sugar.

Sugar-free options for chocolate

Today we have the option of sugarless candy and chocolates that do not contain cane sugar. We understand better that sugar is not ideal for our health.

One of the first hints that a woman might be getting her period soon is the fact she begins to crave chocolate. Women love natural chocolate because it eases her moodiness and helps her feel more in balance. Experts say that is because chocolate contains magnesium, which is important for our health. But instead of indulging in sugar, which can make PMS symptoms worse, it’s wise to try sugarless candies and chocolates that are natural and healthy.

What does chocolate taste like?

Why is it people crave chocolate whether they have a deficiency in magnesium or not? Chocolate teases the senses with its aroma and luscious taste and texture.

Experts say chocolate actually contains more than 300 distinct chemicals. Caffeine is surprisingly found in small quantities in chocolate so, if you want a caffeine high, it’s better to select coffee. Experts say the combination of caffeine and Theobromine, another weak stimulant, does provide a lift for chocolate lovers.

Finally, chocolate contains Phenylethylamine, which is related to amphetamines. They are stronger stimulants. When you dive into a box of chocolate or visit the chocolate store, your body and brain is probably going crazy with desire. Just be smart and select the sugarless candy and natural chocolates for better health.

Fred Goldman owner of D-lectable.com. Love chocolate? Hate the synthetic ingredients that make you fat? D-lectable.com has natural chocolate, sugarless, low-calorie, and low-carb. You'll never know the difference, but your scale will!




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Chocolate Cheesecake - A Heavenly Dessert

Chocolate cheesecakes are arguably the most decadent member of the cheesecake family. Given the almost endless varieties of chocolate out there, they certainly offer a wide variety of choice for mixing into a cheesecake recipe.

And what's really impressive about chocolate cheesecake recipes is that they're not as daunting a task to make as you might think. The hardest part about making one will be deciding on which type of chocolate to use, which is another reason they are so great ( you've got lots to chose from). To make the cake, just pick your favorite chocolate and add it to the mix. Even though Hershey's is great, there's a lot more specialty chocolate out there that offer a more richer taste and smell. Try not to limit yourself to those you just know.

To bake a simple chocolate cheesecake, you first need to melt the chocolate. You can use either a microwave or a double boiler. The important part is to melt it slowly. You don't want the chocolate to become grainy or to scorch-- the burnt smell is not very pleasant.

Next prepare a basic cheesecake recipe. After you've finished mixing the ingredients together, blend the melted chocolate into the batter. Stir well to make sure the chocolate is spread throughout the entire batter. Next, pour batter over your crust (chocolate wafer crust adds an even more chocolaty taste) and bake. Your cheesecake is done when it wobbles a little. Don't worry if the middle appears a bit wet. Once it cools, it will firm up to the correct consistency.

To find a large selection of more elaborate chocolate cheesecake recipes, check out www.I-Love-Cheesecake/chocolate_cheesecake_recipes.html

Cedrick White is an avid baker and publisher of http://www.I-Love-Cheesecake.com cheesecake recipes. Be especially sure to check out the large selection of chocolate cheesecake recipes. Go ahead and bake one today.




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Chocolate Wedding Cakes

For cocoa lovers, here are the top 5 trends of chocolate wedding cakes. Original and tasty ideas for any sweet couple...

Trend #1 – Classic and Smart
The “classic” chocolate wedding cake can either be made of superposed pieces or set up on cake stands. The superposed version will allow you to easily practice the “cake cutting” ritual, while stands can give a very aesthetic aspect.

Trend #2 – The Cup Cakes Paradise
Cup cakes will allow you to vary the flavours, while offering a nice mix of colors to the eyes of your guests. They are also cheaper than classic wedding cakes. Cup cakes covered with chocolate syrup are simply gorgeous.

Trend #3 - Mix It Up!
Your cake doesn’t need to be 100% chocolate. Chocolate can be within the cake itself, the cream, the topping and decorations. Also, any cakes mixing chocolate with vanilla or fruits are definitely winners.

Trend #4 – Chocolate Croquembouches
Croquembouches are commonly used in traditional French wedding cakes. Think of a pyramid of small puffs filled with cream and covered with icing. Chocolate can be included in any or both of those parts. Definitely trendy, simply delicious.

Trend #5 – The Chocolate Festival
Don’t forget there’s more than one kind of chocolate. By mixing dark and white chocolates on cake, you’ll definitely catch the eye of your guests. You can also combine this trend with cup cakes or croquembouches for a very special (and tasty) dessert.

These are my top 5 chocolate wedding cakes ideas. As creativity is an essential part of your dream day, I hope they do give you some nice inspiration.

I wish you a wonderful wedding.

Melinda Barton is an Internationally recognized wedding planner and author of the book Wedding Planning Secrets She has given several TV and radio appearances and is passionate about helping everyone succeed in their desire to have the best wedding through simple and easy to use wedding planning secrets.




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Chocolate: The sweeter lane to a healthy body

Just about everyone loves the taste of chocolate. Well the news is out that chocolate can actually benefit the body. Although the dark chocolate is bitterer than the semi-sweet the health benefits of dark chocolate are greater. Along with dark chocolate consuming red wine and green tea also have great health benefits. The main key is moderation, as with any indulgence of passion.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants. There is a strong belief that antioxidants can reduce your chances of cardiac disease, cancer, and even high blood pressure. In addition these antioxidants improve endothelial cells, your digestive process, and kidney function. Dark chocolate helps fight bad cholesterol (LDL) and improves the circulation of blood from the heart to the brain. Furthermore there is belief that it has similar effects as aspirin does on the body in preventing stroke and heart attack (inhibiting platelet aggregation).

In the chocolate are flavonoids. These flavonoids interact with the natural antioxidation system in the body (the vitamins and enzymes). The flavonoids itself is not the actual benefit it is the reaction inside of the body that is tipped off by the ingestion of these powerful plant derived elements. When there is an imbalance of between the antioxidants and free radicals a level of oxidative stress is place on the body that will cause cellular damage. People suffering from anemia and kidney stones have been treated with flavonoids. Flavonoids that are found in chocolate have been used to help people who suffer from anemia, a poor appetite and kidney stones.

Where Do You Find Flavonoids? Fruits Vegetables (onions, parsley, legumes) Teas Wines (grape skins)

The body uses minerals such as copper and magnesium to maintain a functioning heart and blood pressure. Experts point to the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans as one of the best sources for dark chocolate. If you cannot consume the extract, then eating a 1.6-ounce chocolate bar is the second best option. This should introduce just an ample amount of ingredients to achieve some effect. Be aware however that chocolate is fattening and it contains caffeine so never overdo a good thing. There are several brand s of chocolate available on the market today and each person has to find a suitable taste for him or her. By eating only 2-3 squares of chocolate can be of great benefit to the body.

Eating chocolate is not the only way to keep a heart healthy. There are some specific contents in the chocolate that help. The most beneficial is the dark chocolate because of the flavonoids that it contains. Oddly enough the manufactures of the chocolate destroyed many of the flavonoids in the early days. Since the discovery of the health effects, manufacturers work very hard to maintain 95% of it in the product. Since the taste of dark chocolate is bitterer than semi-sweet, consider buying one with almonds and raisins of one of each. This can add a little flair and variety to the bar.




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American's Love Affair with Chocolate

You slowly unwrap a chocolate bar. Your mouth starts watering in anticipation. You place the piece of chocolate on your tongue as your eyes close. It begins to melt, giving your mind and body a wonderful sensation. Chocolate has the power to captivate like no other food.

Chocolate cravers need not fear death by chocolate. Chocolate cravers and chocoholics will be pleased to learn that there is a place for it in healthy eating patterns.

Chocolate's scientific name is Theobroma cacao ~ food of the gods. Studies show that Americans consumed over 3 billion pounds of chocolate which totaled $15 billion in sales last year. Americans spent $1.09 billion on chocolate this Valentine's Day. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate were sold this year for Valentine's Day.

*71% of North American chocolate eaters prefer milk chocolate.

*22% of all chocolate consumption takes place between 8 pm and midnight.

*More chocolate is consumed in the winter than any other season.

*Today, Americans eat an average of 12 pounds of chocolate per person per year.

Recent studies have shown that cocoa or dark chocolate has potent health benefits for people. Dark chocolate is full of flavonoids and garlic acid, which are antioxidants that help protect blood vessels, promote cardiac health, and prevent cancer. It also has been effectively demonstrated to counteract mild hypertension. In fact, dark chocolate has more flavonoids than any other antioxidant-rich food such as red wine, green and black teas and blueberries.

This great news does not give us a license to consume as much dark chocolate as we'd like. Chocolate is also a calorie-rich food, with a high content of saturated fat, so daily intake of chocolate also requires reducing caloric intake of other foods. There is currently no established serving size of chocolate to reap the benefits. However, what is known is that you no longer need to feel guilty while enjoying a little bit of heaven.

How easily it seduces. How readily we succumb. A glimpse, a sniff, a flash of pleasures past, and all resistance melts ... we reach for another piece of chocolate.

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Natural Chocolate Wonders

Natural chocolate is a perfect hybrid of words and meaning. But recent examinations of the benefits and makeup of chocolate support the claim that natural chocolate may be good or you. Chocolate serves as a natural relaxer, an antioxidant, and a positive health contributor. Natural chocolate is actually made from the seeds of the cacao tree, commonly derived from cacao beans.

Natural chocolate benefits derive from products pressed from the cocoa bean and not made from the cocoa butter product cooked from the fruits of the cacao tree. Natural chocolate will include the high concentration necessary and associated with European dark chocolate made with less sugar.

If chocolate consumption represents one percent of the American diet, it is from fatty products loaded with sugar. Natural chocolate is more regularly found in bitter chocolate products like baking chocolate, specialty bars and special natural chocolate products found in organic food stores. It is not likely to be in very sweet and sugary chocolate candy or chocolate products with milk added.

Consuming natural chocolate does not share the same dietetic stigma today of consuming candy and other forms, since products used for cake frosting, chocolate chips, and ice cream are filled with fat, sugar and preservatives. To determine if a product contains the benefits of natural chocolate, make sure the ingredients do not contains cocoa butter or dark colorings.

Eating natural chocolate has become a significant choice for a snack. As a meal supplement or dessert, natural chocolate is a snack that is less empty that other fat filled sugary and starchy snacks. This does not mean that any chocolate candy bar automatically applies. Dark chocolate includes falconoid, which is present in natural chocolate but gets filtered out in the processing of other chocolate products such as syrup, powders, and candy.

Natural chocolate exists when no chemicals or alkalis have been applied in the fermentation and manufacturing process, Natural chocolate may be considered something like a glass of wine or a frozen yogurt for enjoyment with a side benefit. Adding natural chocolate cocoa to your morning coffee may keep high blood pressure down, circulation up, and the heart healthier.

The Flavenols and Flavenoids in natural chocolate can exhibit health benefits that mimic prunes, blueberries, and coffee. Natural chocolate may have caffeine in it, but doctors now show that caffeine found in coffee may also have the same kinds of health benefits, include living a year longer and analgesic or serotonin effects on the body.

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How does a Chocolate Fountain Work?

A chocolate fountain is essentially an apparatus made from stainless steel that serves molten chocolate fondue. A motor at the base of the fountain is used for heating the prepared chocolate morsels that are placed in a heating tray. A central corkscrew pushes the molten chocolate up through a column. Upon reaching the top of the fountain, which may be 2-4 feet in height and have multiple tiers, the chocolate flows down. The chocolate flows into one tray and spills on to the next till it reaches the bottom tier. After the chocolate cascade reaches the base of the fountain, the whole process is repeated again. The first melting of the chocolate can also be carried out in a microwave or a double boiler. The fountain is placed on a base that is sturdy enough to hold around 40 kilograms of weight and is close to a power socket.

Chocolate high in cocoa butter, such as couverture chocolate, is ideal for use in fountains. The chocolate can be either milk or dark. Chocolate low in cocoa butter must be supplemented with vegetable oil; however, this hampers the smoothness and taste of the chocolate.

Chocolate fountains are available as home and commercial versions that can be used for a variety of occasions such as parties, film premieres, bar mitzvahs, and product launches. A home fountain is ideal for a gathering of around 25 people.

Chocolate fountains are available for rent from catering companies and party supply stores. These also provide an attendant who ensures that the fountain works properly, the chocolate cascades smoothly, and there is no abuse of the fountain at the hands of eager children. Tidbits such as fruit pieces, cheesecakes, marshmallows, etc are kept around the fountain. These can be skewered on to toothpicks and dipped in the fountain. Generally, anything that is not liable to crumbling will be fine for dipping in a chocolate fountain.

Chocolate fountains can be rented at an hourly rate that includes the charges for the attendant’s services and the cost of the chocolate used. Usually, chocolate fountains are operated for no more than two hours during a party; normally they are functioning when appetizers and desserts are served. They can also be an additional item in a buffet. Installing a chocolate fountain in the outdoors is not recommended as insects get drawn by the aroma of chocolate and breeze may disrupt the flow.

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How To Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Here’s how to make delicious chocolate covered strawberries. First of all ensure that the strawberries you are intending to use are dry, then allow them to be room temperature warm prior to making them. After the strawberries have been covered in chocolate, put them in your refrigerator to cool, but do not store them in the fridge. Consume within 1-2 days.

It is very important to ensure that the strawberries are dry, as a small amount of water is enough to make the batch curdle. Strawberries dipped in chocolate can also be injected with a suitable liquor after the chocolate has hardened. It is best to use a syringe to inject the strawberries with the contents.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

Ensure all ingredients are at normal room temperature.

This recipe makes 15 chocolate covered strawberries ( approx )

Ingredients To Use:

4.5 tablespoons of cream ( heavy variety )
9 ounces of bittersweet chopped chocolate
15 strawberries
1.5 tablespoons of butter

Follow These Steps:

1. Line a baking sheet with foil or paper that is wax coated

2. Melt the butter and the chocolate in a boiler over hot water, stirring all the time until the chocolate has melted. Add cream to the mixture and stir until smooth consistency. Allow the mixture to cool

3. Pick up each strawberry by its stem and dip it into the mixture you have made. Allow any excess mixture to go back into the pan. Place the chocolate covered strawberry on the paper and repeat until you have made 15 strawberries.

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Chocolate Gift Basket

Know a chocoholic? Someone who lives, breathes, and eats chocolate? If so, the perfect gift for them could be a chocolate gift basket. This will give them a chance to try a bunch of different chocolates, and you the chance to get the perfect gift for them!

There are many types of chocolate gift baskets; it just depends on what you are looking for, and what the person enjoys eating and drinking. For example, if the person loves chocolate but also enjoys a good bottle of wine, you might want to get a gift basket that has a combination of the two. You could get a bottle or two of wine, and many different chocolates to complement the wine.

You can also use this as a good time to let the other person try a bunch of different types of chocolate. You can include things like chocolate covered fruits, milk chocolates, white chocolates, dark chocolates, etc. You can even have different percentages of chocolates so that they can see the differences between them. There are also things like chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate mints, and many other chocolates you can include.

Another great thing any chocoholic would enjoy is hot chocolate to go along with the gift basket. This way when it is cold out they can drink the chocolate, and still get their chocolate fix. Chocolate from different countries also taste very different, and could be great to include.

There are also many companies that have different items shaped out of chocolate, so you can get a chocolate anything. For the holidays you can get a chocolate Santa or reindeer. For a birthday you could get chocolate in the shape of their favorite sport or hobby. The possibilities are just endless.

If they love desserts as well, you can get them chocolate cookies, cakes, brownies, and more. As you can see, there are an unlimited amount of types of chocolate you can create a chocolate gift basket out of. Any one of them would make a chocolate lover very happy for quite a long time as they go through and enjoy each piece!

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This Incredible Love For Chocolate

As far as I can remember I have always been in love with chocolate. (Do not read this article if you are a great chocolate lover or have some chocolate ready to eat. You will not resist! )I think my mother put chocolate in the milk of my feeding bottle. When I started to eat solid food, chocolate was the right stuff! One of the best memories I have when I was a young child is, when I licked my fingers, of the dark chocolate I had just eaten.

My mother was a very good cook and she was often preparing desserts using chocolate; chocolate cakes, chocolate mousse, chocolate fondue, chocolate cream, chocolate pudding, chocolate truffles to name a few. Even chocolate drinks like the ones we had for breakfast, my sister and I. When my mother was baking we were never very far away, waiting for the right moment to lick what was left in the branches of the whisk, wooden spoon or mixing bowl! Great moments and great memories are present today when I think of this time!

Chocolate seems to be one of the very few ingredients that are so attractive, not only for children but for adults as well. Many people I know must have at least one piece of chocolate once a day, if not more. Others claim that :”It is impossible to finish a meal without chocolate”! A dessert made of chocolate or even any piece of chocolate, dark or light, however small would satisfy their need.

Chocolate is fascinating and European countries like Switzerland, Belgium and France are masters and rivals in the art of chocolate.

Is there really a little “something” in the chocolate composition that is “pushing” or “addicting” us to it? Is it something else, a more mystical component, known only by the Inca or the pre-Colombian people, something that was capable of elevating people to the level of the gods, something making of men gods? Well...I am here maybe a little bit too exalted, but is it not true that chocolate has the power to calm, to bring a sort of wellness, of serenity when eaten?
It seems today that it is not always necessary to eat chocolate to have the benefits from it. Have you ever heard of chocolate massage? Very chic today, more and more people use this as a means to reach the realm of the gods.

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Improve Your Party's Style With A Chocolate Fountain

The selection for dessert for a lot of extravagant parties occasionally includes a chocolate fountain, which is usually a big hit. Chocolate is melted by heat from below then vertically transported to the top of the fountain, where it then drizzles down the tiers. Chocolate fountains reuses the chocolate that is put into it until it is all eaten, so be for sure your guest are not sticking their hands in the chocolate. The selection at the top of most dessert lists for upscale parties is the chocolate fountain with an assortment of items to dip in it. The grocery store usually carries a wide variety of chocolate baking supplies and can be utilized for your chocolate fountain warehouse. When it comes to interesting party centerpieces, a chocolate fountain may leave many a guest breathless with anticipation to sample it.

Chocolate fountains come in two sizes: medium and large; the large is supposed to cater up to 700 guests, while the medium is supposed to cater up to 300 guest. The place where you buy your chocolate fountain should also have the items or make recommendations for the foods that can be dipped in the chocolate. The number of parties that choose to have a chocolate fountain probably is very similar to the number of successful parties thrown. The building of a dessert centerpiece must consist of a really wonderful selections such as a chocolate fountain or fondue.

The grocery store will sometimes have a chocolate display or samples for customers to try, even a chocolate fountain at times. A chocolate fountain can be rented at any catering service if one is not owned by the person who is in need of one. The building of chocolate fountains can be a work of art depending on the styling and size of the fountain. The building of a chocolate fountain can almost be as fun as tasting the end result of your project. Chocolate is made from the fermented, roasted, and ground beans taken from the pod of the tropical cocoa bean. The selection of many chocolates might be presented in more than one fountain which allows the guest to pick their favorite.

When it comes to a tasty yet remarkable attraction of a dessert, chocolate fountains are among the favorites of most crowds. The selection of chocolate may make or break the dessert fountain according to the taste of the chocolate flowing out of the fountain. The building of a chocolate fountain should be one of the highlights of your next formal party or soiree.

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Dark Chocolate and Holistic Health

A couple of recent studies will give chocolate lovers a chance to indulge with a little less guilt. The findings may also help explain a curious comment Edgar Cayce made in several readings that mention chocolate.

A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, Vol. 290, No. 8) focused on thirteen patients with mild hypertension who were allowed to eat chocolate bars (either dark or white) daily for two weeks. The hypertension remained unchanged for the white chocolate group while dropping notably for the dark chocolate group.

In another study published in the journal Nature (Vol. 424), researchers measured antioxidant levels in subjects who ate either milk chocolate (most commonly used in candy bars) or dark chocolate. You guessed it - only the subjects who ate dark chocolate exhibited beneficial increased antioxidant levels. Drinking milk with the dark chocolate canceled the positive effect. One possible explanation for the positive effects of dark chocolate is the presence of plant compounds called polyphenols which increase antioxidant levels and lower blood pressure.

Now for an associated Edgar Cayce quote: "Not too much sweets, especially chocolate of the present variety." (5162-1) Cayce made this stipulation in several readings, apparently referring to the commercial practice of adding sugar and other ingredient, (such as milk) in much of the chocolate of his era. Many of the readings that discuss chocolate were given for persons with digestive problems. Chocolate was typically listed among a group of difficult to digest foods. In the few readings that do allow for chocolate consumption, Cayce's advice was consistent with modern researchers who caution about eating too much of this delicacy. If you do indulge, keep it to a minimum and make sure it is dark chocolate.

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Chocolate for Chocolate Fountains: Which One will Tantalize Your Taste Buds?

There are many choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. It is important to understand the ingredients of each type of chocolate and the chemicals they possess when making your choice. Look over your recipe thoroughly to ensure you are using the correct kind of chocolate before starting. Using the wrong chocolate for a recipe can turn into a disaster. For example, cocoa powder, semi sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, will all have a different effect on a recipe. Here are some types of chocolate that are ideal for your fountain and some interesting facts.

White chocolate is amongst the most popular choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. White chocolate is frowned upon by the chocolate elite but many people argue that it should be recognized with other fine chocolates. Real white chocolate has cocoa butter but does not have any chocolate liquor in it, but a lot of the cheaper white chocolate sold in stores do not have any cocoa butter in them at all, making it even more difficult to justify being called chocolate.

Gourmet chocolate fondue is a delicacy in the chocolate department. You can easily make gourmet chocolate fondue by melting one part light cream for every two parts semi- sweet. Put in a dash of vanilla extract and stir the fondue so there are no lumps. You can use different fruits and snacks for dipping.

Kosher chocolate is not just for candy like many people think. This chocolate is produced by the best of the best in the industry and is made in accordance with Jewish law.

Quality Belgian chocolate is the one most recommended by chocolate fountain manufacturers and hire shops. It melts and cascades beautifully and tastes divine. The best Belgian chocolate is still made by hand and the careful creation process ensures a unique flavor and more intense aroma.

Researchers consistently recommend dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and flavanoids that reduce aging and fight disease. Many people that are on a low-calorie diet use dark chocolate because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate. Ensure you buy a good blend that has been specifically designed for chocolate fountains.

Most people are headstrong on the type of chocolate they like and the choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains seem unlimited. With all of the exotic chocolates becoming increasingly available it might be time to experiment a little. You could be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

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10 Amazing Facts About Chocolate

Chocolate is made from beans derived from the cacao tree. These beans are very bitter, so the cocoa solids and the cocoa butter has sugar added to it, along with some other ingredients in order to make the chocolate that is available to the general public.

Chocolate is particularly popular at certain times of the year, such as Easter, Valentines Day and Christmas. As such, chocolate shaped gifts are popular. Hearts for Valentines day and cute bunnies at Easter are two high up on the gift selection list. Here are 10 interesting facts about chocolate:

1. Chocolate is lower in caffeine than tea, coffee and coca cola. A one ounce bar of chocolate contains about 6mg of caffeine, whereas a five ounce cup of regular coffee contains over 40mg.

2. Chocolate was regarded as an aphrodisiac by Aztec Indians.

3. Chocolate contains antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

4. Chocolate is the favourite flavour in the United States Of America.

5. The shelf life of a bar of chocolate is approximately one year.

6. In 1842 Cadbury's in England created the worlds first chocolate bar.

7. The Swiss eat the most chocolate. The average person eats 19lbs a year.

8. Chocolate contain theobromine, which is a mild relative of caffeine and magnesium. This chemical is found in some tranquilisers. Because coffee also contains caffeine, it both picks you up and calms you down.

9. It is widely believed that chocolate consumption releases a chemical into your body very similar to what is produced when you are in love.

10. Chocolate manufacturers use 20% of the worlds peanuts and 40% of the worlds almonds.

Chocolate is mildly addictive, but a bar now and again is not going to hurt. With all those great antioxidants it contains, it may even help you live longer. After all, as the saying goes, “A little of what you fancy does you good”.

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Chocolate Wedding Favors

Chocolate wedding favors reflect a couple's individual expression of quality and sophistication. The customized gift boxes personalize the wedding day and give a lasting impression with the guests. Personalized chocolate wedding favor is a symbol of thanks and love of the couple towards their guests. These memorable chocolate wedding favors can be given at bridal showers, rehearsal dinners or wedding receptions. Chocolate wedding favors are usually wrapped in personalized wrappers to make the wedding plans easier.

Providing chocolate as a wedding favor has been an honored tradition for many years. The design of the chocolate box in which the chocolate is kept has much importance when choosing chocolate wedding favors. These boxes can be made from porcelain, crystal, stainless steel, pewter or the cheapest from white chipboard which have designs to accommodate any personal taste or wedding theme. Some chocolate boxes have a foil laminate exterior and include embossed designs.

The simplicity of a single truffle or a cluster of three is adequate for a sophisticated chocolate wedding favor. The creation of labels for ordinary chocolate bars is one of the trends in chocolate wedding favors. These labels usually have a personal statement from the bride and groom. Chocolate companies produce chocolate pops and three dimensional chocolate confections which resemble both the traditional wedding themes and the bride and groom cake topper. These molded candies are usually produced from white, milk or dark chocolate. Couples can select the molded chocolates that are hand painted with edible gold and silver finishes as chocolate wedding favors.

A simple and inexpensive chocolate wedding favor can be created by filling unique and clear containers with candy coated chocolates. These popular coated chocolates can be purchased in large quantities. These chocolates are made in a wide range of pastel which complements most of the wedding color schemes. The clear containers include a variety of items such as glass jars, clear boxes, organza bags and plastic tubes which make a pleasant chocolate wedding favor. The apt choice of the chocolate and a distinctive container make a chocolate wedding favor a very memorable and legendary wedding favor.

Sheer Pleasure - A Chocolate Fountain

A chocolate fountain is a fun and entertaining way to provide a cascading waterfall of chocolate for your guests or family. The fountain serves as a decorative device for serving chocolate fondue. The right consistency needs to be achieved to reach the correct texture for the chocolate to fall down the fountain. The chocolate is poured into the fountain in the base, the fountain is turned on to provide the heat which is controlled by a thermostat, and the motor turns the rotating blades to start the flow of chocolate. A corkscrew-type piece, called an auger, turns slowly in a rhythmic-like pattern; this draws the chocolate up to the top of the chocolate fountain. The fountain usually comes apart for easy clean-up as the pieces can be washed in a dishwasher. In most cases, the parts of the chocolate fountain are made from stainless steel for durability and allow the heat to be retained. Most fountains are solid and weigh approximately 40-90 pounds when empty. A small fountain contains about 9 pounds of chocolate and will feed up to 100 people. A medium sized fountain holds 20 pounds of chocolate and is 30 inches and can feed over 100 people. A larger fountain can provide enough liquid chocolate for over 250 people for a reasonable amount of time.

The best chocolate to use in a chocolate fountain is a chocolate containing more cocoa butter than most regular eating chocolate. The chocolate usually contains 33-44% more cocoa butter than the chocolate you get in bars or chips. This type of chocolate is called Couverture, the French word meaning covering. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and dairy-free chocolate will all be good choices for use in the chocolate fountain. These chocolates work best when the product is first melted in a double boiler to achieve the deserved consistency, after which it can be placed into the chocolate fountain. The low-temperature heater will keep a regulated temperature of the chocolate to retain the flow of the wonderful covering. A chocolate that is too cold will not drop smoothly from tier to tier. A too-hot chocolate will become too thin and leave gaps in the waterfall effect.

Products that are best dipped into the chocolate fountain are marshmallows, pretzels, strawberries and other fruit such as bananas and grapes, cookies, and anything that complements the chocolate. The least desirable items would be something that crumbles or could add crumbles to the chocolate, that in turn could cause the fountain’s holes to become plugged, affecting the flow of chocolate. Using a long fork, skewer or stick can make it easier to enjoy the chocolate dipping pleasure.

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Chocolate Pudding Dessert

Finally, an easy to make chocolate pudding dessert! Chocolate and pudding are always huge hits with the family. Now, we show you how to make an excellent dessert that is sure to be a big hit! Here are the ingredients that will be needed to prepare this chocolate pudding dessert:

For the crust on this chocolate pudding dessert, you will need....

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Combine all ingredients together and press them into a 13" x 9" x 2" pan. Bake for 15 minutes in a 350F degree oven.

For the filling of this chocolate pudding dessert, you will need...

1 cup confectioners sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup Cool Whip

Mix together and spread on top of cooled crust.

For the pudding on this chocolate dessert, you will need...

2 pkgs instant chocolate pudding
3 cups cold milk

Mix with electric mixer and spread on top of filling. Top with remaining Cool Whip and Refrigerate. This recipe is one of the easier recipes. Chocolate Pudding Dessert is a delicious treat that everyone will love! Enjoy this delicious chocolate pudding dessert!

This dessert has received lots of positive feedback. If you like it don't hesitate to share it with your friends.

Before you go, I want to emphasize the importance of the crust for the chocolate pudding dessert. Make sure you follow along with the instuctions. A good crust is important when making a quaility dessert.

So for the crust on this chocolate pudding dessert, you will need....

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Have a great day!

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The Joy Of Gourmet Chocolate

Like a fine wine, gourmet chocolate is the thing to which our palates instantly respond – ruining us forever for the average store-sold candy bar. While it’s true that chocolate of any variety will surely bring joy to the consumer, gourmet chocolate delivers a special treat for the taste buds. But, as would be expected, it can come at a price.

Gourmet chocolate can not be defined but rather must be experienced. What may be considered gourmet to some may be perfectly ordinary to another; in short the term ‘gourmet’ can be more than a bit subjective. But most chocolate enthusiasts agree that gourmet chocolate falls within the boundaries of that chocolate that is prepared with a certain level of care and an eye towards quality.

Such quality includes the highest percentage of cocoa butter. In many cases, a certain amount of cocoa butter is removed from the chocolate and replaced with vegetable fat. This significantly compromises the quality of the chocolate. Truly gourmet chocolate will contain the highest amount of cocoa butter – followed by sugar. Sugar should never be the first ingredient listed on chocolate.

Gourmet chocolate often derives from highly regarded chocolatiers who have built their business on using quality ingredients. Many are family businesses passed down from generation to generation. This is not to say that factories can not produce gourmet chocolate, but it stands to reason that the more personal attention the chocolate making process is given the higher quality the finished product. Many reputable chocolatiers pride themselves on their handmade chocolate and for those who taste it the effort is difficult to argue.

Gourmet chocolate runs the price range from astronomical to quite manageable. Regardless of your budget, with a little research – and a lot of tasting – you can find a delectable gourmet chocolate that’s just right for you.

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Difference in Chocolate Fudge Candy and Gourmet Chocolate Fudge

Gourmet Chocolate Fudge differs from normal Chocolate Fudge Candy due to the ingredients used and the production process.

The definition of Gour-met is “a connoisseur of fine food and drink”. A gourmet is a person with discriminating taste in food and wine.

Therefore, we would expect that Gourmet Chocolate Fudge Candy would taste better and in today’s society would also cost more.

Chocolate differences are based on the level of cocoa content, the cocoa origin and the craftsmanship involved in the chocolate making process.

The color will be consistent throughout in Gourmet Chocolate Fudge Candy. It will be creamy, extremely smooth, have a glossy appearance that is not marred by streaks and dots, is soft when you bite it, will break but not splinter and is most definitely not brittle. Gourmet Chocolate will have a rich aroma of cocoa.

Normal Chocolate Fudge Candy will be hard, brittle and when you let it melt in your mouth it will be a little grainy. It may splinter in your mouth when you bite it. You may also notice that it is a little white on the edges.

Makers of Gourmet Chocolate by and large use real chocolate liquor and only or mostly cocoa butter, while mass market producers of normal Chocolate Fudge use chemicals and substitutions for the chocolate liquor and only some coca butter and supplement with other types of fats. Making chocolate liquor is a very time consuming and expensive process which raises the cost of making the chocolate.

Gourmet Chocolate Fudge Candy also provides a number of health benefits. This kind of candy will have essential elements of calcium, potassium, iron and vitamins A, B1, C, D and E. Gourmet Chocolate also has high levels of chromium which has been shown to help control blood sugar.

Hope this helps when you are purchasing your next gourmet chocolate fudge candy for yourself or as a chocolate gift for someone else.

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Gourmet Chocolate

Almost everyone loves eating gourmet chocolate. Since chocolate was first discovered, this delicious treat has continued to evolve in form and taste. However there are some people, especially those who are figure-conscious, who do not want to indulge themselves. This is because gourmet chocolate is often associated with weight gain. This may be true to some extent, but only when chocolate is eaten in excessive amounts.

How come gourmet chocolate is very popular? Gourmet chocolate stands out from other forms of chocolate through a variety of characteristics. Gourmet chocolate, unlike chocolate products of inferior quality, boasts a smooth and glossy appearance that is not marred by streaks and dots. Gourmet chocolate also gives off a rich aroma of cocoa, not an unappetizing chemical odor. When broken, this kind of chocolate snaps sharply, instead of crumbling or bending. Lastly, gourmet chocolate melts in the mouth and leaves a velvety texture. It does not taste too sweet or too bitter, nor does it leave an aftertaste in the mouth.

Gourmet chocolate is not only a delicious treat but has been proven to provide a number of health benefits. This kind of chocolate contains essential elements such as calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E. Gourmet chocolate also has high levels of chromium that help control blood sugar, as well as magnesium that alleviates premenstrual symptoms by increasing progesterone levels.

There is an impressive array of gourmet chocolate products available in the market today. In fact, a number of chocolate brands have become household names. But aside from the number of brands to choose from, gourmet chocolate comes in a variety of exciting flavors that include Caramel, Java Truffle, Jamaican Rum Caramel and Raspberry Truffle.

Gourmet chocolate not only tastes good but provides health benefits as well. Now, indulging oneself with a generous serving of chocolate need not be a guilty pleasure.

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Tempering Chocolate The Right Way

While tempering chocolate, it is essential that you follow the correct procedure for melting the chocolate; otherwise it may burn or separate. Many people think that tempering the chocolate is the same thing as melting it. However, even though tempering calls for melting the chocolate, the two procedures are not the same. Thus, before we get into the actual procedure for tempering chocolate, here’s a look at what tempering means.

What Is Chocolate Tempering

Tempering is a method of liquefying chocolate through a process that entails melting of chocolate, cooling it, and then again melting it so as to stabilize the cocoa butter present in the chocolate and allow it to harden properly, thus bringing about the correct solidification of the chocolate when cooled.

What this essentially means is that unlike melting where the chocolate is simply brought to a liquid state through gradual heating; tempering involves cooling and then reheating the chocolate to precise temperatures, so that the chocolate hardens properly, achieves a glossy shine, and does not bloom (formation of cocoa butter layer on the cooled chocolate, resulting in a white powdery look).

Step-by-Step Guide to Tempering Chocolate

1. Cut the chocolate into 1/4th inch pieces and place in a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, you can improvise by using a saucepan to fill the water in and putting a metal bowl on top wherein the chocolate goes. Make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the metal bowl.

2. Heat the water and melt the chocolate till it reaches a temperature of 113 to 118°F. Stir the chocolate regularly so that the cocoa butter does not separate from the chocolate. Use a chocolate thermometer or a candy thermometer to avoid over heating or burning of the chocolate. It is important to use a thermometer to check the temperature as the chocolate can burn if overheated even by a few degrees.

3. Once the chocolate has melted, cool it till it reaches temperatures of about 82-84°F for white and milk chocolate, and 85-86°F for dark chocolate.

4. Put the chocolate back on the double boiler and heat once again till temperatures of 87-88°F for white and milk chocolate and 88-90°F for dark and bitter chocolate.

The tempering procedure is now complete. You can check if the chocolate has been tempered properly by applying a layer of chocolate on butter paper. After about 5 minutes, the chocolate should peel off easily from the paper. If it does, then the chocolate has been tempered properly, else not.

As is evident, tempering chocolate is not a difficult procedure. By following these steps precisely, you can rest assured that your chocolate will be tempered in the right way.

Thanks http://www.your-gourmet-chocolate.com

Hot Chocolate - Love Potion #1 in Winter

Chocolate… this word evokes such wonderful old memories – family holidays, mom’s chocolate cakes and chocolate chip cookies on Sundays… But it turns out that in the adult world this dessert has so much more to it! Did you know that chocolate is also known as a perfect seduction product?

A legendary Italian Mr. Lover Giovanni Casanova considered chocolate to be an indispensable part of any courting. The famous tempter always carried a silver box of chocolates that ladies simply could not resist. Besides, Casanova believed that the secret of his sexual strength laid in a ritual morning cup of hot chocolate.

This delicious drink is not difficult to prepare:

U’ll need:
2 table spoons of cacao powder
1 table spoon of cane sugar
100 ml of milk
a dash of chilli pepper
U’ll have just to mix it well and to put it on a slow fire. Don’t forget to stir it till it boils. As soon as it does – the drink is ready!

A cup of hot chocolate will warm your partner’s “feelings” up when it is so cold outside! ;)

P.S. Do not forget that chocolate is very rich in calories, so do not abuse with it. Its calorie count is over 500 Kcal per 100g. Among the popular chocolate bars Snickers and Mars are the most rich in calories.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?Hot-Chocolate---Love-Potion-1-in-Winter&id=139283

Chocolate Gift Baskets - What You Need To Know About Chocolate

Everybody knows that chocolate tastes good and that women tend to love it. But there are a lot of important and fun facts to know about chocolate. Chocolate has been valued for over 4,000 years by the Mayans in Central and South America. The beans have even been used a currency in the Caribbean areas, in the past, because it was so highly valued.

A chocolate beverage was popular in English chocolate houses in the 1700’s. People did not eat chocolate then, it was only in liquid form. The first chocolate producer founded in the US was in Mass. in 1765. Some years later chocolate started to be refined and developed into the many varieties we have today.

Conrad Van Houten, a Dutch chemist, invented cocoa butter in the 1840s. He then added sugar and chocolate liquor to make chocolate that you could eat instead of drink.

About the same time Domingo Ghiradelli opened a factory in San Francisco. His company is still famous for making upscale chocolates even today. Daniel Peter and Henri Nestle made the first milk chocolate. And still makes “the very best”. Ralph Lindt started to make chocolate using a “conching” method that made the chocolate melt in the mouth. Who doesn’t love that quality?

Chocolate has become a multi-billion dollar industry today. Some of the early pioneers in the making of chocolate, like Ghiradelli, Nestle, and Lindt, remain the leaders in quality today.

The quality of the chocolate that you find in a gift basket can either make or break the appeal of the basket itself. When you purchase a chocolate gift basket, or any wine, cheese or gourmet food basket that contains chocolate, make sure the chocolate is of good quality from a maker with a reputation for good, luxurious chocolate.

Come in and see the almost unlimited gift baskets we have to offer. Browse around the taste-tempting Chocolate Gift Baskets and see what appeals to you. In as little as 10 minutes a decedent chocolate gift basket can be on the way to your lucky recipient.


Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?Chocolate-Gift-Baskets---What-You-Need-To-Know-About-Chocolate&id=512585

German Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:

1 (4 oz.) pkg. of sweetened chocolate

1/4 c. of butter

14 oz. can of evaporated milk

1 1/2 c. of sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. cornstarch

2 eggs or equal amount of egg substitute

1 tsp. of vanilla

1/2 c. of chopped pecans

1 1/3 c. of flaked coconut

Whipped cream or topping

Directions:

Melt the chocolate with the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Gradually blend in the evaporated milk. Mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Gradually blend in the chocolate mixture. Pour into the pie shell. Combine coconut and nuts. Sprinkle it over the filling. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until the top is puffed and browned. Filling will be soft, but don't fret- it will set. Cool for about 4 hours before serving. Garnish with some whip cream. Yummy! Looks good, huh?

Now enjoy the taste of your delicious German Chocolate Pie and be ready to make history in your family for your delicious Pie. You can find more recipes at Choco Junkie.com like this one. Chocolate Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookies, kids, recipes, chocolate beverages, etc. Plus get some reviews of chocolate desserts at restaurants, reviews of other recipe websites, chocolate history, chocolate baking tips, and more.

Thanks http://www.chocojunkie.com

Gourmet Chocolate - What Makes it so Special?

Gourmet chocolate has become a popular food item for special occasions, gifts, and occasional treats. But what is it that makes gourmet chocolate so special? There are 3 main factors that set it apart from regular chocolate. These factors are production process, ingredients, and packaging.

Many of the gourmet chocolate products are individually made by chocolatiers, the name given to professional chocolate makers, instead of being mass produced by equipment. While individual production takes more time, the quality of the final product is worth it. The high priority given to making each gourmet chocolate product a piece of perfection and the strenuous quality assurance process sets it miles apart from the run of the mill mechanically massed produced chocolate products.

Gourmet chocolate products have superior ingredients compared to regular chocolate. Many gourmet chocolate products have cocoa from only a certain origin or region instead of a mix of different types of cocoa beans. Also, the cocoa content in this luxury form of chocolate is often higher. These two factors along with quality production are what give this type of chocolate the characteristics that everyone loves: a stronger chocolate smell and taste, a smooth appearance, and a soft feel in the mouth with no aftertaste.

The last factor that gives gourmet chocolate its name is the quality of packaging materials used to wrap the chocolate. The higher quality foils and papers used to distribute gourmet chocolate help to keep it fresh and give it a look of elegance at the same time. Many of the packaging options are holiday specific, with different colors and wrappers to choose from for whatever the special occasion may be.

Thanks http://www.finegourmetchocolate.com

Interesting Chocolate Statistics

Just about everyone loves the sweet temptation of chocolates and candy. Here are some intriguing statistics and facts about candy and chocolate:

1. The average American eats 10-12 pounds (4.5 kg) of chocolate a year. The average Swiss eats 21 pounds a year.

2. Chocolate is the food most commonly craved by women, but can contribute significantly to bulimia, obesity, and binge eating.

3. Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholestorol.

4. Chocolate is not physically addictive and does not cause acne, as shown in several medical studies.

5. Chocolate is not high in caffeine. A 1oz bar of milk chocolate contains only 5-6mg of caffeine. This is significantly less than in coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

6. Chocolates can absorb other flavors and scents, and should be kept away from other household chemicals.

7. Chocolate can be frozen for up to six months. It is best to seal chocolate in a zip lock bag before freezing.

8. In genearl, the shelf life for chocolate is a year. Chocolate that is refrigerated may not melt as readily. Thus it is best to store chocolate in cool dry areas 55-60 degrees F.

9. U.S. chocolate manufacturers use 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate.

10. The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over 5,000 pounds and was made in Italy in 2000. The largest slab of fudge was over 2,000 pounds and was made in Canada.

11. Children are more likely to prefer chocolate when they reach 10-11 years old than when they are younger.

12. Chocolate is America's favorite flavor, according to recent surveys with a little over 50% of adults preferring chocolate to other flavors.

Thanks http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/chocolate.htm

The 10 Secrets to a Perfectly Flowing Chocolate Fountain!

If you've ever set up a chocolate fountain and the chocolate has slowly dredged down, drooped and parted then you need to learn the step by step SECRETS to a perfectly flowing Chocolate Fountain.

Firstly, the machine its-self should be assembled correctly.

1) Correctly Assemble the fountain (A no brainier? guess again. I've seen many fountains with tiers upside down creating pools of chocolate).

2) You need a level surface! I've done chocolate fountains on practically 15% gradients and its a nightmare. Make sure the venue supplies you with a sturdy, flat table on a flat surface.

3) The new mini chocolate fountains have adjustable feet. Its mightily important these are just perfect.

4) Turn Chocolate Fountain heat to 90 on the dial!

Now, its time to melt the Chocolate, and this is key:

5) Use 35% Coca Content Curvature Chocolate chips.

6) Place 1KG of said chips in a container, and cover with 100ml of Sunflower (its better then vegetable) oil.

7) Place in microwave at 500W for 6 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes until purely melted.

8) Any blackening of the Chocolate hints that its burnt, discard this, its useless.

9) Don't re-use your Chocolate!

Time to pour the chocolate into the fountain. Make sure you've put enough in (read your fountains instruction manual) and then turn on.

10) As the chocolate fountain reaches the top tier. Turn the Chocolate Fountain off! Leave for one minute. This will get rid of any air bubbles on the auger.

Turn the Chocolate Fountain back on and BAM! A Perfect flowing Chocolate Fountain. If the chocolate ever seems to be parting or be leaning to one side then simply wedge some cardboard under the fountain to get it level.

And that's the 10 secrets to Chocolate Heaven.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?The-10-Secrets-to-a-Perfectly-Flowing-Chocolate-Fountain!&id=158444

History of Chocolate Truffles

The invention of the cocoa press in 1828 made possible separating the natural fat in cocoa beans, called cocoa butter, from the bean solids. This not only improved the consistency and taste of the remaining cocoa powder but made possible the development of solid chocolate. Eating chocolate or solid chocolate, as opposed to drinking chocolate, was first produced in 1847 in Fry’s chocolate factory in Bristol, England. Solid chocolate is a combination of cocoa powder, sugar, cocoa butter and often flavorings like vanilla. In 1879 Swiss Henri Nestle and Daniel Peter developed milk chocolate by combining solid chocolate with milk powder. Experimentation in France and Switzerland led to the development of ganache.

Ganache is the center component of a truffle. Ganache is a velvety smooth combination of solid semisweet chocolate and cream. Cooked at just the right temperature it cools to form a rich and firm paste with intense chocolate flavor. A truffle is a confection made of a round ganache center, often flavored, covered with a shell of milk, dark or white chocolate. Truffles are often covered in cocoa powder, sugar or finely chopped nuts.

Perhaps originating in France, the truffle is named for its visual similarity to the French mushroom-like fungus of the same name. Like the original truffle, chocolate truffles have become synonymous with luxury and a sumptuous taste experience. Truffles are made in a wide variety of tastes. In many chocolate houses the Chocolatier’s finest ingredients are reserved for the truffle.

Thanks http://www.chocolate-gourmet-gifts.com

The Chocolate Diet

You've heard of the South Beach Diet, the Hollywood Diet, and of course, the Atkins Diet. Well, I'm starting my own new diet. It's called the Chocolate Diet. The kind of diet where you can lose weight and still eat chocolate every day.

Diets that don't include chocolate don't work. Slip up once with a candy bar and your diet is out the window. Cutting cocoa is not rational. If you give up chocolate, you might as well give up your diet. Depriving yourself of this delight can cause you to leave your diet all together. Why give up chocolate, anyway? It's good for you! Yes, I said it. It's good for you. Research suggests dark chocolate, rich in anti-oxidants, may lower bad cholesterol. And don’t forget about its mood lifting properties-- you can practically call it an anti-depressant.

So how does the Chocolate Diet work? 2 ounces of dark chocolate per day. That's 100 calories, folks. Will that alone cause you to lose weight? I like to tell myself that, but no. But it will add a little sanity to your pain-staking regimen of exercise and calorie counting. It can help you actually keep your diet if your diet consists of chocolate every day, right?

So if you're going on a diet, don't exclude chocolate from it. Go on the Chocolate Diet. Exercise, eat sensibly, and eat chocolate every day.

Thanks http://www.chocojunkie.com

Dark Chocolate Heart Health

The health benefits of dark chocolate for your heart

Dark chocolate can help you heart a lot. A small bar of it every day can help your cardiovascular system and heart running smoothly.

Two main benefits of the dark chocolate health food are...

Dark Chocolate can lower blood pressure:

Dark chocolate health study studies have shown us that eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day can help reduce blood pressure in people who have high blood pressure.

Dark Chocolate can lower your cholesterol level:

Dark chocolate health study studies have also shown that dark chocolate and help reduce your LDL cholesterol by 10 percent.

More health benefits to dark chocolate:

• Dark chocolate tastes good!
• Stimulates endorphins which makes us feel better
• Dark chocolate also contains serotonin, which works like an anti-depressant

Dark chocolate has many health benefits but be careful!

Dark chocolate has many health benefits and good fats in it but it is also high in calories so you must be careful not to eat too much and if you do eat dark chocolate make sure you cut calories some where else to make up for it.

Another option to consider if you want to be able to eat dark chocolate and still burn fat is to include a safe & natural fat burning pill into your diet. A diet pill such as Proactol would help block fat as it enters your body so you could still be benefiting from dark chocolate but not have the worry about the fat calories in dark chocolate.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?Dark-Chocolate-Heart-Health&id=805040

Gourmet Chocolate Gifts for Christmas - Everyone Loves the Gift of Chocolate

Are you looking for a gift for someone who has everything? Consider gourmet chocolate gifts as birthday or Christmas presents for these hard to shop for friends and relatives. With the wide variety of gourmet chocolate gifts available there is sure to be something for everyone.

Gourmet chocolate gifts come in many different sizes and styles. They often contain a variety of different gourmet chocolate items. Some of the most common gourmet chocolate gifts include candy bars, truffles, boxes of candy, and hot chocolate mixes.

Many gourmet chocolate suppliers have websites that allow you to purchase gourmet chocolate gift sets directly online. Many will also give you the option of having the gift mailed directed to the recipient, which is a nice feature for friends and relatives who live far away.

Many gourmet chocolate gifts are sold in sets, often packaged in a nice basket. Items can also be purchased separately and combined together anyway you want. Sometimes non-chocolate accessories are included in gift sets as well. For example, many gourmet hot chocolate gift sets come with a variety of cocoa mixes as well as mugs, spoons, and marshmallows. Christmas gift sets are especially nice, often including holiday decorations such as ornaments or stockings along with the delicious gourmet chocolate.

If the person you are buying gourmet chocolate gifts for happens to be a diabetic, there is a wide selection of sugar free gourmet chocolate gifts as well. This makes it possible to truly allow everyone to enjoy gourmet chocolate gifts.

Thanks http://www.finegourmetchocolate.com

Classification of Chocolate – A Sweet Gift for Any Time of the Year

Many different types of chocolate are available for consumption, but what is the real difference between them? Chocolates are classified by the percentage of cocoa in the mix and the other ingredients that are included. Some chocolates are only suitable for cooking, while others are made for immediate consumption. Below are the edible variations and how they are classified.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate - Made from unsweetened chocolate (chocolate liquor), but with the addition of sugar, cocoa butter, lecithin and vanilla mixed in. Semi-sweet chocolate must contain at least 35% unsweetened chocolate, and typically is less than 50%.

Dark Chocolate - The rules regarding classification of chocolate in this category vary throughout the world. However, the one constant is that this type of chocolate contains no milk solids, but has sweeteners and cocoa butter added to the mix. In Europe, dark chocolate must consist of at least 35% cocoa solids while in the U.S., it must have a 15% concentration of chocolate liquor.

Milk Chocolate - Like you'd guess from the name, milk chocolate is made with condensed or powdered milk. In Europe, milk chocolate must consist of at least 25% cocoa solids, while in the US, it must have a 10% concentration of chocolate liquer and a minimum of 12% milk solids. Milk chocolate is primarily used for eating and is the most popular form of chocolate in the U.S.

White Chocolate - The name given to white chocolate is a misnomer because it isn't really chocolate at all. Strictly speaking, chocolate is defined as any product 100% based on cocoa solid. White "chocolate" doesn't contain any cocoa solids and is made from cocoa butter, milk solids and sugar.

Couverture Chocolate - Chocolates under this classification are true gourmet chocolates that are rich in cocoa butter (upwards of 35%) which creates an extremely high fat content. Cocoa butter is the fat extracted from chocolate liquor. These chocolates contain a very high percentage of cocoa which is the solid powder left after the cocoa butter is extracted from the chocolate liquor.

Need some Chocolate Gift Baskets? All About Gifts & Baskets has a huge variety of gifts and gift baskets containing all your favorites treats. From gourmet milk chocolate to decadent rich truffle chocolates, there are plenty of gifts to choose from. Order your selection online today.


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A Look Inside A High Quality Chocolate Gift Basket

The main thing to a Talk to me chocolate gift basket is to give a good basket of chocolate to a chocolate lover.

The Talk Chocolate to Me gift basket is made in a wire Vern basket so the person that you give it to can have it as decoration in their home long after the chocolate had been oust.

Chocolate can, can of course be made into many types of chocolate and can be given to many types of chocolate lovers. Included in the Talk Chocolate to Me gift basket is two dozen cookies that are baked with a certain type of chocolate that the chocolate lover is sure to enjoy. Also what is included in the talk to me chocolate gift basket is a bunch of chocolate that the chocolate lover is bound to love no matter what kind of chocolate lover they may be.

There are eighty kinds of chocolate that will be going into the gift basket that you are giving to the chocolate lover. That is enough chocolate to cure the urge of any chocolate lover no matter how big of a craving they may have.

The Talk Chocolate to Me gift basket really is a beautiful gift!

WARNING- the talk to me chocolate gift basket is not a low calorie nor fat treat but otherwise can be enjoyed by all chocolate lovers at any time of the day or night when needed.

The value of this gift basket in money terms is a good value to the chocolate lover and can be the best.

You can find this basket anywhere on the web just look it up through Google.

If you are a chocolate lover then this is the chocolate gift basket for you, if not then you may have friends that are chocolate lovers and would love eighty different types of chocolate to eat without having to worry about carbs and fat. This is the gift basket of chocolate lover's dreams and will be long remembered. If you were to give this to someone that doesn't eat chocolate that much but likes to eat it, it wouldn't get ate for a long time since there is a lot of chocolate in it but if you were to give this to a chocolate lover all the chocolate would probably be gone within a week or so depending on the chocolate lover and how much they like it. You could give them all the chocolate that you think they may like but it could turn out to be all the chocolate that they don't like. You just need to pay attention to what people like and what they are always doing.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Look-Inside-A-High-Quality-Chocolate-Gift-Basket&id=847731

Chocolate Gifts

Chocolate is a popular gift item that you can give to anyone for any special occasion. You can give chocolate to your amour with a bunch of red roses. You can wish your friend good luck with this delightful treat. Or you can greet your parents a happy anniversary with a chocolate basket. Whatever the celebration is, chocolate gifts are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the people who are close to your heart.

One of the most popular forms of chocolate gifts is the chocolate gift basket. A variety of chocolates can be included in the basket, which is artfully decorated for artistic appeal. Chocolate gift baskets are noted for the variety of chocolate they carry. If the recipient is a chocolate lover, he is sure to be delighted with a miscellany of white chocolates, dark chocolates, chocolates with nuts, fruits, and almonds, and those with different flavors such as raspberry or caramel. The more chocolate variations, the better.

If there is a chocolate gift basket, there is also a chocolate gift box. A chocolate gift box can include either a single flavor of chocolate or a variety of chocolate flavors. Some people prefer giving chocolates in a box instead of a basket because it is more presentable. Also, in giving chocolates packed in a box, there is less risk of melting. This would be a good choice if the recipient lives miles away and won’t be able to open your gift till a later time.

Lastly, you can simply give a piece of chocolate as a gift. Choose the favorite chocolate bar of that special person and tie a small ribbon around it for a more presentable look.

Chocolate gifts are indeed ideal for any occasion. Whether it is a basket bursting with chocolate variants, a neatly wrapped chocolate gift box, or a simple chocolate bar, it is sure to make that special day more memorable.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?Chocolate-Gifts&id=252005

Gourmet Dark Chocolate - a Luxury Treat at Its Finest

What is the finest type of chocolate? Gourmet dark chocolate, of course.

Dark chocolate has the richest flavor of any other chocolate products. The reason is actually quite simple. As the name implies, "dark" chocolate does have a darker look than regular chocolate. The difference in appearance is due to the higher concentration of cocoa that it contains. The extra amount of cocoa is what gives gourmet dark chocolate its extra rich taste and flavor.

Gourmet dark chocolate has a harder texture compared to regular chocolate, but it is still smooth. A characteristic that gourmet dark chocolate is known for is snapping when you break it instead of bending or crumbling, which often happens with non-gourmet chocolates.

Bars are the most popular gourmet dark chocolate items, but other products are available as well. Gourmet boxed chocolates, truffles, clusters, and hot cocoa mixes are all made in dark chocolate varieties. Many gourmet gift sets include also dark chocolate items.

Gourmet dark chocolate has recently become more popular due to the health benefits that have been found to be associated with it. Medical studies have found that small servings may have beneficial effects on blood pressure and prevention of heart disease. These same effects are not found with milk chocolate or white chocolate, only the dark variety.

So if you are looking for the finest type of chocolate around, look no further than gourmet dark chocolate. For it's rich and smooth flavor and potential health benefits, it is the finest choice in gourmet chocolates.

Learn more about gourmet dark chocolate Get information on different types of gourmet chocolate including gourmet dark chocolate, hot chocolate, and gifts by just clicking on the link at http://www.finegourmetchocolate.com

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate - the drink of the Gods, has forever been man’s sinful indulgence. Chocolate comes in many shapes and sizes, and it’s used for many recipes, but none surpasses the chocolate cake – first place in popularity.

A chocolate cake can be made from any type of chocolate. It can be made from plain, dark chocolate or “bitter” chocolate that contains little or no added sugar. Cakes can be made from white chocolate, which tastes sweet and is very rich and smooth, almost with a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Cakes made with organic chocolate win hands down for they contain a very high percentage of cocoa solids. However, this type of chocolate is very expensive.

Innovation is the buzzword in chocolate circles now and along with chocolate you will find varied other ingredients added to the cake to woo your taste buds. There is the chocolate and orange angel cake, the tangy cinnamon cake, the hot spicy chocolate ginger crunch cake made with ginger syrup and chocolate cake topped with a mildly tempering Banana Sauce to name a few. In fact, it seems that almost everything that is palatable in the kitchen can be used as a flavoring in chocolate cakes. Hazelnut is great in chocolate cake and is beetroot (used in chocolate layer cakes), redcurrant torte chocolate cake is fabulous and baked chocoate and rasin cheese cake.

Chocolate cakes come with vast array of toppings and decorations. Since chocolate cake by nature has a rich taste, the toppings are deliberately kept light. You can have dates, almonds, honey toppings, fruit sauces or you can have decorations made with chocolate. You can peel off chocolate curls, scoop off chocolate balls or create designs with contrasting colored melted chocolate. When it comes to decorating with chocolate, the “Covertures” type chocolate with a glossy finish is the choice of many. There are plenty of options when it comes to decorating with chocolate. Anything made with chocolate is sinfully delicious.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?Chocolate-Cake&id=195901

What Chocolate Is Best For A Fountain

The number of people attending your event will dictate how much of a chocolate fountain your party may need. The building of a dessert centerpiece should consist of a really fantastic selections such as a chocolate fountain or fondue. The store to rent a chocolate fountain and/or buy chocolate fountains is normally a top of the line dessert shop or bakery. The selection of a chocolate fountain is always a nice attraction for the crowd at even the most sophisticated parties. The selection for dessert for a lot of extravagant parties sometimes includes a chocolate fountain, which is normally a big hit. The selection of chocolate will make or break the dessert fountain according to the taste of the chocolate streaming out of the fountain.

The place to get your chocolate fountain must have a lot of varieties of chocolate, ranging from white chocolate to milk and dark chocolate. Chocolate is pumped up the inside of the fountains and flows steadily over the tiers, creating a nice chocolate stream for everyone to enjoy. A chocolate fountain will hold white chocolate, dark chocolate, or a mixture of both; in order to find out how many pounds of chocolate a fountain can hold you should ask the seller. Chocolate is specially formulated for use in the chocolate fountain, meaning that it will have no problem streaming down the tiers of the fountain.

The number of people who like chocolate is a very close to most of the population who has tasted chocolate. The grocery store bakery may have chocolate fountains for sale or at least, may be able to tell you where to look for one. Several chocolate fountains were build to cater to over one hundred people, it is good to know the number of guests in attendance so you will not waste any of your extremely delicious chocolate. The building of the ultimate party must have all the top choices of foods to include such delights as a chocolate fountain and much more.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Chocolate-Is-Best-For-A-Fountain&id=381636

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many of us have fond memories from our childhoods of the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies filling up the house. Our eager little eyes anxiously awaiting their arrival from oven to countertop.

Chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate comfort food. There’s just something about them that makes us feel warm and fuzzy. The chocolate chip cookie has evolved over the years into a mouth-watering variety of textures and flavors.

If you’re a fruit lover you’ll enjoy banana chocolate chip cookies or cherry chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate lovers will delight over chocolate chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate chip cookies.

Another popular variation is the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Who knew that oatmeal would taste so good with chocolate?

If you want to spice up your favorite chocolate chip cookies even more, you can add tasty morsels like mint chips, craisins, candy bars, espresso beans, m&ms, candy cane, walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts, dark chocolate or big chunks of milk chocolate.

Some folks love eating gourmet chocolate chip cookie bars and even chocolate chip cookie pie!

If you have special dietary needs, you can still enjoy home baked chocolate chip cookies. There are special recipes online for low fat chocolate chip cookies, vegan chocolate chip cookies, wheat free and egg free chocolate chip cookies, and whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.

Now that you know about the many ways you can enjoy the world’s most famous cookie, I hope you will try many of the delicious recipes so you too can enjoy the ultimate chocolate chip cookie experience.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Ultimate-Chocolate-Chip-Cookie-Experience&id=18143

The Magic Of Chocolate

Do you want to win your girl’s heart? Gift her a chocolate! Girls are very fond of chocolate.

Chocolate is a very good mood booster. It can bring a smile on your face even when you are angry or sad. Moreover, chocolate is known to boost up the sexual desire as well.

It is much better than a tranquilizer. It has been scientifically proven that chocolate is good for aged men and women. It has been suggested that chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disorders. It is also good for those who suffer from sleeping disorders.

Since ages, chocolate is considered to be a symbol of love and friendship.

No doubt, chocolate is the best gift and it can be gifted on any occasion. It can be gifted on Valentine's Day, Christmas, Friendship Day or on a birthday.

There are several kinds of chocolate. The main ones are as follows:

• 'Truffle' has a smooth center full of cocoa and ganache butter. The outside is just chocolate.

• 'Pave Glace' is 75% dark chocolate. But, it is soft and squishy. In my view, this is the best chocolate you can ever get to taste.

• 'Cherry Liquor' contains a real cherry dipped in chocolate sauce.

• 'Praline' chocolate is any chocolate that has nuts.

• 'Milk chocolate' has only 50% dark chocolate. Rest is made out of cocoa beans and sugar.

• 'Caprice' contains hazelnut paste and milk chocolate. It has praline covered in dark chocolate.

No matter what kind of chocolate you end up buying, it will definitely show you the magic of its taste.

Thanks http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Magic-Of-Chocolate&id=559482

How to Make a Rich Chocolate Cake

Old time bakers used to make a “pudding” for chocolate cakes. This pudding is different than the pudding in the mix chocolate cakes we are used to today. Old time chocolate pudding was a way for bakers to elicit the full chocolate flavor from the cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate which gave them rich full flavored chocolate cake.

When cakes are made strictly with cocoa powder which contains mostly cocoa solids the chocolate cake flavor is somewhat subdued. The chocolate flavor can be stricken even more by mixing the cocoa powder with flour. But by incorporating unsweetened chocolate which contains cocoa butter as well as cocoa solids into the cocoa powder the chocolate cake is given an extra boost of chocolate flavor.

Water and sugar also play an important role in making a rich full flavored chocolate cake. Hot water heated in a double boiler is used to bloom the chocolate flavor in the cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate. Then when sugar is incorporated into the chocolate pudding the subtle chocolate flavors will begin to shine.

Here is the basic recipe for making a pudding to add to your chocolate cake batter.

Unsweetened Chocolate
Cocoa Powder
Hot Water
Sugar

Combine coarsely chopped unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, and hot water in a double boiler. Heat until the chocolate is melted. Then add the sugar and stir until the pudding is glossy and thick.

Simply adjust the amounts above to your favorite chocolate cake recipe and watch your cake take on a whole new level of sweet chocolate flavor.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday. Sign up for her newsletter and learn more about Gourmayeats Weekly Recipe Club at http://www.gourmayeats.com/recipe.html

Belgian Chocolate Biscuits

Belgian chocolate biscuits is the biscuit which is covered with creamy Belgian chocolate. The creamy belgian chocolate will be in different varieties such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate and also white chocolate. Because of the demand of the belgian chocolate biscuits there are belgium chocolate biscuits producers all over the world.

There are variety of belgian chocolate biscuits that you can taste at least once. Some of the varieties are

1. Amouretto Chocolate Biscuits

2. Diavola Chocolate Biscuits

3. Grand Biscuit Selection

4. Ophelia Chocolate Biscuits

5. Amandaggio Almond Biscuits

Belgium Chocolate Cookies:

Cookies when combined with the famous Belgian chocolates gives you the best taste. There are cookies available in the market with Belgian chocolate morsels. It may resemble chocolate chip cookies, but instead of the regular chocolate as the cookie morsels, Belgian chocolates are used.

You have to expect that cookies with Belgian chocolate as morsels may be on the expensive side. However, just like purchasing Belgian chocolates, you can be sure that after tasting a Belgian chocolate cookie, you will say that it's worth every penny.

These are some of the Belgian chocolate biscuits brand that you have to consider buying. It is made from high quality biscuits and also high quality Belgian chocolates.

Chocolates is considered as a great medicine for depression. It is well known that if you present a Belgian chocolate to your depressed friend or family member, or eating yourself one if you feel depressed then you will find that your mood is uplifted by these tasty Belgium chocolates

Thanks http://www.belgium-chocolate.info

Sweet Gourmet: Baking Chocolate Guide

Several types of chocolate may be used when baking cookies, pies, cakes, bars, and other sweet treats. The amount of cocoa butter and sugar can affect the texture and taste of chocolate—from bitter to very sweet. Below is a quick guide to the most popular kinds of chocolate used in baked goods.

** UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE – Unsweetened chocolate contains nothing but pure chocolate and cocoa butter. There’s no sugar added. This chocolate is dark in color and has a strong flavor.

** UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER – Unsweetened cocoa powder is pure chocolate that’s had a majority of the cocoa butter removed.

** SEMISWEET AND BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE – Semisweet and Bittersweet chocolate contains at least 35% pure chocolate. Cocoa butter and sugar have been added. This type of chocolate is often used in cookies and can be used interchangeably.

** MILK CHOCOLATE – Milk chocolate contains at least 15% of pure chocolate, and is mixed with cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. It has a creamy texture and is often used to make chocolate candy.

** WHITE CHOCOLATE – White chocolate is unique in that it contains no pure chocolate. However, it does have cocoa butter. Other ingredients are sugar and milk solids. When buying white chocolate for baking, be sure to check the label first to avoid confusing it with other similar looking white baking products.

** SWEET CHOCOLATE – Sweet chocolate contains at least 15% pure chocolate. Other ingredients are sugar and cocoa butter. Use sweet baking chocolate when you want your baked goods to have a rich chocolate flavor, without the bitterness of other types of chocolate.

Thanks http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com

Chocolate Cake

There’s an old saying that says that ‘you will not know whats heaven like until you have not tasted chocolate’. For a chocolate lover like me, I couldn’t agree more. My heartfelt sympathy goes to those who are allergic to this heavenly gift. For the rest of us, then I'm sure that you’re already aware the chocolate cake (or anything that has chocolate in it for that matter) is the best ever and most popular dessert ever created.

There’s just something magical about a piece of dark, moist, rich piece of chocolate cake with a layer of sinful looking creamy chocolate frosting on it, Smiles appear, happy moods return, grumbles turn into giggles.

I'm convinced that anyone can find a type of chocolate cake that he or she loves. Here’s a lit for the still uninitiated. The list is endless :-

Here goes:

Chocolate chip cheese cake, German chocolate cake, jelly roll chocolate cake, chocolate kraut bundt cake, chocolate fudge cake, chocolate mud cake, chocolate crème cake, chocolate eruption cake, best ever chocolate cake, chocolate caramel cake, rich chocolate cake, flourless chocolate cake, chocolate and orange cake, sour cream cake with chocolate, chocolate lava cake, chocolate banana cake, royal chocolate cake, molten chocolate cake, chocolate cherry cake, chocolate chip cookie cake, chocolate walnut cake, chocolate pudding cake, sinless chocolate cake, chocolate mousse cake, chocolate mayonnaise cake, chocolate chip pound cake, double chocolate chocolate cake, chocolate rum cake, low fat chocolate cake, chocolate zucchini cake etc etc ...........

If you still can’t find something you like, you don’ know what you’re missing. It doesnt matter what you put in , just make sure its moist and taste good. It will bound to put a smile even on the most grumpy of all grouches.

Ainee has had training and years of experience managing small cafes as well as bakeries of Europe's number one hypermarket. Started baking 'commercially' from the age of nine and has not stopped since. Her passion for baking has also allowed her to cross into the cooking world as well as the romantic arena of weddings.


Thank you info by http://ezinearticles.com/?Chocolate-Cake&id=571821